I Talk To Myself, And I'm Not Crazy

Talking to yourself has gotten a bad wrap I think. If I stand around out in public and talk to myself, it won't be long until somebody is going to think that I am mentally unstable. Yet, we are actually encouraged in Scripture to talk to ourselves, and by doing so it starts the process of renewing our minds to the truth of God's Word.

In Joshua chapter one, God is encouraging the new leader of the Israelite nation to be strong and of good courage. He tells Joshua to meditate on the laws of God (God's Word), and then his way would prosper and he would have good success. Another word for meditate is to mutter. To say over and over again what God's Word says about you.

Now let me bring this over into today's way of life. There is plenty of ugly stuff out there to make you think that you can never make it in this life. But that doesn't change the fact that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He also said, "I am the Lord and I change not." (Malachi 3:6) We can take Him at His Word, that whatever He did for Joshua, He will do for us. The really cool thing is that we have a better covenant than Joshua had.

We are living in a time that is the most exciting time in history, and we can and do have what we say. So let me ask you this, what are you saying when you talk to yourself? And believe me, we all talk to ourselves. What did you call yourself the last time you did something wrong? Did the words, "idiot", "moron", "stupid", or some other word that is similar to those? We are programmed to say the wrong things to ourselves, it's the way of this world. Don't believe me? Watch the news for a few minutes and see if you don't hear more negative news than positive.

The most important things said about us, come from us. Remember the story about David and his men in the Bible? They had gone out to fight, and came back to find that all of their families, animals and stuff had been taken by some bad guys. It was so bad that these mighty, warriors all sat down in the dirt and began to cry. Things got real ugly when they began to talk about killing David. So what did David do? Scripture states that David encouraged himself in the Lord.

How'd he do that? He began to rehearse all of the good things that God had done for him up to this point. Once he was able to get his emotions under control, he then asked the Lord if he should chase after the bad guys to get all their families, animals and stuff back. The Lord told him to go and do it, and they did and got everything back.

Did you notice that David was in no place to hear from God until he encouraged himself (Began to talk to himself) in the Lord? I think that is where I miss it a lot of times, I talk about what is going on, but forget to talk to myself and get back on course with the Lord. Maybe I should do that more often, hmm, I think I will. How about you? Are you going to begin to talk to yourself in the right way now?

Strength and honor!

Your Heart Is Free

Yesterday after church, my bride and I came home, fixed lunch and then did what we usually do on a Sunday afternoon, we rested. As I waited for lunch to finish cooking, I was flipping through the channels to see what show I would watch during my nap. This weekend was a free Showtime weekend on Direct TV, so I was looking to see if there were any movies I may not have seen yet that were showing. What I found was "Braveheart". Now I own the director's version of this movie and have watched it more times than I can actually remember, but if I'm not doing anything important and it is on, I'll always stop and watch it.

There was a line in the movie that caught my attention this time watching it, and it really struck a chord with me. Young William's father and brother have been killed by the English, and he is dreaming about his dad. They are laying side by side in his dream when his father turns his head to look at William and says, "Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it." Here is rough video of the scene:

As I pondered the words of William's father, I couldn't help but think about my life as a Christian. That is after all the whole reason that Jesus came, to free us. Look at this passage in Galatians 5:1 AMP "In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery[which you have once put off]."

Here's the deal, Jesus purchased our freedom with His death, burial and resurrection. Why then, do we not live free? And I'm not talking just about living lives that are entangled with sin so much as just the fact that we sometimes don't enjoy the freedom that Jesus has given us. It's like prisoners of war, even after the fact that they have been freed, sometimes they don't really know what to do with that freedom. For obvious reasons they are a little bit skiddish about what to do once they have been liberated.

I think we as Christians do that too. We live almost in fear sometimes that we are going to do something wrong, or embarrass ourselves so we hold back. All the while the Father is watching us, maybe even inspiring us to let loose a little, but because of fear we never really act out what perhaps deep in our hearts we really want to do.

