Fasting

I did something yesterday that I have never done before in my life! I went to Books-a-million and bought Jentezen Franklin's book "Fasting" and started at 3:30pm reading NINE (9) chapters before putting it down and then I finished the other 8 chapters this morning! I couldn't put it down! I have never read a book, cover to cover, in less than 24 hours!! For that matter, I can't remember ever reading a book cover to cover in less than 24 months! Ha! Oh yeah, I did read "Primal" cover to cover just a few weeks ago (i forgot), "am I turning into a book nerd?" If it glorifies God in my life, it's ok to be a book nerd! Anyway...

One of Jentezen's first comments in his book is this, "When I feel myself growing dry spiritually, when I don't sense that cutting-edge anointing, or when I need a fresh encounter with God, fasting is the secret key that unlocks heaven's door and slams shut the gates of hell." Do you ever feel like you are drained spiritually and your anointing seems to be fading away? I've been in that feeling before and the enemy will try to make mountains out of mole hills when you feel this way. As previously blogged, I have challenged my congregation to join me in a 21 day fast for the new year beginning this Friday at midnight. I'm ramped up and ready to go!

As we begin a new year, I want God's anointing to be "in high definition" in my life so that the "gospel of Jesus Christ can be spread abroad" to a lost and dying world. I'm seeking direction in my ministry as well as for Kempville Chapel. "Lord, what is your will for your people for 2010?" Let's have this question in our hearts and minds as we begin another great year of our Lord!

Understanding

My devotion this morning came from Ephesians 5:1,2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." As you read on in this chapter it explains how to be an imitator of God, verse 17 says to "Understand what the will of the Lord is". How do we do this? Prayer and fasting! How do we communicate and cultivate the will of God in our lives? Prayer and fasting!

I Thessalonians 4:3 says "It is God's will that you should be sanctified". A little bit about sanctification for a moment...We were at mom and dad's for Christmas Sunday afternoon and the subject of smoking came up and my mom told us how she stopped smoking ... she said, "You know when I stopped smoking? When I got sanctified!" You see sanctification will allow us to live a holy life before the Lord because it causes us to not want to do the things that we used to do and that are sinful! Verse 4 goes on to say "that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God...". Verse 7 says "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." If we are to understand the will of God in our lives we have to be sanctified, we have to live pure, holy lives before Him. How do we do this ... through prayer and fasting!

Why should I fast? So that "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ... give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might" Ephesians 1:17-19. In other words, "to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing Him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him - endless energy, boundless strength!" (message)

In my prayer this morning I asked the Lord to sanctify me! All of me! Yes I did this a long time ago too, but I believe that you can't out ask God! Do you need to "understand the will of God in your life"? Talk to Him!

Weekend Reflections

Yesterday morning's service at Kempville Chapel was somewhat of a mellow sitting, if you will. It seemed like the hype, excitement and adrenaline from Christmas was settling. Our attendance was down quite a bit (other churches reported low attendance as well) due to sickness and holiday stuff but nevertheless we carried on with the Lord's work.

The Lord has challenged me to do a 21 day fast (Daniel fast/partial fast) beginning Jan. 1. I shared this with the congregation yesterday morning and challenged all that were there to join me in fasting and prayer. I shared about what God is calling me to fast for and one of those is direction. I feel the Lord is calling me to seek His will and direction, not mine! He is calling me to seek His salvation for lost people. We're not seeing people SAVED and that's a problem!!! He is calling me to seek a greater desire for Him, a desire for people and a desire to know what will bring people to Him! We have a message to bring to people and sometimes the methods need to change to reach them! Are we in the right direction or does our direction need to change?

We need to seek God for direction in our personal lives as well as the direction of the "church". Have we let "desires for other things" choke our purpose of being Christians? Food for thought!

You are thought of

Hope everyone had a great Christmas with your families and hope that "Santa" brought everything that you wanted. It's always a good feeling when you know that you have given to others and they are "happy" because they know that they were thought of. It's good to know that we are thought of from time to time!

I'm glad that God thought of me from the very beginning just like the Bible says in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee", and also Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end". God thought of us even before we existed! That's awesome to know and awesome to realize, that we serve an Almighty God that loves us and cares for us and wants us to have everything that makes us happy, but we must want Him in order to be happy!!

Be blessed today and don't eat too many leftovers!

Merry Christmas

I want to take this opportunity and tell everyone that I appreciate you reading this blog for whatever reason you get out of it. Hopefully it has been a blessing to you, a since of humor to you, or whatever it is to you. I hope to continue it after the Holidays and seek God's direction and thoughts so I can share with you daily!

I wish you all the very blessed Merry Christmas that you can have and don't forget to thank God for the Christ Child that came to save you from sin!

Baby Jesus

"Seeing was believing." Luke 2:17 (MSG) As I read the Christmas story again today I thought about the Shepards when they came to the manger to see the baby Jesus. An angel had come to them in the field and spoke about their Savior being born. I wonder what went through their minds when they saw the angel appear to them? Do you think they may have thought they had been out in the field to long and were now seeing things and hearing things? They acted on the Word of God! Is that not what the angel was speaking to them, the Word of God? Notice what they did, they went straight to the manger to see for themselves this baby Jesus. Does the bible not say that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17). I believe that the Shepards were acting in faith by going to see this thing that they had heard. Can you imagine what they must have felt to see the "Savior" face to face!

Do you remember looking at your baby's or someone else's baby's hands and feet and noticing the size and wonder of God's creation? I wonder what was going through the mind of Mary when she looked at Jesus' hands and feet for the first time. Do you think that she was concerned about him being healthy with ten fingers and ten toes (like we do our own) or do you think for that moment she was trying to figure out how it was all going to play out with him being the Savior of the world? That must have been a great weight upon the mind of Mary knowing that someday those little hands and little feet would change and be a great testament to men, women and children of the world. Those little hands and feet grew so that they could withstand the weight of Jesus as he carried the weight of sin for the world. That makes the manger scene more special to me when I think about it in that manner.

To borrow a phrase from our Christmas play at Kempville: Don't miss the manger!

Primal

"Primal - A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity" is the title of a book that I finished reading last night (by the way it feels good to finally finish a book without picking another one up). The author of this book is Mark Batterson which is also the author of two other books, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase (which I will be purchasing and reading both of them). Mark is the Pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC and lives on Capital Hill with his wife and three children.
I was searching some blogs one day and I came across Mark's blog and noticed his layout (I have a link to it on my blog) and it caught my eye and I began to read some of his postings and was intrigued by what he was writing and so I began to be a frequent reader of his blog. One day I read his blog and he was introducing a brand new book by the name of Primal. It caught my attention as well. Long story short, I received a copy of his book from his publishers and read every page and was fascinated by it and I would like to share a little from his book.
The title in itself is eye catching, Primal-A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity, and it is based on the scripture "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30) He asked the question to the reader, "Does your heart break for the things that break the heart of God?" This really spoke to me because it was a question that really seemed to not come from Mark, but from God through Mark to me personally. I have to admit I needed this question to be asked to me and if I hadn't read another sentence in his book, God was already convicting me on my heart, soul, mind, and strength condition! Right after this question in the book is this statement: "If it doesn't, you need to repent". And so I did!
I could write all day long about this book but you would never look at this blog again, but I do want to tell you some of the high points, or at least I think they are, and cause you to want this book to be the first one you read for the new year.
Mark says that the quest begins with rediscovery, but it ends with reimagination. This is totally true and after you read this book and listen to what God is telling YOU, you will agree with Mark. Our love for God is of most importance. He says that it's a reimagination of the four primal elements detailed by Jesus in the Great Commandment: The heart of Christianity is primal compassion, the soul of Christianity is primal wonder, the mind of Christianity is primal curiosity, and the strength of Christianity is primal energy. The author makes a statement that caused me to look at the love meter that I have for God, he said, "It's not about what you can do for God; it's about what God has done for you." Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. The most primal form of love is not doing things for God. It is receiving with gratitude what He has already done for us. And then reflecting it in our lives! One of the last things that Mark says in his book is this and it's true; "In its purest, most primal form, loving God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength is loving God for God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else."
This book, and the Spirit of God within me, have shown me that my heart doesn't break enough for the things that break the heart of God and that my wonder of God's creation and his HAND, his TOUCH is not what it needs to be. I could go on and on about the book, but this might be one that you can only be impacted on by reading it for yourself. You can purchase this book and more at RandomHouse.com, so go out before the end of the year and buy this book and let it be the first you read, after your daily devotion with the Word, and let it change your mind, heart, soul, and actions!

