God Speaking

It's awesome to know when God is speaking to you isn't it?

As most of you know I lead a small group bible study for Police Officers. Its called "The PeaceKeepers" and the main goal of the book is to bring cops to Christ. Recently we haven't been actively meeting due to some schedule changes and such then of course with the holidays coming up the next two months are really difficult to get folks together. So I've been a little concerned about how interested they would be in kicking off again next month. Well the Lord has helped me obtain a little extra motivation for the guys to come back for meetings. A civilian contacted me after checking out this blog and the "PeaceKeepers" website, www.christiancop.com. She has offered some assistance with meals and such and I know this will be a great tool to get the guys back.

I also received a devotional today via email. I get this devotional everyday and its called "TGIF" Today God Is First. As I was reading this I immediately felt the Lord speaking to me. I wanted to share this with any other officer that may be reading this. This devotional is directed to you as well. We typically don't know what the Lord has in store for us but some of you know exactly what God has planned for you and it is a great feeling. But for the Christian police officer that feels he or she may be the only one that knows the Lord, read the following and I hope it will help.

"But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them." Judges 3:9

Have you ever heard of a man named Othniel? Probably not. He was Caleb's nephew. When the people of Israel went into the Promised Land, they were victorious through the courageous efforts of Joshua and Caleb. As this generation grew older, a new generation began to emerge. Israel again fell into sin by worshiping idols. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He allowed them once more to be enslaved by their enemies. However, the people again cried out to the Lord and God heard them.

Whenever God's people cry out to the Lord, He hears them. When they are truly repentant, He responds. He responds by rising up those whom He has prepared for such a time. Every soldier looks forward to the day he can use the training he has received. God had been preparing a nephew for such a time as this. He had the same Spirit as his uncle, Caleb.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:10-11).

Has God been preparing you for a time when you will be called upon to deliver God's people? Millions of men and women are enslaved to the god of mammon and idolatry in the workplace. Has He placed you there to be a deliverer? Pray that you will have the same Spirit as Joshua, Caleb, and Othniel.

I have a burden for fellow police officers to come to know the Lord! Not long after I gave my life to Christ I tried to reach out to other officers with this bible study and it has not grown as much as I would like to have seen. Then I realized it is not up to me how much it grows it is up to the Lord and how far HE wants to take this! I learned after reading this devotional that the Lord is still preparing me for the time to be called upon to deliver fellow officers.

In this department and in departments across the nation there are too many officers chasing that dollar. Spending more time at off duty jobs or overtime while there wife and children are at home wondering when Daddy will be coming home. Officers suffer one of the highest, if not the highest, divorce rates than any other job in the world. I firmly believe this is one of the reasons.

Guys you can not be a father to a child while you're working on weekends when they wish you would be there for their soccer game or softball game! I'm not saying not to work any extra duty, I work off duty one day a week for only four hours. I am saying that if off duty or overtime is causing you to miss church, soccer games, softball games, or your daughters program at school. Too many officers fall into the trap and see all this money flowing in and think "I'm being a good husband/father. Look at what I'm providing for my family." If you are reading this and saying this, I want you to do something for me. Go to your wife or children and ask them would you rather me be at off duty or working overtime or be at your soccer game or what ever it is that your child does. You know as well as I do what the answer will be. I'm not saying you shouldn't provide for your family, you should. I look at it this way, I'm a Christian first, husband/father second, and police officer third.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:20-24

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Also in Matthew 6:19-21

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I remember a George Strait song I don't remeber the name but I remember this part of it, "you can't take nothing with you here and you can't bring nothing back. I ain't never seen a hearse with a luggage rack."

So lets store up our treasures in heaven because if you are saved and when the Lord calls you home everything here will soon be dust.