Category: Get Together Writings

GET TOGETHER- WHAT ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?

 

Ex 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. Mt 6:20 “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

          Well, it is that time in Alabama and most of the nation. It is football season.  As I have mentioned before, I like football. I played football and learned a lot of life lessons while playing. I have coached some football and have watched a lot of football games. 

          At one time you might say that football was one of my gods. I gave more affection to my favorite team than to the Lord. I can remember when a dear brother of mine who has now gone to be with the Lord shared with me that his favorite football team had been an idol in his life. I shared with him that although my favorite team wasn’t the same team as his that it had been an idol in my life as well. Neither of our teams were having a great year that season so it was a little easier to give up our idolic  affection for them than when they were having a great year. 

          As college football season gets ready to start here are some of my major concerns for the upcoming season. How many of the students at these colleges and universities will leave their alma mater with a Biblical worldview? According to the Barna group roughly 70 percent of Christian students who enter college will leave with little, or no faith.  Think about that when you sing the fight song of your favorite team. 

          What will be their views on human sexuality and marriage when they leave that school? As I type this, I know this isn’t a real feel-good message. But it is something that I think about.  I am thankful for the faithful Christians that participate in college sports. I am thankful for the faithful Christian teachers and coaches on these campuses. But I also wonder how long it will be before the enemy tries to silence their voices and pressure them to keep their “religion at the house”.  As a matter of fact, it has already happened in various places in our nation. 

          Last year the Lord put it on my heart to begin to pray for an awakening at our major colleges in the nation. Each day I take time to pray. It is a very challenging way to pray. It almost never feels good. There is much enemy opposition that I encounter. Attacks against the mind when the enemy tries to convince you that he owns these campuses and that you are wasting your time praying for them. I am going to share my prayer plan with you. If you would like to pray with me for an Awakening on these campuses that would be great. I saw on Facebook the other day that at one school a church hosted a night for returning students and it was a great night. I believe that God can do this across our nation. I believe that He can convert atheist Professors. I believe that He can protect and use faithful professors. I believe that He can save the whole student section at a football game. But it will take praying and believing for it to happen. 

          One day every trophy will turn to rust, or crumble away. Every championship banner will be eaten by the moths. But the treasures that the Lord Jesus bestows upon His servants are eternal and they never pass away.

Here is the format that I pray through. You can look up the names of the Universities that are currently in these conference. Often as I pray the Holy Spirit will bring before me some Universities and colleges that are not in these conferences to pray for. 

 

Monday- Pac 12

Tuesday Big 12 

Wednesday Big 10

Thursday Ivy League

Friday ACC

Saturday SEC

Sunday  Any and all others that He brings before you.

 

Let Us Pray

Lord we thank You for giving us various sports and activities as gifts. Forgive us when we begin to worship the gift rather than the Giver. Help us to never treasure the gift more than we treasure our relationship with You. Help us in all our lives to always put You first in every way.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

          

 

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Love You All 

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama 35570

GET TOGETHER- Confident But Not Cocky

 

Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.  Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

I got the title of this message from a book that a read several years before I got saved. It was during a time in my life that I wanted to be successful, but a lot of things that I was doing were destructive. 

The title came from a book by John Wooden who coached basketball at UCLA between 1948 and 1975. His winning percentage was over 800 percent. His teams won 12 NCAA  tournaments and there are several other records that his teams hold.  The title of the book was Coach Wooden’s  Pyramid of  Success.  And by the way he was most importantly a Christian. 

One principle that he taught that I believe is fully Biblical and helpful to us as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ was this. He wanted his teams to be confident in every game that they played, but he didn’t want them to be cocky. With the success that they had I am sure that was a challenge and something that he had to teach daily. 

Paul in writing to the church at Phillipi is assuring them that the good work that God has begun in them is something that he will bring to completion.  I think that is something that we all need to know. We need to know that when the evil forces of Hell try to come against us in any way that we have the victory in Jesus Christ. 

I love to quote Ro 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) And it is a blessing to assure faithful followers of Jesus Christ that we are more than conquerors. I love to share how the Bible is filled with conquerors from the Assyrians to the Romans, but they weren’t more than conquerors. They got conquered. Either by another nation, or as in Rome’s case destruction from within. 