No Room in the Inn

"She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

When I read this verse today it sort of hit me in a different way. The last part of this scripture says that "There was no room for them in the inn". This wasn't just another pregnant woman needing a place to rest, this was the mother of Jesus, although the inn keeper probably didn't realize who he was dealing with. I got to thinking about those words, "no room", and I began to wonder if with all the things that I have in my life, all the daily activities, all the things that take most of my time, do I have room for the savior? Do I have room for the things that God wants for me? Do I have room for his presence to flow in my life? Do I have room for Him to work through me to touch someone else? Do I have room for obedience?

I think we all can make room for God in our lives because our lives are supposed to be His anyway! Have we made room for everything else besides the plan of God? It's my prayer today to make room for Jesus in my life and to spread His Word, daily!

Christ Child

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

As we get closer to the day that we celebrate Christmas with family and friends, I wonder if we're reminded of the real reason for the season during the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, and scheduling. The Word became flesh! God knew that man had messed everything up and that in order to have a real relationship with man, He needed to "become flesh". That's what Christmas is about, God becoming flesh and living among us showing us the way!

When we think about the Christ Child we don't always acknowledge that the baby in the manger was "full of grace and truth". When we see a manger scene outside a church building or in a Christmas play, it seems like we only see a mother, father and baby because that's the mentality of our world today. But I'm convicted today to look at the manger scene the way that the wise men did. When they came to the manger the Bible says that they worshiped the Christ Child. They didn't worship the mother, Mary, or the father, Joseph, they brought gifts to the One that was "full of grace and truth", God in flesh, to take away the sins of the world!

Let's be reminded the true reason we celebrate Christmas! Jesus is the reason!

Real Ministry

Just read a post from another blog and it convicted me and caused me to look at the "ministry" and rethink some things. Are we really reaching out to the lost with an open mind and an open heart? I think it's time to take down the facades that we have in front of our "churches" so that the lost will feel like they can be a part!

Check this post out. Caution - your mouth may drop open when you read the title, but it's worth reading! http://www.perrynoble.com/2009/12/14/this-sh_t-is-awesome

Weekend Reflections

Blessed Weekend! Saturday evening we celebrated the Holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas) with a great meal prepared by our very own Lisa Thompson. We actually started "take-outs" around 4pm and at last count we sent out approximately 115+ meals to those in need! To God be the Glory and Praise!!! We served well over 200 people when everything was said and done!

Sunday morning services were good as our attendance was down a bit but the Lord is good and continues to bless our congregation. Last night's service was special as to having a baptizing at the end of service. Sister Stacey Pedigo was baptized and before we got out of the water Sister Alicia Wills came and was baptized! I love it when people "listen" to the voice of God and are obedient! It didn't end there, after we dismissed the service and some had already left for the night, Haley Gibb's dad came up to me and asked if I still had my wet clothes laying around and if I did Haley wanted to be baptized. Needless to say, Haley was baptized also!!!!

I made a comment last night in the service that "we are a work in progress". Everyone of us that are breathing are a work in progress and we should let God do His complete work in us. I was reminded this weekend that God is not a mean God, God loves us and wants us to just love Him back! Love Him today and let Him do a work in you!

Glorify God

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men'!" Luke 2:13, 14

As I sit in my office and write this, the kids and adults are practicing the Christmas play right outside my office door. Some know their lines, some don't. Some know the songs, some don't. There is only eight more days until the "Camel Lot" program! Nerves are beginning to surface for the director and the kids! It seems like nothing is going right, all the props are not yet built, I just had to change some mics around to get more sound from the "shy" voices, there had to be a "pep" talk to get everyone to pay attention, etc...

I am reminded that the heavenly host glorified God and glorified the infant King on the day that we are about to celebrate and is the reason why we do these programs during the Christmas season in every church (hopefully) across our nation. So, even though things may not be "up to par" just yet, the final time that these kids go on stage to tell about the birth of Jesus will be a Glorious time because WE will be the one's that will be glorifying God in the highest!

The infant child, born of a virgin, was divinely sent to us to be our Savior! This, we should glorify our Father for because the Word says, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Wise Men

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of insense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:11

They had it right on the very first Christmas. The wisemen took gifts not expecting to receive gifts. The bible says that after Jesus was born, a band of scholars or Magi, came to Jerusalem to ask of the one who was born king of the Jews. They had observed a star in the sky that signaled the birth of Jesus and they wanted to go and worship him and bring him gifts. I believe that these wisemen had the intentions that we ought to have this Christmas season. They had it right, they brought gifts to Jesus.

It seems like the most exhausting thing to do is to figure out what to get someone for Christmas. We put stress, strain, and anxiety upon ourselves because we want to please someone with the best gift that we can give them. Sometimes I believe the stress that comes along with it is because of the attitude of kids, and some adults, that they expect a gift. I don't think that I have heard one time from my two kids mouths the question of "what would so and so like for Christmas" or "what can we give someone for Christmas this year". I wonder sometimes if we (and I'm not faulting my kids by no means) have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas?

The wisemen didn't go seeking out the new born King to receive gifts from him, they took gifts to him without any inclination of getting anything in return. The gifts that the magi brought to the infant Jesus are really of great interest. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are all significant gifts that demonstrate the wise men's understanding of Jesus' identity. Gold is a gift fit for a king. Frankincense is a gift that would be offered to a Deity. Myrrh is what would be used to preserve a dead body -for someone who would die. But let's remember that all this happened because Jesus is the most precious gift for us that we will ever receive. God's gift to us because he loves us!

This Christmas let's tell everyone the true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus. Also, let's have a giving heart instead of a getting heart. Let's show God's love that lives in us and show someone some compassion and give them Jesus this year.

Friend needs prayer

I write this today and I'm mad in my spirit as well as in my flesh. I'm mad at the devil. I have a very, very good friend that I spoke with just a moment ago that lives in Elizabethtown, Tn. and the devil is trying to destroy his witness, his character, his career, and everything about him. My friend has a heart for people, he has a heart to see people's needs met both physically and spiritually, he has heart for God. He shared with me what happened to him last Saturday evening as he and his wife were sitting for a while at the home of a friend whose husband and son was on a trip for the afternoon. Their friend was inside the home as he and his wife was sitting out on the porch, and he noticed a dark figure walking through the gate slowly and quietly as to almost a sneaky gesture. This person had on all black, with a stocking like hat and a scarf around their neck and face and when my friend called out to them, they had no response, they came on through the gate and latched it and began to walk toward my friend, who was now walking off the porch. As this individual got closer to my friend and still not responding to the requests of who they were, my friend took defensive measures and grab this person and wrestled them to the ground with force. Long story short, this individual turned out to be the mother-n-law of the person they were sitting with and her other son came later and assaulted my friend. This is already having adverse effects on my friend and his witness of being a Christian. The lady has pressed charges and my friend needs your help with prayer! Please keep Lynn Peters in your prayers today that God's glory will shine from this situation somehow! Through a mistaken identity and no verbal response from this individual my friend acted in a manner that any of us would have and the devil is using it to destroy him. He needs faith to get him through this and to trust in the Lord for the outcome. I ask you to pray for him today.

Keep in step

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:22,23,25

"Tis' the season to be jolly" is a familiar phrase that we sing this time of year and for some, due to the economy, sickness, death, etc..., it's not such a time to be jolly. I'm reminded this morning that even though we have to go through life and all of it's frustrations, disappointments, let downs, difficulties, etc... we "Christians" have a way of overcoming those sad, ugly, lowly, dark times. We are to "keep in step with the Spirit" and God gives us the joy, peace, faithfulness and love that we need in our lives today. I like what Eugene Peterson said about this scripture, he says, "but what happens when we live God's way is He brings gifts into our lives much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives."

