The Valley of Baca
By Os Hillman
October 4
"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion" (Ps 84:5-7).
There is a spiritual law in the Kingdom of God. Every great leader in the Kingdom will pass through the Valley of Baca. Baca means to weep. It comes from the Hebrew word,bakah (baw-kaw'); a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan.
However, Baca is also a place of springs. There is nothing better on a hot day when you're thirsty and weary than to drink water from a mountain spring. It refreshes. It renews. It gives you a second wind to continue your journey. Those who commit themselves to a pilgrimage with God will experience the Valley of Baca. But in the midst of Baca they will discover that in this valley they will also drink from a very special spring that refreshes with a different kind of living water.
It becomes the source of "secret things in hidden places" described by the prophet Isaiah (Isa 45:3) reserved only for those willing to journey on the Great Pilgrimage with God. Once you drink from this spring you will be energized in your spiritual man from strength to strength. Each Valley of Baca will result in a new spiritual spring from which you will drink. It is handmade just for you by God. But know this it will be used to provide a refreshing drink for others you will encounter who are also on their pilgrimage.
Ultimately, Baca leads to the presence of God. There is something about being in a place with God that results in our weeping and crying out to Him. Do you find yourself in this place with God today? If so, know that His springs are also available to you. Ask him today to give you a drink from His spring only available in the Valley of Baca.
Contact Os Hillman at http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
We would do well to read and ponder the following....
1 John 3
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Love one another
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,[a]we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Love one another
11This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Once again, I cry... you answer
It is so amazing to me that the Lord is ever present in our lives, but, are we listening?
The call upon our lives is to .... "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33. Well, when we do, He is faithful and just and will 'reveal Himself to us'. I know because it happened again this morning.
I was having my time alone with the Father, had read the Os Hillman piece for the day; "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Our Lord never saw the mundane activities as ordinary. Whether He healed the sick or sat around the fire with the disciples, He did not see one activity as spiritual and the other non-spiritual. Life was lived as a holy service to His Heavenly Father.
Today, view every activity you do with an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus.
And this ran right into what I had been speaking about with a new friend of mine in Nashville, just yesterday.... then, I turn to http://www.biblegateway.com/ for the daily reading and it is Psalm 143:1 "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
and in my normal process, I click on the verse and begin to read the entire Psalm;
Psalm 143
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
I had, just yesterday told my friend that God is faithful and will hear us if we seek Him. Here is the validation of that....
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
Here is another validation of what we spoke about; "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
The world (the enemy) crushes us; causes us to see only frustration and darkness and 'death' when He is light, life and life more abundantly. Are we only focused on the world, the darkness? Where is the light? In Him and in His Word.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
see above
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Now, David, turns his eyes to the Lord, to His Word, as should we; to the light of life.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
David surrenders; spreads out his hands to acquiesce his life to the Lord. Without Him our souls are dry and dead, thirsty and starving. Surrender...
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Life is killing me, please answer me quickly, I need you! Please don't allow me to go into complete despair like the world around me that is only 'playing' fulfillment.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Here it is!! "In the morning." Every morning, every day... we must be in His presence; in His word, in prayer, in preparation for our mission of the day. I trust... You, please, show me and enliven my soul to know You are there.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you.
It is a battle out there!! Have no doubt about that. God will rescue us from the world, from our own evil desires and our own failures as well as the sinful darkness that surround us. Let us HIDE ourselves in Him!
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
We need Him! He will teach us. He is 'faithful'. His Spirit is active and alive in our lives. We must seek Him and listen and act on His inspiration.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
This is all about Him, not us! Everything associated with our life is about Him, His righteousness, His glory, His will, His orchestration of our lives. Everything.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Father, empower us, defend us, bring down our enemies for we are YOUR servants; doing Your work, obeying Your precepts and laws, glorifying YOU and not succombing to the world in which we live.
We live for you. We love you. Please continue to rescue us!!
I love you all
Amen.
The call upon our lives is to .... "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33. Well, when we do, He is faithful and just and will 'reveal Himself to us'. I know because it happened again this morning.
I was having my time alone with the Father, had read the Os Hillman piece for the day; "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Our Lord never saw the mundane activities as ordinary. Whether He healed the sick or sat around the fire with the disciples, He did not see one activity as spiritual and the other non-spiritual. Life was lived as a holy service to His Heavenly Father.
Today, view every activity you do with an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus.
And this ran right into what I had been speaking about with a new friend of mine in Nashville, just yesterday.... then, I turn to http://www.biblegateway.com/ for the daily reading and it is Psalm 143:1 "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
and in my normal process, I click on the verse and begin to read the entire Psalm;
Psalm 143
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
I had, just yesterday told my friend that God is faithful and will hear us if we seek Him. Here is the validation of that....
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
Here is another validation of what we spoke about; "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.
The world (the enemy) crushes us; causes us to see only frustration and darkness and 'death' when He is light, life and life more abundantly. Are we only focused on the world, the darkness? Where is the light? In Him and in His Word.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
see above
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Now, David, turns his eyes to the Lord, to His Word, as should we; to the light of life.
6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
David surrenders; spreads out his hands to acquiesce his life to the Lord. Without Him our souls are dry and dead, thirsty and starving. Surrender...
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
Life is killing me, please answer me quickly, I need you! Please don't allow me to go into complete despair like the world around me that is only 'playing' fulfillment.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Here it is!! "In the morning." Every morning, every day... we must be in His presence; in His word, in prayer, in preparation for our mission of the day. I trust... You, please, show me and enliven my soul to know You are there.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you.
It is a battle out there!! Have no doubt about that. God will rescue us from the world, from our own evil desires and our own failures as well as the sinful darkness that surround us. Let us HIDE ourselves in Him!
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
We need Him! He will teach us. He is 'faithful'. His Spirit is active and alive in our lives. We must seek Him and listen and act on His inspiration.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
This is all about Him, not us! Everything associated with our life is about Him, His righteousness, His glory, His will, His orchestration of our lives. Everything.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
Father, empower us, defend us, bring down our enemies for we are YOUR servants; doing Your work, obeying Your precepts and laws, glorifying YOU and not succombing to the world in which we live.
We live for you. We love you. Please continue to rescue us!!
I love you all
Amen.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I will speak of God's reign as King of the universe.
Bear with me as I expound from my Spirit, my thoughts on this Psalm;
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Even when I wasn't asking, the Lord heard my cry from my spirit.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
I appreciate His love and care for me so much, I will serve Him until I die, then serve Him forever
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
I remember crying; "Why am I here? Why am I so dissatisfied with life? What is the answer?"
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!"
I remember this. I clearly remember asking for His presence in my life... 1979...
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
How could He hear me? I was not worthy? Really not worthy!!
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
He protected me, continues to protect me. I was meant to be in Him for eternity.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Never have I been more at rest and peace. I am free on this earth to serve Him and will for eternity.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Many times! I do weep now, for joy. I have given up stumbling. He guides and strengthens me to walk.
10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
It was so evident that I was far from Him and I was a mess when I discovered His majesty.
11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."
This is so true and I was the worst. Still; all men and women are liars.
12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
I can't, but His call is to "Follow me."
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
Salvation.... the answer to life. Thank you, Father, God!!!!
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
My vows are to love Him and my neighbor as myself and believe in Jesus Christ His Son.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Death to myself. Life in Him.
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
The chains of eternal death. The chains of slavery to the world of lies here on earth. Free indeed!!
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
Everyday. You are real, Father. Your Spirit is guiding, counseling, protecting, reminding. Thanks!
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
I will believe. I will profess. I will testify. I will encourage others. I will speak of God's reign as King of the universe.
Find Him!!
I love you;
Bill/Dad
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
Even when I wasn't asking, the Lord heard my cry from my spirit.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
I appreciate His love and care for me so much, I will serve Him until I die, then serve Him forever
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
I remember crying; "Why am I here? Why am I so dissatisfied with life? What is the answer?"
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD : "O LORD, save me!"
I remember this. I clearly remember asking for His presence in my life... 1979...
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
How could He hear me? I was not worthy? Really not worthy!!
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
He protected me, continues to protect me. I was meant to be in Him for eternity.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Never have I been more at rest and peace. I am free on this earth to serve Him and will for eternity.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Many times! I do weep now, for joy. I have given up stumbling. He guides and strengthens me to walk.
