My father-in-law was in a pottery store years ago. He had stepped in and was admiring the works that the potter had made. One particular piece caught his eye. It was set back behind the counter and had a peculiar design in its finish.
We have all seen pottery. Normally the finished product is not very elaborate. It doesn’t normally have intricate designs. The painting is usually simple. Some pieces can be very beautiful, but normally it is done in simplicity. However, this piece had a very intricate design, with lines running throughout the piece. It was truly beautiful. Of course, he asked the clerk about it. How did the artist create such a finish? How did the artist paint those lines? How long did it take?
The clerk simply walked over and plugged in a light that had been placed inside the piece of pottery. When she plugged it in, an amazing thing happened. From out of every line, light began to shine through. The piece of pottery began to glow as the light that was inside shone out of every little crack in its surface.
My father-in-law said it was the most amazing piece of art he had ever seen. No one could tell that it was cracked. The cracks were so tiny they did not seem to be cracks at all. Only when the light was turned on could they be seen.
Several things had to be done to achieve the effect in this particular piece of pottery. First, the potter had to heat the kiln hotter than he normally would. Second, he had to leave the piece in the kiln longer than he normally would. Third, he had to pay closer attention to the piece than he normally would. He could only leave the piece in the kiln so long at that heat, or it would be destroyed. However, if done right, the result of the fire and the length of time spent in the fire would produce a masterpiece.
I could go on to build your sermon for you, but I think you can all figure out the typology in this one. God bless.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A Little Thought
My sister, Karla, was here visiting this week and was talking to our 4 year old granddaughter, Alayna. They played "make-believe" for quite awhile and then Karla asked Alayna if she still worshipped the Lord in church and danced, and shouted. Alayna said "YES I DO" and I raise my hands too. Karla then asked her how she raised her hands and Alayna said "I raise BOTH of them, but some people just raise ONE hand." Karla said, "They do? How come they just raise one hand? Alayna answered, "I guess they just don't have very much to give to God!" And......we don't think children are observing us in church? So many times we are so involved in our own world and do not give God everything He deserves. Children take note of our lack of commitment in worship and praise. We really do need to watch what we "DO" and what we "DO NOT DO"! Someone is walking in our footprints and it just might be a CHILD!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Between His Death and Resurrection
This is an illustration that I have put together over time that I have found to be very powerful and encouraging. There are not many details in the bible of what happened during the 3-day period between Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. Putting this in story form and allowing for a bit of drama, I think this illustration describes best how events might have taken place.
Picture the crucifixion scene:
There is Jesus on the cross between two theives, breathing his last breaths.
At the foot of the cross is Mary, and a few other loyal followers watching their Messiah die.
There is someone else standing in the background - Satan himself.
As Jesus utters his last words, "It is finished," he hangs his head and "gives up the ghost."
With a big smile, Satan turns and walks down to his Hell House.
As Satan enters, a third of the angels stand at attention, awaiting their next order.
Satan declares, "Turn on the music! Start the celebration! Jesus is dead!"
And the party of a lifetime, like no one had ever seen, began to commence.
Back in Jerusalem, in dark corners and quiet places, the disciples, or what seemed left of them, and the other followers met secretly trying to figure out what to do.
"What happened? He spoke so much of this kingdom to come, and now the very king is dead!"
All victory seemed lost.
Back in Satan's Hell House, the party was reaching its climax. For 3 days those demons and goblins had celebrated and "partied like it was 1999" (I like to make this part comical)
The strobe lights were going, the disco ball was spinning, confetti was flying.
A group demons had began a mosh pit, one was in the corner as a DJ mixing the music, and another was on the other side rapping, singing and dancing! (give a small example)
And just when the party was reaching its climax of all time . . . there was a knock at the door.
The party stopped, the demons froze, and Satan barged his way through to the door screaming mad "Who dares interrupt my party? Don't they know we're celebrating?"
Just as Satan is about to reach for the door knob, a nail-scarred hand transcends through the door!
Satan is perplexed as this hand begins to push him back, and slowly, the very face of the one he crucified appears through the door.
"NO, NO, NO, this can't be! I watched you die! I saw you on the cross! This is impossible!"
Jesus never says a word, but just pushes Satan up against the wall and then begins walking around the room. Satan can't move as he just stares in shock!
Demons are frozen in fear and none dare move, but Jesus doesn't bother with them.
He's looking for something. What is it?
Suddenly, Jesus reaches down and picks up.....a key.
He walks around to the other side and finds another key, and another. (Demonstrate this)
He begins to pick up keys to: depression, anxiety, divorce, marriage problems, financial situations, valleys of decisions, troubles, trials.... (and the list goes on)
He gathers up all the keys until his arms are completely full, and he doesn't leave a one behind, and he begins to walk back towards the door.
But suddenly, he stops and turns to look at Satan, still paralyzed against the wall, and finally speaks: "You idiot, you just don't get it do you? Don't you remember in my word where it says (and be ready say this with all the energy and force you can muster) that "the gates of hell shall not prevail!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And he still has the keys today to every trial and problem any one will ever face! He conquered death and the grave, and he took back the keys!
Picture the crucifixion scene:
There is Jesus on the cross between two theives, breathing his last breaths.
At the foot of the cross is Mary, and a few other loyal followers watching their Messiah die.
There is someone else standing in the background - Satan himself.
As Jesus utters his last words, "It is finished," he hangs his head and "gives up the ghost."
With a big smile, Satan turns and walks down to his Hell House.
As Satan enters, a third of the angels stand at attention, awaiting their next order.
Satan declares, "Turn on the music! Start the celebration! Jesus is dead!"
And the party of a lifetime, like no one had ever seen, began to commence.
Back in Jerusalem, in dark corners and quiet places, the disciples, or what seemed left of them, and the other followers met secretly trying to figure out what to do.
"What happened? He spoke so much of this kingdom to come, and now the very king is dead!"
All victory seemed lost.
