Livingood at the Well

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livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:05:53 +0000

Join us at Waco Baptist Church in Waco, Kentucky

It May Sound the Same, But It’s Not the Same

livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:34:20 +0000

For a few years I worked with some booking agencies to get gospel music groups and soloists into the Central Kentucky area with most of those coming to my old home church in Waco, Kentucky. Time has gone on and now that I pastor, I have lost contact with most of these performers. Every now and then a call comes. It’s been months ago now, but I received one of those calls from a southern gospel quartet singer looking for a place to sing for one night.

He asked about Waco Baptist and if I could help get them in there to sing while they were passing through the area heading to another city. We spoke another minute or so and then I asked, “What town are you headed toward?” He answered, “Dallas.” I said, “Dallas, Texas?” He said, “Yes.” I chuckled a bit and then let him know that getting to Dallas, Texas, through Waco, Kentucky, would be side-stepping by hundreds and hundreds of miles. There certainly is a “Waco” in Texas and there is a “Waco” in Kentucky. Both are spelled the same but are certainly different in every other way. Needless to say, we blessed each other and the conversation ended quickly as we both had to get on with our work.

Beloved, you know many things look the same, sound the same, and feel the same but are not the same. We have been guilty at times of heading toward something that looked like something of God but led us way off track…leaving us with some work to do to make our way back to His blessing.

I’ve heard people say “this door is opening for me.” Well, trust me, I love open doors, but be aware…Satan also is a door-opener. He always has been and will be (in this life) one who mimics God. He too is a very spiritual fallen angel. He too has led many in worship. He too has stirred up desires, emotions, thoughts, dreams, and feelings. And, Satan can give gifts too. It’s not always as easy to spot as pornography and drugs…he can make it look the same, sound the same, and feel the same as the Lord’s gifts, but with very different end results. One brings God glory and the other brings grief; one, blessing, the other, curse; one, prosperity, the other, poverty. I’ve seen anger look like zeal or passion, but with totally different results. Impatience can look like desire, but rarely ends the same way. Even lust and gain can appear to look like concern and help; but one brings beauty and the other brokenness.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God,” says 1 John 4:1. How is this done? First, the spirits must be differentiated by the Word of God to see the Son of God and by the Spirit of God to experience the glory of God. Secondly, I would test the spirits and honestly ask, “What fruit will be produced by following this spirit?” You get a wonderful picture of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. These are fruits of life.

Many words have been spoken, but Christ spoke the words of life. Many books have been written, but only one is the living word of life. And many spirits are around us, but only one leads us to The Way, The Truth, and The Life!

There are at least two Waco’s…one you can go through on your way to Dallas, Texas and the other one has Muddy Creek running through it.

Don’t just live, start Livingood.
Bro. Allen Livingood

Taking Care of Baby Dolls

livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Another change has been seen in the Livingood household lately; and it has come through our daughter Victoria. Victoria, like most all little girls, has this natural, built-in, motherly instinct. This is why stores still sell tons of baby dolls and kitchen sets for our children to play house and build their own family within their family. The truth is, most people desire a family and home, but that doesn’t mean they know how to treat them and nurture them to be blessed and successful.

The change I spoke of with Victoria has come in the way she acts toward her baby dolls. It was comical at first, with her bossy attitude toward them; but after a while Paula and I began to feel sorry for the baby dolls. We began to share with Victoria that she needed to be sweet and nice to her baby dolls as well as making them mind. There’s a desire in most (if not all) to be a leader, but we too often forget that leading means serving first. (Gal. 5:13)

We would, from time to time, speak to Victoria on how to take care of her baby dolls like mommy and daddy took care of her. But, to be honest with you, life went on and I can’t say we paid that much attention to it. Then, just within the last few weeks, we began to watch her starting to do things differently. Instead of dragging the baby along or carrying it like a sack of potatoes, she was holding the doll upright against her chest. She was more concerned about the doll’s comfort and cleanliness. She also began to be a little sweeter as she laid them down to rest, asking me to talk quietly so I would not disturb them.

As Paula and I noticed the change in Victoria’s behavior, I asked, “What’s up with that?” Paula reminded me of Victoria’s wonderful new babysitter we started with only weeks ago. At the new babysitter’s house there are some infants who are taken care of daily in Victoria’s presence. She is seeing with her own eyes how a mother properly takes care of a beautiful baby and it has changed the way she takes care of her baby dolls. We had taught her how to care, and she knows we take care of her, but she had not watched us take care of an infant. She needed to consistently see it done properly in her life.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul stated to the early body of Christ, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Beloved the old “do as I say, not as I do” isn’t going to get it. And religious lip-service must come to an end. There are people watching us care for what we say we have and what we say is important to us. Are we dragging our salvation along like a sack of potatoes? Or are we holding it upright close to our breast, protecting it from harm, and as a new mother showing its beauty to all those around?

