Good News Brief For Men

A note to you all: I finally made it back.  My schedule has been incredible over the last two months.  I appreciate your prayers as I make the effort to return with a bit more  consistency . Meanwhile, Merry Christmas, this is a wonderful time of year. John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”   (NIV) I love this promise of Jesus’ direction in our lives.  He tells us we must follow him but he doesn’t stop there.  He further promises that if we do so “we will never walk in darkness.”   He could have easily stopped there but he continues to expound on the benefits of following him by saying that we “will have the light of life.”   I have noticed in my search through the scriptures that nothing is left incomplete.  It all ties together and has been packaged for us to read and feed from.  As believ...

Philippians 4:6-7   Don't worry about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Hello Everyone! So, today's scripture says to not worry about anything.  So where are we today on the "WORRY" scale?  We just got through Monday, and Tuesday is coming.  Trust me Tuesday will come like it or not and along with it will be a whole new set of issues (problems) that we will have to add to what we did not complete today.  I don't know about you but I am still working off some of last weeks issues, but at least that list is fading somewhat. What kind of issues or problems did you face today?  I don't know about you but I could use a few more hours in the day to accomplish the things that "Type A" personalities try to tackle.  I am trying to get going on writing a new Bible Commentary on the book of Philippians, and this verse was just a "stand out".  We aren't to...

James 1: 15-16 but, as the One who called you is holy; you also are to be holy in all your conduct, for it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” In our world as we see it today, the above verse is impossible to obtain, or is it?  If we were to shake all of our life and empty ourselves of everything that really has no real meaning to us especially as believers, what would we have left?  On several occasions I have witnessed a dog coming in out of the rain and shaking the excess water from his fur.  He does this because it’s uncomfortable for him to walk around in this condition.  He’s wet and dirty and the extra burden just weighs him down.  So they, by reflex, shake the excess from their body.  They might do this up to four times to get this load off of their body.  It’s just easier to walk around and even lie down and sleep when this load is off of their fur and away from their skin.  The same thing applies to us as believers.  We ...

1 Peter 1: 14  As obedient children do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.   (HCSB) Good Day Everyone! Peter is telling us to guard our life in Christ by being obedient.  We are to guard or life in Christ against invasion from Satan and his workers.  Satan may no longer have our souls as believers but that doesn't keep him from trying to damage our testimony and discourage our hearts.  So we must actively pursue our relationship with Christ by reading His Word, Prayer, and meditation on His desires for our lives.  Sometimes we need to make adjustments in our lives to move into actively being "Conformed" to the person Christ wants us to become.  Adjustments take work and it takes time but it is so worth it so don't become discouraged in the process.  Pray for patience and God will answer because you are honoring Him in this process.   Now about the "former ignorance".  Don't be offended, but to tell the truth,...

1 Peter 1: 13  Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (HCSB) Good Day Everyone, We are being instructed by the Apostle Peter that first we should get out minds ready for action.  All of the writers of the Bible wrote by experience or by revelation.  In most cases revelation came and the experience followed.  But in any case Peter is telling us to get out minds ready for action, something is about to happen.  So tell me when is something in a believer's life NOT going to happen?  God is always at work, and in reality the only time something is happening is when we are asleep.  But that, we are told in the scriptures is also the time that God is communicating to the Holy Spirit instructions for His plans in our lives.  Our bodies may be at rest when we sleep, but God is always at work in an...

John 14: 1 Do not let your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me.  (NIV) Good Day Men, Here Jesus is telling us to not be troubled.  He is guiding us to a confidence in Him. He is telling us to not be troubled.  A troubled heart brings about anxiety and strain on our bodies and in our lives.  He wants us to trust in who He is.  As it says in John 10: 10, He has come to give us abundant life, and here we see that He wants us to trust Him for it as well.  Throughout the Word of God, He makes many promises.  And He has fulfilled them all in many ways. When we seek God and His desires for our lives, He reveals himself to us while at the same time building the relationship that will bless us and honor Him in the process. Key Thought: If you’re a seasoned believer, or even a new believer, God has a plan for your life which will bless you and honor Him.  The results are many-fold.  You will be blessed, your fa...

