We had a great service yesterday morning at Kempville Chapel and during Sunday School we had a young lady give her life to Christ. Alanna Young was saved and is now a part of the Body of Christ! This year is starting out great!!! We also had a great time of worship with people just getting lost in the presence of God. When people really turn everything over to the Lord during times of praise and worship you begin to feel and see an uplifting of the love that God has for His children. I'm reminded of what Paul said in Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" (niv). I'm excited about what God has in store for us in this new year because he has promised that he would open the windows of heaven and pour out his blessings upon those who seek him and worship him.
Yesterday I spoke to the congregation about some "lions" that may be staring them in the face and keeping them from realizing how big God is in their lives. I shared with them that during this first fruits 21 day commitment that I have been on, the Lord is causing me (the Pastor) to see some things (lions) that are dark and not pleasing to him. I shared with them the passage of Scripture in 2 Samuel 23:20 where Beniah was a "lion chaser" and overcame other "odds" that showed just how big his God was. We have to live our lives daily with the power of God on our tongues, fingertips, feet, eyes, etc.... Our whole being (all that is within us) should be about the power of God working in our lives! Are you facing any lions that may be trying to steal your joy, peace, love, etc... If so, talk to God about your battles (lions) and he will answer you and he will give you exceedingly abundantly more (above) than you can ask for!
Be blessed today and chase those lions with the power of God in your life!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Know His Wisdom
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."
I Corinthians 1:25
In some conversations that you may hear over the period of your lifetime you may hear someone say that it is foolish to believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. I've actually heard those words come from individuals that really thought it was foolish to believe in something or someone that you could not put your hands on or you could not see. Is it foolish to believe? I believe with all my heart that it's foolish NOT to believe! We have all things set before our eyes (trees, mountains, bodies of water, plants, animals, newborn babies, even the white snow that is still falling from the sky) that come from the God of all creation!
Paul said that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom. This tells me that no matter how much I think I know or how much I educate myself, or how much I think I've arrived, it has not even exceeded matching up with God's foolishness. Paul says to the Corinthians; "think of what you were when you were called." Do you remember what you were when God called you? You were a sinner that didn't have a clue about the Kingdom of God but through prayer, reading the word, and fasting we can become His righteousness and know His wisdom!
The Bible says that "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (vs 30) God made a way for us to know His wisdom, through Jesus Christ! Let this be a day that you reach for more of Him with every breath that you take and every step that you make. Are your steps pleasing Him?
I Corinthians 1:25
In some conversations that you may hear over the period of your lifetime you may hear someone say that it is foolish to believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. I've actually heard those words come from individuals that really thought it was foolish to believe in something or someone that you could not put your hands on or you could not see. Is it foolish to believe? I believe with all my heart that it's foolish NOT to believe! We have all things set before our eyes (trees, mountains, bodies of water, plants, animals, newborn babies, even the white snow that is still falling from the sky) that come from the God of all creation!
Paul said that the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom. This tells me that no matter how much I think I know or how much I educate myself, or how much I think I've arrived, it has not even exceeded matching up with God's foolishness. Paul says to the Corinthians; "think of what you were when you were called." Do you remember what you were when God called you? You were a sinner that didn't have a clue about the Kingdom of God but through prayer, reading the word, and fasting we can become His righteousness and know His wisdom!
The Bible says that "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (vs 30) God made a way for us to know His wisdom, through Jesus Christ! Let this be a day that you reach for more of Him with every breath that you take and every step that you make. Are your steps pleasing Him?
Friday, January 8, 2010
Calming Fears
I want to share with you today's devotion from my devotional book, Once a Day Every Day for Men, that I have for this year (hope everyone has some sort of devotional tool plus the Bible everyday to help you along the way).
Calming Your Fears
"Be not afraid; only believe." Mark 5:36
Most of the things we worry about will never come to pass, yet we worry still. We worry about the future and the past; we worry about finances and relationships. As we survey the landscape of our lives, we observe all manner of molehills and imagine them to be mountains. Are you concerned about the inevitable challenges that make up the fabric of everyday life? If so, why not ask God to help you regain a clear perspective about the problems (and opportunities) that confront you? When you petition your Heavenly Father sincerely and seek His guidance, He can touch your heart, clear your vision, renew your mind, and calm your fears.