The Bible tells us in the book of Romans 8:1,2 "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." This is GOOD NEWS for those that have Jesus! The greatest joy that we can have is the joy of our Salvation and that Salvation came about by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is because of Him that we can be jolly this season, no matter what the circumstance in our lives!

Let me encourage you today to "keep in step with the Spirit" by praying, fasting, reading the Word of God everyday so that your fruit can come forth and be ripe before a world that is rotten. Be blessed in the Lord in your walk everyday!

Radio Show

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" Matthew 28:19

Today I have an opportunity to spread the gospel through radio! I received a letter from Lafayette Broadcasting that explained their mission and gave a schedule of events and I was informed that there is a radio show that comes on everyday and I could be a guest if I was interested. Long story short, I will be a guest of RJ Wheaton "today" on his radio show beginning at 3pm. He is the host of the Christian Talk Program from 3pm-5pm weekdays on WEEN AM 1460. I don't know what the range is as far as who can pick it up, but if you can, listen in. I believe you can get it on the Internet at www.wlct.com and click on listen to WEEN at the right side of the page. It ought to be interesting!

Keep me in your prayers today as this could lead to our church services being broadcast weekly on this radio station!

Snowy day

This morning when I woke up and began to fix my morning coffee (I forgot to set the automatic program on it last night) I looked outside to find that it had snowed overnight. Even though it was only as deep as a finger nail on top of my car, it was a sight for sore eyes. It attracted my attention as I began to notice how beautiful it looked lingering on the leaves, branches, rooftops, vehicles, etc... It also brought to my attention a passage of scripture that has been in my spirit for quite a long time now. 2 Samuel 23 is a list of King David's "mighty men" and there are several mentioned, the chief three being Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. Also mentioned is a man by the name of Benaiah. When I saw the snow this morning my mind went straight to this passage of scripture that talks about Benaiah.

Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada and the bible says that he accomplished a great deal of things but the thing that I want to bring to your attention is that the bible says that on a snowy day, he climbed down into a pit and killed a lion (2 Sam. 23:20). Now the bible doesn't say how big or how small the pit was, or it doesn't say how much snow or how little snow was on the ground but I think that we can learn from this passage a lesson about our battles. The bible didn't say that he fell down into the pit, it said that he climbed down into the pit. I like to believe that Benaiah knew what was in the pit to begin with and he had confidence in the Lord that he was going to overcome what was in the pit that just so happened to be a lion.

Do you have a lion in your way today? Do you have a pit to cross? I believe that we all as Christians will face a circumstance in our life that resembles a snowy day, a pit, and a lion. It's not really clear why Benaiah climbed down into this pit with this lion but maybe he needed some nourishment and the lion was the only food that he could find. I like to think that Benaiah overcame some obstacles just to get his reward. I'm sure that his footing or his hand hold might have been difficult due to the snow causing it to be slippery, but he climbed down anyway taking the chance of being attacked by the lion if he had fell and became weary. But I believe that Benaiah had his eyes set on the lion the whole way down into the pit because if he had taken his eyes off the lion he may not have been the one to climb out alive. God will take care of us if we keep our eyes on what we are doing. Just as soon as we take our eyes off the path that the Lord wants us to take, the enemy will pounce on us like a lion and devour us. We have to be ready to take on the enemy no matter what the "elements" or "obstacles". We have the power to overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb!

Be blessed today and let's not let anything keep us from our blessing. I'll talk more about this passage in future posts.

Protection from our enemies

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me..." Psalm 138:7,8

As Christians we have a purpose to bring glory and honor to the Father by living our lives in such a way that we bring pleasure to Him. Have you ever felt like you had enemies that seemed to get the upper hand and no matter what you did or said it just continued to escalate? In this scripture it says, though I walk in the midst of trouble, we could translate trouble in many ways: people trouble, financial trouble, spiritual trouble, the list goes on and on but the thing about it is God will "walk" every step with us if we allow Him too. We don't have to go through difficulty by ourselves, we don't have to go through frustrations by ourselves, we don't have to go through any trouble by ourselves. The Bible says that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother!

When I think about God stretching His hands out against my enemies, I'm reminded of the prophet Elisha when he disclosed the king of Syria's counsel and the servant of Elisha was afraid because of the great host that was encamped around them. Elisha knew that the Lord's hand was stretched out over his enemies and he told the servant "... they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (II Kings 6:16). Elisha asked God to open the eyes of the servant and let him see the host of horses and chariots of fire standing around them on the mountain and the servant began to see the hand of God stretch out over his enemies.

In future post I want to elaborate on the rest of this scripture but for today let's be encouraged that we have a Father that loves us and that walks with us in the midst of trouble. Let's look for the hand of God in our situations that we face daily and draw strength from the Lord God Almighty!

Rewards

"Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth and it endures." Psalm 119:89,90

I'm going to let you in on a little secret this morning (some of you already know if you sit in our congregation). The end of October, somewhere around the last two days of the month, I was in prayer and the Lord impressed upon me that I needed to be more "consistent" in my devotion with Him. It wasn't the first reminder from the Lord because I had a man of God minister to me through his calling and spoke some very strong words from the Lord. Let me tell you, when you know that God is talking to you "in plain English", i.e. when you get the understanding that God isn't pleased with you, it's a wake up call! The Lord has had me to awaken very early in the morning for the whole month of November. Since November 1st I have been setting my "alarm phone" (who knew what a phone's capacity would turn out to be) and going over to the church, or in one case sitting in my living room, and spending time in prayer and devotion to God. Its amazing how you feel and things go when God is the first one you speak to and meditate on first thing in the morning. Try it sometime!

I didn't say all this to boast in me and my discipline on getting up early in the morning, I want to brag on God! Yesterday was December 1st and I went ahead and set my alarm phone the night before and had every intention of getting up and continuing my devotion as I have been doing the whole month of November, but I never heard the alarm go off! When I woke up at 6:30 am (I have been waking up around 4:45, before the alarm) I had missed my wake up call! I looked at my phone and just like it had for 30 days, it did everything in its program to wake me up. When I was able to collect my thoughts I realized and "heard" God tell me, "thank you", for He let me sleep another hour and a half yesterday morning. When I told Kelly about it her response was, "He let you sleep this morning." Even though the phone did it's job, the Lord softened the sound in my ears (and Kelly's) and we received some good sleep! You see, I saw this as a "reward for those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) How great a God we serve!!

Let's be diligent in our walk with God today and let Him teach us His ways and His love for us. He does love us and wants us to know that He's not a "mean God". He loves you today and His word is true and eternal! Live by faith and He will honor you! Be blessed today and be careful, it's a messy morning outside (rain and cold).

Love Can

Recently, (Halloween night actually) we attended a Christian concert in Westmoreland that was sponsored by Extreme Outreach Ministry and some of the local churches in Westmoreland that featured DecembeRadio. They have a song that is featured on their new cd called "love can" and it's a great song (my daughter loves it). I shared a passage of scripture in my opening remarks yesterday morning as I began to preach, found in Ephesians 3:17-19 "...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." In order for us to "love one another" we have to be rooted and grounded in the fullness of God because He is love! We can't just be happy with being saved and only saved, we need to reach, search, long, desire for more of God everyday and all of His fullness! There is more to being a Christian than just being assured a home in Heaven. We are to be disciples for Christ and in that we have to have the armor to witness and to fight against the enemy and that comes about by receiving the fullness of God. Verse 20 tells us "God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."
Our minds can't comprehend the power that we have through Christ when we go farther with Him and receive all the fullness of what He is and what we can be through Him! Let it be our prayer today to receive all of what God has for us so that we can do the work that He intended for us to do!

Black Friday

This morning my eyes are telling me that they have not been shut long enough since the awakening early yesterday morning (black Friday) to join my wife, Bailey, and Blake in an adventure that was truly to bring joy and happiness to us as a family experiencing the excitement of the day! The clock was set to wake us up around 2am and after the alarm, I slowly and cautiously (still asleep) made my way to the kitchen where I made my morning coffee and wondered "what was wrong with me" being up that early in the morning just to catch some good deals on this day. I had to remind myself that my beautiful wife had explained to me that "it would be fun" and that "we can capitalize on some great prices". When the day was over and we began to wind down for the night (after also helping a family member move), my wife asked me how I liked black Friday? Being as tired as I was I can't even remember what my response was back to her, I just remember noticing how great it was to be going back to sleep.