Trust in Him! Psalm 37: 5   Commit you way to the Lord; Trust in Him and He will act. King David understood what it meant to commit his life to God.  David's closeness in fellowship and his full trust in God equaled action on behalf of God.  God loves to act in our lives and bring many wonderful things to pass in the process.  David followed God's guidance and direction and gained the label of "A Man After God's Own Heart".  Yes David did have his shortfalls and it showed up in his falling to temptation with Bathsheba, But David repented in Psalm 51 and regained his fellowship with God. David trusted in God and God acted on behalf of David as David captured territory after territory  for the cause of his Holy God.  David trusted God to fulfill His promises and God did just that. Trust in Him and He will act! Take God at His Word.  He may not provide the answers we expect but we know that in time, God's time He ...

Trust in Him! Psalm 37: 5   Commit you way to the Lord; Trust in Him and He will act. As men we are committed to our jobs, our families, our friends,.....  Are we committed to the Lord?  We might do a short Bible reading, and toss up a prayer while in heavy traffic, but aren't we glad God gives us more attention than we give him.  Of course we are.  I know the excuses.  I used them before as well.  But God, you made me too busy to give you quality time, besides all my time is yours anyway, or is it. I overheard a conversation some years ago and the men were talking about going to church.  One man got a little frustrated and said "When I go to church I feel like I've done my time for the week."  This guy had a bad attitude altogether.  What if God had that attitude about us?  I can hear it now, God: "Well I've done my time this week." then shakes the dust of YOU off His hands and walks away.....   Got your attention now?...

Fully Trusting Psalm 37: 4, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Delight is not just a giddy feeling.  This word DELIGHT goes much deeper than that.  This delight is deep in the heart, and it comes with knowing the Lord on His level not ours.  God is not a Gene in a bottle that is there to answer your every whim in life that you encounter.  Oh no, not at all.  This delight comes from the times of Grace God has blessed you with as you encounter every trial and tribulation you have been through in your past and that you will encounter in the future.  The delight comes from knowing that He is in control but we have to give Him that place in our lives.  There have been many time I have tried to "handle" things in my own way only to realize at the end His results would have been far greater and deeper and more meaningful.  In our lives we often try to "Captain" our own ship through the storms of life.  But over ...

The next 3 days we will be in Psalms 37.  There are verses I have been led to by God.  He has directed me in many ways through His Word.  In times of great trials and tribulations, in times of great joy and celebration, and in times He was silent, I have learned I can trust the One who died for me.  His name is Jesus.  He has guided me through the effects of Stroke, Heart Disease, and has saved me from the Cancer that left me with a two percent chance of survival.  He has walked with me through the marriage of my Children and the birth of two Grandchildren,  He has walked with me through the Gates of the Airport to again say good-bye to my daughter and now Husband as they headed out to the Mission Field half way around the world.  Yes He has guided me and walked with me through some difficult journeys and some wonderful times, a life in Him I am incredibly thankful for. In the past I have learned to trust in Him as my Father and King! Psalm 37...

I apologize for the long delay between this and my last post.  The work schedule has been incredibly hectic to say the least.  I have been thinking about this blog quite often but just haven't had the time do to my current work load. I have been thinking about our journey and wanted to let you know that this way to communicate with you folks is always on my heart. So here we GO........ I have been going through my personal library at my home and am beginning to "downsize" a bit.  I have too many books that I have either read or simply have no use for any longer.  But going through each of these books I am re-discovering some real jewels of reading material I am anxious to return to.  Others are just taking up much needed space in my Study.  My favorites are Biographies.  Right along side of books on Spiritual Prayer, by Charles Spurgeon, Andrew Murray, D.L. Moody and the like.  I do have a few more contemporary writers that I enjoy as w...

From an Engineering background I have developed a technique that seems to work for me pretty well. 1. Develop three key points to establish a good beginning. These can be points that will get you going and will probably change over time when reviewing where you started and where you ended up. Examples: Create a sitting area dedicated to your time alone with God.  Preferably a low/no traffic area in your home.  Here you will leave your notebook for taking notes on the scriptures you want to do future study on.  Always keep 2 pens with your notebook.  It's hard to pick up a thought once you have drooped it due to a pen that won't work.  Think and pray about where God would like to start in this new endeavor.  Maybe locate a study guide on the book of the Bible you will be beginning in.  Of course have others pray for you while you proceed.  Of course these are just a starting suggestion 2. As you settle into your time with God pick a method ...