Back in Satan's Hell House, the party was reaching its climax. For 3 days those demons and goblins had celebrated and "partied like it was 1999" (I like to make this part comical)
The strobe lights were going, the disco ball was spinning, confetti was flying.
A group demons had began a mosh pit, one was in the corner as a DJ mixing the music, and another was on the other side rapping, singing and dancing! (give a small example)
And just when the party was reaching its climax of all time . . . there was a knock at the door.
The party stopped, the demons froze, and Satan barged his way through to the door screaming mad "Who dares interrupt my party? Don't they know we're celebrating?"
Just as Satan is about to reach for the door knob, a nail-scarred hand transcends through the door!
Satan is perplexed as this hand begins to push him back, and slowly, the very face of the one he crucified appears through the door.
"NO, NO, NO, this can't be! I watched you die! I saw you on the cross! This is impossible!"
Jesus never says a word, but just pushes Satan up against the wall and then begins walking around the room. Satan can't move as he just stares in shock!
Demons are frozen in fear and none dare move, but Jesus doesn't bother with them.
He's looking for something. What is it?
Suddenly, Jesus reaches down and picks up.....a key.
He walks around to the other side and finds another key, and another. (Demonstrate this)
He begins to pick up keys to: depression, anxiety, divorce, marriage problems, financial situations, valleys of decisions, troubles, trials.... (and the list goes on)
He gathers up all the keys until his arms are completely full, and he doesn't leave a one behind, and he begins to walk back towards the door.
But suddenly, he stops and turns to look at Satan, still paralyzed against the wall, and finally speaks: "You idiot, you just don't get it do you? Don't you remember in my word where it says (and be ready say this with all the energy and force you can muster) that "the gates of hell shall not prevail!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And he still has the keys today to every trial and problem any one will ever face! He conquered death and the grave, and he took back the keys!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Satan's Meeting
I have used this in a message within the last year and had forgotten about it. Thankfully a friend sent it to me in an email. Here it is for your reading pleasure. I think you'll say, "That's the truth!"
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing
the truth."
" We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relation-
ship with their saviour."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over
them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to
develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and
maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow,
borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10- 12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty spendy lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no
escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still,
small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly
in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with raunchy magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the biased news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of winning newsletter and and
promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important,
and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too discouraged and tired to love their
husbands.
"If they don't give their husbands the care they need, they will
begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them a generous Santa Claus to distract them from teaching
their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his
resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation depressed and
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's
creation. Send them to amusement parks, SPORTING events,
plays,
concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!" !
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in
gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled
consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many GOOD causes they have no time
to seek spiritual power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change
lives, no time to attend their church!
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his
schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing
the truth."
" We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relation-
ship with their saviour."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over
them is broken."
"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered
dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to
develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:
"Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and
maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow,
borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work hours and the husbands to work
6-7 days each week, 10- 12 hours a day, so they can afford their
empty spendy lifestyles."
"Keep them from spending time with their children."
"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no
escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still,
small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they
drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly
in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in
the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with raunchy magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the biased news 24 hours a day."
"Invade their driving moments with billboards."
"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs,
sweepstakes, and every kind of winning newsletter and and
promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their
husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important,
and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "
"Keep the wives too discouraged and tired to love their
husbands.
"If they don't give their husbands the care they need, they will
begin to look elsewhere."
"That will fragment their families quickly!"
"Give them a generous Santa Claus to distract them from teaching
their children the real meaning of Christmas."
"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his
resurrection and power over sin and death."
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation depressed and
exhausted."
"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's
creation. Send them to amusement parks, SPORTING events,
plays,
concerts, and movies instead."
"Keep them busy, busy, busy!" !
"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in
gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled
consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many GOOD causes they have no time
to seek spiritual power from Jesus."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing
their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians
everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change
lives, no time to attend their church!
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his
schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Monday, February 19, 2007
America Is Choking!
It used to be that businesses closed on the weekends for two reasons: church and family. Businesses also used to close down at five o'clock during the week giving families quality time together. Now businesses stay open to all hours of the night, all night, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Many work the night shift and sleep during the day. It's a backwards world!
There's a man who used to come to our church faithfully and was a blessing, but he began feeling the financial strain and took a night job. He hasn't been to church in almost three years and is backslidden, all because of a job. He didn't get a bad attitude, or have a problem with me or anybody else in the church. He just adjusted himself to the world's schedule and in the process is lost.........again.
Now Sundays are filled with sporting events and weekend parties. There's always a new movie the kids want to go see at the theatre, which is now open through the weekend. (This makes it convenient for those who work through the week...) There's always the football game, the baseball game, the races, the casinos, the shopping malls, and don't forget the television sitting in the living room with all of the special weekend programing!
America is choking! She used to pray and say grace over her meals. Her eyes were turned heavenword, depending on the God which formed her. She breathed the clean air of morality, modesty, and character, but she is now choking on the thick air of entertainment, unfaithfulness, and the severe lack of integrity. America is choking!
She's slowly losing her will to live as she once did... Is there hope for Lady Liberty?
II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
There's a man who used to come to our church faithfully and was a blessing, but he began feeling the financial strain and took a night job. He hasn't been to church in almost three years and is backslidden, all because of a job. He didn't get a bad attitude, or have a problem with me or anybody else in the church. He just adjusted himself to the world's schedule and in the process is lost.........again.
Now Sundays are filled with sporting events and weekend parties. There's always a new movie the kids want to go see at the theatre, which is now open through the weekend. (This makes it convenient for those who work through the week...) There's always the football game, the baseball game, the races, the casinos, the shopping malls, and don't forget the television sitting in the living room with all of the special weekend programing!
America is choking! She used to pray and say grace over her meals. Her eyes were turned heavenword, depending on the God which formed her. She breathed the clean air of morality, modesty, and character, but she is now choking on the thick air of entertainment, unfaithfulness, and the severe lack of integrity. America is choking!