If our hearts are truly free, and we were to live like it, what would that look like exactly? I think it would be that our days would be full, and vibrant with a life people would envy. We are told to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. (1 Peter 3:15) How many times has that happened to you? I mean do you live in a such a way that people look at you and wonder about why you are as alive as you are? If our hearts are truly free in the way that Jesus wants them to be, then people will wonder about it, and ask you.

So, if we are not being asked about the hope that is within us, it makes me wonder if we are truly living free? I think we need to reevaluate what we are doing as Christians, don't you? After all, as Christians we are the ones who have the answer to life's challenges, and His name is Jesus. So let's get out there and live as if our hearts really are as free as Jesus made them.

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

If Only I Could Go Back And Change This

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you went back in time and changed some of the things you did that weren't the best decisions in your life? You know, the old "hindsight is 20/20" thing can be somewhat appealing when the notion of changing your past to give you a better future is involved. This is something we've seen in movies and television shows which causes us to figure this could be a good thing, regardless of whatever effect it would have on the space/time continuum.

I used to think that going back to high school knowing what I know as an adult would be a good thing. I'd do things differently, make a better effort to learn things and be nicer to the people that I maybe wasn't as nice to as I should have been. But this morning as this thought crossed my mind, I began to think about where I am as an adult, and truthfully I wouldn't be where I am if some of those things in my past were taken away and replaced with other options.

Yeah, I wish I would have been nicer to some of the kids in my school. Not that I was a bully or anything, at least not in my eyes, but what they actually saw in me could have said otherwise. I wish that I had not been bullied, or at least would have stood up to a few of those who picked on me instead of cowering down in fear.

I remember one time in like the 5th grade that my friend Terry and I decided to bring our G.I. Joes to school to play with during recess. Man, how I would like to go back and change that. We were harassed endlessly for days for playing with Barbie dolls, it didn't matter how many weapons our soldiers had. And it was about that time that I lost interest in them, and a part of my childhood died that day.

How many things did you give up as a child due to bullying or the attitudes of your peers concerning those items that you loved? This may be one of the reasons that I have always told my children not to care what anyone thinks of them except Jesus. And there in is the crux of what I'm trying to say. You see, if I had not taken my G.I. Joes to school with me, and been ridiculed for playing with them, would I have been as adamant with my children about not caring what others think of them?

So you could say in a round about way that what I learned in my childhood, even as discomforting as it was for me then, has helped my kids become better people today. So if I were to go back and change that day in my history, what kind of kids would my kids have become? I think that sometimes we romanticize our past, and wish to change it for the sake of making our lives back then easier, when in reality we would be destroying part of who we are today. After all it is those things which happened to us in our past that has helped to make us who we are.

There has been much change in my life lately, and I guess I've been doing a little bit of reevaluating because of it. And since I've always said, "If I could only go back and change this, I would be so much better off." this morning I've come to realize that those things in my past are important. They are important because I would not be the man I am today without them. So yes, while there were some hurtful things back then, changing them would change the outcome of who I am, and truthfully looking at who I am right now, makes me appreciate in a different light who I was back then.

Don't let your past hinder you in your future. Also, don't wear the things that happened to you in your past like a badge of honor, instead let's do like the Apostle Paul instructed us, and forget those things which are behind us, and let's press on towards the mark of the prize which is in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Trusting Him Especially Now

You know since I have started this journey of not having a job to go to each day, I can honestly say it has been very interesting. I seem to be way more observant of what we have in the bank, pantry and my soul. We have cut back on our spending, only doing what is absolutely necessary of course. I'm not gorging myself like I used to either, not living in lack, but thinking more frugally for a change.

The biggest thing for me however, is to be aware of my soul and what I am believing. First off, understand that when I use the term soul, I'm talking about my mind, will and emotions, not my spirit man. My spirit man is the part of me that is made in the image of God, is born again and filled with God's Spirit. My soul, is the part of me that reasons, feels emotionally and retains information.

What I'm finding is that all of that time I have spent over the last several years putting God's Word into my heart is paying off. When situations arise that I don't know what to do, God's Word comes up out of my spirit and I begin to quote it to myself and the circumstances change. Let me give you an example of my day yesterday, and how this looked in my life.