10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
It was so evident that I was far from Him and I was a mess when I discovered His majesty.
11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."
This is so true and I was the worst. Still; all men and women are liars.
12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
I can't, but His call is to "Follow me."
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
Salvation.... the answer to life. Thank you, Father, God!!!!
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
My vows are to love Him and my neighbor as myself and believe in Jesus Christ His Son.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Death to myself. Life in Him.
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
The chains of eternal death. The chains of slavery to the world of lies here on earth. Free indeed!!
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
Everyday. You are real, Father. Your Spirit is guiding, counseling, protecting, reminding. Thanks!
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
I will believe. I will profess. I will testify. I will encourage others. I will speak of God's reign as King of the universe.
Find Him!!
I love you;
Bill/Dad
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
REAL FREEDOM.. Indeed
We hear so much about Freedom these days and have for a number of years. The definition is presented something like this; "I am free to do anything that I want to do and no one can judge me for that." Well, freedom as understood by our Founding Fathers was based upon the following;
Galatians 5
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Life by the Spirit
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
So, according to God, we are free to obey Him by living in the Spirit and practicing self-control or we are free not to obey Him and live anyway we want to. Hmmm, what are the consequences?
Slavery to the World.... ask me, I'll tell ya!
Love you...
Bill/Dad
Galatians 5
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Life by the Spirit
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
So, according to God, we are free to obey Him by living in the Spirit and practicing self-control or we are free not to obey Him and live anyway we want to. Hmmm, what are the consequences?
Slavery to the World.... ask me, I'll tell ya!
Love you...
Bill/Dad
Monday, August 2, 2010
When Others Disappoint You
When Others Disappoint You
By Os Hillman
August 2
"Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica" (2 Tim 4:9-10).
Adversity molded the apostle Paul into the greatest warrior for Christ the world has ever known. But there were times when adversity and disappointment took its toll on this rugged warrior. We can sense Paul's hurt and discouragement near the end of his second letter to Timothy:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica... At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me... Do your best to get here before winter (4:9-11,14,16,21).
Do you hear the pain in those words? Twice he urges Timothy to come to him. Do you feel his anguish when he twice speaks of being deserted by his friends?
In most of his letters, Paul seems to have an invincible spirit. Yet he was a man who suffered, felt betrayed, and was at times very lonely.
However, Paul chose to look at life from a heavenly perspective. That's why he could write:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Cor. 4:8-10).
Paul had experienced a level of opposition and suffering that you and I can scarcely imagine. People said they would do things but did not follow through. He could not depend on certain people. Yet he was not crushed, and he refused to give in to despair. He viewed his life as a continual process of dying. His goal was to live in such a way that the life of Jesus would be revealed in his response to adversity.
Beware of placing too much expectation on others. Realize that people will let you down from time to time, but do not let that impact your faith. Trust God to work even through these disappointments.
Contact Os Hillman at http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/
By Os Hillman
August 2
"Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica" (2 Tim 4:9-10).
Adversity molded the apostle Paul into the greatest warrior for Christ the world has ever known. But there were times when adversity and disappointment took its toll on this rugged warrior. We can sense Paul's hurt and discouragement near the end of his second letter to Timothy:
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica... At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me... Do your best to get here before winter (4:9-11,14,16,21).
Do you hear the pain in those words? Twice he urges Timothy to come to him. Do you feel his anguish when he twice speaks of being deserted by his friends?
In most of his letters, Paul seems to have an invincible spirit. Yet he was a man who suffered, felt betrayed, and was at times very lonely.
However, Paul chose to look at life from a heavenly perspective. That's why he could write:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Cor. 4:8-10).
Paul had experienced a level of opposition and suffering that you and I can scarcely imagine. People said they would do things but did not follow through. He could not depend on certain people. Yet he was not crushed, and he refused to give in to despair. He viewed his life as a continual process of dying. His goal was to live in such a way that the life of Jesus would be revealed in his response to adversity.
Beware of placing too much expectation on others. Realize that people will let you down from time to time, but do not let that impact your faith. Trust God to work even through these disappointments.
Contact Os Hillman at http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Facebook Conversation with a Younger Relative
I was blessed, yesterday, to have a FaceBook conversation with a younger relative of mine and it went like this;
From him; its funny how some of the biggest bible thumpers are the biggest hypocrites. Live for you and the ones you love. respect love and nuture each other because we should.
From me; I know of the hypocrites you speak. It is I and I admit it.
But, throughout the time of growing into a man, I have had no other solution to the question of why we are here than that which came from Job after his long struggles, his response to his friends in Job 28:28; 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' " and in Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." and in Micah 6:8-9 'And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom...'
So, believing that God exists and is wisdom, that is the beginning of knowledge.
I could wallow in my hypocracy, but, God has provided the following; 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 'So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Additionally, he has provided us with a way of escape from this world in which we live. It is a wonderful understanding of life in this world and the life that Christ has rescued us from; 2 Peter 1:3-10 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'
I, in myself, am a disgusting, selfish hypocrite. But, believing in the fact that God is real and is true wisdom as well as understanding that, in His mercy, He has provided me with a way of escape from my own evil desires, I accept God's grace, believe in His Son, Jesus Christ and obey him when he says that the greatest commandment is this; 'Love God with all of your heart mind soul and strength and this is the same, love you neighbor as yourself.'
I was a hypocrite. You saw the hypocrisy, but you missed the conviction, repentance, salvation and mercy of God.
BTW, because of my respect and love for Him, my family and you, I no longer do those things....
I pray you will forgive me...
I love you.
His response; Wow, I was just making a general statement because of all I see, and hear in the world. I do agree that one must be a good person, do good on to others and good will be done to them, but I do this because I feel it it right regardless of a god. I guess I just don't have faith in one being. There are so many "Religions" with all their own beliefs and convictions that its hard to see who is right. If u will kill for your religion what kind of person are you when god tells you to be patient and kind. These are all generalizations. I feel what ever give you hope, believe in it. Whatever you feel give you redemption for the wrongs done in life, believe in. Whatever makes you feel like your debts have been forgiven, believe in! I just believe in what makes me feel that way and I choose not to follow organized religion, or a book written by men claiming to speak for a god. I'm not condeming it I just choose to believe something different.
I am happy for you ______, I'm glad you have found a new path in life and have committed yourself to it. It is a process we all must go through and a lesson we all must learn. Finding our own paths and making our own mistakes is all part of the journey as long as we learn from it.
My response; Well, there's alot of stuff in your email, but, suffice it to say, "Would you want your friends to go down the path that they think is right if it was leading to death, forever?"
I find that most folks, including myself, think that whatever you believe is ok as long as you believe it and are sincere. Well, if I believed that I would be ok if I jumped off of a thirty story building, would I be ok?
I highly recommend reading something that will allow us the chance to understand what the Bible really says about life as opposed to our remembering what said to us in Sunday School as a toddler and adding all that we have experienced in the world to that youngster-type understanding.
Please, take the time to read the following book; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1&version=NIV all the way through chapter 21 and get back with me relative to your understanding of life then.
Come on, do it for yourself and for your ole Uncle Billy…
Lemme know…
Love you…
His response; Ultimate question for you, which religion is right? They all believe they are, so much so that they kill for it, even christians! Where is the love, caring and civility in that? Man has corrupted religion to fit their needs.
My response; You're right that 'man has corrupted religion to fit their needs', that is why it's very important to read John as I asked you to.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3Djohn%2B1%26version%3DNIV&h=f22e9TjvQL8bOrsCaH25bn1kh7w
When you do that, you wil get the truth about what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ and Christianity or 'being a Christ follower'. The world has tarnished the truth about being a Christ follower. It is critical to read what the book of Christianity says about Christ. As I asked, read the book by clicking on the link and give it a chance, give it a chance as an adult. Read it, then express your opinion of what it says, not, necessarily what you think it says or what someone else says is says. I recommend you pray before beginning, something like this; "God, I don't even believe in you right now, but, my Uncle Billy asked me to read this and out of respect for him and with curiosity, I ask you to help me understand what I will be reading. Again, I don't really believe in you, but, I am willing to check it out to see what I can see in it. Please help me if you would.
