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February 04 SevernthoodServanthood: Real servants are faithful to their ministry they fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises and complete their commitments. God has promised to reward YOUR faithfulness in eternity! How great that day will be when we stand before God and He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
January 19 Are We WillingAre We Willing? Last night we had a meeting with one of our pastors and he laid his heart out. The Lord has been speaking to him and he has become uncomfortable with the church as is. This is also something I have been thinking about. You must understand our congregation. We regularly have over 1500 in Sunday worship and over 2000 on our roll. As the pastor said "So What"!!!! Numbers are great but what are the believers doing to promote the kingdom of God? Is our only duty to believe and be in attendance on Sunday? Does not true faith also induce "works"? We've become much to comfortable in our Christianity and seem to think that our faith gives us the right to just sit back and enjoy the blessings of God. What does God's word say about this. Let's start in Isaiah: Isaiah 66: 1-2 1 This is what the LORD says:
"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Where is the house you'll build for me? Is this the body of believers? I believe it to be so. If we consider the Lord to be the "General Contractor", we are the laborers or "sub-contractors". We each are endowed with gifts from the Holy Spirit and are expected to use these gifts in conjunction with our brothers and sisters to complete the "house". The house is the body of believers, those not just professing Christ as Savior but those evangelizing and those raising disciples to spread the Word of the Gospel of Jesus. 2 Has not my hand made all these things, If we realize God has made all things and we are not gods, we will be humble and tremble (love) at His Word. To be humble is to understand that without our God, there would be nothing and His Word is where we need to be each and everyday, not just on Sunday! The points I want to make here are as follows:
How about the believers that built this religious movement called Christianity? They, in the most part were not learned people, they were not rich, they did not have a "manual" or a "program" to minister and witness by. The 12 disciples were unsure in their belief in who Jesus was. They did not understand Jesus' parables and stories. Jesus had to explain himself at every turn. What did they have that we seem to lack? WILLINGNESS!!! Christ showed himself to many people after His resurrection but only 120 stayed around for Pentecost and received the Holy Spirit. All risk life, property and status to spread the Gospel. If these unlearned people could spread the Word as they did, why not us? The present day believer. The meeting I attended last night was a church leaders meeting. The leaders being a group of about 70 people leading small groups, discipleship groups and life groups. There may have been 20-30 leaders there. Where were the rest? I am sure there were good reasons for some not to be there. Others? Maybe WILLINGNESS!!! We present day Christians have lost the willingness to learn, to lead, to spread the Gospel and even to study God's Word. We as Christians need to get off our duffs and and get to work. We have the advantages of having God's "manual" to go by, we have the finances to spread the Gospel and we even have the best in electronic media to get the Word out. Again, we need to make the decision if we're WILLING. Let's make a pledge to at least open and read our Bible everyday not just Sunday. Let's pledge to talk with God on a regular basis (pray). No matter the cost, let's witness to co-workers, the bum on the street and everyone that has an ear! Let's start a revival in our church, our community and our country. Be the person God made you to be and expects you to be. No Fear!
January 06 The Golden BoxGold Wrapping Paper
I received this from a friend who had a choice to make.. It said that I had a choice to make too.
I've chosen. Now it's your turn to choose.
The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
The choices we have to make are: 1) Accept and cherish the unconditional love (The Gold Wrapped Box) from a merciful God who sent us the gift of his only Son. The gift of forgiveness and a personal relationship with Him. His kisses, love, kindness, correction and Holy Spirit.
OR
2) The rejection of His eternal gift. July 17 Billy Graham's PrayerSubject: Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:24:41
A GOOD VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS COUNTRY! PAUL HARVEY'S ON- AIR PRAYER 'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have rid iculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'
July 15 Psalm 23 - - EXPLAINED
Psalm 23 - - EXPLAINED
The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. For His name sake Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever Thanks for visiting!
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