Change?  But I don't really need to change, (or do I).  Ask your wife or those closest to you.  If they say you really don't need to change they must be lying to you, or don't want to hurt your feelings.  We are men and we need to continually change UP! Your life will change. Your relationships will change (for the better and in most cases MUCH better!) Your career will change so look for it...... (but don't move ahead of it, it will come to you) Your attitude about tomorrow as well as today will change UP as well. More changes to come, look for it guys! Rev. Ted

Looking at our lives as believers, we often just mosey along as life goes on making adjustments as time goes by.  That may be fine as the summertime lingers on, but God desires for us to live a life with greater focus and purpose.  You might include INTENTION in that list as well.  When I want to focus on something with INTENTION I try to locate writings that will move me closer to the desired outcome God has INTENDED for me.  I have my favorites but that list has taken time to develop over the years.  I the process of building that list of writers I have eliminated some and added some.  I still have books I haven't read yet but will in my future.  My favorite is God's Word the Bible.  Like you didn't see that one coming!  I read about the giants of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11, and the Kings (both good and bad) from the Old Testament.  And then I move to more modern day writers related to the direction I see God drawing me. With God cr...

Over the next few days lets look at the previous questions posted in the last devotion. 1. What would you change in your life to be more honoring to God? Do you spend time alone with Him at anytime in your busy work day?  Could you get up 5 minutes earlier and begin with maybe 2 minutes of reading His Word and 3 minutes in prayer?  That is actually a pretty good start.  That is where I started and before I realized it I was squeezing more of my early morning moments into a more quality time with Him.  He created in me a drawing to pursue Him    John 6: 44:  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him ; .  I began to listen to favorite Pastors on the drive to work and the relationship grew deeper each day as Christ brought meaning and purpose in serving and loving Him as my Savior and Lord. Minimal changes can make an enormous difference in our lives as we pursue Him with greater effort.  Start today, and give Him ...

I apologize for not posting this morning but I am on vacation through the weekend.  I appreciate your prayers at this time of refreshing and will post again at 5:00 AM July 7, 2014 See you then, BUT...... I have some questions for you to contemplate. 1. What would you change in your life to be more honoring to God? 2. What would you do to accomplish this? 3. In what ways would you expect your life to change to accomplish this? 4. What would be your first three steps to get there from here. Please feel free to post your responses in the Comment section below. Take care and God Bless! Rev. Ted J. Wilkins

So we have been traveling a bit with no real spelled out plan for this journey nor what the journey will entail.  It looks more like we have been through some form of Driver's Education.  Well let's get off the interstate for a bit and take a look at a map and see what this plan looks like. Yes guys, I said map, not a GPS or Cell phone hookup.  We need the real map.  Believe it or not I still have several maps at the house from various states my wife and I have had the privilege to drive through or at least into.  I like to see where I am going to go and the various towns we will end up in throughout our trip.  I enjoy being with my wife.  Even when the Kids were home we always enjoyed being together.  Yes there have been some difficult times but we overcame them and continue to enjoy the trip. But now, what does this trip look like to us as men.  As teens we know all the answers, as young adults we just "know" and as we grow older into a...

Have you ever driven past your exit while in the wrong lane?  Have you ever taken the wrong exit?  Both have happened to me and usually it happens when I am not paying close attention at 70 plus MPH.  Very rarely am I on my Cell Phone while driving but occasionally I will be listening to a great Preacher ans become too absorbed and drive right by my exit.  My advice for you there is to just keep driving to the next exit.  I have discovered that one exit is as good as another, they both get you off the highway.  This past week I saw four times when a driver jumped across 4 lanes to exit the highway at 80 plus MPH.  He was only one car length ahead of me when he initiated this action.  Wow!  Too close for me. First, drive safe and get to your destination in one piece.   But the Spiritual lesson here is Pay attention to your surroundings.  Watch what is going on around you.  God calls you to be responsible so we must walk in Him...

We have ALL been there and I expect more than once.  That dreaded construction zone just seems to show up at the worst times.  I must say though, I drive through one in Raleigh, NC every day and it's getting bigger but it actually has the most road workers I have seen on one particular site in a long time.  They do seem to be getting the basics underway. But in your spiritual life, what is a construction zone.  First lets look at the causes of the construction zone in the first place.  From what I can see, overloaded trucks in the form of dump trucks and going way to fast for a dump truck.  Then there are the 18 wheelers, just trying to deliver their loads on time to get paid.  But they drive the roads all the time.  I don't remember seeing too many overloaded (weight) cars or pickup trucks.  Before the need for reconstruction of paved highways there are potholes that appear and sometimes we are surprised by them and that result in tearing ...

