Mat 5:23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, Mat 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

"Quit praying" the Lord Said. I said "Quit praying!" I thought that was a strange thing for God to say to me. He said "Go pay your bill at the Christian bookstore and then come and pray." Earlier that week I had stopped by a local Christian bookstore and purchased some books. I used a check that I had in my wallet and neglected to tell my wife of my purchase. It just so happened that our account was low on funds when I wrote the check and the check bounced before my wife was able to make a deposit. When the Lord said this to me I was at church for morning prayer. I had stopped to pray before I was to begin my work day. I literally had just started praying when the Lord spoke to me. So, I picked up my Bible and headed out to make the drive to the Christian Bookstore to make things right. When I arrived at the bookstore I approached the counter to explain what had happened. I had enough cash on me to pay what was owed and clear my debt. I had such a peace in my spirit that I was being obedient to the Lord and honoring his word by making this right. The lady behind the counter said to me "You would be surprised to know how many Christians bounce checks and never come in to make things right". I was shocked when she said this to me. We talked for only a minute more as I had to get to work. So, again I apologized for the oversight on my part and thanked her for understanding. When I left the store I got to thinking about what she said. I wondered how many Christians are not receiving any answers to prayer because of something that they have done and not made right yet. Do you have something you have to make right? Go make it right and start receiving answers to your prayers.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

"Father God you're so rich just drop me a golden curb" was my prayer. I was a new Christian and been tithing for about a year. God had been blessing me tremendously but at this particular time I was in a dilemma. I had to pay my car insurance which was one hundred and sixty dollars and all I had left was my tithe which was also one hundred and sixty dollars. This was definitely a test of my faith. The Bible tells us that the tithe belongs to God and I surely wasn't going to take what belongs to God. The Bible also says that God will open to us the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing to the tither. I remembered I had read in the book of revelation that the streets in heaven are made of Gold. So, I asked God to drop me a curb in child like faith and immediately went to the bank to have a money order made for one hundred and sixty dollars for my tithe. I began praising God in faith for meeting my financial needs. The next day my job required me to go to the downtown area of the City of New Orleans. After parking my car, I began to walk to the place of business where I was going to work. As I was walking, I looked down and saw a fifty dollar bill folded over. I reached down to pick it up and flipped over the bill to see another fifty dollar bill. I flipped over that fifty dollar bill and to my amazement I saw another one hundred dollar bill. I had found two hundred dollars lying there on the street. I looked up and the street before me was empty. I looked back and the street behind me was also empty. I put the money in my pocket and walked into a nearby retailer. I asked very loudly if anyone had lost any money. A number of customers turned around and sort of looked at me with blank faces. I turned around and walked back out of the retail store. I remembered my prayer of the day before and I said "God you just dropped me a curb thank you!". I was now able to pay my car insurance. Our God is the El-Shaddai not the El-Cheapo! I went on to pay my car insurance and I paid my tithe of twenty dollars on the two hundred I had found. This left me with twenty dollars which was just enough money to go to eat at the fast food burger place where my future wife was working. God met my needs in a way that I had not anticipated. All I did was believe his word and acted in faith. Are you facing a financial dilemma like I was? Put your faith in God and trust his word and ask for your curb!

Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

"I heard that" the Lord said. My wife and I were have an intense discussion. Some would call it an argument but I would rather say an intense discussion. I can't really remember what it was about. My wife had said something to me and I quietly did not respond. I did however answer her in my thoughts harshly. That's when the Lord said "I heard that". I immediately repented and said "I'm sorry Lord". Thoughts that are not spoken die unborn and it is very important not to speak hurtful or bitter words. This day however, God showed me that controlling my tongue wasn't enough. He wants the meditations of my heart to be pleasing to him as well. How many times do you control your tongue but let your mind run wild with angry or bitter words. God hears our thoughts and sees our hearts. Did you have any thoughts today that would prompt you to say "I'm sorry Lord". Let us as believers in Jesus Christ pray what David prayed. "Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptabe in the Sight ,O lord, my strength and my redeemer".

Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

"You Jerk" my youngest son blurted out loudly in the restaurant. We had just finished praying the blessing over our food when our youngest son who was five at the time made known his dislike for his brother who was seven. We were very embarrassed to say the least. As believers in Jesus Christ we always try to be a good example to others as a witness of Gods goodness. My youngest son shouting "You Jerk" on the heels of a family prayer is not the example any Godly family would want to project. He shouted so loudly many other families looked over at us. Some just smiled and some just sneered. I promptly corrected my youngest son. I told him "Son, the Bible says to love your brother and that's not love. Now, tell your brother your sorry." He looked over at him and screamed very loudly again "I'm sorry you jerk". At this point I tried to cover my laughter with my hand so I could correct him. During all this comical malaise I realized how many times mature believers do the same thing. We say "I'm sorry with our mouths but in our hearts were saying "You Jerk". He just verbalized what many of us do mentally. So, I used this occasion to forgive all the "Jerks" in my life that may have still been hanging around in my heart. The Bible says to forgive from the heart. So today take a moment and do some spiritual inventory. There may be some "Jerks" you need to forgive from the heart.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

"I am the way" The Lord responded to my question about my girlfriend. I was working for a computer company and had just stepped onto an elevator. I had just asked the Lord in a silent prayer if my girlfriend was the one I should marry. He then responded in a still small voice and he said "I am the way." I responded to the Lord's answer "Lord I know you're the way but that's not telling me anything". He said "seek me first and my kingdom whatever is of me will be added to you whatever is not of me will fall away." So that's what I did and we have been married for over 26 years now. Many people often ask me now that I'm a Pastor if the one their dating is the one God has for them. I often tell them what the Lord told me. It's very easy to determine if any relationship is of God or not. The question you have to ask yourself is simple. Does this relationship lead me closer to Christ or further away? God will never send you anything or anyone that will lead you away from him. Many have foolishly thought that Marriage is a magic wand to transform their donkey into a thoroughbred. You know he or she smokes, drinks, gambles, curses like a sailor and is always trying to get you to have premarital sex and yet many are still asking God if they should marry this person. The best you're going to get is when your dating if they're not in Christ. As a Believer in Jesus Christ, if the person you're interested in marrying is behaving like a "spiritual donkey" instead of a "spiritual thoroughbred" forget it. If God's love doesn't have them neither do you. "But Pastor Joe he's so cute"! I have been told. Cuteness fades, bellies grow, hair falls out and sometimes teeth. Put God's kingdom and his way of doing and being right first and whatever is of God will be added to you and you will be very blessed!

Rom 6:23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Thou shalt not steal" I yelled at our Christian baseball game as the runner took off from first base to steal second base. As soon as I said those words I heard the Holy Spirit say "yea and thou shalt not also commit adultery". I was stunned as I realized the Holy Spirit was showing me this brother was committing the sin of adultery. At the time, I was a new believer and wasn't too sure if I was to confront him. So I began to pray for him. It wasn't long after this game that this brothers sin was exposed. He soon began to live a flagrantly sinful lifestyle. He left his wife and began living with another woman. I would see him from time to time and would try to minister to him. He would joke or laugh ,but repentance wasn't on his heart or mind. He seemed not to care about eternity and was living as if he would never die. The day came when in a drunken stupor he wrecked his car and was killed. He died as a young man cut off in the prime of life. Sin has an end "death". John 10:10 says "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)". He forsook God, his family and eternal life for a moment of sinful pleasure on the scales of eternity. Sin is a hard taskmaster it will keep you longer that you want to stay. Sin will make you pay more than you ever thought you would pay. Sin will come to collect its wages on an unexpected day!

Pro 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

"Father God can you make me Laugh again" I prayed. I had been a Christian for a few years and was going through a really rough season in my life. I was wondering if I was going to ever laugh again. I had made plans to attend our church's men's retreat and was hoping God would touch my life. During the retreat I listened intently to the ministers and took many notes. The teachings were very Good and I was thankful for them ,but I so desperately needed God' manifest presence in my life. After all the speakers were finished on the second night the retreat was for all practical purposes over. The leaders were asked to pray for a brother who was sitting on a bench outside by a camp fire. So with the leaders and others standing there we all pointed our hands toward this brother or touched the nearest person as a point of contact when the ministers prayed. The minister began to pray and as he did I whispered a prayer "God give me all the overflow" and all of a sudden the power of God came upon me. I immediately fell out on the Ground laughing in the Joy of the Lord. His presence seemed to bubble up within me like a river of pure Holy Ghost Joy. God was definitely causing me to laugh as I never thought was possible. Others at the retreat came over by me and were wondering what could possibly be so funny. Whoever came over by me started laughing to and fell out. Somewhere in the midst of his wonderful presence and Joy I was healed, delivered and set free. If your experiencing a rough patch in life be encouraged because God knows how to make you laugh again!