But to be confident and not become cocky we must remember that “we are more than conquerors through Him.” Apart from Him we can do nothing that is of eternal value, or for his glory in the Kingdom. 

 There are two dangers that kind of relate to this when we are serving the Lord. One is that we don’t have any confidence and we don’t believe that there is any way that God is using us or could use us. 

We can become ready to give up and quit. We can get to a point where we feel like what we do has no significance in the Kingdom. Joshua had a moment like this. Even though He had seen the Lord do many miraculous things he came to a point that he was ready to throw in the towel. We see this in Jos 7:7,8 “And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all-to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! “O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?” Praise the Lord that he didn’t stay in that place of despair. 

On the other hand, the enemy will come with the temptation for us to glorify ourselves. One of the two major sins at the Tower of Babel in Genessi 11 was that not only did they want to stay in one place which was sinful, but they wanted to make a name for themselves: Ge 11:4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” The enemy will bring the temptation for us to try to make a name for ourselves rather than glorifying the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the Lord uses us in a good way, we need to examine ourselves and be sure that it is for the glory of the Lord and not for self-glorification.   All sin comes in three categories  1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.  (NKJV) Seven times in the book of Proverbs we are warned about pride. This verse should be a sobering reminder for us to be confident in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not to be cocky and feeling superior if the Lord has graciously used us in some way in His Kingdom. Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (NKJV) as we serve the King of Kings may we a confident people in him. And may we never be a cocky people in our own flesh. 

 

Let us Pray:

Lord Jesus there are times that the enemy tries to convince us that we are of no value to You, or of any service in Your kingdom. And Lord we know that there are also times that we can watch you do great and mighty things. Help us to always remember that apart from you we can do nothing. Help us to remember that we are more than conquerors through you and through You alone. Help us to be confident that You who have begun a good work in us will bring it to completion. Help us to always bring glory to Your Name and to be confident in you, but to never be cocky and trusting in our own flesh.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Love You All 

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

 

 

 

GET TOGETHER- Confident But Not Cocky

 

Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.  Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

I got the title of this message from a book that a read several years before I got saved. It was during a time in my life that I wanted to be successful, but a lot of things that I was doing were destructive. 

The title came from a book by John Wooden who coached basketball at UCLA between 1948 and 1975. His winning percentage was over 800 percent. His teams won 12 NCAA  tournaments and there are several other records that his teams hold.  The title of the book was Coach Wooden’s  Pyramid of  Success.  And by the way he was most importantly a Christian. 

One principle that he taught that I believe is fully Biblical and helpful to us as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ was this. He wanted his teams to be confident in every game that they played, but he didn’t want them to be cocky. With the success that they had I am sure that was a challenge and something that he had to teach daily. 

Paul in writing to the church at Phillipi is assuring them that the good work that God has begun in them is something that he will bring to completion.  I think that is something that we all need to know. We need to know that when the evil forces of Hell try to come against us in any way that we have the victory in Jesus Christ. 

I love to quote Ro 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) And it is a blessing to assure faithful followers of Jesus Christ that we are more than conquerors. I love to share how the Bible is filled with conquerors from the Assyrians to the Romans, but they weren’t more than conquerors. They got conquered. Either by another nation, or as in Rome’s case destruction from within. 

But to be confident and not become cocky we must remember that “we are more than conquerors through Him.” Apart from Him we can do nothing that is of eternal value, or for his glory in the Kingdom. 

 There are two dangers that kind of relate to this when we are serving the Lord. One is that we don’t have any confidence and we don’t believe that there is any way that God is using us or could use us. 

We can become ready to give up and quit. We can get to a point where we feel like what we do has no significance in the Kingdom. Joshua had a moment like this. Even though He had seen the Lord do many miraculous things he came to a point that he was ready to throw in the towel. We see this in Jos 7:7,8 “And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all-to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! “O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies?” Praise the Lord that he didn’t stay in that place of despair. 