Thanks... DO IT, my friend...
From him; its funny how some of the biggest bible thumpers are the biggest hypocrites. Live for you and the ones you love. respect love and nuture each other because we should.
From me; I know of the hypocrites you speak. It is I and I admit it.
But, throughout the time of growing into a man, I have had no other solution to the question of why we are here than that which came from Job after his long struggles, his response to his friends in Job 28:28; 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' " and in Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." and in Micah 6:8-9 'And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom...'
So, believing that God exists and is wisdom, that is the beginning of knowledge.
I could wallow in my hypocracy, but, God has provided the following; 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 'So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Additionally, he has provided us with a way of escape from this world in which we live. It is a wonderful understanding of life in this world and the life that Christ has rescued us from; 2 Peter 1:3-10 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'
I, in myself, am a disgusting, selfish hypocrite. But, believing in the fact that God is real and is true wisdom as well as understanding that, in His mercy, He has provided me with a way of escape from my own evil desires, I accept God's grace, believe in His Son, Jesus Christ and obey him when he says that the greatest commandment is this; 'Love God with all of your heart mind soul and strength and this is the same, love you neighbor as yourself.'
I was a hypocrite. You saw the hypocrisy, but you missed the conviction, repentance, salvation and mercy of God.
BTW, because of my respect and love for Him, my family and you, I no longer do those things....
I pray you will forgive me...
I love you.
His response; Wow, I was just making a general statement because of all I see, and hear in the world. I do agree that one must be a good person, do good on to others and good will be done to them, but I do this because I feel it it right regardless of a god. I guess I just don't have faith in one being. There are so many "Religions" with all their own beliefs and convictions that its hard to see who is right. If u will kill for your religion what kind of person are you when god tells you to be patient and kind. These are all generalizations. I feel what ever give you hope, believe in it. Whatever you feel give you redemption for the wrongs done in life, believe in. Whatever makes you feel like your debts have been forgiven, believe in! I just believe in what makes me feel that way and I choose not to follow organized religion, or a book written by men claiming to speak for a god. I'm not condeming it I just choose to believe something different.
I am happy for you ______, I'm glad you have found a new path in life and have committed yourself to it. It is a process we all must go through and a lesson we all must learn. Finding our own paths and making our own mistakes is all part of the journey as long as we learn from it.
My response; Well, there's alot of stuff in your email, but, suffice it to say, "Would you want your friends to go down the path that they think is right if it was leading to death, forever?"
I find that most folks, including myself, think that whatever you believe is ok as long as you believe it and are sincere. Well, if I believed that I would be ok if I jumped off of a thirty story building, would I be ok?
I highly recommend reading something that will allow us the chance to understand what the Bible really says about life as opposed to our remembering what said to us in Sunday School as a toddler and adding all that we have experienced in the world to that youngster-type understanding.
Please, take the time to read the following book; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1&version=NIV all the way through chapter 21 and get back with me relative to your understanding of life then.
Come on, do it for yourself and for your ole Uncle Billy…
Lemme know…
Love you…
His response; Ultimate question for you, which religion is right? They all believe they are, so much so that they kill for it, even christians! Where is the love, caring and civility in that? Man has corrupted religion to fit their needs.
My response; You're right that 'man has corrupted religion to fit their needs', that is why it's very important to read John as I asked you to.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3Djohn%2B1%26version%3DNIV&h=f22e9TjvQL8bOrsCaH25bn1kh7w
When you do that, you wil get the truth about what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ and Christianity or 'being a Christ follower'. The world has tarnished the truth about being a Christ follower. It is critical to read what the book of Christianity says about Christ. As I asked, read the book by clicking on the link and give it a chance, give it a chance as an adult. Read it, then express your opinion of what it says, not, necessarily what you think it says or what someone else says is says. I recommend you pray before beginning, something like this; "God, I don't even believe in you right now, but, my Uncle Billy asked me to read this and out of respect for him and with curiosity, I ask you to help me understand what I will be reading. Again, I don't really believe in you, but, I am willing to check it out to see what I can see in it. Please help me if you would.
Thanks... DO IT, my friend...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Commandments of Jesus
The Commandments of Jesus were recapped by Kris Myers @ New Vision Baptist;
John 14:15: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
1. Repent and Believe the gospel (Mark 1:15)
2. Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)
3. Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22)
4. Love God and you neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40)/Your fellow disciples (John 13:34-35)/The needy Luke
12:33)/Your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)
5. Break bread (Luke 22:19)
6. Pray (Matthew 6:9-12)
7. Give (Luke 6:38)
8. Make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)
Acts 2:36-47: “From the beginning, the disciples loved Jesus and simply obeyed His commands.
Proverbs 2 Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
John 14:15: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
1. Repent and Believe the gospel (Mark 1:15)
2. Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)
3. Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22)
4. Love God and you neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40)/Your fellow disciples (John 13:34-35)/The needy Luke
12:33)/Your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)
5. Break bread (Luke 22:19)
6. Pray (Matthew 6:9-12)
7. Give (Luke 6:38)
8. Make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)
Acts 2:36-47: “From the beginning, the disciples loved Jesus and simply obeyed His commands.
Proverbs 2 Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ministry in the Marketplace…..
Ministry in the Marketplace…..
Let your work be unto the Lord
Colossians 3:22-24 (New International Version)
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
This is the verse that most ‘ministry in the marketplace’ organizations, talks, discussions, etc. refer to. I agree wholeheartedly with the verse and believe that it is, certainly, a reflection of our Christian maturity by ‘work(ing) for the Lord, not for men’.
And this is right, don’t you all agree?
It is true and we all practice this, right?
Without fail right?
Or do we?
It is clearly a challenge as human beings to ‘give it our all’ for Christ at our workplace, because, frankly, we’re humans!! We’re frail, weak, overwhelmed with so many things to do, protective of our turf, jealous, prideful, difficult, afraid to lose our jobs or be thought ill of, well, we’re humans, right?
If we could only keep focused on ‘working for the Lord, not men’.
Why is it so difficult? Well, if we look at it, our faith lives are difficult, right? I mean, just trying to be a good Christian person in the face of the challenges thrown our way every day, it is very, very difficult to control ourselves, isn’t it, to keep the ‘will’ of the Lord prevalent in our thinking, words and actions.
But, we live a life of freedom and we make our own choices about how we spend our time.
How are we spending our time?
Are we growing in the knowledge of God?
Are we spending quality time with Him; in His Word, in prayer, in fellowship with other Believers?
What is the calling for Believers relative to their being “transformed by the renewing of their minds”? What do you think that means for us today as Christian marketplace leaders or just as growing-to- maturity Christians? Where is that found, does anyone know?
That’s right, it’s
Romans 12
Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We all have our own make-up, our own personality, our own backgrounds and culture, our own experiences, both good and bad. He has made us. He has allowed, no, orchestrated that we are who we are; “I knew you before you were in your mother’s womb”…
Psalm 139:12-14 (New International Version)
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
This makeup, culture, experience is what we are and…………… yet….
we are new in Christ. We are all together, now, to magnify our God through the indwelling of His Spirit. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
We have everything we need for life and godliness…… to participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
That is a sampling of what Peter tells us in …………..
2 Peter 1
1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It’s interesting that the title in the NIV for these passages in 2 Peter is “Making One's Calling and Election Sure”…. Have you ever heard of the verse; “Study to be approved”?
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Growing in the knowledge of God
Studying to be approved
Rightly dividing the word of truth
That WE may know the will of the Lord….
This is the true Marketplace Ministry as we accomplish, sojourn, mature and grow in sanctification in our own faith-lives. We become mature. We become sensitive to God’s Holy Spirit in our everyday lives, our relationships with our loved ones and our relationships at work and at play….
If we are ‘matured up’ (my new phrase), then we are ready for Marketplace Ministry!
When we’re growing in the knowledge of God there is an ‘Outpouring of His spirit’ into us that we may have an outpouring of our spirits in our lives.
What is God’s mission for us in accordance with Matthew 28:18-20?
Matthew 28
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
You see, this is the everyday mission of the Believer. It is in the growth of our personal faith lives that we are equipped to minister to our marketplace.
Now
I believe on top of all that I said, there is a movement of God within the marketplace in America.