She's slowly losing her will to live as she once did... Is there hope for Lady Liberty?
II Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Thursday, February 15, 2007
"Bull of the Woods" Attitude
"Bull of the woods" is a phrase I heard when I was growing up for people who like to think they are "in charge". This idea and spirit resides in those who have not yet crucified the flesh. Their whole attitude is:
I'M in charge!
You can't tell ME what to do!
This is MY territory!
They are totally SELF-centered. This person never thinks of others, or if they do, it's "what can THEY do for ME? I'm the ONE that's important".
A self-centered person will not learn the spirit of submission until they learn how to "crucify the flesh."
Exo 29:13 -14 And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (NKJV)
Exo 29:36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement... (NKJV)
There are a few things I took note of in the scriptures above.
1. When the priests were given instruction on how to sacrifice animals, when it came to the "bullock" they were told to take the "inside parts" of the animal and sacrifice them on the altar, but to take the "outside of the animal" and take it "outside the camp" and burn it. Get rid of it. Don't let it come near the altar of sacrifice.
2. This sacrifice was made EVERYDAY!
The points I want to make are:
When it's time to pray our flesh will respond with resistance, it will kick-up and let you know, "I don't want to go to the altar today", but we learn to keep pushing ourselves and bringing ourselves to the altar of sacrifice.
The struggle within doesn't come from our soul, for the soul longs to be in His presence. The struggle comes from the busyness of life. We have things to do, places to go, people to see, schedules to meet, ideas to fulfill, and the world to contend with. It's not because we don't WANT to pray, because our heart draws us to a place of prayer where we commune with our great God. Whenever a child of God begins thinking about the Lord they want to go spend time with Him. It's just a struggle to drop everything and sit at His feet, therefore bringing a demand for us to "crucify the flesh outside the camp".
I've always thought I needed to "take my flesh to the altar" and crucify it there, but reading the scriptures this morning I saw it a little differently. On my way to the place of prayer I have to take my flesh, my earthly desires, my "me" attitude, outside of "Camp Devotion" and burn it and leave it in a heap of ashes in order to come into His presence. It's then, and only then I can come to the altar of sacrifice . It's here the Master Potter can "mold me and shape me after His will". My world then slips away and I enter into the Holy of Holies! When I've been in His presence my attitude changes to "not MY will, but THY will be done", and I forget that I was at one time the "bull of the woods".
I'M in charge!
You can't tell ME what to do!
This is MY territory!
They are totally SELF-centered. This person never thinks of others, or if they do, it's "what can THEY do for ME? I'm the ONE that's important".
A self-centered person will not learn the spirit of submission until they learn how to "crucify the flesh."
Exo 29:13 -14 And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, the fatty lobe attached to the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.
But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. (NKJV)
Exo 29:36 And you shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement... (NKJV)
There are a few things I took note of in the scriptures above.
1. When the priests were given instruction on how to sacrifice animals, when it came to the "bullock" they were told to take the "inside parts" of the animal and sacrifice them on the altar, but to take the "outside of the animal" and take it "outside the camp" and burn it. Get rid of it. Don't let it come near the altar of sacrifice.
2. This sacrifice was made EVERYDAY!
The points I want to make are:
When it's time to pray our flesh will respond with resistance, it will kick-up and let you know, "I don't want to go to the altar today", but we learn to keep pushing ourselves and bringing ourselves to the altar of sacrifice.
The struggle within doesn't come from our soul, for the soul longs to be in His presence. The struggle comes from the busyness of life. We have things to do, places to go, people to see, schedules to meet, ideas to fulfill, and the world to contend with. It's not because we don't WANT to pray, because our heart draws us to a place of prayer where we commune with our great God. Whenever a child of God begins thinking about the Lord they want to go spend time with Him. It's just a struggle to drop everything and sit at His feet, therefore bringing a demand for us to "crucify the flesh outside the camp".
I've always thought I needed to "take my flesh to the altar" and crucify it there, but reading the scriptures this morning I saw it a little differently. On my way to the place of prayer I have to take my flesh, my earthly desires, my "me" attitude, outside of "Camp Devotion" and burn it and leave it in a heap of ashes in order to come into His presence. It's then, and only then I can come to the altar of sacrifice . It's here the Master Potter can "mold me and shape me after His will". My world then slips away and I enter into the Holy of Holies! When I've been in His presence my attitude changes to "not MY will, but THY will be done", and I forget that I was at one time the "bull of the woods".
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
We'll leave the light on for you
Luke 15:17-24
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
If you have been around for any length of time, you will remember that Motel 6 commercial: "This is Tom Bodett, and we'll leave the light on for you." It was supposed to give that warm feeling of home, a place of comfort and rest, a place you are familiar with. When I think about the church, I realize we want those same feelings: rest, comfort for our souls, warmth, a familiar place we can go to. We are a rest for the weary, and we are a lighthouse.
Sadly, we all know people who have seen the bright lights of sin, as the prodigal son did, and left this harbor of rest and love for the pleasures of sin for a season. Then the question arises, what happens when the pleasure has worn off, when the reality of the pig pen sets in, what happens then? Many never come to their senses. But, for the ones that do, they are dealing with shame, personal doubts, perhaps even fear. They battle enough as it is getting back without that added problem of a church who has turned it's light off. Many churches have so much anger and pride and haughtiness, that when a sinner wants to come home (remember that when the pleasure wears off, they are going to remember the warmth of home), they see that the welcome sign has been taken away.
No doubt that father spent many a day looking out the window for his boy to come home. He was obviously looking for him, for "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him," I imagine the father telling his wife, "Honey, lets leave the porch light on, just in case." He wanted to make sure that his son knew this was still home, even if it was in the middle of the night.