On the other hand, the enemy will come with the temptation for us to glorify ourselves. One of the two major sins at the Tower of Babel in Genessi 11 was that not only did they want to stay in one place which was sinful, but they wanted to make a name for themselves: Ge 11:4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” The enemy will bring the temptation for us to try to make a name for ourselves rather than glorifying the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the Lord uses us in a good way, we need to examine ourselves and be sure that it is for the glory of the Lord and not for self-glorification.   All sin comes in three categories  1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.  (NKJV) Seven times in the book of Proverbs we are warned about pride. This verse should be a sobering reminder for us to be confident in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not to be cocky and feeling superior if the Lord has graciously used us in some way in His Kingdom. Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (NKJV) as we serve the King of Kings may we a confident people in him. And may we never be a cocky people in our own flesh. 

 

Let us Pray:

Lord Jesus there are times that the enemy tries to convince us that we are of no value to You, or of any service in Your kingdom. And Lord we know that there are also times that we can watch you do great and mighty things. Help us to always remember that apart from you we can do nothing. Help us to remember that we are more than conquerors through you and through You alone. Help us to be confident that You who have begun a good work in us will bring it to completion. Help us to always bring glory to Your Name and to be confident in you, but to never be cocky and trusting in our own flesh.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Love You All 

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama  35570

GET TOGETHER – He Is our Defender

 

Ps 121:5-8 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.(NKJV)

          This morning as J.J. and I were having our prayer time and our time of meeting the Lord in the Scriptures we were sitting in our sunroom.  Outside our sunroom, as I have mentioned before, you can see the hummingbirds come to the feeder that J.J. maintains to feed them with. Those hummingbirds amaze us. We talk about what a Creator we serve that could design something like a hummingbird and yet create all the stars, the planets, and everything else in existence. 

          One time when I looked up to see the hummingbirds, I noticed that our cat had moved from the back of the house and was right in front of the hummingbird feeder. Immediately those hummingbirds flew away.    By the way that cat wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for this passage in Proverbs  Pr 12:10 ¶ A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. (NKJV) And it is also a good thing for her that she has done a good job keeping the snakes away. 

          I told the cat to get away. I then went to our back porch and put some food in her tray.  The hummingbirds came back and began to feast again on the mixture of water and sugar that J.J. has for them. 

          Here were just a few thoughts that I had after that. Our Heavenly Father is watching over us. And just like He gave those hummingbirds wings to fly and to avoid the enemy. He has given us the Holy Spirit to warn us when the enemy is coming and trying to do what Jesus said that his mission is in Joh 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

          Many times, the way that the enemy wants to kill, steal, and destroy our testimony for Jesus Christ is by coming through temptation. All sin comes in three categories 1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.  Jesus was tempted in all three categories of sin by Satan in the wilderness. (See Luke 4:1-13.)  Jesus never succumbed to the temptation. He responded to the temptation with the word of God and was empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

          Our Heavenly Father has given us the word of God. And He has given us the Holy Spirit. So, when the enemy comes around to destroy our witness for Jesus Christ we can respond with the word of God and the Holy Spirit will empower us to resist the devil. 

          That cat had to flee when a stronger voice came on the scene. The Holy Spirit indwelling us is a stronger voice that any and every demon in Hell. He is also stronger that Satan. Those hummingbirds had a way of escape from the danger that would have cost them their life. The Holy Spirit will make a way for us to escape when the enemy comes and tries to kill our witness for Jesus Christ and to steal our testimony from us.  Paul shared this with the church at Corinth. Corinth was a very sensual city. It was one of those places where people might say “what happens in Corinth stays in Corinth.” 1Co 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

          When the enemy comes at you to bring harm to you, or to destroy your testimony stand on the promises that are in this passage and the power of the Holy Spirit: Ps 121:5-8 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.(NKJV)

Let Us Pray

Lord, we thank you that whether it is temptation to sin, or danger in some other way that You are our keeper. You will preserve us from all evil. You will preserve our souls! You will preserve our going out and our coming in. Today help us to get in your word. Fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit and help us to resist the devil.  May we be used by You to bring others into the Kingdom.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Love you all!