There are numerous sources and ministries encouraging business people to equip themselves for ministry at their workplace.
To name a few;
The Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce (LEADS group every Thursday from 11 AM – 12:15 PM @ Sloans Motorocycle on Memorial.
Pass the Salt… uh, here each Wednesday…
C12 Groups
FCCI
Marketplace Leaders http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/#
I mean, just Google ‘ministry in marketplace’ and see what comes up.
But, I believe the bottom line is my maturity in my faith-life. Am I saturating myself in the word of God? Am I whole-heartedly seeking His face? Am I growing in the knowledge of God that I might know His good and perfect will? Am I giving my plans to Him that I might succeed?
Are YOU?
A dear brother in the Lord spoke of this at one of our Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce LEADS Meetings a couple of weeks ago and it seems appropriate here; it’s Proverbs 16 and the verse he shared was;
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
And I have pulled a few other verses in that Proverb that apply to our subject for today, I believe;
Proverbs 16
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Let’s pray!!!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wow, finally found it; the commands of Jesus
For years I have been perplexed, yet inspired, by the verse, John 14:15: “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Each time I read that I immediately have to run back through the areas of the Bible that I know of in order to rediscover what Jesus' commands 'actually' are. Well, thank you, Lord, for the preaching of Kris Myers @ New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. He nailed it (get it, bad joke) yesterday and made it forever available for me, and you, ........... the Commandments of Jesus;
1. Repent and Believe the gospel (Mark 1:15)
2. Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)
3. Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22)
4. Love God and you neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40)
a. Your fellow disciples (John 13:34-35)
b. The needy (Luke 12:33)
c. Your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)
5. Break bread (Luke 22:19)
6. Pray (Matthew 6:9-12)
7. Give (Luke 6:38)
8. Make disciples (Matthew 29:18-20)
Acts 2:36-47: “From the beginning, the disciples loved Jesus and simply obeyed His commands.
1. Repent and Believe the gospel (Mark 1:15)
2. Be Baptized (Mark 16:16)
3. Receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-22)
4. Love God and you neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40)
a. Your fellow disciples (John 13:34-35)
b. The needy (Luke 12:33)
c. Your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)
5. Break bread (Luke 22:19)
6. Pray (Matthew 6:9-12)
7. Give (Luke 6:38)
8. Make disciples (Matthew 29:18-20)
Acts 2:36-47: “From the beginning, the disciples loved Jesus and simply obeyed His commands.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Are You a Threat?
Are You a Threat?
June 10, 2003 • By Os Hillman
One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" - Acts 19:15
Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness? If satan and his demons had a board meeting and your name came before the board, what would they say? Would they say that you are one of their most feared enemies and they needed to keep many demons harassing and opposing you? Or would they say, "Gentlemen, this person poses no threat to our activities. Leave him alone. He needs no help from us." There are millions of church-going believers sitting in pews Sunday after Sunday who pose little threat to the kingdom of darkness.
If we truly believe that we war against rulers and principalities that cannot be seen, then we must realize that their mandate is to hinder any believer who is seeking to walk in the fullness of God. However, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4b KJV).
If you are seeking to fully follow the Lord, you can expect harassment from the enemy. God permits temptation because it drives us deeper into the soil of God. These times reveal God's power to keep us and walk us through the temptations. Our message becomes fruitful when it is born out of obedience and suffering for His name. Do not consider it strange if you find yourself fighting major battles the more obedient you become to the Master. God desires each of us to become a feared enemy of hell in order to affect satan's domain. When you begin to feel harassed, chances are you are beginning to affect the kingdom of darkness, and satan doesn't like this. So, how many demons do you think are assigned to you?
June 10, 2003 • By Os Hillman
One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" - Acts 19:15
Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness? If satan and his demons had a board meeting and your name came before the board, what would they say? Would they say that you are one of their most feared enemies and they needed to keep many demons harassing and opposing you? Or would they say, "Gentlemen, this person poses no threat to our activities. Leave him alone. He needs no help from us." There are millions of church-going believers sitting in pews Sunday after Sunday who pose little threat to the kingdom of darkness.
If we truly believe that we war against rulers and principalities that cannot be seen, then we must realize that their mandate is to hinder any believer who is seeking to walk in the fullness of God. However, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 Jn. 4:4b KJV).
If you are seeking to fully follow the Lord, you can expect harassment from the enemy. God permits temptation because it drives us deeper into the soil of God. These times reveal God's power to keep us and walk us through the temptations. Our message becomes fruitful when it is born out of obedience and suffering for His name. Do not consider it strange if you find yourself fighting major battles the more obedient you become to the Master. God desires each of us to become a feared enemy of hell in order to affect satan's domain. When you begin to feel harassed, chances are you are beginning to affect the kingdom of darkness, and satan doesn't like this. So, how many demons do you think are assigned to you?
Sunday, May 30, 2010
From this day forward.
For Sunday School... I decided to focus upon……..Forgiveness….
This lesson is about ways husbands and wives can build a foundation for a growing marital relationship.
Many marriages are in trouble or languishing in co-existence without a growing relationship IN CHRIST and without true love.
Why is a foundation for a growing marital relationship so important?
Wait on it……………………..
There is a beautiful answer to this question on the last page of our study today;
Page 113
Husbands and wives can build a foundation for growing as a couple through their common commitment to Christ.
You see, as we all know or should know…. This married life is not about me or my wife or us as a couple or our children, alone; It is about our individual and corporate commitment to Christ!!
Is there intimacy with Christ in your life? If so, why?
Wait…..
If not, why not?
Wait…….
Is there intimacy with your spouse? If so, why?
Wait….
If not, why not?
Wait……
Why, in many marriages, is there a lack of intimacy?????
Wait……
We know that marriages are God’s plan for most of us in this room. If you are not married, hopefully this lesson will allow you to see how these truths apply to your close relationships, because that is what I believe we’re talking about; the closest relationship we can have on earth, as I have previously spoken about.
God’s plan is for us to be married; “and for this reason a man shall leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife. And the two shall become one flesh.” Paul went on to say in ……………..
Ephesians 5:31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Christ and the church, he said……….. hmmmmm, he relates our marriages to the same relationship that Christ has with the church.
So, it begins with God and Christ, right?
Wait….
Ephesians 5: 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy,
Right? It’s about Christ and the church. It’s about Christ in us and the mystery of being joined or cleaved together as one flesh; one person, spiritually and physically.
Are we IN Christ? Yes, indeed, if we believe in Him and …
What has happened to us as we are IN Christ? I came across this verse this week and it stunned me, it shook me and it made me focus for two days upon the truths thereof;
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
30 It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[d]
Pray with me….
Merciful Father… you have allowed Jesus Christ to become WISDOM for us. He is our RIGHTEOUSNESS, our HOLINESS and our REDEMPTION and because of Him we can stand before your throne and worship and act as your stewards and call upon your power and fulfill your will by loving you and our neighbors as ourselves. Praise you…..
So, our primary focus, our primary relationship as men and women is…………………… what?
Our relationship with CHRIST!
Our secondary relationship is with whom?
Our spouse!!
If our relationship with Christ is off kilter, what do you think our relationship with our spouse will be?
Off kilter? Hmmmm.
So total focus on our relationship with Christ, worship, obedience and growing in the knowledge of God are the primary focus of each of us in order for us to be equipped to maintain a similar relationship with our spouse.
Do you remember the great commandment? Love God and others as ourselves… who is that primary OTHER? Our spouse!
"In marriage, there is to be mutual submission where a woman yields to the leadership of a man who denies himself in order to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. What a mystery this is! He is still the leader, but he submits his life to his mate.” (Why You Need the Spirit (Part Two) Ephesians 5:21
And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, the FamilyLife® Website)
Ok, so is there trouble in the house? Is there difficulty in that relationship? Don’t answer, but, think, right now. What is going on in that relationship? Is there a blockage, a hindrance to the fulfillment of a rich, vibrant, fulfilling and intimate relationship in your marriage?
If so……………. What are we to do?
Wait on it
1. We’re to get into a vibrant growth relationship with God by rededicating our lives to growing in the knowledge of God; read his word, focus on a study, go to a small group, but, get back to Him.
