1. Repent of your tendency towards laziness or obsessive drive. Ask God to give you a burning desire from the Holy Spirit to “want” to pray and study His word. Literally ask for this specifically in prayer. But have the “desire” be from Him, and not of your flesh.
2. Make it a habit. Once you get into the habit of doing a bible study and personal prayer time; it becomes part of your daily routine. A daily routine doesn’t have to be uninspiring. It just makes it easier to accomplish. We humans are creatures of habit. When we get ready in the morning, or at night or during the day,if we don’t make God part of our habit; then the whole day goes by and you wake up the next day and say, “ oh man I didn’t do my Bible study.” Doing a prolonged time of prayer, seeking God’s face, should be as common as eating breakfast, combing your hair, or drinking your favorite beverage when you get up. Once it becomes a habit, it then becomes strange when you don’t do it. A huge step towards growing is to make prayer and Bible study a habit.
3. Be realistic. I hear people all the time tell me they are going to start setting their alarm an hour earlier, and get up in the wee hours of the morning for their personal growth time. 99% of the time, this will never last. You have to create this habit of devotion time that is reasonable and realistic with your life style. There are some people who actually wake up at 5:00 a.m. and can do a quiet time before anyone else in the house gets up. If that is your personality bend, “a morning person,” then go for it. But if you like to linger when the alarm goes off, don’t attempt to do spiritual growth at an hour that is not your cup of tea. You will only grit your teeth for a month or two and then get out of the habit. Carve out a time and place that works for you and stick to it. If you have kids, then they need to be made to understand that you are not to be disturbed during this time. Invariably there may be an interruption with small kids, and just go with it. But it shouldn’t be that you are always interrupted by them, and don’t get to do it. It is awesome for them to learn that you respect your time alone with God. It teaches them a valuable lesson for their own future spiritual growth.
4. Refuse to feel guilty if you miss a day. It happens. You don’t skip a day without prayer. I mean you may just miss occasionally your private time. It’s okay. Just quickly re-establish the habit.
5. If you can’t do this consistently, check your heart. You may have a heart problem. Our King not only commands us to do this, but how could you stand in His presence and not want to do this? If nothing else, let Jesus do heart surgery on you in 2012.
   Afterall, He is the great physician.

By Travis Plumlee director of Family Ark Ministries

“Last month we had a very interesting visitor who traveled for twenty hours to come and meet us. He is a listener of the Kannada LifeWord program. It was interesting to know that he came to know Christ as his personal savior through the broadcast. This man traveled all the way by himself and was completely blind. He came wanting to meet us just to let us know how thankful he was for the program. He only spent a couple of hours with us and then headed straight back to where he was from. It was a very touching time for all of us who met him. In a country like India where our system neglects the physically challenged, it was such a joy to see his own just to come and thank the ministry. Let us all continue to work together so that we can reach out to many more like this young man who needed a savior.”

Prashant Prakash, Producer
- Kannada broadcast, India

Compiling a series of personal memoirs, historical facts, and biblical biographies, Pastor Barr presents the reader with practical and useful views that will enrich his or her life. Short, pointed and positive, For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom, is a collection of inspirational thoughts presented in an easy and enjoyable manner. Like looking through a kaleidoscope, the beauty of God’s wisdom and glory come to life for today’s reader. Although deep biblical truths are shared, they are shared within an often amusing common sense manner from which all ages can benefit. Currently Pastor Barr’s book is only offered online.

James (Jim) Barr has a total of almost forty years in the ministry serving as Pastor, and Missionary. Brother Barr also conducts both short and extensive fun workshops on Finding God’s Wisdom for Your Life for churches, bookstores, auxiliary church groups, and clubs. He may be contacted by email at: pastorbarr@hotmail.com or by phone (812) 325-0158. To purchase the book and find more information concerning author Barr and his book is also available at www.amazon.com/author/jamesbarr or through the author’s website net153.com

For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom by James Barr

Ephesians 3:1-13

Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus demonstrates that the purpose of the Lord’s New Testament Church was the inclusion of all nationalities in the proclaiming of God’s eternal plan of redemption to all of humanity. Paul’s personal testimony concerning his role in God’s mission of sharing the unsearchable riches of Christ with the Gentiles exposes some important principals relating to servant leadership.