I was going to go to Broken Arrow to help some guys mow a lady's yard. She goes to church with us, and doesn't have any yard equipment, so we were going to help her out. As I was heading in that direction, I first needed to stop by the shoe store and get the store's deposit so I could take it to the bank for my bride. As I was walking across the parking lot to the store, I heard something and looked back at my truck only to find radiator fluid flowing out of my truck onto the pavement. So, instead of driving the truck, I took the van.

Now as I was gassing up the van, I thanked God for His provision. This is something new for me, as I've not always done that before. Now I thank Him for providing gas for my vehicles each time I fill up and check the oil. I got to Broken Arrow, mowed the lady's yard and headed back to Sapulpa to pick up my daughter and take her to work. About half way back, the check engine light started flashing and the motor starting acting funny. Talk about coincidence! Two vehicles in less than three hours, what the heck?

I was reminded in my spirit of that Scripture that says that God is our very present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) I immediately reminded the Lord of His Word and followed that up by saying, "Lord, help! I'm in trouble!" So I made it home, waited for my son to arrive, took the car he's been borrowing (he blew the motor in his car a couple of weeks ago) and took Sissy to work. When I got back to the shoe store I checked on my truck and found out after talking with a friend that it looks like my water pump may have gone out, the leaking was due to something called a "weeping valve" or something like that. (actually that was good news for me, that's an easy fix with some of my friends of course)

It seems with all that has gone on in my life the past few weeks, my faith has been tried more than ever before. Maybe because I have not really had to trust in my God like I am having to do now. Proverbs 3:5 - 6 has become my life Scripture; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will show you which path to take." Thank You Jesus, for helping me and my family learn how to stay closer to Your heart and experience this full life You promised us! (John 10:10)

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

And So It Begins...

DC Talk put out a song a few years back called Nu Thang, and the opening lyrics go like this:

"Ya know He's doin' it,

God is doin' a nu thang."

Well I'd like to say that there is something new going on with the Felts family. And yes, I do believe that God is in it.

One of the things that I love most about the Bible is the stories that God tells us. Really, there is a just about any type of story you might want in there; from romance to action to horror. God loves a good dramatic story too. Look at the story of the three Hebrew children for instance. God didn't rescue them, until they were thrown into the flames. What about Moses? He leads the people out of Egypt only to be pursued by Pharaoh and his army. And it is not until their backs are up against the wall that He tells Moses to raise his staff so they could pass through the Red Sea. I mean, He could have had angels wipe the army out, He didn't have to make the people wait like that did He?

God isn't cruel, and He doesn't like to see mankind suffer, or just play games with us, no He likes to show off! I'm convinced of that the more I read through the Bible, and live on this planet. After all He's God, He could have smote all of the Egyptians and just let His people leave any time that they wanted to, but instead He chose to send Moses, and let the story play out that way.

The Bible was given to us to be an inspiration and instruction manual. Like the acronym says:

B. asic

I. nstructions

B. efore

L. eaving

E. arth

That is what the Bible can be, to those who will receive it. The instruction manual which helps you to know the who's, what's when's, where's and why's of this life. But unlike what most of us would prefer, the Bible/God does not give a step by step, play by play, this is exactly how things are going to go way of following Him. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) God wants us to trust Him, and to do that we have to live by faith. And faith doesn't work if you have all of the answers, all of the time.

And so that brings me to the announcement that I want to make this morning. Faith and trusting God. Something that the Felts family is now going to get to live out in a much bigger way than we ever have before. And it is exciting, and a little bit scary at the same time. You see, after today I will no longer be Dave the shoe-guy. After 19 years as Sapulpa's shoe-guy, the decision has been made that I must step down from the store and pursue other employment.

With the effects of the present economy, and new retail shoe locations popping up all around our area, business has been off for the past couple of years. As we looked at the numbers from the beginning of this year, our losses have just about equaled my salary. The decision was made that if my salary was taken out of the business, then it should begin to at least break even. And as I'm sure you are aware, a business that is losing money cannot stay in business. (Despite what our government thinks.)