Calming Your Fears
"Be not afraid; only believe." Mark 5:36
Most of the things we worry about will never come to pass, yet we worry still. We worry about the future and the past; we worry about finances and relationships. As we survey the landscape of our lives, we observe all manner of molehills and imagine them to be mountains. Are you concerned about the inevitable challenges that make up the fabric of everyday life? If so, why not ask God to help you regain a clear perspective about the problems (and opportunities) that confront you? When you petition your Heavenly Father sincerely and seek His guidance, He can touch your heart, clear your vision, renew your mind, and calm your fears.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A touch births service
"When Jesus came into Peter's house he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him." Matthew 8:14, 15
I can see Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed, the Bible doesn't say, but she was probably pale, chilled, nauseous, weak, achy, etc... and yet didn't say a word. When I read this scripture today it jump out at me that Jesus didn't say a word either! He just touched her hand and the fever that was inside her body making her weak, achy, chilled, etc... left in an instant, just by His touch. What did she do in the moment Jesus' hand left her hand do you wonder? I like to believe that she maybe just lay there for a moment in awe of what had just happened to her. I believe that she was in awe of the pain instantly leaving her body. I believe that she was in awe of feeling the fever leave her body. I can see her after that moment of awe, throwing back the sheets and rising to her feet and going to work doing what mother-in-laws do! She was able to serve Jesus and Peter because Jesus had served her with his touch!
Do you need the hand of Jesus to touch you today? Do you find yourself in bed, Spiritually speaking or maybe even sick in body? Jesus will walk by and touch your hand and you will feel Him, if you let Him! Do you need Him to touch you today so that you can be of service to Him? We all are called to do something for Him and we need to seek His direction for our lives and find out what our service to Him will be!
I can see Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed, the Bible doesn't say, but she was probably pale, chilled, nauseous, weak, achy, etc... and yet didn't say a word. When I read this scripture today it jump out at me that Jesus didn't say a word either! He just touched her hand and the fever that was inside her body making her weak, achy, chilled, etc... left in an instant, just by His touch. What did she do in the moment Jesus' hand left her hand do you wonder? I like to believe that she maybe just lay there for a moment in awe of what had just happened to her. I believe that she was in awe of the pain instantly leaving her body. I believe that she was in awe of feeling the fever leave her body. I can see her after that moment of awe, throwing back the sheets and rising to her feet and going to work doing what mother-in-laws do! She was able to serve Jesus and Peter because Jesus had served her with his touch!
Do you need the hand of Jesus to touch you today? Do you find yourself in bed, Spiritually speaking or maybe even sick in body? Jesus will walk by and touch your hand and you will feel Him, if you let Him! Do you need Him to touch you today so that you can be of service to Him? We all are called to do something for Him and we need to seek His direction for our lives and find out what our service to Him will be!
He's All I Need
He's all I need
He's all I need
Jesus is all I need.
He satisfies
My needs supply
Jesus is all I need.
This is a simple worship hymn that sums it all up! I'm reminded of the woman with the issue of blood that had been sick for twelve years and the bible says that "she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." (Mark 5:26 niv). For twelve long years suffering with this condition and doing everything that she possibly could do without avail, I wonder if she ever got weary? I'm sure that she must have been frustrated after doing everything possible to be healthy. I find when I keep reading in that passage that she did have something that she had not run out of or spent yet, she had hope! You see when she heard about Jesus, I believe that the hope of being healed by Him grew more and more by the moment and when she finally saw Him and got behind Him she reached out and touched His cloak (garment) and "immediately" the bleeding stopped! He's all that she needed! Her "faith" was all she needed to be healed by the "Healer"!
I know that some of you reading this today have joined in with me and others in prayer and fasting for the first 21 days of the year and you may be getting frustrated and weak and weary. But let me remind you that your sacrifice will be blessed and that Jesus is all you need! I know it's hard to give up some things that our bodies are addicted to (cokes, little debbie cakes, meat, O'Charley's rolls, etc...) but without the sacrifice there is no atonement. We have to be determined that no matter what comes our way and no matter how many withdrawals we have, Jesus is all we need! I trust that you are praying and seeking God for direction in your lives today and wanting more of Jesus. He's all I need!
He's all I need
Jesus is all I need.
He satisfies
My needs supply
Jesus is all I need.
This is a simple worship hymn that sums it all up! I'm reminded of the woman with the issue of blood that had been sick for twelve years and the bible says that "she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." (Mark 5:26 niv). For twelve long years suffering with this condition and doing everything that she possibly could do without avail, I wonder if she ever got weary? I'm sure that she must have been frustrated after doing everything possible to be healthy. I find when I keep reading in that passage that she did have something that she had not run out of or spent yet, she had hope! You see when she heard about Jesus, I believe that the hope of being healed by Him grew more and more by the moment and when she finally saw Him and got behind Him she reached out and touched His cloak (garment) and "immediately" the bleeding stopped! He's all that she needed! Her "faith" was all she needed to be healed by the "Healer"!