Let's face it guys, we need help (sometimes).  When it comes to driving down the road especially one I am not familiar with I really need to pay attention to the highway signs and markers.  If I don't take the guidance they offer seriously I could end up going the wrong way on an interstate.  How bad would that be?  But as much as we have these road signs to keep us safe God offers the same guidance to keep us spiritually safe and growing in Him.  We read His Word on a routine basis ans you find yourself more prepared to push off the temptations that come your way from the devil himself.  I have said this many times before but my greatest reminder was when I was diagnosed with Cancer.  Even though I was Pastoring a church at the time I found myself groping for the right verses to help stabilize my mental attitude and the emotions this new found situation brought into my life.  Spiritually I felt even weak.  This kind of thing catches you by s...

If we were look at our lives as if we were driving down the highway or even a downtown street, the roadsides are full Billboard advertising.  I have seen everything from Church advertisements to Gentlemen's Clubs, as well as anything you might like to eat and "On Sale"......  But several years ago I was working in the Raleigh North Carolina area about 60 minutes from home and I decided to take a new route on the way home to see if I could shave off any time on my commute.  Well a new route requires that I look around and see what I could see and at the same time being safe.  I noticed some Motel Signs and that some had changed their names since the last time I had driven in this direction.  Then I saw it.  A sign advertising a Gentlemen's Club in the next town situated right at the interstate near a Truck Stop.  The sign was quite clear at what is was advertising.  There was NOTHING good about what they were offering.  As I drove this road oc...

Have you ever driven down the highway either two lane or four lane or more and been distracted by a Billboard or Road Sign?  Of course you have, we all have.  On my way to work the other day I began counting Billboards.  Some were stationary, some old, and some too old!  Some were digital (making you want to slow down below the speed limit to read or see all the advertisements) and some were small grabbing your attention to read the fine print.  Funny though, I don't remember what they were advertising.  But there is one thing for sure, I was distracted, and I don't even remember what the signs were saying.  Consumer 26, Vendor 0.  But what could I have been looking for?about Road Signs.  Speed Signs (ugh) reduce speed signs (double ugh).  There is one sign I would like to find but I believe they have all been taken down, "Resume Safe Speed".  Now I liked that one except it was normally followed by a  55 MPH 100 yards down the ...

Well we have entered an interesting time in our journey.  At our last meeting I left you on the “On Ramp”, your approach to the interstate of this incredible Journey.  Today we look at “Merging Into Traffic”. When I was in Drivers Education in High School several years ago, the instructor, Coach Frye, was good at telling us what to do and how to be safe in the process.  I really enjoyed learning under him.  He was an excellent instructor.  But one thing I remember him reminding us how to do is to plan our “Entrance” when driving onto the interstate.  Look early and pick your spot to merge and accelerate to match the speed of the oncoming traffic. In this particular situation I remember the Men around me at my home church and especially their “lack of interest” in Men’s Ministry.  I remember starting a Men’s small group knowing I would be inundated with guys interested in becoming “Men of God”.  So I set up our meeting room in one of our ...

My NEW green Devotional Bible For Men was really a great investment.  My life began to change in a very positive way and how other around me perceived that was encouraging as well.  But I was becoming more encouraged by how I was spiritually changing and my communication with God through prayer was beginning to develop greater focus and deeper purpose.  For the first time I was actually seeing how a personal relationship with God was supposed to look like.  So I put the things that I was learning into action and things that weren't so important to me (because they seemed so unobtainable before) began to become important because I realized God meant wonderful things in His word to become mine as well like a wonderful prayer life, just to start. Now I began develop a greater vision in watching for Men of God in my own home church.  Some were easy to spot because I began to understand their prayer life.  Others I began to understand because of a lack of pray...

Even though I had just acquired one of the greatest instruments in my growth as a Man of God, there were to be many obstacles along my path.  The Devotional Bible I was using was the "green one".  Some of you men may know exactly the one I am talking about.  It is an NIV translation and I was already quite familiar with that, so I knew pretty much what to expect as I read. I began to settle down for some serious reading and application of these unique devotional readings.  Day by day the readings became more challenging.  I would read the Verse For The Day, and the Passage For The Day.  But that alone didn't seem to extend me very much.  It seemed to meet my basic needs and created a hunger for more but the minimal just didn't seem to cut it.  I needed more.  Beneath each daily devotional I read was more verses.  I basically dismissed them as additional readings of the same theme.  Well I decided to try one morning when I had a li...