"Black Friday" (named for the time retailers ink on the statements will be black instead of red) may be an exciting time for shoppers to purchase great deals for the Holiday, but I'm reminded this morning of the very first "black Friday" that a purchase was made that was the most important purchase made for us of all. "From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land" Matthew 27:45 (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). This passage of scripture, of course, is the account of Christ suffering and dying upon a cross to take away the sin debt of mankind. The Bible says that the curtain (veil) was torn in two from top to bottom only something that God himself could do and by this we have the means to approach the "throne of God" and be bought by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus made the most important purchase that will ever be made and the great thing is we are the one's that receive from that purchase. This is how much God loves you today, "He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) The awesome part about this first black Friday is that it didn't stop at the cross. Jesus rose again on "Sunday" and made us heirs as children of God and through this resurrection we have hope and assurance of life eternal!

Do you know Him who set the captives free and paid the sin debt for you? Jesus loves you today!

Happy Thanksgiving

"Love one another fervently with a pure heart." 1 Peter 1:22
As I was in prayer this morning, I began to "thank" the Lord for many things. My mind was taken back to when I was saved in Children's Church that morning at the Westmoreland Church of God of Prophecy, now Lakeside Church, after listening to Sister Lois Dean Graves preach to us about Jesus. I remember walking up to that altar and asking Jesus into my life and Sister Graves praying with me and I truly believe that Jesus saved me that morning! I'm thankful this morning that she, Sister Lois Dean, followed her calling and didn't worry about what someone thought about "women preachers", because that woman preacher touched many lives along the way including many men, women, and children.

I'm thankful this morning for the "home" that I was brought up in. I was the third child of four that my mom and dad raised. My parents never "picked" which one of us was the favorite (although sometimes I wondered) they treated us all the same. We never wanted for anything. I can't remember a time that dad didn't work to provide for our family. I don't think that we can ever be thankful enough for his blood, sweat and tears to give us what we needed and most of the time what we wanted. Momma was always right there to give us the love and attention that kids need and she's still to this day taking care of all of us and making sure that we "raise" our kids right! I could spend all day thanking mom and dad for what they are in my life but I just want to tell them today that I'm very thankful for always showing us love. Love makes a home a home!

I'm thankful today for my wife! I have the best wife that anyone could have! She's HOT, smart, HOT, loving, HOT, a great mother, HOT, forgiving, HOT, caring, HOT, etc... did I mention that she is HOT!! I don't deserve the wife that I have and it's due to how that her parents raised her that she stuck with me through those "stupid" years that I went through in our marriage. She is a wonderful mother to our two kids and can fight off any lion, bear, monster, you name it, she's tuff! I love her and she loves me and the kids. Love makes a home a home!

I could spend all day long until my fingers couldn't move and bleed to tell you how thankful I am of my daughter, Bailey, and my son, Blake! I'm proud of my kid's this morning! I'm proud of their accomplishments already in school and sports, but the most important thing that ranks up there more than a three-pointer, quarterback sack, home run, game winning shot, etc... is that both of my kids have given their lives to the Lord! The happiest time's in my life was when Bailey and Blake got saved!!!!! I'm thankful for my kids today! I love my kids and they love me (they don't have to say it, they show it). Love makes a home a home!

I could go on all day about how thankful I am and who I am thankful for (the rest of my family, Kelly's family, my friends, our church family, etc...) but I would leave someone out mistakenly and I wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings for nothing. So I will leave you with this, I'm thankful for Jesus Christ my Savior that died on a cross for all of us! His love makes a home a home! Happy Thanksgiving!

Be Joyful

It's been a few days since I've posted anything. I began to post something Monday morning after prayer but it seemed like I couldn't get anything to settle in my thoughts because of what the Lord was dealing with me on. Sometimes I think that things are just better left undone for a moment in time to see it grow, change, lessen, etc... whatever the case may be!

I have had a great week so far with today being midweek, tomorrow is "Turkey Day". Just a thought: how many people see it as "turkey day" and concentrate on the "food", "football games", and "leftovers" rather than the cause of getting together with family and friends to celebrate another year of "Thanksgiving" from our different walks of life? I hope that these "get-to-gethers" are not just to happen because we have a day off work and this is normally what we are supposed to do!? Let's be truly thankful for, first of all, God allowing us (individually) another day to serve Him, for allowing us to be healthy (in our own ways), and another time of celebration for bringing the families together and catching up on things happening in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." As we gather around family and friends tomorrow (or the day that you get together for Thanksgiving), let's take this scripture and apply it to our lives and to those around us, let's be joyful; don't let "burnt macaroni", "soggy dressing", "too many kids in one place", etc... steal our joy! We should always be praying continually, this is our duty as Christians! Most of all, let's give thanks in all circumstances because our lives have a purpose and God's hand is leading each and everyone of us (if you let Him), and we need to give Him praise and thanks for what He has done in us!

If I don't get the chance to let everyone know tomorrow, I want to wish everyone that reads this "stuff", a very Happy Thanksgiving! May God richly bless you today is my prayer!

Heart of Worship

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

This morning in my prayer time I was overwhelmed with the presence of God and was reminded by the Lord that we (Christians) have to have a broken spirit before Him in order to "truly" worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). A contrite heart is a heart that is filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; showing sincere remorse for our faults and personal failures before Him. Have we forgotten the "posture" of worship in our daily lives? I believe that God is calling His people to bow before Him and acknowledge that we are "as grass that only withereth away".

I like the way Eugene Peterson puts this passage of scripture, he says, "Going through the motions doesn't please you (God), a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice." If we are going to experience a "personal" revival in our lives we have to learn God-worship and let our "pride" be demolished before Him.

I feel this morning that the "church" needs to experience a "great awakening" again and in order to do so, we have to experience a heart-felt desire to want to "know" God and all His glory. We have to learn the right posture in order to be receptive to His will in our lives and I believe that when we turn back to Him, He will fill our lives, families, and churches with His presence and blessings and we will experience revival in the land!

I pray for brokenness across our spirits today and may the presence of God rule in our lives as men and women of God.

What's God done for me?

"He forgave my sins - every one, He healed my diseases - every one, He redeemed me from the pit and crowned me with love and compassion, He satisfied my desires with good things, He renewed my youth (spirit) like the eagle (I can soar with Him), He gave to me His righteousness." Psalm 103: 1-6 (NIV)

Have you heard someone ask you the question, "What's God done for me?" You can give them this scripture and it will speak wonders and tell them of the GREATNESS of our God! Let's put this scripture in our spirits today and meditate on the One that gives to us freely if we just ask and believe!

May God Bless you today!

Praise

"Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His love endures forever." Psalm 106:1 (NIV)

We live in a world teeming (swarming) with temptations and distractions - a world where good and evil struggle in a constant battle to win our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Author Warren Wiersbe once said, "When there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips."

"Praise opens the window of our hearts, preparing us to walk more closely with God. Prayer raises the window of our spirit, enabling us to listen more clearly to the Father."
-Max Lucado

"Worship is an act which develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God which is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship with God is nurtured."
-Eugene Peterson

"From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord's name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 2 Thessalonians 5:18

"Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name." Hebrews 13:15 (Holman CSB)

I like the way Eugene Peterson put it about worship, that we need to have feelings for God and not just a feeling of God as we worship. Do we have feelings for God today? Is He continually on our minds, hearts, and lips? God has given us everything that we have, why don't we praise and worship Him enough?

Appointed

"Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1: 4,5) We find in the scripture that Jeremiah was called to do a work from the highest authority, God Himself. Jeremiah had doubt at first, "I cannot speak for I am a youth" (vs6), and the Lord reassured him of the appointment by telling him "Do not say I am a youth, for you shall go to all to whom I send you and whatever I command you, you shall speak...For I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." (vss 7,8)

I like the way the NIV puts verses 17-19 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land ... They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you" The Message Bible translates it this way: "I'm making you as impregnable as a castle, immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You're a one-man defense system against this culture...they won't even scratch you. I'll back you up every inch of the way."