I know that some of you reading this today have joined in with me and others in prayer and fasting for the first 21 days of the year and you may be getting frustrated and weak and weary. But let me remind you that your sacrifice will be blessed and that Jesus is all you need! I know it's hard to give up some things that our bodies are addicted to (cokes, little debbie cakes, meat, O'Charley's rolls, etc...) but without the sacrifice there is no atonement. We have to be determined that no matter what comes our way and no matter how many withdrawals we have, Jesus is all we need! I trust that you are praying and seeking God for direction in your lives today and wanting more of Jesus. He's all I need!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Spiritual Health
It seems like forever since I have posted anything on the blog but the truth is I've been pretty busy! The past couple of days have just been filled with visiting and witnessing, stocking up on healthy food for the snow scare, and other family things! Life is great!
We had an awesome time in the Lord Sunday morning at KC with a singing from The Wisecarvers from Erwin, Tn. It was a great way to kick off the first Sunday of the New Year! I believe God has something in store for the folks at KC and also for all of His children who want to make a difference in life. We are starting off this year in anticipation of a great revival within our church and also within our lives! I can't wait to see what God does!
With the new year comes new resolutions to be in better health physically and I don't know if you made one or not but let me share with you something about your Spiritual health. "And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother." (I John 4:21 Holman CSB) C. S. Lewis once said, "A man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." If we are to enjoy the spiritual health that God intends for us, we must praise Him, we must love Him, and we must obey Him.
When we worship God faithfully and obediently, we invite His love into our hearts. When we truly worship God, we allow Him to rule over our days and our lives. In turn, we grow to love God even more deeply as we sense His love for us. We are to "love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength" and if we do that then our spiritual health will overflow into love for our brothers! Seek His righteousness for this new year!
We had an awesome time in the Lord Sunday morning at KC with a singing from The Wisecarvers from Erwin, Tn. It was a great way to kick off the first Sunday of the New Year! I believe God has something in store for the folks at KC and also for all of His children who want to make a difference in life. We are starting off this year in anticipation of a great revival within our church and also within our lives! I can't wait to see what God does!
With the new year comes new resolutions to be in better health physically and I don't know if you made one or not but let me share with you something about your Spiritual health. "And we have this command from Him: the one who loves God must also love his brother." (I John 4:21 Holman CSB) C. S. Lewis once said, "A man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." If we are to enjoy the spiritual health that God intends for us, we must praise Him, we must love Him, and we must obey Him.
When we worship God faithfully and obediently, we invite His love into our hearts. When we truly worship God, we allow Him to rule over our days and our lives. In turn, we grow to love God even more deeply as we sense His love for us. We are to "love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength" and if we do that then our spiritual health will overflow into love for our brothers! Seek His righteousness for this new year!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
2010 is here! Can you believe that we have started another decade? The Lord has blessed us yet again to rise another day and this day just happens to be the first day of 2010! As I was looking in God's word this morning, I read in Psalm 40 verse 3 where David said, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Do you have a NEW song in your mouth today? God has granted you not only another day, but has granted you to see and be a part of a new beginning, a new year, a new decade!
You may be reading this and thinking that this 'ol boy is crazy but I'm glad that I have another opportunity to put a new song in my mouth! I'm looking forward to a new year in Christ. I'm looking forward to all the blessings that He's going to release to His children!
Have you been battling in your mind, spirit, and body over the things that afflict you? Put a new song in your mouth! The bible says that "the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (I John 4:4 niv) also it says that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). We don't have to be afflicted by sins of the world, we don't have to be afflicted by pain and sickness, we don't have to deal with depression in our lives, we don't have to have a broken marriage, we don't have to live in poverty, and the list goes on and on. We can put a new song in our mouth for this new year of 2010 and live victorious through Jesus Christ! Do you know Him?
I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!
You may be reading this and thinking that this 'ol boy is crazy but I'm glad that I have another opportunity to put a new song in my mouth! I'm looking forward to a new year in Christ. I'm looking forward to all the blessings that He's going to release to His children!
Have you been battling in your mind, spirit, and body over the things that afflict you? Put a new song in your mouth! The bible says that "the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (I John 4:4 niv) also it says that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). We don't have to be afflicted by sins of the world, we don't have to be afflicted by pain and sickness, we don't have to deal with depression in our lives, we don't have to have a broken marriage, we don't have to live in poverty, and the list goes on and on. We can put a new song in our mouth for this new year of 2010 and live victorious through Jesus Christ! Do you know Him?
I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!
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