Every day we are teaching others how to live. Either we’re teaching them the right way or the wrong way. We are either teaching defeat, fear and curses…or victory, faith and blessings…and we do it by the way we live and love. Somewhere there is a little girl needing to know what it means to care for a baby doll.

“But be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t just live, start Livingood.
Bro. Allen Livingood

Don’t Worry! He Knows Where Camp Is!

livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:24:03 +0000

“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

We, as children of God, should know by now that fear (not Godly reverence) and faith do not mix. Faith moves us closer to receiving the good things of Heaven and fear certainly moves us away. In my own life, I am being more conscious about using phrases like “I fear” or “I’m worried” in my sentences. These certainly do not bless God, nor do they strengthen my faith.

I heard a pastor say some time ago, “God’s greatest desire is to be believed.” Knowing God greater in my life now and understanding that He created us in His image to fellowship with Him, I’m believing that statement more and more.

As a child in the woods with my Dad and as a kid who worried a little, I would often ask, “Dad, do you know the way back?” I’m sure it bothered Dad that I couldn’t rest and trust him, but he was usually patient in letting me know he knew where we were. Just as my earthly father was patient with me, it is comforting to know that my heavenly Father is as well. Unfortunately, we have misconceptions about a God who beats us when we have our eyes open during prayer. God IS God, and He should be reverenced and worshiped. But under the New Covenant (Heb. 8:13) and having been redeemed by His Son, Jesus Christ, I am now a joint heir with Christ, brought into the family of God (Romans 8:17). Now He is my heavenly Father. A father is to be honored, but a father also cares for his children when they are anxious. (1 Peter 5:7)

As a father myself, I do not enjoy seeing my children fearful and burdened with unnecessary anxieties. And, like my heavenly Father does for me, I spend time reassuring my children and pumping them up, feeding their faith, not fears. Beloved, He cares so much for you! He does NOT enjoy seeing you fearful; but, like I did with my earthly father and I desire my children to do with me, we must trust His word. When we’re hurting, it pains Him and when we choose to fear, it doesn’t mean He disables us. It just means (through our unbelief) we build a dam between ourselves and His blessings. He speaks, “Do not be afraid.” It’s up to me to just believe, trust, and rest in His word.

As a child in the woods, there were times when I missed the beauty around me because I was worried about a camp I couldn’t see. Unknown to me, my father knew right where the camp was because he had set it up. You see, there was no need for me to fear.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t just live, start living good.
Bro. Allen Livingood

Chasing Snakes

livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:07:40 +0000

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed. And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.”

A few weeks ago on a nice Friday evening, a neighbor’s daughter came to our house needing help. As Paula and I inquired as to how we could help, she said, “There is a snake in her mother’s driveway and we need you…to kill it!” Being one who does not like snakes, I claimed Proverbs 3:30: “Do not strive with a man (or in this case—SNAKE!) without cause, if he has done you no harm.” My first question to our neighbor’s daughter was “Is it hurting anyone?” Unfortunately, this did not calm any fears with her, but raised mine! My lovely wife then told her we would come over and take care of it.

After we got the pitchforks and torches from the garage (well, a flat point shovel), we began our journey down the street. The snake had now migrated to another neighbor’s yard and more women and children were engaged in the hunt. I was the ONLY 250 pound man in sight! As we approached the HUGE reptile (well…only about three and a half feet long), I again reminded the ladies he would move along and that the old timers would never kill a black snake because they keep mice away.

By now, you can clearly see me avoiding the confrontation, not remembering the Lord’s commission in Mark 16:18 (and at that point not really caring). Within a few more seconds, my wife grabbed the shovel that I had a real death grip on, lets out a scream, and strikes the snake behind the head—perfectly!! I have never seen my wife ever do anything like this before! As the women and children applauded my wife, all I could say was, “You the wo-MAN!” I then boldly placed my weight upon the shovel to completely sever the snake’s head. Hey, we all have our part to play in the body of Christ, you know.

This is a funny story with a good truth. As we walked home, Paula told me she was calling on God for strength to kill the snake! I must be honest. I am a believer in the Word and having a great faith in it. I believe in prayer and the power of it, but at that time, all I saw was a snake!

Now, I still believe we didn’t have to kill that snake. In life, however, we do have tests, trials, and troubles we must not ignore or cannot ignore. Are you looking at the problem more, or are you looking more to God? One has said, “Don’t just tell God how big your problems are, but begin telling your problems how big your God is!”