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama  35570

GET TOGETHER IT’S A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

Mt 5:43 ¶ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
I often tell people that The Sermon on The Mount was by the greatest preacher that ever lived. And sometimes I say that it might have been the least amened sermon ever preached. I don’t know about you, but when I read the Sermon on the Mount it really drives me to a place of praying for the Holy Spirit to cleanse my own heart and to empower me to do what Jesus is commanding us to do in that passage.
It is a challenging time in our country right now. For those who believe in Christ and have a Biblical view of marriage and life we often are labeled with names such as haters, or other names that just are not true. On the other hand, the evil one was love to use those type false accusations to draw us into a fleshly battle and attempt to make us want bad for those who may falsely accuse us.
I am reminded of the movie the Cross and the Switchblade. When Nicky Cruz threatened to cut David Wilkerson that Brother Wilkerson told him no matter how many pieces that he cut him into that every piece would be loving him. Later Nicky Cruz would get saved and be used in a great and mighty way to bring others to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe that the Holy Spirit can still do that. Everyday the Lord has me praying for an Awakening on college campuses. I believe that just as the Lord changed the heart of C.S Lewis. He can still change the heart of the atheist professors and students on college campuses.
I believe just as He changed the heart of many of the persecutors of the early Christians that God can do it today. If Jesus loved the people that hate us enough to die on the cross for them. Can’t we begin to pray for them? Can’t we believe that He can still turn those who are opposed to the Gospel into some of His greatest proponents of the Gospel.
We hear much about the cultural war that is going on in our nation and throughout the world. And there certainly is one. But for us our battle isn’t with flesh and blood. Our battle is with the demonic forces of evil as Paul wrote in Eph 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Today may we all obey what Jesus commanded us to do. Begin to pray for those who hate you. Pray for any political leaders that do not have a worldview that lines up with the word of God. Pray for the Lord to change their heart. Pray for the executives of large corporations that do not have a Biblical worldview.
If God changed my heart He can change the heart of any of those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a mentor of mine told me one time don’t try to beat them. Try to win them.
And we can love without compromise. Jesus was full of grace, but He was also full of truth. As I heard someone once say if you are all truth and no love you can become like a Pharisee. And on the other hand, if you are all love and no truth it becomes almost anything goes. Holy love is a different kind of love than what the world calls love. It means loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And it means loving our neighbors as ourselves. I sure am thankful for the people who loved me enough to pray for me and to speak the truth in love when I was on the other side. If not for them, you would not be reading this.

Let Us Pray

Lord, we know that You loved us when we were so unlovable. Lord help us today by the power of Your Holy Spirit to love our enemies. Lord help us to pray for them. Lord, we pray that You will bring them to the cross of Jesus Christ and that they will become our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In Jesus Name
Amen
Love You All
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

 

True Freedom and Holy Love

 

Galatians 5:13 

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

It was called the Summer of Love in 1967 in San Francisco California. Two years later there was a rock festival in Woodstock, New York.  A common theme of both of these events were free love, and drug use. Both were promoting open sexual sin as an expression of freedom. Both events opened a welcome mat for the demonic entities of lust, addiction, and all types of sexual sin to be celebrated. Many of us including myself  fell for the lies that were so prevalent in the culture at that time.  And we can truly see how the sins of many of us in our generation have had a destructive effect on our culture. The Bible tells us in Exodus 20:5 ^“you shall not bow down to them nor ^[b]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting^[ the  iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”  As many of us bowed down to the demonic entities that became so prevalent in our culture it has had a very detrimental effect on our current culture. Evil is now called good. Good is now called evil.  And we are paying a heavy price for it. 

I love this country and have often taken for granted the blessing of living in this country.  I am so thankful that I live in a country that has sent out more missionaries than any other country on earth.  I firmly believe that is one reason for the demonic assault that has been launched against our country over the last fifty years. 