God has made all of us as "iron pillars", "immovable steel post", "solid concrete block walls" by His power, by His authority, and by His appointment. I believe that we don't realize sometimes just how much power and authority that we have and that we have all the tools to defeat the enemy when he comes against us. God wants us to be the people that He has raised us up to be and not fall by the way side. The Bible says that in that great day there will be some that fall away. What's going to cause them to fall away? Will it be because they forgot about being a "fortified city, an iron pillar?"

I want to take authority today on the appointment that comes from the Lord: to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. We have been empowered by the Holy Ghost to overcome the enemy when he tries to cause us to fail and we have power to overcome him in this spiritual warfare that is raging around us! "Get yourself ready" today to carry out the appointment that God has given you as an individual and seek revival for yourself and let it spark a revival in someone else!!

Motives

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? ... You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do no ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:1-6 (NIV)

Are our desires not what God wants them to be? Have we gotten a mind frame of self-want, self-comfort in how we think things ought to be? I'm reminded what the Word says in 2 Chronicles 7 about being humble and praying! If I have a quarrel with someone or about something, I have a responsibility to seek God's direction and make sure that what my thinking or action's are is not conjured up through strife and pride in my life. The last thing that I want is to be opposed from God because I allowed some "stiffnecked thinking" get in the way of God.

I believe that it's time to let God be God in our lives and as (or) if we seek revival in our lives, be open and receptive to the answers that we are getting! Revival starts within us as an individual and after God cleans and polishes us as to how he wants us to be, then we as a congregation, church, community, nation will experience a real heartfelt, prayed for revival!

Let's allow God to "open the windows of heaven" and pour the "RAIN" down on us as we humble ourselves in the potters hand. Be blessed in the Lord today!

Continual Service

The presence of the Lord was felt this morning in the worship service at Kempville Chapel. We felt a move of the Spirit settle down on us during the song service and as we were coming to the close of the song service the Lord moved upon me to have a couple of people come to the front for special prayer. As those that came up for prayer and those that were "laying on of hands" were praying the Spirit of the Lord moved in a mighty way and I believe that there was healing happening in those individuals. There were more that came forward for prayer as the Spirit was stirring in the prayers of the saints.

I was lead to a very familiar passage of scripture found in the book of Daniel chapter 6. The Holy Ghost spoke to us through this "Sunday School Story" that so many learn as a child. I love it when we can take an old familiar story from the Bible and have the Holy Ghost direct our lives and allow us to learn something fresh and new. The Lord brought out something in that passage that I had not seen before in reading and studying of the Word. The scripture tells us in verse 16 that the king, Darius, commanded them to bring Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. And here is what the Lord showed me this morning that I never saw before, he, Darius, spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Darius new that Daniel was faithful to his God and that he served him, continually!

We have to serve God continually in our lives and not let up! The Lord had favor on Daniel to have the angels come and shut the mouths of the lions because of the dedication that Daniel had to Him. Daniel had a continual servanthood with the Lord. This meant that no matter the cost, no matter the circumstance, no matter the outcome of the "written law", no matter the trial and hurts of life, he continually served the Lord. We can have the same favor of the Lord today if we will set our sights on the Lord and continually serve Him no matter what the cost!!!!

A Firm Place

Ezra 9:8,9 says, "But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia. He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem." (NIV) Notice what the verse says about a firm place in his sanctuary. The NKJV translates the firm place to be a "peg" which is in reference to "claiming a stake". You can do a study of the events that happen in the book of Ezra and also Chronicles about the temple of God and how God has commissioned Ezra to be His prophet to lead His people in this time, but God has shown me just a small part of the scripture that speaks volumes to me this morning.

As referred to earlier, a "peg", or a "firm place", God wants us to know that we have a "stake" in His Kingdom as followers of Jesus Christ. This means that "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17), this means that we are "risen with Christ just as He is risen from the grave" (Colossians 3:1). We have a stake in something that is eternal. We have a hope in something this morning that no one, nobody, no circumstance, nothing - can take it away! You see, Ezra was a prophet of God that was humble before the Lord because of the sins of the people. In the same chapter in verse 5, it says that Ezra fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord and prayed. This shows me of a posture that we as Christians need to be at all times, on our knees in prayer with a "humble heart and turning from our wicked ways and hearing from God" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

I believe this morning with all my heart that if we have a need, that if we have lost loved ones that need to be saved, that if we have a "thorn in the flesh" we can take a "stake" and humble ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting then we will see the hand of God move in a mighty way. Join with me today and be like the prophet Ezra and get in the right "posture" and be "humble" and claim the stake and blessings that God has for His children.

Radio Worship Network: Christian radio, Christian music, Christian artists and musicians. Free Christian music player.

Radio Worship Network: Christian radio, Christian music, Christian artists and musicians. Free Christian music player.

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It's still one

Jack Hayford, a well-known pastor and leader, once told the story of how God deepened his love for people. Walking across a parking lot one day, he noticed a penny on the asphalt. He thought, It's more work to stoop over and pick up that thing than it's worth. About to enter his car, he suddenly felt a whisper from the heart of God: "It's still ONE."
Jack realized God was softening his heart, so he bent down and picked up the forgotten penny. In the following weeks the pennies seemed to appear everywhere - each time an unexpected reminder of the preciousness of each person. He scooped up every penny he found, even those in odd places.
One late night in an airport, Jack walked into a restroom. The place was smelly and unclean, but there in the mess, he found yet another penny. This particular penny was his greatest challenge yet - it stared at him from the bottom of a dirty urinal. Knowing God was teaching him something, Jack grabbed a handful of paper towels, picked up the penny, placed it in the sink, and scrubbed it with all the soap he could find. He carried that rescued penny home, keenly aware that God was stirring an intense passion in his heart for souls.1

I wonder if we have that kind of passion today for those that are lost and undone without God. I wonder if we have a passion for those that may not be as "dignified"? I believe that it took a lot of faith to reach his hand down in an old dirty, smelly, disease infested urinal to rescue a lonely penny. Jesus would do that, TODAY! If Jesus was walking this land today (just as He did some 2 thousand years ago) He would reach out for the homeless, unfortunate, rebellious, prostitute, drug addict, alcoholic, sex addict, rapist, homosexual, habitual lire, deceitful minded, conniver, etc... and love them.

I believe that there are Christian people that feel like the penny in the bottom of the urinal. Feelings of discouragement, disappointment, hurt, loneliness, guilt, etc... Jesus is reaching out to those people also, TODAY! My prayer is that I would not neglect, turn my head from or ignore a person just because they smell, they look rough, or they live a sinful life, because they need salvation too! Have we as a church gotten used to our "shirt and tie" and forgotten about the sinners that we are commissioned to go and spread the gospel too? We need to have the heart that Paul had when he said, "... I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen and according to the flesh" Romans 9: 2,3 (ESV).

1Jack Hayford, The Parable of the Pennies
(Jack Hayford Ministries, 2007).

Webb Craighead

I wanted to update you on Bro. Webb Craighead.
He came through the surgery fine and as of 10 pm last night was beginning to rest. The doctors said the surgery was successful. To God be the glory! Keep praying!

Weekend Review

It seems like this past weekend was a week long! I wanted to just do a little review this morning on this weekend:
Friday night lights - (high school football) I had an excellent crew working with me in the DCA vs FACS game with FACS winning 24 - 20; OWLS WIN (beat pearl-cohn 9 - 0)
Saturday morning bball - Lady Braves, a force to be reckoned with, big win 50 something - 10 something; Braves (boys team) fought hard, came up 4 points shy of winning (team getting better)
Sunday morning service - Great move of the Holy Spirit in the morning worship! Guest speaker Bro. Jack Taylor ministered in the Word

Thoughts for today

First of all this morning, "KCY" did a great job last night in the revival service at GCN. I am very proud of our young people. They had to adjust to the size of the sanctuary (sometimes we don't like to adjust from the way we do things), the wrong song started playing at first (the devil likes to distract from doing God's work, but he is defeated), but they brought everything together and ministered in a tremendous way! I like it when you have confirmation's that what you (individually or as a group) are doing is the right thing! The enemy doesn't want the gospel spread to a world that is dying lost without God and he will try to defeat our efforts in any way that he can. I'm proud to have a group of young people that are not afraid to stand up and do something for God!!!!!

