"AskPastorWalter"

LUST-FREE LIVING... YOU can't help "what you see", but YOU can control "what you look at", after you've seen it!  I call this "the covenant with my eyes"; or NOT A SECOND LOOK! It IS a "protective factor" and maintenance of the heart, that forbids the hyper-sexual culture and lascivious undercurrent in our world, from infecting and polluting your life! Why is that even necessary? BECAUSE, "the lust of the flesh", "the lust of the eyes", and "the pride of life", is to have NO DOMINION over YOU! All THE SIGHTS that are out there, for your visual entertainment and amusement, have a COST associated with them... EVERY SEED you sow, including those the "eye gates" pursue and supplant in the garden of your heart, will bring forth a HARVEST! Either LUST will drive you to constructive ends or destructive ends - in the end; and "window shopping" ALWAYS LEADS...

It seems now more than ever before, that I'm just unable to easily discount or ignore the chaos in the "every day" local and national news, and I believe that one of the reasons is due to my developing perspective as a Minister of the Gospel - along with the wisdom that "should come" from forty+years of living; which has me "deeply contemplative" and "seriously sober"...Because, I'm much more aware of God's Word and God's Ways in this season of my life, and my desire to be an effective witness for Christ often keeps me reflective, prayerful and watchful; on "who I am" and "what I represent", and what that really means to those around me (in my world). When you or I choose to selfishly live for ourselves - with no regard for the "bigger picture" or for the "greater purpose" that our very existence should serve, we're normally very lonely and "spiritually lethargic" or dead; s...

"Believing in yourself" is not some existential crisis of YOUR "imbalanced individualism" or "career narcissism"...It's the critical component of "personal identity" that acts as a catalyst for "healthy growth" and development, in every area of your life! Sometimes, Christians tend to be quite imbalanced, by focusing on "the spiritual realm" - ONLY! And, because of this, there's a great absence of holistic approaches to comprehensive discipleship models, and a vacuum amongst "Christian leaders" - around "building Christ identity; while healing - personal integrity", so that every person isn't afraid to "BE" who GOD has called them to be!  "Personal Integrity" is alignment of your spirit, soul and body - to HIS voice within you; that never forgets, ignores or rejects the truth about you, revealed by HIM! Hallelujah!!! When it comes to either the "false...

There are SO MANY "fair-weather saints" who feel justified in their actions, which are actually contrary towards God and His Word, BUT, other people applaud, support and sanction their choices; so it's ALL GOOD!?! The Bible says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9:27-28) As a Christian, it breaks your heart to see your friend or family member choose a course, path or relationship that's not in their best interest.  But, is it "your place" or mine to make their choices "for them", or "judge them" about the choice they made?  Absolutely, NOT!  Our role, is to simply choose to live and to die for Christ (if need be), no matter what others decide is best for them.. You may feel concerned, grieved, or even worrie...

Mandated "quiet times" have great meaning and purpose, but they shouldn't replace or subtract from your normal devotion time with The Lord.. When you're really in a spiritual battle for the plan and purpose of God, the focus on "gaining new territory" often  distracts you from "maintaining what you've already accomplished and acquired"; which is why "the fort or base (quarter-master) is always protected - even when the front-line soldiers are sent out to war!" The Apostle Paul said it this way: "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, ...

Being "anointed" doesn't mean YOU don't need to be polished, pruned, refined or QUIET, till you've received the proper discipling, educating and training under established spiritual leadership that both honors and teaches the whole counsel of God's Word! If you have little to no depth of understanding in theology, in hermeneutics, in eschatology, or in soteriology, YOU need more than a "calling", BEFORE you attempt to assume LEADERSHIP; because YOU could be doing more harm than good! Having "all kinds of revelations" about things you have yet to actually experience, means that you're still in training, so be thoughtfully led by the Holy Spirit; AND focus on YOU and YOUR FAMILY, before you seek to go forth to reach the world. Full-time ministry, for those who are actually "doing it" and "living it", isn't about walking around every day looking for someone to "share your revelations with...

"BIBLICAL SUFFERING is.." DENYING YOUR FLESH - when the opportunity to choose any "thing" that you know disagrees with HIS Word and HIS Will concerning you! MISSING THE FUN - when God clearly tells you to stay away from those former associations and relationships! PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE - when you've stood the test of time with a proper attitude or representation to your peer group, although everyone else is compromising and running your name in the dirt! DEMONSTRATING LOVE ANYWAYS - when your backs against the wall, "friends" lie on you, and your co-workers mischaracterize your performance - to draw attention away from you to them! LISTEN: God needs you to LET HIM, "prepare a table for you, in the presence of your enemies"!  Until some people look at YOU, "and SAY" - "Blessed is he/she that comes in the name of The Lord"; GOD WILL NOT LET THEM PROSPER! It's NOT abo...