2. Identify the obstacle, and go through what I believe we’ll see as the formula for making things right…
Please, someone read Psalm 51:1-5
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
And continue, Psalm 51:6-10 someone please read…
Psalm 51:6-10
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ; you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Someone please tell us the story of why David was praying in this fashion. What happened?
Wait on it………….
The lesson tells us that “David had a weak moment.”
David was not where he should have been; at the battlefront, leading his people. He was lounging around Jerusalem where his evil desires took ahold of him.
There’s a great question in here, under Q2 page 107; “Many wrong things we do in life we think we can get away with because no one noticed, but what does it take for God not to notice our sin?”
Wait on it……………….
I wrote……….. NOT DO IT!
But what if we did do it? Does God notice?
Does your spouse know?
Even if your spouse does not know, does he/she know?
Of course, because the intimacy is damaged….
What is the example/message given to us in Psalm 51?
Nathan brought David’s sin to light
David recognized the sin and repented.
David prayed to God to forgive and to restore him, and, later,
inspired by God, wrote Psalm 51, which reflected his prayer of repentance.
What about us?
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin? Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
I believe, and forgive me if I’m wrong, but, I believe that there is a huge elephant in every room of Believers and that elephant is;
Are we really AUTHENTIC?
Are we really surrendered to Christ? Have we been convicted of our lack of authenticity with God, but just playing the Christian game?
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
I am broken!!! I have been fixed by the mercy of God through redemption in Christ. I still need to die all day long to the humility of being a child of God living in a world of sinfulness. I am sinful. I am heinous in many of the thoughts, words and actions I allow to invade my personal life. But, I am not a slave to sin any longer. I am a slave to the King of the universe, Christ Jesus, my Lord.
In my private life and devotion, God brings my sin to light
I recognize the sin and repent.
I pray to God to forgive and to restore me and my life reflects a life of repentance.
How about YOU?
Without this recognition of sinfulness, without this pulling on our hearts that we are in-authentic and not sold out to God… there is no repentance. There is no righteousness. There is no power. There is no fulfillment of God’s purposes for our lives.
Get authentic and right………….. right now!!
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
Can I get a witness?
So, how does that relate to our relationship with our spouses?
Go to Page 108 and I will read starting in the middle;
“To God the thoughts of the heart are as visible as the body and he looks for integrity in the inner self. David described conviction from God as the teaching of wisdom deep within. Repentance comes when we can see ourselves from God’s perspective, when through His spirit’s witness to our hearts we interpret our thoughts and deeds in light of God’s standard.
Confession means to agree with God, to cease self-justification or the making of excuses and to admit our own fault. This means that our hearts have been enlightened by God and we see clearly where we had previously been deceived by our lusts and the Devil.”
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
Getting right with God allows us to get right with our spouses. The model God gives us in Psalm 51 is a model for our closest relationships; our spouses.
Now that each of us is right with God, let’s look at the dynamics of forgiveness as outlined in our lesson on page 109.
David talks about a cleansing of his heart. “In this regard the heart implies the center of moral character.”
“God is willing to forgive and restore the believer who repents. On the basis of God’s forgiveness, husbands and wives need to be willing to forgive one another. Forgiving another means to let go of the anger and bitterness in our hearts. As followers of Christ we are commanded to forgive and to hold on to grievances does significant harm to our own hearts and lives. Restoration is another matter, and is not always possible, especially when the offending party has not repented. However, when situations are placed in God’s hands, He does amazing things.”
The book talks about Little Foxes identified to us in the Song of Solomon 2:15;
“Catch the foxes for us – the little foxes that ruin the vineyards – for our vineyards are in bloom.”
The little foxes are explained to be the ‘small problems that gnaw at the root of the couple’s love.”
It goes on to say that “Vigilance is necessary for the maintenance of a healthy marriage relationship. The little problems that inevitably show up in every marriage must be dealt with before they can do serious damage to the relationship.”
What steps will you commit to take this week to improve your service as a couple to God?
This lesson is about ways husbands and wives can build a foundation for a growing marital relationship.
Many marriages are in trouble or languishing in co-existence without a growing relationship IN CHRIST and without true love.
Why is a foundation for a growing marital relationship so important?
Wait on it……………………..
There is a beautiful answer to this question on the last page of our study today;
Page 113
Husbands and wives can build a foundation for growing as a couple through their common commitment to Christ.
You see, as we all know or should know…. This married life is not about me or my wife or us as a couple or our children, alone; It is about our individual and corporate commitment to Christ!!
Is there intimacy with Christ in your life? If so, why?
Wait…..
If not, why not?
Wait…….
Is there intimacy with your spouse? If so, why?
Wait….
If not, why not?
Wait……
Why, in many marriages, is there a lack of intimacy?????
Wait……
We know that marriages are God’s plan for most of us in this room. If you are not married, hopefully this lesson will allow you to see how these truths apply to your close relationships, because that is what I believe we’re talking about; the closest relationship we can have on earth, as I have previously spoken about.
God’s plan is for us to be married; “and for this reason a man shall leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife. And the two shall become one flesh.” Paul went on to say in ……………..
Ephesians 5:31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Christ and the church, he said……….. hmmmmm, he relates our marriages to the same relationship that Christ has with the church.
So, it begins with God and Christ, right?
Wait….
Ephesians 5: 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy,
Right? It’s about Christ and the church. It’s about Christ in us and the mystery of being joined or cleaved together as one flesh; one person, spiritually and physically.
Are we IN Christ? Yes, indeed, if we believe in Him and …
What has happened to us as we are IN Christ? I came across this verse this week and it stunned me, it shook me and it made me focus for two days upon the truths thereof;
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
30 It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[d]
Pray with me….
Merciful Father… you have allowed Jesus Christ to become WISDOM for us. He is our RIGHTEOUSNESS, our HOLINESS and our REDEMPTION and because of Him we can stand before your throne and worship and act as your stewards and call upon your power and fulfill your will by loving you and our neighbors as ourselves. Praise you…..
So, our primary focus, our primary relationship as men and women is…………………… what?
Our relationship with CHRIST!
Our secondary relationship is with whom?
Our spouse!!
If our relationship with Christ is off kilter, what do you think our relationship with our spouse will be?
Off kilter? Hmmmm.
So total focus on our relationship with Christ, worship, obedience and growing in the knowledge of God are the primary focus of each of us in order for us to be equipped to maintain a similar relationship with our spouse.
Do you remember the great commandment? Love God and others as ourselves… who is that primary OTHER? Our spouse!
"In marriage, there is to be mutual submission where a woman yields to the leadership of a man who denies himself in order to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. What a mystery this is! He is still the leader, but he submits his life to his mate.” (Why You Need the Spirit (Part Two) Ephesians 5:21
And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, the FamilyLife® Website)
Ok, so is there trouble in the house? Is there difficulty in that relationship? Don’t answer, but, think, right now. What is going on in that relationship? Is there a blockage, a hindrance to the fulfillment of a rich, vibrant, fulfilling and intimate relationship in your marriage?
If so……………. What are we to do?
Wait on it
1. We’re to get into a vibrant growth relationship with God by rededicating our lives to growing in the knowledge of God; read his word, focus on a study, go to a small group, but, get back to Him.
2. Identify the obstacle, and go through what I believe we’ll see as the formula for making things right…
Please, someone read Psalm 51:1-5
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
And continue, Psalm 51:6-10 someone please read…
Psalm 51:6-10
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ; you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Someone please tell us the story of why David was praying in this fashion. What happened?
Wait on it………….
The lesson tells us that “David had a weak moment.”
David was not where he should have been; at the battlefront, leading his people. He was lounging around Jerusalem where his evil desires took ahold of him.
There’s a great question in here, under Q2 page 107; “Many wrong things we do in life we think we can get away with because no one noticed, but what does it take for God not to notice our sin?”
Wait on it……………….
I wrote……….. NOT DO IT!
But what if we did do it? Does God notice?
Does your spouse know?
Even if your spouse does not know, does he/she know?
Of course, because the intimacy is damaged….
What is the example/message given to us in Psalm 51?
Nathan brought David’s sin to light
David recognized the sin and repented.
David prayed to God to forgive and to restore him, and, later,
inspired by God, wrote Psalm 51, which reflected his prayer of repentance.