"I am no more worthy..." he said. But the father didn't even feel that one merited a response. "Bring for the best robe..." said the father. "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
So, even in the darkest of midnight, we want you to know, we'll leave the light on for you.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
If you have been around for any length of time, you will remember that Motel 6 commercial: "This is Tom Bodett, and we'll leave the light on for you." It was supposed to give that warm feeling of home, a place of comfort and rest, a place you are familiar with. When I think about the church, I realize we want those same feelings: rest, comfort for our souls, warmth, a familiar place we can go to. We are a rest for the weary, and we are a lighthouse.
Sadly, we all know people who have seen the bright lights of sin, as the prodigal son did, and left this harbor of rest and love for the pleasures of sin for a season. Then the question arises, what happens when the pleasure has worn off, when the reality of the pig pen sets in, what happens then? Many never come to their senses. But, for the ones that do, they are dealing with shame, personal doubts, perhaps even fear. They battle enough as it is getting back without that added problem of a church who has turned it's light off. Many churches have so much anger and pride and haughtiness, that when a sinner wants to come home (remember that when the pleasure wears off, they are going to remember the warmth of home), they see that the welcome sign has been taken away.
No doubt that father spent many a day looking out the window for his boy to come home. He was obviously looking for him, for "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him," I imagine the father telling his wife, "Honey, lets leave the porch light on, just in case." He wanted to make sure that his son knew this was still home, even if it was in the middle of the night.
"I am no more worthy..." he said. But the father didn't even feel that one merited a response. "Bring for the best robe..." said the father. "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
So, even in the darkest of midnight, we want you to know, we'll leave the light on for you.
Monday, January 29, 2007
God Remembered.......Who?
Genesis 19:29
"And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt."
As I was listening to the Bible on CD the other day, this scripture was read. It really grabbed my attention. When I returned home I looked it up and read it slowly as to get the full impact of what I had heard.
There's not much good recorded about Lot. As God spoke with Abraham about His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, we find Abraham pleading with God to spare the cities "peradventure" there be 50, 5 of the 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, even 10 'righteous' within the cities (Genesis 18:24-32). Evidently God found none righteous, or He would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah, yet Lot and his family lived there. Either this is the case, or God specifically could not find at least five righteous and Lot's family consisted of only four people.
There's a scripture about Lot making a righteous action by not looking back on Sodom and Gomorrah (II Tim. 2:7, 8), however we never read where Lot was considered to be a righteous or just man. One certainly could not throw Lot in with the likes of his uncle Abraham, Enoch, David, Peter, or Paul.
Getting to the point that struck me was that in order for Lot and his family to be saved from God's coming wrath, God had to remember Abraham for Lot's sake. There was nothing about Lot which would cause God to remember him. If it had not been for 'righteous' Abraham, the man God called 'friend', Lot and his family would have surely perished, for they were not remembered by God.
There are those who are faithful to church, consider themselves to be Christians, pay their tithe, give offerings, even show up for prayer meeting, yet if it weren't for the 'righteous Abraham' (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, best friend, pastor, etc...) in their life, God would never remember, bless, or protect them.
Another angle of this story is that the Bible tells us in II Peter 3:9 that God is "...not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." God will use an 'uncle Abraham' in an individual's life to give them every opportunity to align themselves and make themselves right with Him, but in the end they must have it for themselves.
God dealt strongly with me through this illumination of scripture to make sure I'm living in such a way that He remembers me, and not someone else's righteous life on behalf of me.
We cannot be saved on 'uncle Abraham's' salvation, only on our own. I leave you with this scripture...
Philippians 2:12
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
"And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt."
As I was listening to the Bible on CD the other day, this scripture was read. It really grabbed my attention. When I returned home I looked it up and read it slowly as to get the full impact of what I had heard.
There's not much good recorded about Lot. As God spoke with Abraham about His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, we find Abraham pleading with God to spare the cities "peradventure" there be 50, 5 of the 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, even 10 'righteous' within the cities (Genesis 18:24-32). Evidently God found none righteous, or He would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah, yet Lot and his family lived there. Either this is the case, or God specifically could not find at least five righteous and Lot's family consisted of only four people.
There's a scripture about Lot making a righteous action by not looking back on Sodom and Gomorrah (II Tim. 2:7, 8), however we never read where Lot was considered to be a righteous or just man. One certainly could not throw Lot in with the likes of his uncle Abraham, Enoch, David, Peter, or Paul.
Getting to the point that struck me was that in order for Lot and his family to be saved from God's coming wrath, God had to remember Abraham for Lot's sake. There was nothing about Lot which would cause God to remember him. If it had not been for 'righteous' Abraham, the man God called 'friend', Lot and his family would have surely perished, for they were not remembered by God.
There are those who are faithful to church, consider themselves to be Christians, pay their tithe, give offerings, even show up for prayer meeting, yet if it weren't for the 'righteous Abraham' (mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, best friend, pastor, etc...) in their life, God would never remember, bless, or protect them.
Another angle of this story is that the Bible tells us in II Peter 3:9 that God is "...not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance." God will use an 'uncle Abraham' in an individual's life to give them every opportunity to align themselves and make themselves right with Him, but in the end they must have it for themselves.
God dealt strongly with me through this illumination of scripture to make sure I'm living in such a way that He remembers me, and not someone else's righteous life on behalf of me.
We cannot be saved on 'uncle Abraham's' salvation, only on our own. I leave you with this scripture...
Philippians 2:12
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Seed Thoughts
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7).Suppose you go to visit a friend one day and find them working in their greenhouse. They explain to you that the greenhouse was a gift from their father. He used state-of-the-art equipment to create the ideal structure for growth. The atmosphere is perfect. The temperature is suited for flowers, fruit, or anything they want.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
This friend asks you to join him as he collect some seeds to plant. You've always thought they were a bit crazy, but this removes all doubt! You watch them walk into a field and strip seeds off of weeds. They collect crab grass seeds, dandelion seeds, grass burr seeds. They fill a bag with a variety of junk seeds and return to the greenhouse.