1. Servant leadership focuses on God’s plan. V 2,”Dispensation of the grace of God,” denotes an arrangement or plan. Paul states the he “was made a minister, according to the grace of God, V7.” Paul was not selected by his own choosing but was entrusted to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul viewed his calling as a privilege and sacred trust. Paul was divinely appointed by God, his apostleship was nothing less than the result of the working of God.
2. Servant leadership involves stewardship. Paul’s stewardship of grace has particular reference to the inclusion of all people groups in God’s mystery of redemption. The inclusion of all nationalities into the “family of God” and the Lord’s New Testament church was revealed in the Old Testament, but what was not foreseen in Old Testament times was the fact that God’s promised blessings would incorporate the Jewish and Gentile believers on the common ground of Divine Grace. God’s favor is not to be enjoyed as a private luxury but shared with others.
3. Servant leadership has a purpose, V. 8. “Unsearchable riches of Christ,” reveals a missionary purpose. It refers to the boundless resources of Christ for meeting the needs of sinful humanity, V. 9. “Make all men see” has reference to a theological purpose. God’s intention has always been to offer redemption to all nationalities, but for all practical purposes that intention lay unrevealed until the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was revealed to the world.

Since the letter was written to the church of Ephesus these principals have application not only to ministers but every member of the Lord’s New Testament church. Servant leadership involves your role in God’s mission, of sharing the unsearchable riches of Christ. Remember it is nothing less than the working of God. Servant leadership involves stewardship. God’s favor is not to be enjoyed as a private luxury but shared with others. Servant leadership has a missionary and theological purpose.

It is encouraging to know that God has a role for each of us in His Divine Master Plan. There are no second-class citizens in God’s kingdom. We are all equals.

published in January 2012 issue of the Missouri Missionary Baptist Paper

Research shows that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Make God’s word a habit, and take the 21-day challenge.

Chronological:
Read the events of the Bible as they occurred chronologically. Download it here.

Blended:
If you prefer not to read straight through the Bible but want to add variety to your Scripture reading. Download it here.

Another friend of mine, Dr. David DeVries, (www.MissionalChallenge.com) is a great communicator and teacher on how our primary task as Christians  is to make disciples…Disciple makers that make disciples.  He really believes that we ought to reach out to where people are and engage them with the gospel…in deed and in word.  It makes sense to me. We will not reach very many souls if we simply wait for them to show up in our church services.  In one of Dr. Dave’s blogs he wrote about 4 ways that we can show people outside the church that we care about them.  The following list is from his blog:

1. Serve
How can you meet genuine needs? Can you offer to babysit your neighbor’s kids? Can you help your neighbor with a home-improvement project? Find out a need in their life right now – and offer to help meet that need. (If you don’t know what they might need – Ask them!)

2. Time
How could you give someone the gift of time? People are busy. You probably need more time in your day. Think of ways to give someone more time. Offer to pick up there kids and give them a ride home from practice or school. Offer to let someone go in front of you the next time you are standing in line at Starbucks or the grocery store. That’s a gift of time. Give up a close parking spot to someone so that they don’t have to walk as far – especially if it’s someone that you know.

3. Affirmation
Encourage others. Send an encouraging note, email, or text message. Tell them something you appreciate about them. Acknowledge their efforts. Celebrate their progress. Affirm their kids. These things are always encouraging. Give them the gift of your affirming words.

4. Gifts
Who doesn’t like gifts? I do – and I’m so grateful when someone gives me even the smallest gift. It’s a tangible expression of care. If you like getting gifts, others you know probably do too. Can you bake an apple pie for a neighbor? Can you buy a cup of coffee? Can you give someone a gift card? Gifts can open up an amazing opportunity for conversation.

I must admit that his list of four ways to care for others is simple, very simple!  Yet how many times do we let an opportunity to do one of those four things simply get pass us?   Maybe a good resolution for this new year would be to do all four for someone outside of your church family before this winter is over.  And come Spring, recommit to do all four again.  And when Summer comes…well you get the point.

“For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.” — Jesus (Mt 25:35-36)

By Danny Kirk, Missions Director

The stage for Alive 2011 was set at the Airport Hilton in St.Louis during the last three days of December. Nearly 280 students and sponsors attended the conference designed to teach us about our identity and how it is found in Christ alone. We were led in worship by Broken Vessels (www.brokenvessels.com), a band with members from Tennessee and Louisiana. They did an excellent job in setting our hearts towards heaven and preparing us to listen to God through His Word. Dustin Wisely from Magnolia, Arkansas was the main speaker. He spoke like a polished veteran, and without a lot of hype and fanfare simply shared the Word of God. He reminded everyone that if we really want to grow, then we have to be in the Word. And as God often does, He touched and changed lives through the preaching of His Word. At least 6 people gave their lives to Christ, and many others recommitted their relationship with God.

