ML Excellence Devotional and Books

1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

How many of us know that there is something wonderful about giving thanks and having a grateful heart!

The Apostle Paul gives us some profound wisdom in this short verse of scripture, that we should always give thanks for all things! Not just during a time of the Thanksgiving holiday, but in all things!

Why? Because God is the giver of all good things and the scripture says in James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

In other words, everything we have achieved, attained, and accomplished is by the grace of God!

So, we should always give thanks to the LORD! I can recall as a child, that my mom would always make sure my brothers and I, said thanks for even the small things.

She wanted to instill in us the importance of being grateful and thankful for anything that was done for us, or we received!

This is something I have never forgotten, and I truly believe that through God’s grace, blessings upon blessings are released upon us, when we give God glory and thanks for all that he has done and will do in our lives!

All throughout scripture, especially in the Psalms we see the saints giving God thanks for his goodness, grace, mercy, kindness, compassion and love that never fails! Check out these scriptures!

Psalm 92:1 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Psalm 105:1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

What is interesting is that Paul says, “This is the will of God concerning you!” This is very interesting, but what it means is that it is God’s will that we always have a thankful heart and spirit.

We should never take for granted the goodness of God, because God created all things, and all good things came from him!

Not only that, but we should be grateful to anyone that blesses our lives, or even for kind acts of service toward us!

We should never take God’s blessings for granted and likewise, we should never take anyone’s kindness for granted!

This is something we should never forget! Regardless of whether you are six years old or sixty years old!

Because truth be told, when we think about the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s not so much about Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, but it’s about the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, who is the giver of every good and perfect thing!

Brothers and Sisters, it is God’s will for his beloved children to be thankful, grateful and kind to one another.

During this holiday season and throughout the year, show someone grace, unconditional love, kindness, and always be thankful, even for the smallest things!

God Bless! Pastor Quinn

Prov 21:23 AKJV Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Words are powerful! So watch what you say! Most of the time we say what we feel, which is ok at times.. But the Word of God tells us:

James 1:19 AKJV
Why, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

Lets be real, sometimes we get in our feelings and release what’s in our hearts. But, wisdom tells us to be slow to speak, because words are powerful!

Many people don’t realize that where they are today is partly because of words that you speak, have spoken or others have spoken over you.

So today, speak life, not death, good not evil and blessing not cursing over your life, family, finances, future, ministry, children and whatever you may go through, and by faith believe that it will shift in your favor!

God bless, Pastor Quinn

1 Peter 5:10 AKJV
But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

Suffering and pain will do one of two things.. Break you or make you, and what won’t kill you, will definitely make you strong!

Be encouraged and know that trials, tribulation and pain are just for a season… and seasons shifts at the appropriate time ordained by the LORD!

God bless, Pastor Quinn

Golden Leadership Wisdom

“Leadership is always defined by followship.

Jesus didn’t say, “Lead me, impress me, excite me, entertain me, buy me, count me, sell me, or do me.” Jesus said, “Follow me.”

Leadership that bypasses followship may be important; it may be interesting; but it is never essential. Essential leadership operates from the perspective that we lead best when we follow most.

An insightful business leader noted, “In the twenty-first-century century organization, all successful leaders learn to follow if they are to successfully lead. ”

Author unknown.

“When it comes to the matter of Christian leadership, it is critical that we make the distinction among leadership that is essential, leadership that is important, leadership that is good, and Excellent leadership!”

There is:
Essential leadership.
Important leadership
Good leadership
And then there is:
Excellent Leadership!

Author unknown

Servant leadership in Christ!

Mat 23:11 AKJV But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Rom 1:1 AKJV
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.

Jas 1:1 AKJV
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 Pe 1:1 AKJV
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Jud 1:1 AKJV
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.

We find something very interesting in the Epistles.

Notice the Apostles considered themselves servants before the gifted calling! They followed the example Christ! Let us do likewise. Because the greatest among you shall be your servant.

God bless, Pastor Quinn

1 Thess 5:23 KJ2000
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Serve Christ.
Live right.
Think right.
Eat right.
Preserve your life!

Psa 30:5 AKJV For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psa 68:19 AKJV Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psa 118:24 AKJV This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Mat 6:11 AKJV Give us this day our daily bread.

The Lord encourages us to embrace and celebrate today.

We can’t change yesterday..

We don’t t know what tomorrow holds…

The only thing we hv control over is what we do today.

Today is the present.. A gift..

Show love today.
Forgive today.
Appreciate today.
Embrace loved ones and friends today.
Make a difference today.
Because tomorrow may become your history.

Never take for granted what you can achieve and do today.

God gives us visions, dreams and aspirations, but he never promised tomorrow. Only prophecies to give us hope for the future.

Live, love and laugh today.
Receive Christ today.

Because tomorrow may become your history.

God bless, Pastor Quinn

Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 
Pro 4:8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 
Pro 4:9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” 

Pro 16:21 The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. 
Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. 
Pro 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. 

In the book of Proverbs, we find something profound that most people neglect today. It’s called wisdom and understanding! It is almost a forgotten thing today.

But the Bible has a lot to say about it. Solomon the wise man was given this wonderful virtue by God because he desired it above all things.