Secondly this morning, I want to encourage you to remember what the scripture says that we started out with yesterday morning, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful" Psalm 139: 13,14 (niv) We have a creator that has a plan for us and he planned it all out in the beginning before we were even born. I'm glad that my creator thought enough about me to form me into His image and give me a life that is abundant with His grace, mercy, and love!

But even though I am created and knit together just like God wants me to be, I have a choice to live for my creator or deny him. So many times we find people in life that have forgotten that all you have to do is make one simple choice and that choice will determine your eternity. I'm glad that I've made the choice NOT to deny my maker. I want to serve Him with everything that I have and put forth my best effort even when the distractions come, even when I get the "don't feel like its", even when it seems like I'm not making a difference I know that God is right there to lead and guide and that if I "keep the faith" my reward will be great.

Let me encourage you today to be all that you can be for the Lord, for He did create you in His image and He loves you and is caring for you and wants you to have an "expected end". God Bless You!

Youth Ministering Tonight

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalms 139:13-16

I would ask for you to be in prayer for the youth group tonight as they go minister in a revival at the Gordonsville Church of the Nazarene beginning at 7pm. I know that they are nervous but yet anxious. Nervous because they will be in front of different people than they are used too and anxious because they use their talents to Worship the Lord. When you're driving down the road today or sitting at your desk or whatever today's events behold, say a prayer for Bailey, Hali W (coach), Lindsy, Yaneli, Caitlin, Megan, Hailey G, Lora, Olivia, Addy, Justin, Blake, and Hunter.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the eyes of God the Father!

Examples in speech

The Apostle Paul must have known that Timothy would not be taken seriously. In his writings in the book of 1 Timothy 4:12 Paul encourages Timothy to "Don't' let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." We often use this scripture to encourage the youth to be all that they can be for the Lord and use their talents and gifts that the Lord has given them and to be a witness among their peers. I believe that all Christians ought to take a look at this scripture no matter their age (physically or spiritually) and take hold of what Paul was telling Timothy.

We are to be an example, not just to unbelievers, but also to believers. We are to set an example of prayer, dedication, commitment, responsibility, etc... to those that are among our congregations, families, and close friends. We are to live a life that is glorifying to God and causing someone to learn from us and want to be a part of the Kingdom of God. That's a tall order! We are to guard our mouths and not let any ill talk, dirty talk, slander, deceit, etc... come from our conversations and destroy our witness or the witness of another. We should always remember what we were taught in kindergarten, "if you can't say anything good about someone don't say anything at all." We are to uplift others and not tear them down.

Let me encourage you today to speak good about someone and lift them up in the Lord and be an example in your conversation and let it glorify God.

Crucified with Him

Paul said in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Paul is striking a cord with us in the scripture because if we are truly born again children of God we are to live our lives crucified with Him. If an unbeliever was talking about how you lived in front of them, would they notice that you have been crucified with Christ by your words, actions, etc... or would they say that you are a hypocrite? We have people looking at our lives everyday, especially if we profess to be a Christian. We are to live a crucified life; crucified from the world and it's allurements.

I want to switch gears for a moment and Praise the Lord for the wonderful service that we had at Kempville Chapel yesterday morning. The presence of God was in the house for sure! I had a young lady tell me after service last night that we had "backwards day" at church. What she was referring too was after Sunday School we started singing and doing our "normal" routine for the morning worship service and when Bro. Danny turned the service over to me for the "welcome and announcements" the Holy Ghost got to stirring within me (and I believe others in the house) and "normal routine" went out the window. I knew that something good was going to happen in service because we didn't get through our Sunday School lesson. We were already stirred up a little bit from our class and it just filtered over to the morning worship service. I thank God for the anointing to preach and for the discernment to know the direction of God. We had preaching where the singing was supposed to be and we had singing where the preaching was supposed to be. We had a good day in the Lord and I hope that it started something in us that will take us to REVIVAL because the "church" needs revival, not just Kempville but the whole church of God. We need to realize that we are "crucified with Christ" and let him be rule of our lives.

Let me encourage you today to "be out of the norm". Let's be radical for Jesus!

Hour of Prayer

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (niv) Jesus gave us an example to follow when it comes to our prayer life. We see in the scriptures that He rose up early in the morning and had fellowship with God the Father. Today is the day that we are supposed to set our clock's back "one hour" due to day light savings time ending. It's a common thing to set our clocks back and look forward to the extra hour of sleep that comes with it. It seems that our schedules in our lives leaves us with this anticipation of an extra hour that we can use to rest our bodies and minds through sleep.

I want to challenge you to do something different than the common thing when we set our clocks back one hour. Tonight, when I set my clock back, I am going to spend it in prayer time. I'm reminded when Jesus was in the garden praying and He rose and found the disciples asleep He said to them, "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:40,41 (niv) So many times we fall into the hands of the enemy because, indeed, our bodies are too weak to spend the extra time in prayer that we so desperately need.

Will you join with me tonight and don't wait until you are already in the bed to lean over and set the clock. Determine that you will set your clock before you retire to bed so that you can set it back one hour and "watch and pray" so that you don't give in to temptation. I believe that God will bless those that commit to this today. May God bless you!

Poll Questions

I've started a new thing on this site just to get some feed back on some things. See the poll question located in the right column. You can give me feed back with the comment portion of this post or any other post after you give your answer, if you want to.

God-commissioned

In the book of Galatians, Paul was writing to the churches of Galatia. The Galatians, having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works. Paul found this to be disturbing. His letter is a vigorous attack against the gospel of works and a defense of the gospel of faith.

I like what Galatians 1:1 says "first" about Paul; "Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead" (niv). The Message puts it like this; My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father.

Paul said, I'm God-commissioned. We as Christians need to remember that we are commissioned from God and that we need the Holy Spirit leading our lives in every endeavor that we take. We have a commission from God to spread the Gospel of Jesus to everyone that we come in contact with. Are we fulfilling that commission? Is there someone that you need to witness to today because God has put them in your path? We need to always remember that we, just like Paul, are God-commissioned and have a work to do in His kingdom.

No sloppy living

Paul's words from I Corinthians 9:24-27 says; "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (niv). I haven't been able to get the loss of the championship game out of my mind yet (I guess it's my competitive side coming out), but Blake seemed to get over it rather quickly. I guess due to going right into the basketball season!

As I read this scripture, I am reminded to put our life as Christians in perspective as to the outcome of the game that was lost Sunday night. You see, Blake's team has put a lot of "blood, sweat, and tears" into the season that started just over 4 months ago and they had a great season only to come up short of the goal that they had set from day one, WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Paul reminds us that in an athletic race, everyone runs, but only one wins. He tells us synonymously to run the race to win (our Christian walk). All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. (msg) We as Christians have to look for the ultimate goal, we have to train hard (read the Word, Pray without ceasing, practice self-denial) because we are "after one that's gold eternally"(msg).

Paul said that there would be "No sloppy living for me!" (msg) We should have the same attitude as he did and when we find ourselves in the heat of the battle facing temptation, persecution, hardships, troubles of any kind we should say "I'm not going to get caught napping, I'm staying alert and in top condition" (msg).

Be encouraged today to get in the best Spiritual condition that you can so that you can reach the ultimate goal and receive the ultimate crown, Eternal Life!

Special Prayer Request

I have received news that Sister Dana Richardson's father, Bro. Charles Roy, suffered a stroke and passed away last evening at 10:15. I would ask you to keep the family in your prayers as they go through this time of sorrow with the death of their loved one. Dana, Jeremy, and Caleb are very good friends to my personal family and also to the family of Kempville Chapel. I myself have shared many conversations with Bro. Charles and I pray for his wife, Charlene, as she is dealing with the lose of her spouse.