Don’t just live, start livingood.
Bro. Allen Livingood

Give Me Back My Nose!

livingoodministries — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:57:05 +0000

John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

After loading up in the Livingood vehicle during a short trip a few weeks ago, a cry came from the back seat. It came from Tori, our two year old. Paula and I asked, “What’s wrong?” and Tori’s reply was, “He’s got my nose!” Upon a further and quick investigation, we discovered our son, Trey (who is nine) was tormenting his little sister and had pretended to grab her nose. He just said, “I’ve got your nose, and I’m not giving it back!” After a short giggle, we assured her and showed her that her brother indeed had not stolen her nose.

I almost immediately thought (through my Spirit), how as born-again believers of the Word, we still at times believe the lies of the adversary (Satan) when he says, “I’ve got this, and you can’t have it back.” Oh, he may not use those exact words, but we’ve all thought things like that…my health is gone, I’ll never get this back, I’m too old, of no use, my ministry is gone, I’ll never have anything again, my home life is lost, my relationships are destroyed, my children will never listen to me, God can’t use me again, I’m probably not even saved anymore, etc. Hours, days, weeks, months, and years go by and we sit defeated and depressed, mourning over the loss of something Satan didn’t have the authority to take in the first place. We just believed and old serpent’s lies and handed them over to him.

Beloved, he (Satan) has no authority over your spirit that was cleansed and recreated by the blood of Christ. He certainly has not authority over the Holy Spirit which you were sealed with ‘til Christ returns. He also has not authority over the blessed Word of God.

Satan didn’t give you these things, and he can’t take them away. Stop glorifying a liar and start glorifying God, the Giver of life and all things good! Sit back, smile, and take in a deep breath…your nose is still there, and stop believing the lies of an old serpent bound for Hell!

Psalm 121:3

Don’t just live…start living good,
Bro. Allen Livingood

Don’t Forget to Sow Seeds of Blessing in your Garden

livingoodministries — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:21:25 +0000

“He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.” – Psalm 126:6

I have some dear friends who work hard to have a nice garden each year. Since that garden is worked, watered, and tended to, each year it produces beautiful, fresh vegetables. These vegetables are given to me and my family and are such a blessing! My friends use their garden to sow seeds of love and blessings into my life. This no doubt that it brings joy into their lives, especially when I tell them how well the kids loved the fresh green beans at supper. It is awesome to think of the blessings that God pours upon them because of their giving spirit!

The truth is, however, they receive a more complete blessing because not only do they share the harvest to bless others, they also receive and enjoy the harvest themselves. There is a spiritual message here. The Lord desires to use you as a channel of His grace to bless others and to sow seeds into their lives, which in turn also brings blessings unto you. You must not forget to sow seeds of blessing for your garden, which brings a harvest into your life directly.

I have grown up around God’s people and have seen firsthand the person who always give, give, give and never takes time to sow and receive for themselves. One day they go to give, and there’s nothing left to give from their life. What follows them is broken fellowship, bitterness, hurt and anger. Let me give you a more vivid example. A person could know “The Bible” is good and that people need “The Bible.” So, they spend years, energy, and money giving thousands of Bibles to others (which is awesome), but never keep one for themselves to read. So when the difficulty comes, even though they have done a good thing, they do not have their faith in time of their trouble. They poured life into everyone else but not themselves. Then they fall, and this is not God’s desire.

You must spend time sowing seeds and receive the harvest from your own garden for your nourishment. Then you will come away rejoicing and have fullness of joy to bless others.

Here’s a “pack of seeds” and its contents to sow into your garden:

•       God’s word
•       Worship
•       Prayer
•       Rest
•       Exercise
•       And some fresh green beans

These will bring a harvest spiritually, mentally, physically, and even financially into your life.

Don’t just live, start living good.
Bro. Allen Livingood

Stop Staring at Clouds

livingoodministries — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:15:24 +0000

“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4 NKJV

This text refers to the person (or people) who will not move to do the things that will bless them because they wait for all physical conditions to be favorable or perfect.

Before pastoring, I worked for a utility company. Sometimes when we had a job to start (and one that we really didn’t want to start), we would spend too much time observing the weather. Now it’s one thing to watch lightning strike, and it’s quite another to worry about a few dark clouds miles away. Looking back, it’s interesting to see the work we did do with conditions that weren’t perfect.

Let me also add, it’s one thing to not sow something because you don’t feel at peace with the Holy Spirit on a matter and another thing to not sow because you’re always looking at resources and conditions. Friend, God desires so greatly to pour out Heaven’s harvest on your life, but the harvest will not and cannot come with the seeds in your hand.

We say, “It’s just not time. We will do it later. I’m not strong enough now. The resources are not here. I just can’t. We don’t have enough people.” On and on we go, glorifying the devil and not our good Heavenly Father. We hold our seed fearful of a little wind, few clouds while Heaven’s windows are shut up by lack of faith. You have in your life now the seeds you need to create your future if you will by faith plant them into fertile soil.