You can't believe what you've just seen and say, “I thought you wanted a greenhouse full of flowers and fruit.”
“I do.” he responds.
The logical question would follow, “Then don't you think you ought to plant flower seeds and fruit seeds?”
But your friend ridiculously argues, “Do you have any idea how much those seeds cost? Besides, you have to drive all the way to the garden center to get them. No thanks, I don't want to spend that much time on this.”
Everybody knows you harvest what you sow. You reap what you plant. But we forget this when we develop the land of our own hearts.
Think for a moment of your heart as a greenhouse. You can see right away — the analogy fits. Your heart is a gift from your Creator. It is perfectly suited for growing. And it has to be managed...by you.
Think about it for a moment— your thoughts are as seed. Some thoughts become flowers and others become weeds. If you sow seeds of hope, you will enjoy optimism. If you sow seeds of doubt, you can expect insecurity.
The proof is everywhere you look. Have you ever wondered why some people resist negatives and remain patient, optimistic, and forgiving? They have been faithfully sowing good seeds and are loving the harvest. Then there are others who have such a sour outlook and a gloomy attitude? If your heart is full of weeds and thorns, you will too.
You're the manager, so guard the door of your “heart” greenhouse.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
"What's hungry got to do with it?"
Years ago, when I had a motorcycle, I would meet up with Keith, my late brother-in-law, and close friend, Pastor David Gilbert. Sometimes we had as many as 20 men gather for a ride. They were great times.
When I first started riding with these two 'characters' I noticed right away that they would stop at the drop of a hat to eat a bite. It seemed they were always looking for another cafe. Many times we’d have only gone 30 or 40 miles and one would spot some hole-in-the-wall cafe and the CB would crackle, “I imagine they served some really good hot apple pie there.” “Well, you game?” “Yea, life’s too short to pass up a good piece of pie.” We’d slow down, turn around and go back. I wish I had a dollar for all the times we’ve stopped doing just that. At the end of a ride when I’d break off from them and head home I was usually so full I couldn’t eat another bite.
On one trip I remember, just a little while after we’d eaten a meal, they spotted one of those places. When they started tempting each other about stopping there, they asked if anyone was game to go back. One guy riding with us answered back with this statement, “I’m not hungry!” Keith came back with this unique answer; “What’s hungry got to do with it?” Now, there’s fodder for the thought mill.
A pet philosophy he enjoyed was that life was to be lived to enjoy a good cup of coffee, a juicy, dripping cheeseburger, or a piece of hot, homemade pie. In other words hungry shouldn’t have anything to do with eating some more good food.
Application: I do not want God’s Word to mean more to me when I am in a valley, going thru a trial, under a lot of pressure, feeling low, or needing something.
I do not want to be the kind who comes running for water after the whole house is on fire.
God is not a fire extinguisher (to be only used in case of emergency), and I’m not an emergency saint (one who only comes to Him with an emergency).
I want to love Him just the same when nothing is wrong as well as when everything seems wrong. I want to stay always close to Him.
Too often people never apply God’s word until they find themselves in a bad situation, then they come running for help. This is not relationship. I feel if we love Him always, when my “fires” need to be put out, it will simply be a friend helping another friend in the midst of a journey rather than a “Hi, I’m Wendell Elms, would you help me put my fire out….quickly, please ?”
Food does taste better when you’re truly hungry. Not so with God’s Word. So when it comes to His Word, I ask you, “What’s hungry got to do with it ?”
When I first started riding with these two 'characters' I noticed right away that they would stop at the drop of a hat to eat a bite. It seemed they were always looking for another cafe. Many times we’d have only gone 30 or 40 miles and one would spot some hole-in-the-wall cafe and the CB would crackle, “I imagine they served some really good hot apple pie there.” “Well, you game?” “Yea, life’s too short to pass up a good piece of pie.” We’d slow down, turn around and go back. I wish I had a dollar for all the times we’ve stopped doing just that. At the end of a ride when I’d break off from them and head home I was usually so full I couldn’t eat another bite.
On one trip I remember, just a little while after we’d eaten a meal, they spotted one of those places. When they started tempting each other about stopping there, they asked if anyone was game to go back. One guy riding with us answered back with this statement, “I’m not hungry!” Keith came back with this unique answer; “What’s hungry got to do with it?” Now, there’s fodder for the thought mill.
A pet philosophy he enjoyed was that life was to be lived to enjoy a good cup of coffee, a juicy, dripping cheeseburger, or a piece of hot, homemade pie. In other words hungry shouldn’t have anything to do with eating some more good food.
Application: I do not want God’s Word to mean more to me when I am in a valley, going thru a trial, under a lot of pressure, feeling low, or needing something.
I do not want to be the kind who comes running for water after the whole house is on fire.
God is not a fire extinguisher (to be only used in case of emergency), and I’m not an emergency saint (one who only comes to Him with an emergency).
I want to love Him just the same when nothing is wrong as well as when everything seems wrong. I want to stay always close to Him.
Too often people never apply God’s word until they find themselves in a bad situation, then they come running for help. This is not relationship. I feel if we love Him always, when my “fires” need to be put out, it will simply be a friend helping another friend in the midst of a journey rather than a “Hi, I’m Wendell Elms, would you help me put my fire out….quickly, please ?”
Food does taste better when you’re truly hungry. Not so with God’s Word. So when it comes to His Word, I ask you, “What’s hungry got to do with it ?”
