Prayer Against The Pressure

The last few days Tracie and I have found ourselves in pursuit of HIS presence....

In that process we have felt great pressures....

Couple this with emails and phone calls from across the country of ministers and their families that feel the pressure of the enemy.....

There are several who follow RKS Upclose and Tracie's Thoughts that have entrusted us with the details of their pressures....

At lunch today we felt the pressures of a wonderful ministry family that has put all on the line for the kingdom....

I sat at my desk today and felt the pressure of many who have asked for prayer and wisdom.....

The enemy is on attack against those who are choosing to follow after the Lord....

Fallen ministries, broken homes, financial duress, families, members leaving their churches and the list continues....

I have felt the squeeze of pressure.....

Tracie and I have committed to prayer for the followers of our blogs as well as the ministry friends we share....

Hell would love to kill, steal and destroy....

But we stand with you and agree that the enemy will not prevail....

We stand with you that your families will be saved....

We agree with you that your ministry does not have to be lost.....

We pray against the demons of divorce and destruction.....

Blogging friends....

Rest assured....

None of us are alone....

For HE is in control and every knee will bow and confess HIS greatness.....

And in a few days the brightness of HIS glory will surround you....

I will rejoice with you when you rejoice...

And as you weep today....

I weep and endeavor to intercede for you.....

Prayers....

rks

Faith In The Morning

Sleep left at 4 a.m.......

I listened for HIS voice and knew this was HIS day....

As I look at dawn's early advent I am filled with wonder for HIM....

Wonder for HIS greatness....

Wonder at HIS mercies....

Wonder for HIS wonder......

And in incredible faith that this day HE has something for us......

Today I will go about my duties as pastor....

Yet I have little doubt HE will go about HIS ways as God.....

And somewhere this day HE and I will intersect....

How can I wonder or be afraid....

For I know that HE is with me....

And that before this day is complete....

HE shall manifest HIMSELF to me yet again.....

Let this blog today be a word of faith for someone.....

May faith transcend laptops, phone lines and the ether world to touch the heart of the one without faith.....

And may HIS goodness touch you this day....

Blessings...

rks

When The Lights Come On.....

Tuesday morning the Lord spoke to me through a dream.....

I stepped into the church it was dark but I could see and hear things going on.....

The service continued and people kept coming in....

I couldn't see what was going on....

When I took the pulpit I knew something was going on but I could not figure out what was happening....

I could not get control of things....

I was confused and frustrated because I did not know what was going on....

Finally I got the attention of the lighting guy in the sound booth and signaled for the lights to come on....

When the lights finally came on....

The place was filled with people and people were lined out the door....

Some adjustments had been made while it was dark but church was going on.....

And when the lights came on the Lord spoke....

I woke up with the confidence that though I might not can see or understand all that is happening when the lights come on all will be well.....

To Friends I Have Not Met Yet.....

Tracie just read me an email from a minister family several states away who follow our blogs and have found strength in them daily....

My dear brother and sister please understand.....

God knows where you are and rest assured you are not alone.....

Just as that plane from yesterday's post rested in the hands of God....

So do you....

We will be praying for you today.....

rks

What Really Happened

A Word From God....

The devil sent a strategic smart bomb against this pastor four days ago....

The phone rang an hour ago with a call from a prayer warrior from the past with a word.....

The Lord spoke to me four days ago and this is what has happened.....

And the Word from God poured over the phone into my soul.....

Absolutely accurate and verbatim.....

And peace flooded my soul.....

What Is In Thy Hand?

The moment was surreal.....

Moses saw a bush that burned but was not consumed.....

Moses came face to face with the Lord in the desert.....

Take off you shoes the Lord said....

I am about to use you he continued.....

But Moses offered excuses......

God asked Moses what is in your hand.....

A rod said Moses.....

Throw it down......

Release the things you hold and lean on and you will find yourself in the arena of the supernatural.....

Sunday morning I intend to lead CUPC in throwing down some things we hold on to....

And stepping in a new arena......

Interesting verse......

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Proverbs 26:4 KJV

I've Been To The Mountain....

This week Tracie and I are attending the Because Of The Times conference in Alexadria Louisiana....

This is something we have not done in many years....

Truly I have been to the mountain and heard the voice of the Lord.......