Encouragement through Disappointment

Last night as Blake and I stood on the 40 yard line after the ballgame, we shared a father/son moment that I will always cherish because it brought back some of my football days memories with my dad sharing moments with me after the games. Blake's team had a great season, one to not hold their heads down over. They came up one point short last night in the championship game (which I was able to attend because of the GREAT people of our church) with a 14-13 loss to end the season at 7-1. As Blake and I stood on the field together after the game, with tears in our eyes, I encouraged him to take this disappointment and turn it into encouragement that there will be moments of victory as well as defeat but we have to keep everything in perspective. What makes a team great is learning to cope with getting beat as well as winning, and I tried to tell him that we have to do the same in life, we have to keep our heads up and keep on giving it our all no matter the outcome.
I'm reminded of the scripture in Philippians 3:13,14 that says, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (niv) Paul explained it well to Timothy and I believe this is a verse that we as Christians can take and let it be an encouragement to us to fight the fight, continue in this race, never quit because of difficulty, and always look to God for our strength and encouragement.
I'm very blessed and appreciative to the congregation of Kempville Chapel for allowing me the time last night to spend with my son.

A Constant

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3 (NIV).

Jesus went to the Father to prepare for us a place in Heaven and He promises that He will be coming back. Where will I be when He makes His return? Spiritually, where will I be when my Savior comes back to get me. These are "constant" questions that should be on our minds everyday. We should live our lives in a way that we are looking toward the east every moment of the day.

My prayer today is that when He comes back to receive His Bride, is that I will be in that number! I want to be ready!

I wonder?

Last night in the youth room I shared with the young people a video that was taken from Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ" movie that kind of summarized the events leading up to, during, and after the cross. As the youth were watching, I began to watch their faces and when the video got to the point where they had Jesus tied up and beating Him, their faces started to change a little. When the soldiers then laid Jesus down and took His hands and drove nails into them, some of the youth covered their eyes and some even turned their heads. I wonder if we as Christians have submitted to turning our heads and covering our eyes when it comes to our worship to the Father?!

Where are the Christians when the doors of the church are opened? You hear all the time about physical exhaustion, being "drained", being "too tired", "had too much to do", etc... I wonder what Jesus was thinking when He took those stripes for me? I wonder what Jesus was thinking when they put the crown of thorns on His head? I wonder how much was "drained" out of Him? How tired was He when He hung on the cross for me? I wonder just how exhausted He was in the garden, praying?

I wonder what He thinks of me and my commitment towards Him? I wonder if He was talking about me when He said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Faith

How fitting it is for "the shield of faith" to follow truth, righteousness, and the preparation of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:16). Faith is the instrument by which the unsaved came to salvation (Eph. 2:8) and continues to be of paramount importance in the life of a saved person. Paul said, "We walk by faith, no by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7). Though unspecified in this passage, he believed that this faith works "through love" (Gal. 5:6). To him, love and faith went together (Eph. 6:23). He would have agreed with John that faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4), because here he depicted faith as a defensive shield to ward off fiery-tipped arrows the devil's emissaries aim at Christians. Arrows of all kinds seek to penetrate God's people: arrows of disunity (Eph. 4:2,3); unholy anger expressed or unexpressed (vv. 25-32); sexually permissive thoughts, words, or acts (5:3-7); temptations to indulge in drunkenness (v. 18); attitudes that threaten joy, thanksgiving, and submission (vv. 19-21); unloving attitudes and acts instead of Christlike love (vv. 22-33); and more.

The previous paragraph is from an article on faith from Pastoral Ministry by John MacArthur; pg 139. As I was reading this article, or chapter, I couldn't help but agree with the author about the firey darts that are thrown to Christians today and I have a sense of concern that we let some of them penetrate our hearts, minds, attitudes, love, etc... This I believe is a major cause of disunity in the church, because we don't sometimes put on the armor of God and allow it to make us strong in our battles. We as a body of Christ have to learn how to use the faith that is in Jesus to fight our battles. When the enemy throws something at us we need to pray and look at Scripture to make us strong in our faith and let it fight off the wiles of the devil.

Remember what the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Be certain in your battle against the enemy today and use all the weapons of our warfare from God. We should take confidence in the fact that we have a tool in the army of God that is both defensive and offensive that we can use to fight the enemy with. Let your faith be strengthened today as you get closer to God through prayer. Prayer is the battle.

Defensive & Offensive Weapons

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:14-18 (NIV)

If you read the previous passages of scripture (vs. 10-13) you see that we have a battle to face and that we are to put on armor to fight that battle with. We are not battling against flesh and blood (although sometimes it may seem that way) but we are fighting a realm that is beyond most people's imagination. If you are a "born again Christian" you have a wrestling match that is never ending. This shouldn't be scary, disheartening, frustrating, or whatever the emotional feeling that a person has, because we have the armor for the battle laid out in the scriptures.

We have before us five (5) defensive tools (armor) that are used in this battle and two (2) offensive tools (armor) that is also used.

Defensive armor:
TRUTH - Isaiah chapter 11 tells us of the "root of Jesse" a "Branch", "the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him", "Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins and Faithfulness the belt of His waist". Jesus is the "Truth and the Life" (John 14:6)
RIGHTEOUSNESS - Isaiah chapter 59 tells us that the Lord put on righteousness as a breastplate. We have to put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ as a breastplate and let it be a protector to us (it protects the vital organs, heart, lungs, etc...).
PEACE - "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7. We must walk in the peace of God and let Him cover our steps and protect us with peace that passes all understanding.
FAITH - I John 5:4 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." We have to have the shield of Faith to "use" to fight off the schemes and shots that the enemy is firing at us.
SALVATION - We are to put on the helmet of Salvation and receive the mind of Christ. First Thessalonians 5:9 says; "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, who died for us...".

Offensive armor:
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD - "God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it - no matter what." (Hebrews 4:12,13) (MSG)
The Word of God is to be our guide and roadmap. We are to use it's words as a weapon on this warefare with the enemy.
PRAYER - First Thessalonians 5:17 says; "Pray without ceasing". Eugene Peterson put it this way: "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live." (MSG)

Join with me today and let's fight this battle with the right tools!

Time

Paul requests "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death" Philippians 3:10. I used this scripture in the message yesterday morning and it is on my mind as I start this day today. I want to use this time to just say that "I love the Lord". As I look back on my life I see different places, intersections, where God has led me down different paths to teach me and mold me to be what he would have me to be. I am learning to spend time in His presence so that I can experience Him in a way that Paul was talking about. I want to "know Him" and in order to know Him I have to spend some time in "intentional engagement" with Him. Just like you get to know someone by engaging in some activities with them we have to engage in some TIME WITH HIM!

Transformed in His presence

I have been reading in a book called Spiritual Formation and I am led to share with you today part of what I have read concerning "Transformation". There is an important principle to understand first and I believe that this is the key to our transformation process: People with receptive hearts are transformed in the presence of Christ." Our hearts and minds have to be receptive to the Word of God, Presence of God, and the Working of God. We can't allow our hearts to be receptive to the things of the world and expect God to transform us at the same time.

Transformation is the goal for which God has destined all those who will believe on Him. He tells us in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Transformation is a part of the redeeming act at salvation; we are regenerated, made new. Yet transformation is also a process by which Christ is shaping believers into His likeness, conforming us to His image.1 The bible says in Genesis that we are made in the image of the Godhead, in the likeness of the mercy, grace, and love of God. Even though we are a part of this world we are not to be of the world. I John 2:15-17 says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (niv)

I like what the author said about Peter's life as described in Luke 5:1-11. At the revelation of "Who" Peter had met by the waterside, he responded in several ways: He fell (his self-sufficiency melted, he was humbled), He confessed (his self-righteousness melted, he was repentant), He was astonished (his self-understanding melted, he believed), and he responded (his self-employment melted, he was called).2 Peter was transformed by being in the presence of the Lord (with Jesus). We have to make it a priority to spend time in the presence of God everyday so that we can be transformed, continuously. May God Bless you today!