When Solomon took over from his Father King David, he had a dream and humbled himself before God, and told the LORD, “You have made me King, but I am a little child, and I really don’t know what to do. So, Lord would you give me understanding to do what you called me to do!”

Listen to the scripture:

1Ki 3:7 Now, O LORD my God, you have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 
1Ki 3:8  And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 

1Ki 3:9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 
1Ki 3:10 The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 

1Ki 3:11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice.

The LORD blessed Solomon with heavenly wisdom and understanding because he didn’t ask for riches, long life, or the death of his enemies.

When you think about it, these are things most people desire! But, he asked God to give him an understanding heart instead~!

The Bible says, that what Solomon asked for pleased the LORD! So, God said:

1Ki 3:12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 

1Ki 3:13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 

Did you hear that? He asked for an understanding heart! In other words, he desired wisdom and understanding. This is why the Bible says in:

Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. 

Did you get that? Wisdom is the principal thing! Get wisdom! And in all your getting, get some understanding!

This is a wise word in season. Because today, people think because they are smart, educated, witty, and knowledgeable they don’t need sound wisdom! This is folly and foolishness! No matter how much we know, there is always wisdom that we can receive in our lives!

The funny thing is that most people think they have all the answers! That could be the furthest from the truth.

There is always something God can reveal to you, someone who has been there, done that, and experienced what you are going through, and can give you wise counsel!

The writer of Proverbs goes on to say:

Pro 4:8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 
Pro 4:9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” 

Who is her? She is wisdom, and she is beautiful to receive!

Proverbs goes on to say:

Pro 16:21 The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. 
Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. 
Pro 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. 

The definition of wisdom is: The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. It is the quality of being wise. Wisdom comes from the LORD, and wisdom also comes from your experiences in life.

The definition of understanding: The ability to understand something; and it is also wise comprehension!

So, wisdom and understanding gives us perfect insight and good judgment in decisions, and things that we desire to do in life.

So, what can we learn from the wisdom of Solomon?

1. Be humble.
2. Seek God first, for whatever you desire to do.
3. Ask for wisdom.
4. Ask for understanding
5. Always have a heart to receive wisdom counsel.

And always remember Proverbs 4:7, which says: Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding!

God Bless,

Pastor Quinn 

2Ti 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
2Ti 4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

One of the profound things we find in the Bible, is that it encourages us to endure and to overcome! Why? Because this is how we get the victory! The Apostle Paul knew that his time was short, so he writes this letter to Timothy and says:

2Ti 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
2Ti 4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

Did you hear that? I have fought a good fight! I have finished the race! I have kept the faith! Paul used these words to describe his life in Christ, because he was not only Hebrew, but a Roman citizen, and he saw the gladiators fight to the finish! He saw the races in Rome and applied it to his faith in Christ!

Question? Are you fighting the good fight? Do you intend to win the race? You can only win a fight if you endure every round! You can only win a track race, if you run hard to the finish line!

Many years ago, I ran track in high school (long jump, triple jump, 200 meters, 800 relay) and did a little boxing for a short time in the Navy. I found that in order to win, you must train hard and be focused!

It’s the same in our relationship with Christ. We must study hard, endure and overcome! The LORD tells us in his prophetic end time message concerning the last days:

Mat 24:10  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 
Mat 24:11  Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 
Mat 24:12  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 
Mat 24:13  But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 
Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

Notice that there are a lot of things that will be taking place, but the preaching and teaching of the Gospel must go forth! Which means that there are going to be some trials, tribulations, and troubles, but we must endure to the end.

Today, we see so much division and hate not only in the world, but in the church. We see people giving up on the church, giving up on one another, which is really a deception!

It’s truly sad, but we see scripture coming to pass, but Christ said, “We must endure, and we must overcome!”

Even in the book of Revelation to the churches, the LORD encourages the people of God to overcome!

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 

I watched the track and field World Championships the other day and the Americans did well in the sprinting and other events!

But it took hard work and focus to win. So, what can we learn from all of this? I want to encourage you to do the following ten things in order to fight a good fight and finish the race:

1. Keep the faith. Don’t get in doubt, fear or unbelief, and above all, don’ let your faith fail!

2. Stay in the race. Don’t quit. Quitters never win. Winners never quit. You can’t win a race by quitting.

3. Stay in your lane. Know your assignment. Stay in your lane so that you don’t get disqualified.

4. Be confident. You must be confident and have good self-esteem. Be humble, but always be confident!

5. Be focused. People who endure and overcome have an eagle like focus. They are not easily distracted.

6. Be ready. How can you be at your best when you don’t study, train, or have a readiness to succeed or excel?

7. Power through. Don’t be a crybaby. Be strong. Push, be steadfast and always do your best!

8. Overcome. Overcomers succeed in life. If you don’t overcome, you can’t win or get the victory!

9. Finish what you start. Who stops fighting in a boxing match? Who stops running in the middle of a race?

10. Get the victory!  Fight to win. Run to win, and no matter what your circumstances are. Always have the mentality of a champion!

People of God, remember there is a reward in Christ when we endure and overcome! Remember the words of the Apostle Paul:

2Ti 4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
2Ti 4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

God Bless, Pastor Quinn