 I am so thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to forgive the vilest sinner that comes to Him and earnestly repents of our sin.  I am so thankful that in Him there is true freedom. Not the false freedom that the world advocates.  The Apostle Paul talks about a different kind of freedom than what was celebrated in San Francisco, Woodstock and in many places in our culture today. He tells us that for the born-again believer in Jesus Christ

That we can experience true freedom Ro 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

           I have found that the freedom in Jesus Christ is true freedom. The false freedom leads to further bondage and in the end eternal punishment. And by the way I say that with love. If someone is going down a road and the bridge is out if you didn’t warn them that wouldn’t be an expression of love.  The person that hates would never warn someone that was on a dangerous road that would lead to eternal punishment and torment. 

            I have repented and ask people of this generation to forgive me and those of my generation that bought into the lies of the culture of the late sixties, and seventies.  As we get ready to celebrate the 4^th of July, I ask you to not only take some time tomorrow, but everyday take time to pray for a Holy Spirit Awakening in this nation.  We are promised in God’s word that He will answer our prayer for this land if we will truly humble ourselves and as the scripture says in 2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

            If I didn’t love people, I would not be typing this today. I am thankful for the people who prayed for me, loved me, and spoke truth while I had bought into the lies of the world.  I am most thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ who loves and saves sinners. Matthew says it like this: Mt 9:12,13 “When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Our country needs the Physician. He can heal us, deliver us, and help us to experience true freedom. 

 

Let us Pray

 

Lord Jesus today forgive us for when we have bought into the lies of the culture. We repent for doing that. Please help us to turn away from the false freedom that only leads to demonic bondage. And help us to follow You the One who brings true freedom and helps us to live a holy life.

In Jesus Name

Amen 

Have a blessed 4^th of July. 

Love you all 

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston  

 

 

 

 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama  35570

GET TOGETHER- IN ALL THINGS
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Last week was a wonderful week. We had a blessed time serving with Eyes Wide Open Ministry in El Moral Guatemala. Brandi and Daniel McIntyre are doing as close to what the Lord calls us to do as faithful as any ministry that I know.

It was a powerful week as we did a Pastors Conference on Thursday and Friday. We visited and prayed for patients in the hospital in Chiquimula one day. And had the opportunity to visit some people who live in some very difficult circumstances in their homes.

Tyson Holland from here in Hamilton went with me. We began our return home on Saturday. We prayed for our journey every part of it and for every stage of it. By the way I anoint every airplane that I get on and plead the Blood of Jesus over it as well.

Our connection to Birmingham in Miami was for 10:30 P.M. We prayed for our flight that had been delayed in Guatemala to get there on time for us to make the connection. We prayed to get through customs in time to catch our flight. We were running as fast as we could through the Miami airport. It appeared that we would make it on time with about twenty minutes to spare. Then suddenly Tyson saw on the board that our flight had been cancelled. It was cancelled due to the weather in Birmingham.

That night there were many other flights being cancelled as well. J.J. rebooked us on another airline. Jake got us a hotel room . We got about two hours sleep before we got up to catch our flight to Baltimore to make a connection to Birmingham. It was a challenging night in a lot of ways.

As we were on the flight to Baltimore the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart. He reminded me that Christians throughout the world suffer more daily than the light and momentary trouble that we were experiencing. He reminded me that the Pastors that we had ministered to during the seminar most likely went back to some tougher conditions than we were experiencing and certainly a tougher daily life.

I thought about the Apostle Paul. The man that the Holy Spirit used to write the Book of Romans and about thirteen other epistles. He suffered much. He was imprisoned for the faith. He was in a shipwreck one time and landed on the island of Malta. Paul wrote about his experiences in writing to the church at Corinth: 2Co 11:25-27 “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

The Holy Spirit helped me to be truly thankful that although Saturday night and early Sunday morning had been tough on our already tired bodies that we had much to be thankful for.
We got home last Sunday afternoon and the Holy Spirit emphasized to me don’t let the enemy steal the joy of what we saw God do own our trip. And I am reminded of one of my favorite passages concerning when we go through a challenging time : 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (NKJV)

We don’t know for certain, but God could have been protecting us, or some of the other passengers from some type danger. He is always looking out for His children. Although we may not get goose bumps when God is working in a situation. I can honestly say that through the thirty-three years that I have been a Christian in some way I have seen God work for the could in the worst situations that that have happened. I don’t believe that He causes the bad stuff. But I praise God that He will work in it.