So as of 6 PM today, you will not find me at Felts Shoes in Sapulpa. (Unless I happen to be there to take lunch to my bride. She is staying on to help out for the time being.) But before you think that this is a bad thing, I am excited about the opportunities that lie before me and my family. Yes, it might be tight financially for a time, but it is also a great time for God to show up in our lives and save the day, so to speak.

For many, many years now I have counseled men to not just take a job to make money, but to go out and find what it is that makes their hearts come alive and then to go out and do that. Because what this world really needs is men who have come alive. And if you find that work which God has for you to do, then it really isn't work at all. And what I have seen in the lives of those who have done this, is that the money follows them. Okay, and for those of you who think that I'm going to sit around and wait for God to bring it to me, that is not how He works, so I will be looking for gainful employment to provide for my family, my focus is just not going to be just about a paycheck.

God's Word is true. God is a faithful God. Me, and my family are right in the center of His will. And while I know that, this does not mean that we haven't had to reevaluate some things, and ask Him if in fact this was caused by sin in our lives, or an attack of the enemy. Cheryl and I feel as if we may have missed God a few years back and should have left the store then, we've asked the Lord to forgive us for not listening closer and following His leading back then, but you know when you have the security of a paycheck, it can be distracting to the leading of the Holy Ghost. It shouldn't be, but it was in our case.

The really amazing thing is that God is a redeemer and a forgiver. And I believe that at 47 years of age, my best days are ahead of me. I told Cheryl one night not too long ago, that I wanted the last half of my life to be better, and for me to do more for the Kingdom of God than the first half of my life. And I believe that with God's help, it will be! So be on the lookout for a new man after today, God is amazing, and it is my honor to get to serve Him and learn a nu thang for sure!

Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!

Oh, and if you haven't pre-ordered my latest book, "God's First Knight: In Service Of The King" click the link at the top right hand corner of this page and get your copy pre-ordered today.

People Need Jesus, Not A Jackass

In John 13:34 - 35 Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other." The Greek word that Jesus used for love is the word "agapao" which means, "to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly".

Today's blog may be a little too much for some people, but I know that I need to hear this, and if I need to, others do too. In my life, the love walk is probably the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. I can dismiss a person in a matter of seconds, without even really thinking about it. That's sad to admit, especially when the whole reason that Jesus came and took that beating and died on the cross was because of love. He loved us so that we could love others.

So since I realize that I have a hard time with this, what is at the heart of me not wanting to love others? Being a jackass. You heard me correctly, the reason that I don't love is because I am a jackass. Okay, here is the definition I found of the word jackass: A foolish or stupid person; a blockhead. Now I understand the power of confession, and saying the right things, but if I don't do what Jesus says, that is foolish and stupid. That is me being a blockhead.

I think selfishness is at the heart of the whole thing. Love is hard, it takes something to give of yourself to others and not look for anything in return. If there is any hint of selfishness, then you won't be able to give love, it will stop up the flow of God in your life. And this is the really stupid thing, I know better, and I bet you do too.

Sometimes for me, I just allow myself to get distracted by the cares of this life. We all have things that we have to do, that is part of this life. But what we must not do is let those little things come in and cause us to miss out on the opportunity to give love to someone who may be in a place of great need in their lives. Remember, some people are really good poker players. They may be looking like they've got it all together on the outside, but on the inside there could be a tremendous storm raging.

What I need to do is let the love of Jesus shine through me, and be Jesus to the people that I come into contact with, instead of thinking of myself and acting like a jackass. If you would like to do the same thing, then pray this prayer with me. Father, I ask You now according to 1 John 1:9 to forgive me for withholding love to those around me. Holy Spirit, I ask You to remind me when I see others to let the light of Jesus shine through me, and not show my own selfish ways. In Jesus Name, Amen.

So let's be Jesus and not jackasses! Strength and honor for the Kingdom and the King!