I return home a renewed and energized pastor....

We at CUPC will be moving to a new dimension.....

I can hardly wait....

rks

My Sentiments Concernng Gay Marriage

The Folly of the Novice.....

Paul said in I Timothy 3:6......

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.....

It seems that many young men love this verse and forcefully assert themselves in areas they should never do so.....

You see, some men qualify themselves after a year or so of pastoring or having preached a couple of revivals etc......that now they have arrived on the market of the ministry.....

And they have, but still are new arrivals.....

Now my young friend before you fire off epistles at me just bear with me and take a little walk.....

Paul's mention of the novice was not for the benefit of an established ministry but for a beginning one......

Too many have started well but something hindered them....

The zeal of a young leader combined with the just enough experience to be dangerous many times turns into mindless bluster......

And of course now that one has some sort of position in ministry he has to listen to no one.....too bad......

This poor sap has discovered unbeknownst to himself the folly of the novice.....

And so he ignorantly waves around verses like 1 Tim 4:12.....

Let no man despise thy youth .....

And blusteringly communicates the fact to others that I have arrived and you will not despise me.....

Again failing because of the folly of the novice that Paul was not writing for the young man to bristle and bluster about his own youth....

But rather he was encouraging young Timothy to not give anyone reason to despise him..... Timothy, do not run off at the mouth and get caught up in the folly of the novice and cause others to have no respect for you.......

But Paul offered an incredible remedy for the folly of the novice in 2 Tim 4:5.....

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry......

My dear brothers....

Sadly younger ministers set out to prove themselves and forget they are not to prove themselves but prove their ministry.....

The folly of the novice sets the lad in a process of proving who he is ....

This is unnecessary to all and only creates baggage the lad will drag for a long time....

Younger brothers.....

Be careful in all things......take the hard knocks.....win a soul.....and let your ministry prove itself.......

And the folly of the novice will not be charged to your account....

Blessings....

rks

Convicted Inspiration

Tonight Tracie and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner and fellowship with David & Sally Whitaker and their 5 kids and extended family members........

David and Sally found the Lord only a few years ago and now are building a church from the ground up, Hope Tabernacle....

David quit his job as VP in a major home building firm a few days ago and is walking by faith....

Sally told us tonight that a great portion of his decision was inspired by a past post on RKS Upclose, Solution for Revival........

Tonight after dinner in their home when asked if I wanted dessert I told them what I wanted was a tour of their church......

They were shocked and excited so we quickly ate and forgot about the pie and took off to the church....

I was inspired and convicted....

Oh how I remember the early days of starting our church....

David and Sally were hungry for any and all ideas....

Tracie and I loved sharing with them.....

But when David told me he was giving a $5k offering to Christmas for Christ....

I was convicted....

How does a home missions church do this???

And can I let this home missions church do more than our church????

Look out CUPC!!!

I am impressed and inspired by the success the Whitaker family is finding in this prime area as they pursue the calling God has placed in their hearts....

David and Sally have risen to the challenge, and in their simple and humble approach finding more success than others much more pedigreed were able to.....

God needed a man and his family in Montgomery Texas...

God found his man in Pastor David Whitaker.....

David and Sally Whitaker are living the dream of walking by faith and seeing God perform the miraculous.....

I am a better man tonight......

Blessings....

rks

The Extra Degree

At 211 degrees, water is hot....

At 212 degrees, it boils....

And with boiling water comes steam....

And steam can power a locomotive.....

These words caught my attention last week when I opened a belated Christmas gift and found Sam Parker's book....

I was inspired....

Went online and bought some paraphernalia from the 212 degree website....

And will be theming our annual leadership summit with this book tomorrow.....

I know the book is out of print and this concept has been around for a while now....

But I found it fresh and intend to lead CUPC this year with it....

I intend to work a little harder than I did last year.....

Tracie and I are enjoying many blessings as a result of the years of this ministry....

However.....

We have purposed in our hearts to do more than ever.....

Should any of our blogging friends choose to add extra effort to your work this year...

May HIS blessing be upon your labor and sacrifice....

Blessings....

rks

Revival in"09

Below is a e-mail I sent to our church family yesterday.

Greetings CUPC church family!