Let Us Pray
Father, we thank You that You watch over Your children. Father we thank You that there is not a situation, or circumstance that you can’t and won’t work for the good for Your people. No matter what anyone that is reading this is going through I pray that You will work for good in the situation, or circumstance.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Love You All
Thanks for the Happy Anniversaries that you have sent.
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

GET TOGETHER- REFLECTIONS FROM OUR VACATION

John 14:1 -3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Last week was a great week in the life of our family. J.J. had done a great job of renting us a cottage at The Beach Club in Fort Morgan, Alabama on the Alabama coast. We had both of our children’s families there and we had a very special time.
One of the blessings was the patio outside. Every morning we could hear the sound of doves and it was a reminder to us that no matter where we go the Holy Spirit is with us. The weather was almost perfect in the mornings. It was even just a little cool, but just right for putting on a long sleeve shirt to sit there in. One morning J.J. and I were sitting out there reading the scripture and just having some good time with the Lord when I asked her a question? Do you believe that the Lord has a place like this for us in Heaven? After all Jesus did say that in our Father’s house are many mansions.
J.J. loves Revelation 4 and I agree that the first and most wonderful thing about Heaven will be that we will see the Lord Jesus Christ and get to worship at His Holy Feet. On the other hand He did say that “ in My Father’s house are many mansions and if it were not so I would not have told you so.” We are told in Heb 11:16 what a wonderful place that God has prepared for us. “ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Vacations are nice. When we first got there our thoughts were that it would be nice to live there. On the other hand, we also realized that it is not a perfect place. Everyone there was not on vacation. Some were doing hard manual labor. That would be tough having to work hard everyday while observing others on vacation.
That reminds me of how terrible that it will be for those who have rejected Jesus Christ when they die. I am reminded of this parable that Jesus shared about the Rich man and Lazarus the poor beggar. Here is part of it:

Lu 16:23-26 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
Wow ! Can you imagine the horror of living in torment forever and part of that being able to see loved ones who are living in perfect peace and joy for ever and you can’t go there? What a great salvation that our Lord Jesus has obtained for us by delivering us from the darkness and into His glorious light.
Well, we had gone down on Wednesday, and we left on Memorial Day to return home. And to be honest, as wonderful as our trip was I was ready to see Shottsville, Alabama. Again, as great as it was everything wasn’t perfect on our trip. But I am reminded of an old hymn by James C. Moore . here are some of the lyrics “I have heard of a land on the faraway strand,’Tis a beautiful home of the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.

Vacations are temporary reliefs from our jobs, ministries, and other responsibilities. They are not eternal. On the other hand, Heaven is forever and ever. One more time the place where we stayed was so nice. From time-to-time people walked down the shaded walkway and we could say good morning to them. I thought about what it will be like to walk down the streets of gold and greet our loved ones who have gone on What it will be like to say wow here comes Elijah, or Paul, or some faithful saint that we have read about throughout the ages. But most of all we will see Jesus! We will touch His nail scarred hands and nail scarred feet. And we can thank Him for paying the price for us to live in the mansion that He has prepared for us to live in forever and ever. We won’t be leaving to go home. We will be at home!
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have purchased our salvation on Calvary’s cruel cross. We thank You that You have prepared a place for us. We pray today for any friend and relatives that we might have who have never come to faith in Your precious Holy Blood that you will woo them to the cross so that they will live with You forever as well.
Lord we thank You that you have provided something much better than a vacation. You have provided an eternal home for Your people.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Your Friend /Kinfolk
Preston

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

GET TOGETHER- The Gift of Family

Ge 2:21 -25 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.(NKJV)