What about us?
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin? Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
I believe, and forgive me if I’m wrong, but, I believe that there is a huge elephant in every room of Believers and that elephant is;
Are we really AUTHENTIC?
Are we really surrendered to Christ? Have we been convicted of our lack of authenticity with God, but just playing the Christian game?
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
I am broken!!! I have been fixed by the mercy of God through redemption in Christ. I still need to die all day long to the humility of being a child of God living in a world of sinfulness. I am sinful. I am heinous in many of the thoughts, words and actions I allow to invade my personal life. But, I am not a slave to sin any longer. I am a slave to the King of the universe, Christ Jesus, my Lord.
In my private life and devotion, God brings my sin to light
I recognize the sin and repent.
I pray to God to forgive and to restore me and my life reflects a life of repentance.
How about YOU?
Without this recognition of sinfulness, without this pulling on our hearts that we are in-authentic and not sold out to God… there is no repentance. There is no righteousness. There is no power. There is no fulfillment of God’s purposes for our lives.
Get authentic and right………….. right now!!
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
Can I get a witness?
So, how does that relate to our relationship with our spouses?
Go to Page 108 and I will read starting in the middle;
“To God the thoughts of the heart are as visible as the body and he looks for integrity in the inner self. David described conviction from God as the teaching of wisdom deep within. Repentance comes when we can see ourselves from God’s perspective, when through His spirit’s witness to our hearts we interpret our thoughts and deeds in light of God’s standard.
Confession means to agree with God, to cease self-justification or the making of excuses and to admit our own fault. This means that our hearts have been enlightened by God and we see clearly where we had previously been deceived by our lusts and the Devil.”
What about YOU…………… is your relationship with God, damaged because of sin?
Who can reveal it to you?
Will you repent?
Right NOW?
Wait on it………………………………….
Getting right with God allows us to get right with our spouses. The model God gives us in Psalm 51 is a model for our closest relationships; our spouses.
Now that each of us is right with God, let’s look at the dynamics of forgiveness as outlined in our lesson on page 109.
David talks about a cleansing of his heart. “In this regard the heart implies the center of moral character.”
“God is willing to forgive and restore the believer who repents. On the basis of God’s forgiveness, husbands and wives need to be willing to forgive one another. Forgiving another means to let go of the anger and bitterness in our hearts. As followers of Christ we are commanded to forgive and to hold on to grievances does significant harm to our own hearts and lives. Restoration is another matter, and is not always possible, especially when the offending party has not repented. However, when situations are placed in God’s hands, He does amazing things.”
The book talks about Little Foxes identified to us in the Song of Solomon 2:15;
“Catch the foxes for us – the little foxes that ruin the vineyards – for our vineyards are in bloom.”
The little foxes are explained to be the ‘small problems that gnaw at the root of the couple’s love.”
It goes on to say that “Vigilance is necessary for the maintenance of a healthy marriage relationship. The little problems that inevitably show up in every marriage must be dealt with before they can do serious damage to the relationship.”
What steps will you commit to take this week to improve your service as a couple to God?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A sea of unbelief
Father, praise you. I have been so concerned with the budget, etc. I have been anxious and nervous, but, you have been reassuring me. You have been guiding and comforting me. Thank you. This life you give us is very, very alive in your spirit. Thank you. Forgive me for my doubt and anxiety, Father….. but if you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives generously without finding fault and he will give it to you. But, when you ask, you must believe, because the man who does not believe is like a wave tossed to and fro on the ocean. That man should not expect anything, he is double minded and unstable in all he does.
James 1:4-6
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
We are in a sea of unbelief!! I know that I am. I read and read the scriptures. I take time to pray and find myself in His presence on a more consistent basis, but, I worry about my circumstances: That contract was just cancelled. That creditor just called again and I promise to pay, but, will I be able to? I need new tires on the car. Will it hold out and not strand my family along the highway some night, somewhere where they’ll be in danger? I believe you, Lord, help my unbelief. And, on Sunday; I know I am to give 10%. It is in my heart to give based upon what I believe, what the Holy Spirit is telling me and I joyfully want to give………… but, does my budget support that? I’m blatantly giving an amount that is …………….. a lot of money when we haven’t paid the tax bill just yet and I don’t know if we will be able to at the end of the month. And if I do pay it at the end of the month, will I have enough for the next month without going further and further into debt? Oh, wretched man that I am, who can save me from this body of death…………………. Thanks be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
During the tithe collection on Sunday, I asked my wife to make the check out. How much, she said… hold on, I said…. I’m praying.. I’m praying.. I’m wrestling in my body and mind; “how much did I put in the budget? Oh, yeah, was it $200? No, I believe it was $384. Yeah, that’s right. I was making it up from last month and the first part of this month because I ignored the tithe when doing this ‘skimpy’ budget for May”. I remember my thoughts when doing it…. ‘you know, you have not given the tithe. You postponed it. You put it forward to the end of April, then to the end of May and it had grown to $1,000. Gee, that’s a lot of money and it could pay a lot of the bills due. I wonder if God would mind if we don’t give this time, but, skip a month and use it to pay off some lingering bills?” “No,” I remember telling myself, “I am cheating God. He is the author of our lives. He is the one that gives us the income/salary that we have ‘already’ received and I have not given the first fruits. I know what my heart is telling me. Give to the Lord … first. I wrestle and wrestle and….” Now it’s Sunday morning and my wife is waiting as the plate gets closer and closer… “alright, it’s $384, Honey.” Back to prayer as the plate is right there…. In my mind; “Stop, no, wait, don’t put it in, Honey.” “What should I do? Oh, my goodness, what should I do?” I hear the words of the pastor. I can’t recall exactly what the words were, but, he was encouraging the congregation to honor the Lord, or words to that effect, to give back to Him, or something like that. It validated and reassured me that it was His money. It was His provision for us and He calls us to faith in Him. This $384 was exhibiting faith in Him!!! He was the one that ensured the contracts were signed, the bills were paid, the food was on the table, the tires would hold out and my family kept SAFE!!
“Yes, give the $384! Yes, honor Him for all He has done! Yes, He is faithful and will provide for our needs… “
I pray with my daughter the next morning for Him to help provide for our needs. I get a call @ about 2 PM that day…. “Bill, would you want to do a tournament in Johnson City?” YES!!! No check, yet, but, He is able…………………….
Philippians 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen
James 1:4-6
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
We are in a sea of unbelief!! I know that I am. I read and read the scriptures. I take time to pray and find myself in His presence on a more consistent basis, but, I worry about my circumstances: That contract was just cancelled. That creditor just called again and I promise to pay, but, will I be able to? I need new tires on the car. Will it hold out and not strand my family along the highway some night, somewhere where they’ll be in danger? I believe you, Lord, help my unbelief. And, on Sunday; I know I am to give 10%. It is in my heart to give based upon what I believe, what the Holy Spirit is telling me and I joyfully want to give………… but, does my budget support that? I’m blatantly giving an amount that is …………….. a lot of money when we haven’t paid the tax bill just yet and I don’t know if we will be able to at the end of the month. And if I do pay it at the end of the month, will I have enough for the next month without going further and further into debt? Oh, wretched man that I am, who can save me from this body of death…………………. Thanks be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
During the tithe collection on Sunday, I asked my wife to make the check out. How much, she said… hold on, I said…. I’m praying.. I’m praying.. I’m wrestling in my body and mind; “how much did I put in the budget? Oh, yeah, was it $200? No, I believe it was $384. Yeah, that’s right. I was making it up from last month and the first part of this month because I ignored the tithe when doing this ‘skimpy’ budget for May”. I remember my thoughts when doing it…. ‘you know, you have not given the tithe. You postponed it. You put it forward to the end of April, then to the end of May and it had grown to $1,000. Gee, that’s a lot of money and it could pay a lot of the bills due. I wonder if God would mind if we don’t give this time, but, skip a month and use it to pay off some lingering bills?” “No,” I remember telling myself, “I am cheating God. He is the author of our lives. He is the one that gives us the income/salary that we have ‘already’ received and I have not given the first fruits. I know what my heart is telling me. Give to the Lord … first. I wrestle and wrestle and….” Now it’s Sunday morning and my wife is waiting as the plate gets closer and closer… “alright, it’s $384, Honey.” Back to prayer as the plate is right there…. In my mind; “Stop, no, wait, don’t put it in, Honey.” “What should I do? Oh, my goodness, what should I do?” I hear the words of the pastor. I can’t recall exactly what the words were, but, he was encouraging the congregation to honor the Lord, or words to that effect, to give back to Him, or something like that. It validated and reassured me that it was His money. It was His provision for us and He calls us to faith in Him. This $384 was exhibiting faith in Him!!! He was the one that ensured the contracts were signed, the bills were paid, the food was on the table, the tires would hold out and my family kept SAFE!!