We also are guilty at times of speaking of all the things lacking in our life when God has caused a harvest to produce in the fields around our life and the fruit is rotting unplucked because we were so spiritually out of tune to see the good things of God.

Beloved, the Christian life is one of faith, and if it is not, we must re-evaluate our Christian life. Go sow your seed in faith, reap with joy and gladness, and have the blessed life.

One final thought. Spiritually, the greatest harvests come many times when we do sow our seeds in the worst storms of life. Sow, believe, and reap.

Don’t just live, start ‘Livingood,’
Pastor Allen Livingood

Get Under the Bucket!

livingoodministries — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:08:59 +0000

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side.’ ” –Luke 19:41-44

The other day I took my son, Trey, to a birthday pool party of one of our close friends. It was held at a public pool water park. It really is a nice facility with several slides and fun things for the kids to play around on. One attraction is a huge bucket that stands about fifteen feet in the air with water pouring into it on both sides. Every few minutes the bucket would become full of water and would then tip over and pour the gallons and gallons of water all over those who stood under it. Most of the time a few kids would gather under it to receive the pouring of water, but there were a couple of times that I noticed no one under it to receive its outpouring. An amazing truth I saw though, was that the bucket was faithful to pour just the same even though no one was there to receive it.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because there was their salvation, their peace, their hope, their joy, full of living water ready and willing to pour Heaven’s glory upon their lives, but they would not receive the Messiah. Friend, Jesus came to fill the whole world with God’s goodness, but he whole world will not experience Him because they choose to go to other sources of water that will leave them lost and thirsty. Possibly today Jesus still weeps at times. Now Christian, its easy to sit back and say, “poor Jerusalem” or “silly lost person how foolish you are,” but then I think about my life. I’ve been “saved” since I was nine, but how many buckets of blessings have I missed because I did not put myself in a position to receive God’s goodness upon my life. How many times have I played in the water of fear, doubt, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness or rebellious choices when God truly desired for me to have peace, strength, hope, healing, etc.

Beloved, just because you are a child of God doesn’t mean you’re receiving every blessing God wants to pour upon your life. You’ve got to put yourself in a “blessable” position. Get under the bucket, hold up your head and say, “Lord, I receive my blessing!”

“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendents, and My blessing on your offspring.” –Isaiah 44:3

Love in Christ, Bro. Allen

Brethren, Pray for Us

livingoodministries — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:30:55 +0000

Here Moses intercedes on behalf of God’s people who would not by faith enter the land He was giving them:

“Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. Then the Lord said, ‘I have pardoned, according to your word; but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” — Numbers 14:19-21

I love to hear my momma pray, but I think I love to tease her even more. For years now when my momma prays out loud leading us in prayer, she asks at the end of her prayer, “Father, forgive me of my sins.” Dad and I tease her saying that she doesn’t care about anyone else’s sins, just hers! We are only having fun though because I have had my momma as a faithful intercessor all my life.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly,” we also do not always see or hear all, because “the half has never been told.” I can’t help but think of the times angels have been sent to minister and wicked principalities have been stopped from doing evil upon man because of the prayers of the intercessor. I wonder how many drunks and drug addicts have experienced protection, time, and grace because there was somewhere a momma or daddy beside his/her bed praying for hours. Many times we have heard testimony of how God awoke someone and stirred them to pray for family or friends only to find out later that tragedies were missed or that lives were saved at the same time prayers were being raised on another’s behalf.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16

I have prayed for others much in my life, but now more than ever I am taking my role and duty as an intercessor much more seriously and with a heightened sense of expectancy to see wonders happen for God’s glory. If intercessory prayer didn’t matter, I guess Jesus was wasting His time when He prayed for His disciples and us before He went to the cross. I don’t know about you, but I rejoice now that Jesus, my High Priest, is still interceding in Heaven on my behalf today! Isaiah says in 59:16 that it displeased the Lord that He saw no intercessor between Him and His people. “Therefore His (God’s) own arm brought salvation (Jesus Christ—John 3:16) for Him.”

We often wonder, “What can I do for the Lord’s Kingdom, or for my church, etc.” My friend, stand in the gap on behalf of others. Go before God in the name of Jesus on other’s behalf. Do it with faith, passion, power, and expectancy. There are people today under attack, sick, anxious, lonely, hurting, and/or lost. They need a Godly, righteous Child of God who will boldly say, “I will enter the Lord’s presence on your behalf.”

It does matter, it does impact, and it does bring change and healing. Paul knew this and that is why he said in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, “Brethren, pray for us.”

Love in Christ, Bro. Allen