About 20 years ago I was struggling to find what a "Man of God" looked like and how was that kind of lifestyle to be maintained should I ever discover what that really was. I was in church for most of my life and my Dad was a great guy for the most part but I didn't want to just look or be like my Dad.  I loved him and I respected him even though his better decisions came later in life.  I did follow him in my profession as a Design Engineer and enjoy that line of work even today.  But I needed more, much more. I had teachers at school that I enjoyed learning from, and men at church that also inspired me to grow in Christ.  But no one-person seemed to have the skills to step into this much needed position as an "off-the-record" Mentor.  I have never liked the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child".  And to be honest, I don't know of any village I could trust with that responsibility nor would I want to deliver my children (now grown) into...

What do you think a Man of God looks like?  When someone sees you what do you think comes to their mind, not look at you but just see you for a moment just in passing.  What do they see, or maybe what do you think they see?  Do you even care what they see or notice in passing. Over the years in writing Devotionals for Men I have encountered many different attitudes in men.  Some pleasant, some hurried, and some could care less.  The ones that don't really care what others see in them are making a strong statement that they don't really care about their reflection to others.  They come across as cocky and short answered.  Let's face it, we are not all alike in any way.  But we were created by God as His greatest creation, not invention, but creation.  Inventions can be improved upon, but God created us "Complete".  Then sin entered the picture and things changed as sin impacted the many lives of God's greatest creation, us.  Sin go...

For the next several months this Blog will be focusing on Men and God's desire for them.  We will be covering many issues related to Men and God's desire for them in this day and time.  We will be covering topics like: What is Godly Strength and how does it apply to my life today, What is Godly Courage and how can I obtain it?, What does it really mean to wait on God and what does that look like and what can I expect in the meantime?  What do I look for. All of these are valid concerns and I will address them as well as other issues along the way through the next several months. Our first post will be this Wednesday.  Our Subject will be What are our examples of Godly Men found in God's Word and how is this relevant to us as men today. Enjoy the Journey, I will..... Rev. Ted J. Wilkins Founder and Director of "Good News Brief For Men Ministries"  (established 1998)

Proverbs 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.  (NKJV) Good Day Men, Looking at our thought life we need to ask ourselves, what are we thinking about?  What, for the most part consumes us mentally?  In Philippians 4:8-9 we are told by Paul what we should dwell on or think about.   Those verses alone is a great resource, however the training required for us to do this on a consistent basis comes from the frequent reading and study of God’s Word.  In Romans 8:29 we see that God is at work conforming us to the image of his Son Jesus Christ.  His desire for us causes us to respond to Him through dedication.  He always knows what is best for us and is constantly at work drawing us to His greater cause for our lives.  This will result in the abundant life He desires for us in John 10:10 .  We need to understand what the wicked do.  That too is covered in John 10:10....

Luke 11:17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.   (NKJV) Good Day Men, Reasoning that our thoughts are deep and very personal, today’s verse tends to overturn this cart of contentment that no one knows what you are thinking.  God always knows what you are thinking. Bringing every thought captive into Christ (2 Cor. 10:5) has new meaning doesn’t it.  He knows our thoughts and He even knows the reasoning behind those thoughts.  He knows our motives behind everything we do.  As much as we would like to dismiss this fact, we simply cannot.  There is no reason for evil or bad thoughts toward someone especially knowing that God will handle it.  We just need to place issues in His hands and let Him deal with……..  us. If I deliver someone to God to “take care of” concerning a certain situation, I can expect Him to answer my...

2Corinthians 10: 4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  (NKJV) Good Day Men, The battle for our thought life as men is quite complex, but that doesn’t excuse us from the battle. In John 10:10 we see that Satan desires to only destroy us.  He hates it when we pray.  He has nothing to fight our prayers with other than distractions in our thought life that are not healthy for us.  Praying without distractions is almost impossible, but we should never give up. Satan likes to attack us on other fronts as well.  As long as he can keep us from reading our Bibles and spending time in prayer and going to church and Bible Studies he will continue to win these skirmishes for the mind.  We need to give the control of our thought life to G...