1 White Wing, Foundations - Spiritual Formation pg 14
2 White Wing, Foundations - Spiritual Formation pg 14,15

Perseverance, Character and Hope

Do you remember the story of the "tortoise and the hare"?
One day a hare saw a tortoise walking slowly along and began to laugh and mock him. The hare challenged the tortoise to a race and the tortoise accepted. They agreed on a route and started off the race. The hare shot ahead and ran briskly for some time. Then seeing that he was far ahead of the tortoise, he thought he'd sit under a tree for some time and relax before continuing the race. He sat under the tree and soon fell asleep. The tortoise, plodding on, overtook him and finished the race. The hare woke up and realized that he had lost the race.

If you read this story you will often be reminded of the moral of the story, "Slow and steady wins the race." This may be the case but I look at this story in a different way. The Bible says in Romans 5 : 1-5 (niv)Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." The tortoise had to overcome some obstacles in the way if he was going to be the victor in this race against the hare. The tortoise new that he was the slower one of the two so he had to persevere no matter this circumstance. When he decided to persevere the end result was that he was building character that was different than that of the hare. The hare was being foolish in his commitment to this race and allowing himself to be distracted along the way. I like to look at it this way, I like to believe that the tortoise from the very beginning had hope that he would finish the race and in his perseverance his character got him to the finish line.

We have to have the same perseverance in our daily lives that we live. We will be faced with challenges, circumstances beyond our control, sicknesses, doubts, frustrations, etc... But can I tell you the good news about all that? We can be the victor's by persevering till the end and in our persevering, as the scriptures said, we will have a hope that is beyond anything earthly. Listen to the Holy Spirit in your life today and allow Him to build your character.

My prayer for us today is that we will be concerned with our character. Is God pleased with me? This is a good question to ask yourself and I think that the answer lies in our perseverance, character and hope.

Duelling IPods

This may seem like an unusual title, but hang with me for a minute. The past two days have been filled with "busyness" with the fall break from school that the kids have. I'm not complaining, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with my wife and kids these last two days. But with that being said, we were driving down the road today and the Lord gave me these two words, "duelling IPods". Do I have your interest yet?

What I mean is this. For a good while now Bailey has had her own IPod (for those that don't know about them they are little musical radio looking things that you download music on) and Blake has NOT had one of his own. So, with this arrangement on long car rides there is always controversy over the IPod with it being Bailey's and Blake wants to listen to it. You get my drift? Well since Blake has had a birthday this month he has decided to save the money and buy for himself his very on IPod, which he did yesterday (PRAISE THE LORD). After sitting up half the night last night downloading songs onto his IPod and then updating Bailey's IPod, today's travel down the road was actually "quiet"! As I noticed the silence I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that both kids was enjoying their very own IPod at the same time, the Lord put these two words in my spirit "Duelling IPods".

Well what does this have to do with anything spiritual you might ask? Well, I asked the same thing when the Lord gave me these two words. The bible says in Romans 14:11 "For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." and verse 12 says: "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." We cannot ask or even desire to put our eternal future in what someone else has. We are not going to get to Heaven on grandma's coat tail. We have to have our own salvation and walk it out for ourselves. We can't get caught up in tradition, religion, charismatic movements, what ever the title, we have to have a down right genuine Holy Spirit convicted moment that causes us to turn from our sins and turn to God. We have to have our own relationship with Jesus!!!!

Let me encourage you today that you don't have to live on someone else's experience with God. You can experience God's love, His mercy, His blessings, His goodness, His everlasting faithfullness. All you have to do is give Him yourself!

Muddy, soupy foundations

As I was doing some reading and research in the office this morning I was reminded of this weekend and how muddy it was due to the saturation of rain over the past few weeks. Friday night I officiated a high-school football game in Byrdstown, Tn. (Pickett County) where the "field of play" was almost un-playable. We arrived at the school only to find that about 20 percent of the field was under water and the rest of it was a muddy, soupy foundation of a field to contend with. Reluctantly we continued with the game and I'm sure that with the many number of players from both schools, all the coaches, 6 officials, and many band members the "tide" or "gain" (whatever detergent preferred) stocks are booming right now!

This led me to the thoughts of how my "foundation" is with Christ. How is the "field of play" that I am playing on in my walk with God everyday? The bible tells us in Psalm 102 : 25 that God laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the work of His hands. Also in the book of 1 Corinthians 3 : 11 it says "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (NIV). The universe made by the hand of God is our "field of play" and we have been commissioned by Him to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that Gospel is that He did lay a foundation for us. A foundation that IS NOT "muddy or soupy" it is a clear foundation of love and atonement for sin. The bible says that we have an advocate with the father, Jesus! He is our foundation and nothing else should be "built up" in our lives than Him and His gospel!

So how is your foundation today? Do you have a relationship with Him that is going to stand when the torrential rains come? I am determined that I'm going to stand on a "solid foundation" and that He is my Master Builder! Everything that we are should be "founded" by the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't have to walk on muddy, soupy ground in our devotion with Him, we can be on the solid rock and the "chief cornerstone" is the rock on which we stand with every aspect of our lives!

I encourage you today to be on the firm foundation of Jesus and give Him everything about you!

The Hovering Spirit of God

This morning I am led to the first chapter of Genesis where the Bible says that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Gen. 1:1,2 (niv)

As I was reading this I found myself wondering if we as Christians feel formless and empty from time to time. I will admit that this is the case with me sometimes. But as you go on to read the scriptures in Genesis you find that as God was creating things, everything that He created He saw was Good. Everything! Therefore, I don't have to feel formless and empty because I know that I am made in His image and in His likeness (Gen. 1:26).

The Lord put it in my spirit this morning that just like He was hovering over the waters, He hovers over you and I today, yesterday, and always. We have the assurance that no matter the circumstances or no matter where geographically we are He is with us. We need to learn how to sense His Spirit hovering about us, walking with us, talking with us, shaping us and forming us to be what He wants us to be. I'm thankful today that I know that I am the temple of the Holy Ghost and that with Him living in me and guiding me through the cares of life that I don't have a reason to feel formless and empty. I am God's creation and He sees that I am good.

It is my prayer today that we let God form us and make us what He wants us to be and that our posture and prespective is God breathed!

A name change

This morning as I was looking to post another thought I was lead to change the name of my blog from Pastor Meadors to Sojourn. The word sojourn means to have a temporary stay. As I look at life and all of the blunders, trials, joys, sadness, etc... I am reminded that this world is not my home. Where I am at this time in my life is for the glory of God and I must remember that this season and place is only for a temporary stay. We as believers have to have this attitude in order to make a difference in life and in order to be a difference in life. Are you tired of the same old, same old all the time? Did you know that you can be a difference in someone else's life as well as yours? If we will just be reminded that where we are in life is only for a short period of time and give God all that we can, this will be pleasing to Him.
This mornings devotional from My Utmost For His Highest from Oswald Chambers was from the book of Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He said that if you want to know how real you are, test yourself by these words -"Come to Me". In every degree in which you are real you will dispute rather than come, you will quibble (find fault) rather than come, you will go through sorrow rather than come, you will do anything rather than come the last lap of unutterable foolishness - "Just as I am". God wants us to come to Him just as we are, with our imperfections, our impurities, our selfishness, our humanities. He knows us right where we are and still he is calling us to "Come to Him". Be encouraged today that you can go to the Father in heaven and He will meet you where you are!

Fearing the Lord

The bible says in Joshua 24:14 "Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." Joshua was telling the Israelites basically to start out fresh with there walk with God now that they were in the land that God had promised them. To do away with the thinking and perverting (dealing with other gods) that their fathers had dealt with.
This week I have been in need of a word from the Lord concerning a few areas in my life and the Lord has answered that prayer. I received a phone call from a brother in Christ and he had a word from the Lord for me. When he called he received my voicemail and left me a message and I believe that God even had a hand in that because I have been able to save the message and play it over and over so that I could "hear" what the Lord was saying to me. I am learning to "hear" the voice of God when He is trying to speak to me. I am realizing that I may be putting other things in the way and they are running interference, if you will, and drowning out the voice of the Lord. I believe that we need to learn everyday how to "FEAR" the Lord. He is good! The prophet Nahum said, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7 (NIV) I like the way that Eugene Peterson put it in the Message Bible, God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble.
Today I want to learn how to fear the Lord, because He recognizes me where I am!