Monday, January 22, 2007
Gifts That Grow
When our boys were just little "tykes" my husband would see flowers growing in the yard, no, not the ones that grow in the flower garden, but the little "weed-flowers that grow in the grass, and he would pull them and say to the boys, "Andrew, Jon, take these to Mom, she'll really like them.(good training) There were many "lawn-mowing days" the boys would come running into the house holding in their little dirty hands "weed-flowers" and hand them to me and all they said was, "here". They would then turn around and run outside to "help Dad" and I would turn and get a pretty vase. Most of the time my "vase" was a cup or glass out of the cupboard. I would fill it with water and put my "flowers" in to stay until wilted. Fast forward many years later....Andrew, was 18 years old. He was out mowing our yard in the HOT summer temperatures of North Texas. The lawn mower stopped for a time then I heard the door-bell ring. When I went to the door there stood my 18 year old, 6'5", 260 lb. son. In his huge hands he was holding some "weed-flowers". My heart almost stood still as my mind raced back to the little boy that use to come running into the house with dirty little hands holding the flowers! Then I heard the words, "Here Mom, I thought you'd like these!" "You're right" I squealed and I hugged him, then he turned away to finish his job. I ran to put them in a "vase", and yes, they stayed there until wilted. There are gifts we give through life that grow into bigger gifts. The little flowers my husband picked out of the yard, giving them to our boys to give to me, had grown into "full grown love" in that 18 year old man's heart! Andrew didn't have to say a word that day to let me know he loved me. It was the look in his eyes that told me everything! Now, I watch as our boys pour love into their little girls and I think, "the love they are receiving will someday grow into "full grown love" and they will then turn and give it to a man who loves God, and as their love grows and children are born to them, more love is given, and it grows...and grows...and grows". The "gift of love" is the most precious gift we can give to our children. There are many who have never felt the love I speak of today. They are hungry, searching for someone who would show them love. YOU are that person! Through YOU they will see and feel the love only given by the One who IS LOVE! Give them the "gift of love" and maybe it will grow into "full grown love" for Jesus Christ.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
When The Snow Melts...
The last week has been the most weather-related, eventful week we've ever seen in Ranger. The snow was awesome!
As I looked out over the countryside while driving around the morning we received the snow, my thoughts went where they always go when I witness snow-covered landscapes. The snow covers up and conceals all of the physical inconsistencies around us. An ugly field becomes beautiful when covered in a white blanket of snow. Even an ugly house looks better. Trash strewn about by animals, the wind, or uncaring human beings is hidden beneath the snow. The snow evens out everything making the world look consistent and in perfect harmony.
Just like that snow, the Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus covers a multitude of sins.
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
I'm thankful for the blood of Jesus Christ! But, something else came to mind as the snow in my front yard, and Savanna's first snowman, began to melt away. Just as the snow comes and makes everything beautiful, it's only for a short time. The snow comes and is beautiful, but just like sin, and the pleasures of it, the snow melts away.
Hebrews 11:25 tells us that Moses chose to suffer the afflictions of his people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Sin looks good, and may be enjoyable to the flesh, for a little while, but when the fun is over, all that is ugly returns. The inconsistencies of life, the trash of the world, and the stark, worldly landscape all can be seen again. When the hangover is gone, and the effects of the drug have worn off, all of the problems and demons return bringing with them more hurt and more pain. Only God remains and is faithful when everything else is gone.
Maybe the next time you see snow, you'll think about what God allowed me to see this time!
As I looked out over the countryside while driving around the morning we received the snow, my thoughts went where they always go when I witness snow-covered landscapes. The snow covers up and conceals all of the physical inconsistencies around us. An ugly field becomes beautiful when covered in a white blanket of snow. Even an ugly house looks better. Trash strewn about by animals, the wind, or uncaring human beings is hidden beneath the snow. The snow evens out everything making the world look consistent and in perfect harmony.
Just like that snow, the Bible tells us that the blood of Jesus covers a multitude of sins.
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
I'm thankful for the blood of Jesus Christ! But, something else came to mind as the snow in my front yard, and Savanna's first snowman, began to melt away. Just as the snow comes and makes everything beautiful, it's only for a short time. The snow comes and is beautiful, but just like sin, and the pleasures of it, the snow melts away.
Hebrews 11:25 tells us that Moses chose to suffer the afflictions of his people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Sin looks good, and may be enjoyable to the flesh, for a little while, but when the fun is over, all that is ugly returns. The inconsistencies of life, the trash of the world, and the stark, worldly landscape all can be seen again. When the hangover is gone, and the effects of the drug have worn off, all of the problems and demons return bringing with them more hurt and more pain. Only God remains and is faithful when everything else is gone.
Maybe the next time you see snow, you'll think about what God allowed me to see this time!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
God Is
Jehovah! That name is synonymous with God, Yaweh, and ultimately Jesus. They are all descriptive of the only God that has ever existed. He has always existed and was not created. He just IS!
When Moses asked the Lord, in Genesis 3:14, "Who should I say has sent me?", God said, "I AM THAT I AM." The whole idea that God was never created, for Him to be created would mean there's another God bigger than He, is hard for the human mind to wrap around. This answer God gave to Moses seems puzzling because it's not a name. So, in my confusion and curiosity, I looked at the Hebrew Interlinear Bible and the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary to see what I might learn. It turns out, A LOT! (Bro. Hallford, you could probably provide much more insight than I with your knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet and language, and would like to hear it. Post away!)
Here's what I learned. 'I AM' is the word 'hayah' in Hebrew which means to exist, be or become, come to pass. It is always emphatic and never to be taken as "variable" or prone to be something different than 'emphatically existing'. A reference to the Hebrew word was given. This word is 'havah', meaning 'to breath, to be (in the sense of existence).' Another scripture comes to mind...
James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
This scripture describes God's answer to Moses, as to who was sending Moses, 'I AM'. The word 'THAT' is 'aher' which is a conjunction meant to show the connection between the first 'I AM' and the second 'I AM'. The second 'I AM' is the same as the first, in other words, 'I AM WHAT I AM".
This is what Barnes' Notes revealed:
"The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and eternal Being. The name, which Moses was thus commissioned to use, was at once new and old; old in its connection with previous revelations; new in its full interpretation, and in its bearing upon the covenant of which Moses was the destined mediator."