“Yes, give the $384! Yes, honor Him for all He has done! Yes, He is faithful and will provide for our needs… “
I pray with my daughter the next morning for Him to help provide for our needs. I get a call @ about 2 PM that day…. “Bill, would you want to do a tournament in Johnson City?” YES!!! No check, yet, but, He is able…………………….
Philippians 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Do you not know, have you not heard?
I woke this AM and as I was about to sit to do my devotional, the phrase above kept going through my head.... "Do you not know, have you not heard?" I mean, I'm pretty sure that phrase is in the Bible and I believe it is a statement somewhere which applies to the heralding of God and his Kingdom, but, why is it in my head?
I go to BibleGateway.com and put in the phrase "not know, heard" and up comes Isaiah 40:21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
and
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
and it continues....
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
As a seasoned Believer, it is difficult to harken back to when I did not believe. But, I can still remember, somewhat. Yet, I still ask the question in my head, many times; "How can we not recognize Him?" "How can we not acknowledge Him and His creation?" "Why do we deny and run away from His calling?"
It is so clear to me that God is real and living within us. He is the one that allows each of us to have, even, a glimpse of His eternity. It is He that is prompting us to love, to express compassion, to model good behavior. Where is God, many say.
He is here. Russ Lee wrote an incredible song, I believe it's titled; "God is here."
God is here, yeah!!
Love you...
Bill/Dad
I go to BibleGateway.com and put in the phrase "not know, heard" and up comes Isaiah 40:21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
and
Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
and it continues....
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
As a seasoned Believer, it is difficult to harken back to when I did not believe. But, I can still remember, somewhat. Yet, I still ask the question in my head, many times; "How can we not recognize Him?" "How can we not acknowledge Him and His creation?" "Why do we deny and run away from His calling?"
It is so clear to me that God is real and living within us. He is the one that allows each of us to have, even, a glimpse of His eternity. It is He that is prompting us to love, to express compassion, to model good behavior. Where is God, many say.
He is here. Russ Lee wrote an incredible song, I believe it's titled; "God is here."
God is here, yeah!!
Love you...
Bill/Dad
Friday, April 30, 2010
Joyful in all things.....
Ok, here we go, Father. I am joyful in all things, giving praises and thanksgiving for your glory, Father. I must trust in You. What happened?
Touched by Grace Ministry, chose another ‘candidate’ to conduct their golf tourney. I was shocked, quite honestly, but, not anywhere near as frustrated as I thought I would have been. Yes, surprised and disappointed, but, I thought of you and your will and your providence and your ‘all things happen to the good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.’
Romans 8:28 (New International Version)
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.
Once again to look at this verse…. ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him’. I LOVE Him, so I qualify. God is working for the good of those who love Him. ‘In all things’ God works for MY good. So, in my not getting the Touched by Grace Ministry golf tourney, God is working for my good. And ‘who have been called according to his purpose’. What is His purpose? That we would glorify Him. That we would love Him and our neighbors as ourselves. That we would believe in Jesus Christ and obey His commands. What are His commands?
1 John 3
23b because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
Again, and again, and again………… thank you. I love you and trust you and will obey you. Please strengthen my faith in you, enliven our ministry, protect our family, fulfill our financial commitments and secure our future for your purposes, for your glory, for your kingdom. Amen.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”- Philippians 2:5-8
Romans 7
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR, OUR PROPITIATOR….
Touched by Grace Ministry, chose another ‘candidate’ to conduct their golf tourney. I was shocked, quite honestly, but, not anywhere near as frustrated as I thought I would have been. Yes, surprised and disappointed, but, I thought of you and your will and your providence and your ‘all things happen to the good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes.’
Romans 8:28 (New International Version)
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose.
Once again to look at this verse…. ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him’. I LOVE Him, so I qualify. God is working for the good of those who love Him. ‘In all things’ God works for MY good. So, in my not getting the Touched by Grace Ministry golf tourney, God is working for my good. And ‘who have been called according to his purpose’. What is His purpose? That we would glorify Him. That we would love Him and our neighbors as ourselves. That we would believe in Jesus Christ and obey His commands. What are His commands?
1 John 3
23b because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
Again, and again, and again………… thank you. I love you and trust you and will obey you. Please strengthen my faith in you, enliven our ministry, protect our family, fulfill our financial commitments and secure our future for your purposes, for your glory, for your kingdom. Amen.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”- Philippians 2:5-8
Romans 7
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR, OUR PROPITIATOR….
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Gospel of the Kingdom, By Os Hillman
Now this is a truth.....
Love you, Bill/Dad
The Gospel of the Kingdom
April 11, 2004 • By Os Hillman
This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:5b-6
When Christ came to earth, He came to bring to mankind the gospel of the Kingdom. Over the centuries, the Church has tended to emphasize only a portion of the gospel. That portion is the gospel of salvation. However, Jesus came that we might have more than just salvation. He came to give us a whole new life that was accompanied by signs, wonders, and His Spirit living in us and revealing Himself to us daily. He came so that we might walk on this earth as He did. If our lives are not reflecting the same things as Jesus' did, we must ask why?
I have noticed three distinct types of workplace believers throughout my 24 years of walking with Christ. First, many of us come to Christ out of a need for salvation. Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives. We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him. It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a "Bless me, Lord" attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. Some never really go past this first stage.
The second stage is the crisis stage. A crisis takes place in our lives, and we are motivated to seek Christ with a whole heart. However, this motivation is not out of pure love for Christ; rather, it is motivated by the desire to get out of the pain of living. The motivation is to solve “the what” versus “the why” in my life at the time. This stage is best characterized as "Help me, Lord."
In the third stage we begin to experience the gospel of the Kingdom. It is the place where Jesus resided in His walk with His heavenly Father. It is the place of conviction. The number of people who live at this level are quite few, but these people are experiencing the reality of a walk with God that is foreign to all others. They are seeing daily occurrences of His involvement in their lives. They are motivated by a deep love for Him. They know Him. These people have an attitude characterized by these thoughts, "Have me, Lord; though He slay me, still will I trust Him."
Where are you today? Have you merely accepted His salvation to simply float along? Or do you seek Him with a whole heart only when a crisis occurs? His desire is for you and me to live a life of conviction, motivated by our love for Him and His love for us. This is where we will experience the gospel of the Kingdom.
Love you, Bill/Dad
The Gospel of the Kingdom
April 11, 2004 • By Os Hillman
This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. - 1 John 2:5b-6
When Christ came to earth, He came to bring to mankind the gospel of the Kingdom. Over the centuries, the Church has tended to emphasize only a portion of the gospel. That portion is the gospel of salvation. However, Jesus came that we might have more than just salvation. He came to give us a whole new life that was accompanied by signs, wonders, and His Spirit living in us and revealing Himself to us daily. He came so that we might walk on this earth as He did. If our lives are not reflecting the same things as Jesus' did, we must ask why?
I have noticed three distinct types of workplace believers throughout my 24 years of walking with Christ. First, many of us come to Christ out of a need for salvation. Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives. We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him. It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a "Bless me, Lord" attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. Some never really go past this first stage.
The second stage is the crisis stage. A crisis takes place in our lives, and we are motivated to seek Christ with a whole heart. However, this motivation is not out of pure love for Christ; rather, it is motivated by the desire to get out of the pain of living. The motivation is to solve “the what” versus “the why” in my life at the time. This stage is best characterized as "Help me, Lord."
