Week of 6/11

CRUSADER’S DEVOTIONAL

June 11, 2013/ Tuesday

Hello all! , First things first, I would like to thank every one to has signed up to receive the “Crusader’s Devotional”. I’m told by our I.T. person it now is requested by 170 people weekly. Praise the good Lord. I’m blessed to be in service of the Lord in any way I can. Now, I would like to share something I recently read with every one. “Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

That kind of leads me into what I’d like to bring up this week. The blessing of friendship and the ability to detect the enemy in disguise.

Years ago I helped the “Colorado Horse Rescue” with a few of their horses. I would evaluate the horse to see where it was in temperament and training. That’s where I met “Moe”. Now Moe is unlike any horse I have ever worked. Moe is Buckskin, gentle in nature and good in size. Moe is completely blind. Our friendship was given when we first met. Trust in each other was intentional. A gift from God, as is every thing. Long story short, I adopted Moe and I can say for sure that I’m the only person to ride him to this day. He trusts in what he can not see and I trust in his gentle heart. We make each other better, I’m his eyes and his legs are lent to me. A friendship, I’d guess you would call it. One that comes along but once in a lifetime. God’s blessings can be spiritual not biological, truly “God’s handwriting” is Mine and Moe’s friendship. Friendship is meant for all of us.

It is written “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (Pro. 18:24). Friends we are to have and to be. What an honor it is to be called “friend”. You have heard it said, “There are people who are a blessing when they come, others are a blessing when they leave.” Which are you? Do you bring honor from God’s kingdom to others or shame to the kingdom.

As you might remember in 1 Samuel 18:3, Jonathan made a special vow to be David’s friend.” One that would eventually lead to a division in Jonathan’s own family. Faithful, dependable and loyal. Rare are such things as these. Yet, these things we must be and to so shall our friends. It is better to be slapped by a friend then kissed by an enemy. It takes courage to be a friend, to tell the truth when the truth hurts most. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. 

We must pray to know who our friends truly are. The devil loves deceit, and what a better deception then friendship. Back biters, quarrels, rumors and lies these are all troublesome. A man can be judged well by the enemies he keeps. There are some people out there that once behind you, they will hit ya so hard you’ll be wearing your ears as wings. Stay away from them, but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs help. 

Remember: Don’t walk behind strange mares; her first kick might be your last.

May the Lord be riding with you on this long trail.

In the name of Jesus Christ of the Nazarene. 

Cowboy Pastor Ty

Week of 6/4

                                                CRUSADER’S DEVOTIONAL

                                                TUESDAY, JUNE 4^TH

Hey everyone! I’m glad you’re reading the devotional and even though it’s been some time since I’ve seen some of you, you all are on my mind and in my prayers. I’m working graveyard shift right now and it is sometimes strange what comes to a man’s mind at 3:15 in the morning. Ya see last week, I was cleaning out my study room when I came across a box, long forgotten. Now, in this box was a letter dated 05-01-1981. It was written from an old horse trainer I knew growing up in southern Wyoming. His name was Tom Steel. We just called him “Dusty” because it seemed like he was always covered in a layer of dust and mud. Never did I see him in him in church, and there was only one in town, but I remember him saying, “I know where God is and he knows where I can be found. He knows what’s in my heart; I’m right where he wants me to be and I’m just what he made me to be.” I remember he could name all sixty –six books of the bible in order, this always amazed me. He was a man that just felt more at ease with the mountains and open pastures than in town. He was a man that always gave respect to all he came in contact with whether it be land, animal, or fellow man. He deserved respect. The letter had these final thoughts written “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; Watch your words they become your actions; Watch your actions, they become your habits; Watch your habits, they become your character.” Tom must have in his mid-sixties and I was seventeen. I was, and to this day, proud to call him my friend. Tom is gone now, but to “friends”, we know where he is and so does God. He is right where God wants him to be.

Thinking of friends-- my best friend is Jesus. “Since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” (Romans 5:10). We were to live in God’s presence, but due to sin, fear of God, not friendship was more common in the Old Testament. Only a few people in the Old Testament were called “friends of God” -- Moses, Abraham, Job, Enoch and Noah. David was called “a man after God’s own heart.”

Jesus changed all that. Sins were paid for. The veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, meaning that direct access to God was once again available. Unlike the Old Testament priests who spent hours preparing to meet him, we can approach God any time. Friendship with God is possible only because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. “All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends.” (2 Cor. 5:18). 

Like any friendship, we need to speak and listen. What hinders us from doing these things is our attention to other things. Not being devoted in the right areas. A cloud, a tree, or a servant of God may convey a message from God. As a child of God, our attitude should be “Speak, for your servant hears.” Place all your love in him. Trust him more than you trust yourself. God is the father to all believers. Jesus Christ is our most important relationship, not a religion. As for me, you can place “religion” on the fastest horse in town, point her straight down Main Street, slap her on the rump and say “let her buck.”

Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15).

Remember: When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don’t be surprised if they return the lesson well learned.

                   Lord our Father, bless the poor in spirit, the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

                   May your hand of blessing and grace touch the people of Oklahoma.

                   There, but for the grace of God go I.

                   In the name of Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

                   Cowboy Pastor: Ty