Then we find in verse 15 God commanding Moses to tell Israel, who were slaving away in Egypt and had done so for over 400 years, "The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
This is what Barnes' Notes had to say about verse 15, which corresponds directly with verse 14:
"Jehovah Yahweh, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. It corresponds exactly to the preceding verse, the words "I am" and "Jehovah" (Yahweh) being equivalent. This name met all the requirements of Moses, involving a two-fold pledge of accomplishment; the pledges of ancient benefits and of a new manifestation.
[Name ... memorial] The name signifies that by which God makes Himself known, the memorial that by which His people worship Him."
When we move to the New Testament, when Jesus has just asked the question of the disciples, "...but who do you say that I am?" The revelation of who Jesus IS hits Peter. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God", and Jesus responds immediately by saying, "...upon this rock (truth, understanding, revelation) will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The reason Israel was delivered and became God's nation in the earth is the same reason His church was built in the New Testament. Israel recognized the Hebrew words for 'I AM THAT I AM' as being the same or synonymous with 'Jehovah' which was the name Israel recognized as meaning 'God'. Peter, and we, recognize 'Jesus' as being synonymous with all the above Old Testament words; Jehovah, Yaweh, I AM THAT I AM. Peter recognized Jesus as being the great I AM! (Keep in mind Peter was Jewish and understood the Jewish language even though it had changed some by his time.)
To sum this all up I would like to say this.... For those churches and organizations who leave the understanding of God's existence and His oneness, their's is a meaningless trek shrouded in nothing more than large crowds and social events of which God has said, "I-chabod: the Spirit of the Lord is departed."
As much as God IS, all they see are the remnants of what is left when all that He IS has gone.
When Moses asked the Lord, in Genesis 3:14, "Who should I say has sent me?", God said, "I AM THAT I AM." The whole idea that God was never created, for Him to be created would mean there's another God bigger than He, is hard for the human mind to wrap around. This answer God gave to Moses seems puzzling because it's not a name. So, in my confusion and curiosity, I looked at the Hebrew Interlinear Bible and the Strong's Hebrew Dictionary to see what I might learn. It turns out, A LOT! (Bro. Hallford, you could probably provide much more insight than I with your knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet and language, and would like to hear it. Post away!)
Here's what I learned. 'I AM' is the word 'hayah' in Hebrew which means to exist, be or become, come to pass. It is always emphatic and never to be taken as "variable" or prone to be something different than 'emphatically existing'. A reference to the Hebrew word was given. This word is 'havah', meaning 'to breath, to be (in the sense of existence).' Another scripture comes to mind...
James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
This scripture describes God's answer to Moses, as to who was sending Moses, 'I AM'. The word 'THAT' is 'aher' which is a conjunction meant to show the connection between the first 'I AM' and the second 'I AM'. The second 'I AM' is the same as the first, in other words, 'I AM WHAT I AM".
This is what Barnes' Notes revealed:
"The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and eternal Being. The name, which Moses was thus commissioned to use, was at once new and old; old in its connection with previous revelations; new in its full interpretation, and in its bearing upon the covenant of which Moses was the destined mediator."
Then we find in verse 15 God commanding Moses to tell Israel, who were slaving away in Egypt and had done so for over 400 years, "The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
This is what Barnes' Notes had to say about verse 15, which corresponds directly with verse 14:
"Jehovah Yahweh, God of your fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. It corresponds exactly to the preceding verse, the words "I am" and "Jehovah" (Yahweh) being equivalent. This name met all the requirements of Moses, involving a two-fold pledge of accomplishment; the pledges of ancient benefits and of a new manifestation.
[Name ... memorial] The name signifies that by which God makes Himself known, the memorial that by which His people worship Him."
When we move to the New Testament, when Jesus has just asked the question of the disciples, "...but who do you say that I am?" The revelation of who Jesus IS hits Peter. "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God", and Jesus responds immediately by saying, "...upon this rock (truth, understanding, revelation) will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The reason Israel was delivered and became God's nation in the earth is the same reason His church was built in the New Testament. Israel recognized the Hebrew words for 'I AM THAT I AM' as being the same or synonymous with 'Jehovah' which was the name Israel recognized as meaning 'God'. Peter, and we, recognize 'Jesus' as being synonymous with all the above Old Testament words; Jehovah, Yaweh, I AM THAT I AM. Peter recognized Jesus as being the great I AM! (Keep in mind Peter was Jewish and understood the Jewish language even though it had changed some by his time.)
To sum this all up I would like to say this.... For those churches and organizations who leave the understanding of God's existence and His oneness, their's is a meaningless trek shrouded in nothing more than large crowds and social events of which God has said, "I-chabod: the Spirit of the Lord is departed."
As much as God IS, all they see are the remnants of what is left when all that He IS has gone.
Nighttime Bloom?
Many years ago when my boys were young, I was going through a "wilderness experience" with my health. One day I was walking through my house wondering what was going to happen, and asking myself, "How am I going to get through this? What is going to happen to me, and if what I "feel" is going to happen, what about my family?" You know, when you're walking through the wilderness, your mind will get negative real fast. I thought, "I'll go outside for a few minutes. Maybe that will make me feel better." When I stepped out my eyes were drawn to the side of the porch where the most beautiful, yellow rose was blooming. I just couldn't contain the joy of seeing such a beautiful flower. Our son was riding his bicycle down the gravel road, so I called out "JONATHAN.....COME HERE.....I WANT YOU TO SEE SOMETHING!" He came riding as fast as his little legs could peddle. When he stopped, I showed him the rose and I'll never forget what he said to me that day in my "wilderness". He said, "YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL! And as he road off he turned and yelled back to me, "THEY ALWAYS BLOOM IN THE NIGHT, DON'T THEY MOM?" You see, the rose had not been at its full beauty the day before. In fact, I hadn't even noticed it! It seemed to have bloomed "over night"! I walked into the house with tears in my eyes, and spoke to my son, even though he didn't hear me, "Yes, Jonathan they always bloom at night!" It was so much easier to look at my situation and see there was a ROSE in the middle of my situation, even though it had some thorns on it.