A new feature in this year’s conference was small group break-out sessions. Blake Shelby of PSE Archery and Johnny LaGrand (from Potosi) of Mountain Screamer Game Calls spoke to the young men about being a godly man in a world that is telling us to be otherwise. Erin Kingston (war veteran and formerly from Bethel Baptist Church, Lonedell) and Jaclyn Rowe (FBC/Potosi; www.jaclynrowe.com talked to the ladies about such real life issues as modesty, hypocrisy, being a true woman of God, and where to find our identity when things don’t go like we planned.

On the lighter side, 321 Improv (www.321improv.com) entertained us and made us laugh till we cried. Check out their website to see what they are all about.

The Alive Committee would like to thank you for all the support and prayers, and we look forward to seeing you at the 2012 Alive Conference. Be looking for our new website coming early 2012. Like us on Facebook: Alive Ministries – Youth Alive Conference

Here are a few pictures from the recent Youth Alive Event in St. Louis.

The youth alive devotional book is available online for free from:
http://ozarkinspirations.webs.com/Writings/ALIVE2011.pdf

1.) Hug more than ever before.

Try to increase the amount of affection you give to those around you. We live in an ever increasing cold and uncaring world. We need to not only tell people that we love them, we need to show them.  For some of you this will be a real challenge. But everyone can do it. Hug someone each day who means something to you.

2.) Witness to someone.

They may not accept Jesus as their savior, but you have to try.  It is a command from God. We are to tell others who Jesus is, and that they need him. When was the last time you worked at leading someone to Jesus?  Make it a goal in 2012.

3.) Encourage others.

I Thessalonians 5:11. No matter how much you encourage others, set out in 2012 to encourage all those around you. Start at home and spread outwardly.  Smiles, handshakes, hugs, visits, and most importantly some encouraging words. Build others up.

4.) Let go of your anger.

Set as a goal to not get angry over something at least once a week. It is simply a choice. It is something that you do actually get mad about, but instead of responding how you always have in the past with anger; you choose to withdraw and walk away. A soft answer turns away wrath. Being slow to anger is the best way to be. Pray for them. Bless them. And walk away. You will find out that you can in fact control your anger. It is a choice. I will choose one thing each week to not go to world war III over.  And keep growing from there.

5.) Forgive someone this year.

You will never have total healing until you practice forgiveness.  Forgiveness is for you, not them. You can ask for it, text it, mail it or keep it in your heart privately but still give it to God. It frees you up. And we are required to do this one also.  You will be happier and free of torment when you practice forgiveness.

6.) Visit an older person.

Have as a resolution to visit an elderly person on a regular basis throughout 2012. It doesn’t have to be weekly, although that would be amazing. Even just once a month would help end one of the cruelest realities in human existence— loneliness. It can be a relative or a total stranger in an apt or nursing home. It could be a shut in from your church. Drop by and say hi to a dear older person.

7.) Mentor a young person.

On a monthly basis, find one or two young people that you can mentor. Pass on wisdom.  Encourage. Do something with them. Older women and men are to teach the younger ones about life. Pray and pick out a kid at your church and just make it a point to go up and speak something nice to them each week. Add a smile.

8.) Personal growth spiritually.

Many people set goals of growing intellectually by learning something new. Set a goal to do something that causes you to grow spiritually anew.  Study something different. Go somewhere. Increase your meditation and devotion time.  You can’t go wrong when you grow right. Seek God for guidance.

9.) Get a ministry.

We all are supposed to serve Jesus by serving others. Find somewhere to serve others at least once a month. Be committed and do this. Don’t neglect the work.

10.) Testify.

At least once a week, tell someone, somewhere, how God has been good to you. Not just at church, tell a neighbor or co-worker. Make it a weekly habit to share that our God is good all the time. It increases our joy and encourages others to seek Him.

11.) Laugh more.

This will be hard. But enjoy life more with your family. Spend more time with them. Don’t be so serious all the time. Look for things to laugh about. It is good medicine according to scripture.  Focus on people and love and laughter this year.

12.) PTO. Personal Time Off.

It is not selfish. It is self-preservation. Once a day come apart, or you will fall apart.  Build in a daily habit of relaxing, restoring and being quiet.  If you do these 12 things, you will have a great 2012. Now go make a great year for the glory of the Lord for He is worthy to be praised.

published in December issue of The Missouri Missionary Baptist paper.

Family Ark Ministries with Dr. Travis Plumlee