This weekend is a special weekend in our nation. It is Mother’s Day. It is also special for our family in another way. We will get to celebrate my Father-in-law Ed Johnson’s 100th birthday. Not many people get to celebrate 100 years living here on planet earth.
Ed is a gift from God. He was a faithful husband to my Mother-in-law Norine for over seventy-five years. He has been an excellent role model for his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. He has served the Lord in his local church ,the Gideons, and the Alabama Emmaus Community. He is so talented that he can do just about anything mechanically. That has been a big help to his son-in law Preston who is not so talented in that way. There are many more things that I could say here. So, we are looking forward to a great time of celebration this weekend.
As I said earlier it is also Mother’s Day weekend. My Mother Susie Headrick went to be with the Lord in 2015. I really miss her. I know that I will see her again one day, but all of us who loved our relatives and friends that we plan to see again in Heaven still miss them here on the earth.
One of my most fond memories of my mother were when me and my brother Richard were little boys. We lived in Hull a little mining camp in Walker County a few miles from Sumiton, Alabama. She worked at the drugstore in Sumiton. They had a soda fountain there. She would always bring me and my brother a malt, or a sundae on Friday nights when she got off. We would sit on the steps and watch the cars go by waiting for her to come home. I can still see the chocolate and the walnuts on top of those sundaes in the green and white cups. For those of you that your mother is still here be sure that you bless them not just on Mother’s Day, but in some way every day.
The Lord has blessed me with a faithful wife that is a good Mother. She had a great role model in her Mother, Norine Johnson. Our daughter Jessye is a good mother, as well as our daughter -in- law Tommye.
I have had the blessings of being the Pastor to some good Mothers. Some of them have been single Mothers. They have had to take on a heavy load. Pray for these moms to have the strength, energy, and wisdom to fulfill the task of raising their children.
I mentioned me and my brother watching and waiting for our mother to come home from work and to bring us those treats. This reminds me of watching and waiting for something even better. That is when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to take his children home. Our Lord Jesus Christ had these words to say concerning His return:

Mt 24:42-44 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Wow! Now talk about a celebration! We will see our Lord Jesus Christ face to face! We will be reunited with our loved ones, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Talk about family! There is no family like the family of God! If you have repented of your sin and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, you are a part of this glorious family. If you haven’t why not today? It is going to be one more reunion and celebration!
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, we thank you for the gift of family. We thank you Father for instituting Your Holy design for the family. May we always honor our mothers in a special way. May we always give honor to whom honor is due. Please be with each family as they celebrate this weekend. And for those that are going through some terrible situations may they know that in Jesus Christ there is always hope for a better day and one day time where there will be no death, nor sorrow and that every day will be a celebration.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Your Friend /Kinfolk
Preston

PS For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night. That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16. Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

 

GET TOGETHER – He Is The God OF Victory

 

2Ch 32:7,8 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.  “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

What a blessing it was to be at the National Day of Prayer here in Hamilton, Alabama today.  It was an honor to get to Serve with Brother Shane Stidham the Pastor at Fulton Bridge Baptist Church and Brother John Holiday the Pastor at Hope Alive. I appreciate Dr. Wayne Cobb and all of those who were involved in organizing this event. 

When Brother Shane shared his devotional concerning the faithfulness of King Hezekiah and how God answered his prayers I was reminded of when the Lord spared Jerusalem when the Assyrians had Jerusalem surrounded by over 185,00 soldiers. 

This event is recorded in Isaiah Chapters 36, and 37. It is also recorded in 2 Kings 18, and 19, as well as in  2 Chronicles Chapter 32. So with that said it must be that God is wanting to teach us something very important concerning this event.  You can go read all the details. There is so much in there that it would be hard for me to get it all in one message. But here is what I believe that the Lord would have me to say to us as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. 

 We may feel just like Hezekiah did when Jerusalem was  surrounded by a powerful adversary. We may feel like  we are surrounded by a powerful adversary  as well. We may feel like the forces of evil have us surrounded and are ready to take us down as Christians and as a free nation.  I am reminded of a Christian song that has in its lines “it may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You.”

We need to remember who the Apostle Paul told us that our battle is with : “ Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  We have been given victory over these forces of evil. Jessu won the victory for us on the cross at Calvary “ Col 2:14,15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.’

But we as believers are called to enforce the victory through prayer. And through times of fasting; and by the way fasting isn’t one of my favorite spiritual disciplines, but it is effective.