By now everyone has gone back to school and work from the Christmas Holiday. Personally I am very thankful for the return of routine.

This past weekend we enjoyed wonderful services with Bro & Sis Alba. Both services ended with a tremendous uplift in our faith. I asked Bro Alba to stay over to preach for us Wednesday night and Sunday. I am believing we will be energized and ignited for a brand new year of blessing and revival. We need a spiritual breakthrough! Many of you faced things in the past few months and have not known what to do. Let us agree that this weekend will be a time of renewal and faith for you. I hope to have several 2 week series of services in 2009. I believe we need the work of the evangelist this year. Hopefully we can strategically plan a Spring, Summer and Fall revival to keep the fires burning. Additionally we plan to have a couple of outreach events. This will be a great year.

Sis Smith and I are reading the Bible through together this year. I found a neat website for daily Bible reading that you might choose to use http://youversion.com/one-year-bible . Will you join Sis Smith and me as we read through the Word of God together this year?

January 25, 2009 will be World Missions Day here at CUPC. We will enjoy the ministry of Rev Gary Carter, Texas District Foreign Missions Director and another missionary. We will also make our annual Faith Promise commitment in the morning service. Faith Promise is an offering promise you make by faith every month that the Lord will provide by faith. We have seen many miracles and blessings come to families. Please be in prayer about the commitment your family will be able to make to the cause of World Missions. I know this day will be an absolute success because of each of you.

CUPC is rejoicing with several new families. We want each of them to feel at home. We need each of the church family to help us assimilate these new families into your after service fellowship. I appreciate each of your efforts with new people. Also, both Sis. Smith and I maintain blogs that we invite each of you to visit daily. We share whatever is on our heart for the day. Sometimes personal. Sometimes church or spiritual. Please come see us! http://www.tsmithconroe.blogspot.com/ & http://www.rkentsmith.blogspot.com/

Currently the economy and politics of our country are a bit uncertain. During these uncertain times we must shine brighter than ever. In uncertain moments the Lord is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above our wildest expectations. An uncertain world needs a certain Savior and a faith filled church. Let each of us be ignited with fresh faith and passion. 2009 will be a great year for CUPC and the families who call her home.

God Bless each of you!

Sincerely,

Pastor

My Brother's Loss

Today I spoke with a ministering brother on the phone.....

His loss was my gain.....

He wept....

I wept....

We wept....

We agreed that no matter the outcome of our business.....

We would not allow our friendship to be broken....

Woe be unto the minister who rejoices in his brother's loss....

Blessings.....

rks

Welcome 2009!

A new morning...

A new day.....

A new year.......

His mercies are new every morning.....

I wake up this New Years Day with a complete new quota of mercies for this day and year.....

A complete batch of new mercies for the next 365 days....

Looking back CUPC ended the year with a net gain of 15 new families....

Looking forward there is so much to see.....

This year I hope to see a few things happen in my life and ministry....

Goal: The removal of any thing or ministry that does not add value....

Value added is a new motto.....

Goal: The removal of all debt both personally and at CUPC.......

I cannot imagine a month without the pressure of a big church mortgage payment but believe this is the year.....

Goal: Revival of faith and Apostolic boldness in both myself and CUPC.......

Apostolic people do Apostolic things.....

Goal: A new suit size for myself....

Preferably smaller.....

Goal: To love Tracie more than ever before......

I cannot imagine how I could but I intend to find out.....

Goal: Fall in love with Jesus like never before.....

Please understand the above list is in no way a listing of priorities....

Rather simply a set of goals I hope accomplish in the coming months.....

Also there are several other goals that I believe I will see this year that include numeric growth of CUPC, blessings for my grown kids, health for my family, a relaxing getaway vacation for Tracie and me, a special request for my baby girl, and the list continues.....

I trust that this new day of hope and mercies that has been handed to me will not be wasted....

Rather I intend to work harder and see greater things in the coming months....

BTW....

Tracie gave me a membership to Wedgewood Golf Club here in Conroe for Christmas....

This means that I must also set a couple of new goals in my golf life as well......

Goal: Golf at least once a week this year....

This is terrible.....

Goal: A new set of Callaways or Big Bertha's or Taylor mades or whatsoever the Lord chooses to set in my pathway.....

Or fairway or green....

Happy New Year.....

rks