For those of you who are loyal followers of Midstate Quartet and have been for years, you know that we  sent out newsletter for a long time .  During those years, I did an editorial each month that I loved to write.  I had promised a new edition here some time ago, but I have decided to share some of the ones that I wrote in the past.  Why?  Well, the messaged hasn't changed and God gave these words, so, I feel they are still good now.   Here goes, from the Midstate archives.

Fall, 2005

        Are you willing to pay the price?  What price do you ask?  Whatever you desire with just a few exceptions can be yours if you are willing to pay the price.  I have talked about the possibility of road rage with me.  God is working on that.  Oh, I still talk to the seemingly rude people on the road, just to myself, not to them.  I talk about chasing them down and having a few words with them, but I am not willing to pay the price.  I would love to drive 70 miles an hour in a 45 mile speed zone, but I am not willing to pay the price.  Paying the prices is not always just in monetary value.  We all say that we want the blessings of God but.  But what?  What kind of barriers are holding us back?  The breaking of mind sets that we have had for so long?  Possibly.  The fact that we would have to change the way we live and the places we go and the way we talk?  Probably.  We want it all, yet we are not willing to let God lead because we might have to give up a portion of us that we are holding back.  Maybe it is just a little habit that we cling to such as smoking or something.  I am not saying that is wrong, or right.  I am just saying that if you feel that God is not pleased with that, then it is wrong for you.  It may be that we like to watch certain movies, go certain places, hang with certain people and we just don’t feel right about it.  Hmmmmmm.  Maybe God is trying to tell us something.  I think that certain things will block the blessings of God.  I feel like sometimes that God sends the blessings and we can’t receive them because a little obnoxious thing is stopping it.  What a pity!  I am no different.  I want a deeper relationship with God.  I would love to feel His presence every waking hour and dream about His glory when I sleep.  I would love to always be able to reach out and touch His garment.  Know what?  I probably could be a lot closer, but I guess deep down, I know there will be a price to pay.  I can look at others and see their faults, but it is harder to see the things that I would have to change.  I know that my patience with others is one price to pay.  I sometimes have a short fuse at work. I want a kinder, gentler, spirit.  Am I willing to pay the price?  What would you have to give up to have all your heart desires?  Do you want a new car, a different house, a better job, more children, to go back to school?  Are you willing to pay the money price?  Is your heart’s desire for more spiritual things?  Are you willing to pay that kind of price? I think for the most part that we would answer yes, we are surely willing to pay whatever God would ask of us.  A lot  of the time, all the price that God would ask is more time spent with Him.  We should already be doing that.  Maybe we would have to start tithing.  We should already be doing that.  Maybe it is some bad habit that we have that we would have to give up.  Let it go.  We should already be doing that.  See?  When you stop to think about it, we already owe this bill and it is due.  If we just live closer and sweeter and follow the instructions that God has given us, all the blessings in His blessing closet would be ours for the asking.  Hey, maybe that is another price.  We think that God knows what we need and knows the desires of our heart, so we just sit and wait and don’t ask.  Why not pick out something that you really need, a healing, a financial blessing, seeing a loved one saved, or some other thing that is dear to you and just bombard God with petitions for this thing.  The price?  Your time and prayers.  The reward?  Out of this world!   Remember no one is exempt from paying the price.  God himself had a price to pay and He paid it.  It wasn't easy.  He sent His Son to pay the ultimate price.   Try it and let me know how you come out.  It will work.  Pay up and watch God work.  I love you and so does Midstate.  Until next time………………………………..

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Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name.