Only God
Here is yet another good poem somebody sent me on my email. I thought I would pass it along. I'll slip it in somehwere along the way.
Only God
Trials keep you strong,
Sorrows keep you human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps you glowing,
But only God keeps you going!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Who's Gonna' Be First?
I am always fascinated by the story of Israel crossing the Red Sea. Israel had just been delivered from Egypt by the hand of Moses when they ran up against the Red Sea. You know the story....Pharoah and Egyptians pursuing them and the Red Sea blocking them.
Think for a moment about all Israel witnessed in that short amount of time. They saw an angel and the pillar of cloud move all the way around them so that it stood behind them between them and Pharoah. That would be awesome, maybe even scary, especially to the small children of Israel! Then Moses tells them the plan, "We're going to go through the middle of the Red Sea on dry ground!" Do what? Moses stretches out his rod and a wind from the east that would equal the force of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Andrew together begins to blow. That had to be scary. It had to be one of the loudest things they had ever heard! Then the Red Sea begins to part, just as Moses said.
Let's recap shall we: Pharoah's chasing them, the angel and pillar of cloud moves between them and him, Moses announces an inconcievable idea that this vast body of water, big enough to be called a 'sea', is going to split down the middle, giving between one and three million people the ability to cross through on dry ground. Then an easterly wind, the likes of which none had ever witnessed, blows down on the Red Sea and parts it.
I would like to pause the story for a moment. The children are crying, afraid of all they have just seen and heard happening around them. The eyes of all the adults and youth of Israel are wide with excitement, fear, and nervous anticipation of what might happen next. As they stand there gaping at this giant trench going right through the middle of the Red Sea, the thought had to cross somebody's mind, "Who's gonna' be first?" Somebody had to be wondering, after all of the unbelievable things they had witnessed, who was going to be brave enough to even move first, much less have enough faith to begin walking down into the recent thoroughfare made by God Himself. To move would be to single yourself out.
I believe Moses led them through the Red Sea, but it was only because He had more faith in God than everybody else, and trusted Him. God is causing the impossible to begin happening for our people and our churches, but somebody has to be first to step into the unknown land of miracles and blessings. And so I ask again, "Who's gonna' be first?" It's just a thought....
Think for a moment about all Israel witnessed in that short amount of time. They saw an angel and the pillar of cloud move all the way around them so that it stood behind them between them and Pharoah. That would be awesome, maybe even scary, especially to the small children of Israel! Then Moses tells them the plan, "We're going to go through the middle of the Red Sea on dry ground!" Do what? Moses stretches out his rod and a wind from the east that would equal the force of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Andrew together begins to blow. That had to be scary. It had to be one of the loudest things they had ever heard! Then the Red Sea begins to part, just as Moses said.
Let's recap shall we: Pharoah's chasing them, the angel and pillar of cloud moves between them and him, Moses announces an inconcievable idea that this vast body of water, big enough to be called a 'sea', is going to split down the middle, giving between one and three million people the ability to cross through on dry ground. Then an easterly wind, the likes of which none had ever witnessed, blows down on the Red Sea and parts it.
I would like to pause the story for a moment. The children are crying, afraid of all they have just seen and heard happening around them. The eyes of all the adults and youth of Israel are wide with excitement, fear, and nervous anticipation of what might happen next. As they stand there gaping at this giant trench going right through the middle of the Red Sea, the thought had to cross somebody's mind, "Who's gonna' be first?" Somebody had to be wondering, after all of the unbelievable things they had witnessed, who was going to be brave enough to even move first, much less have enough faith to begin walking down into the recent thoroughfare made by God Himself. To move would be to single yourself out.
I believe Moses led them through the Red Sea, but it was only because He had more faith in God than everybody else, and trusted Him. God is causing the impossible to begin happening for our people and our churches, but somebody has to be first to step into the unknown land of miracles and blessings. And so I ask again, "Who's gonna' be first?" It's just a thought....
A Poem From Home
I enjoy using poems in messages and lessons. There is a poem that I memorized from a young boy about being thankful. This poem hung on our kitchen wall for years. I remember it most vividly at our house at 3509 Kent Ln. It says this...
Thank God for dirty dishes,
They have a tale to tell,
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss,
For by the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us!
We need to always be thankful for what we have, even if it's a mess. Just remember, some don't have anything to make a mess with.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
That's A Big Door!
Here's my alpha thought. In the story of Noah's Ark we read where the door was so large only God could 'shut them in'. As I thought about the story and how God gave Noah specific instructions on how to build the ark, it struck me that God wanted the door to be so large and so heavy that Noah and his three strong sons couldn't shut it themselves! God never makes mistakes and He does everything on purpose, for a purpose.
Keeping that thought in mind, several other things occured to me.
1. Once Noah and his family did their part to be saved, they still had to
rely on God to finish what they had begun. They could not be saved
from the flood completely on their own. Their dependence was on
God in the end, even though they had accomplished a great thing
on their own.
2. Our salvation is the same. We must obey God's Word to be saved,
but in the end it's God who saves us. It's God who shuts the door.
It's God who seals our salvation after we've done our part.
Maybe these few thoughts will birth some others with you and you can build on it for something. I have already preached from these thoughts, and believe me, there are so many ways you can go with them.
Keeping that thought in mind, several other things occured to me.
1. Once Noah and his family did their part to be saved, they still had to
rely on God to finish what they had begun. They could not be saved
from the flood completely on their own. Their dependence was on
God in the end, even though they had accomplished a great thing
on their own.
2. Our salvation is the same. We must obey God's Word to be saved,
but in the end it's God who saves us. It's God who shuts the door.
It's God who seals our salvation after we've done our part.
Maybe these few thoughts will birth some others with you and you can build on it for something. I have already preached from these thoughts, and believe me, there are so many ways you can go with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