It often requires getting up earlier than others, or staying up later if you are younger to pray and ask God to send an awakening to this nation.  Hezekiah sought God in a big-time way. The Assyrians were the most brutal and powerful army on the face of the earth. Here is what Hezekiah did :

Isa 37:15-20 Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:

“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,”and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands-wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them. “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”

                   

          There are many more spiritual principles in the three accounts of this event.  But here is the bottom line Isa 37:36,37 Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.

          What if Hezekiah had not prayed? What if he had not sought the Prophet Isaiah? What if he had done nothing? I believe that the situation in our nation is very serious. I believe that only one man the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer. But we have a part to play. I challenge myself and all of you  may we be committed to praying not only for our nation, but for the Christians in other nations as well during this very crucial time in history. 

          What Hezekiah told the people was true for them and it is true for us if we will get passionate about praying and believing that God will bring victory to us and to believers in this  nation and all over the world. Once again here is the passage with the words that Hezekiah said to his people. I believe that we can stand on them as well. 

 

2Ch 32:7,8 “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.8 “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

                   

 

          Let Us Pray:

Lord Jesus it sometime appears that evil is winning. However, we know that isn’t true. But it is also true that You want us to be engaged in the battle through prayer and times of fasting. Help us to partner with you in enforcing the victory that You have already attained for us.  And may we, like Hezekiah be faithful in this matter so that one day we can hear You say well done my good and faithful servant. 

In Jesus Name

Amen 

 

 

 

Your Friend /Kinfolk

Preston 

 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.

Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful. J.J. and I have some upcoming ministry opportunities please keep us in prayer. 

 

 

 

 

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama  35570

GET TOGETHER- Lord Help Our Tongues

    

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

The parent or grandparent on the other side of the backstop disagreed with the pitch that was called a ball while our grandson Micah was batting last Saturday. The next pitch came in and the umpire called it a strike and I made the remark that he let the fan on the other side of the backstop get under his skin and therefore influenced the call. The umpire heard me and looked over at me and let me know that wasn’t the case.     

The Holy Spirit immediately brought to my attention that I was not glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ with the words that I had said.  We are told in   Jas 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Well while we can’t tame the tongue the Holy Spirit can. I am glad that we are told in Heb 12:6For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”  I needed that correction last Saturday. And I am glad that the Lord corrects us rather than kicking us off of the team.

The Greek term for corrupt in the passage from Ephesians is sapros. It means rotten, of bad quality, useless, worthless. When something is rotten it is dead and there is no life in it. Even when we have to talk about some tough things we want there to be life coming from our tongues.

I felt like I needed to go and apologize to the umpire after the game.  In today’s culture it is getting hard to find umpires and referees. There are not a lot of people willing to take the verbal, and sadly sometimes some physical abuse that is taking place on the playing fields, and gymnasiums in our nation.

Not only did I feel like I needed to ask the umpire to forgive me, but I felt like I needed to repent. When we repent it is more than saying I am sorry. It means a change in the heart and mind. In other words I am not going to do this anymore.

Well I found the umpire a little later in the afternoon. I asked him to forgive me. He was such a nice young man. I also found out that he played linebacker for the University of North Alabama. Now if he hadn’t been such a nice young man I might have really suffered from the consequences of my sin.

We live in a culture where as Christians we are to speak the truth on some things that we may face opposition from the world.  When we do that we need to pray that not only will the Holy Spirit give us the courage to do that, but that it will impart grace to the hearers.  We are told in Ephesians 4:30,31 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  

The same Holy Spirit that has sealed us will help us to use our tongues in a way that glorifies God and imparts grace to the hearer.

 

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus You have given us a tongue to praise You. You have given us a tongue to share the Gospel and Your love with others. Help us to glorify You in every way that we use our tongues.

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

 

Your Friend /Kinfolk

Preston 

 

PS   For those in Northwest Alabama our Broadcast Redeeming the Time comes on at 9:30 A.M. AND 9:30 P.M. on Sunday morning and Sunday night.  That is on Spectrum Channel 10. In Jasper, it is on TV 16.

Please pray for the Lord to reach the lost through these broadcasts, and to encourage the faithful.

 

 

 

Preston Headrick 

Evangelist 

Real Party Ministry 

P O Box 2302

Hamilton, Alabama  35570