In the third stage we begin to experience the gospel of the Kingdom. It is the place where Jesus resided in His walk with His heavenly Father. It is the place of conviction. The number of people who live at this level are quite few, but these people are experiencing the reality of a walk with God that is foreign to all others. They are seeing daily occurrences of His involvement in their lives. They are motivated by a deep love for Him. They know Him. These people have an attitude characterized by these thoughts, "Have me, Lord; though He slay me, still will I trust Him."
Where are you today? Have you merely accepted His salvation to simply float along? Or do you seek Him with a whole heart only when a crisis occurs? His desire is for you and me to live a life of conviction, motivated by our love for Him and His love for us. This is where we will experience the gospel of the Kingdom.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Bob McCook's New Perspective Outreach
Perspective
An Occasional Thought or Two from Bob McCook
April 12, 2010
Doing the Word
“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a man who built his house upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24 Amp.
Words are everywhere. We use them, read them, and weary of them. But what if they are God’s Words? Do we become weary of His Words? It seems that we do for so little action emanates from us, His people who hear and read His words. At least, that’s my perspective.
I’m sure that not seeing biblical action was no different in Jesus’ day for the very religious Pharisees rambled on with endless words but their lives seemed to give little evidence of God’s meaning and truth. Jesus, in the above verse, gives us the result of the man who did not act on wisdom and built his house on the sand, reflecting an easy way to get the job done but the house was washed away. It was not grounded on the Rock. This is us if we fail to do His word.
Maureen and I once attended a church where a visiting missionary challenged us to get out there into the community and share the Word and meet the needs in the name of Jesus. He said that we knew the Word but needed to act on it, share it with the lost and lonely. He said that we needed to be the ones who spoke on behalf of Jesus and not wait for others.
A couple of years later, this same missionary returned and was amazed that the congregation had not grown. He thought for sure that if all of us were obediently loving the lost and sharing the words of Jesus, we would certainly need to move to larger quarters.
The value in knowing the Word of God is not self-glorification. It is to glorify our Lord.
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me you faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18
What is your perspective? Let me know at bmccook@priorityone.org.
433 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382 484.614.0367
Ministering to men since 1982
Christ did not die simply that you might be saved from a bad conscience, or even to remove the stain of past failure, but to “clear the decks” for His divine activity through you.
The Indwelling Life of Christ, by Major W. Ian Thomas, p. 55
An Occasional Thought or Two from Bob McCook
April 12, 2010
Doing the Word
“So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a man who built his house upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24 Amp.
Words are everywhere. We use them, read them, and weary of them. But what if they are God’s Words? Do we become weary of His Words? It seems that we do for so little action emanates from us, His people who hear and read His words. At least, that’s my perspective.
I’m sure that not seeing biblical action was no different in Jesus’ day for the very religious Pharisees rambled on with endless words but their lives seemed to give little evidence of God’s meaning and truth. Jesus, in the above verse, gives us the result of the man who did not act on wisdom and built his house on the sand, reflecting an easy way to get the job done but the house was washed away. It was not grounded on the Rock. This is us if we fail to do His word.
Maureen and I once attended a church where a visiting missionary challenged us to get out there into the community and share the Word and meet the needs in the name of Jesus. He said that we knew the Word but needed to act on it, share it with the lost and lonely. He said that we needed to be the ones who spoke on behalf of Jesus and not wait for others.
A couple of years later, this same missionary returned and was amazed that the congregation had not grown. He thought for sure that if all of us were obediently loving the lost and sharing the words of Jesus, we would certainly need to move to larger quarters.
The value in knowing the Word of God is not self-glorification. It is to glorify our Lord.
“But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me you faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18
What is your perspective? Let me know at bmccook@priorityone.org.
433 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382 484.614.0367
Ministering to men since 1982
Christ did not die simply that you might be saved from a bad conscience, or even to remove the stain of past failure, but to “clear the decks” for His divine activity through you.
The Indwelling Life of Christ, by Major W. Ian Thomas, p. 55
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Easter Devo... sent 4/4/10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Wow... have you been paying attention? Have you been focusing on Him? This is the day that the world, that our destiny changed forever!
He is risen...................................
Today marks the beginning of the moment when you and I were given the clear opportunity to rise as well!!!
We are in our earthly bodies, but we are not restricted to those bodies and never will be again
He is risen.................................. and we will rise with him in the last day.
So what do we do now?
Hopefully you're doing it
We are to sojourn until He comes. What? Sojourn? The definition of sojourn is "a temporary stay". We are to act as if this is a temporary place in which we live.
He is risen................................. and He sits at the right hand of the Father from there He rules, now and forever. He is our King. He is our Counselor. He is our redemption. He is all in all.
He is risen........................ He is risen indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”- Matthew 28
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Be there.....
Love you!
Bill/Dad
Wow... have you been paying attention? Have you been focusing on Him? This is the day that the world, that our destiny changed forever!
He is risen...................................
Today marks the beginning of the moment when you and I were given the clear opportunity to rise as well!!!
We are in our earthly bodies, but we are not restricted to those bodies and never will be again
He is risen.................................. and we will rise with him in the last day.
So what do we do now?
Hopefully you're doing it
We are to sojourn until He comes. What? Sojourn? The definition of sojourn is "a temporary stay". We are to act as if this is a temporary place in which we live.
He is risen................................. and He sits at the right hand of the Father from there He rules, now and forever. He is our King. He is our Counselor. He is our redemption. He is all in all.
He is risen........................ He is risen indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”- Matthew 28
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Be there.....
Love you!
Bill/Dad
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Passion................
Um, lemme see.... ahhh, what is this week? I think there is some holiday this weekend. What is it?
Oh, yeah, it's Easter! Spring, new beginning, flowers, candy, new outfits.... ahhhh, nooooo!
We celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection this week!!! In my opinion and that of many millions of followers of Jesus Christ, Easter is the most cataclysmic event in the history of the world. This celebration, this week and this weekend is what God prophesied about in the beginning of our world.
Genesis 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Man and woman chose to disobey God in the garden of Eden. Eve says she was deceived, but she 'decided/chose' to disobey. Man said 'the woman... she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it..', but, he 'decided/chose' to eat it. They chose to disobey God. But this next verse is why we celebrate Easter;
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Way back in the Garden, God gave us a glimpse of what would happen on Easter. Satan thought and thinks that he can thwart God's plan for man. He connives and deceives and lies and confuses in order to get man to disobey God, to deny God, to 'choose', to walk away from God. Satan's later plan was to thwart Jesus as he walked towards his destiny; to be the living sacrifice for our disobedience.
Matthew 4:3-5 (read the whole chapter)
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you (Jesus) are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. (for the next round of temptation to give up his destiny as the Messiah, Redeemer, Lord.)
Jesus was crucified after Satan deceived the Jewish rulers and the Romans. It seemed that Satan had defeated Jesus (struck his heel), but Jesus' resurrection defeated Satan instead. Jesus was killed, but God raised him to sit on the throne at the right hand of God where he reigns even today and forever. So, Jesus 'crushed his (Satan's) head'.
And we are free to believe in Him, to worship Him, to serve Him because;
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5
Once again, the route of the problem of our America is that we DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
Take time to worship Him during this week and weekend.
Amen
Bill/Dad
Oh, yeah, it's Easter! Spring, new beginning, flowers, candy, new outfits.... ahhhh, nooooo!
We celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection this week!!! In my opinion and that of many millions of followers of Jesus Christ, Easter is the most cataclysmic event in the history of the world. This celebration, this week and this weekend is what God prophesied about in the beginning of our world.
Genesis 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
Man and woman chose to disobey God in the garden of Eden. Eve says she was deceived, but she 'decided/chose' to disobey. Man said 'the woman... she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it..', but, he 'decided/chose' to eat it. They chose to disobey God. But this next verse is why we celebrate Easter;
"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Way back in the Garden, God gave us a glimpse of what would happen on Easter. Satan thought and thinks that he can thwart God's plan for man. He connives and deceives and lies and confuses in order to get man to disobey God, to deny God, to 'choose', to walk away from God. Satan's later plan was to thwart Jesus as he walked towards his destiny; to be the living sacrifice for our disobedience.
Matthew 4:3-5 (read the whole chapter)
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you (Jesus) are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. (for the next round of temptation to give up his destiny as the Messiah, Redeemer, Lord.)
Jesus was crucified after Satan deceived the Jewish rulers and the Romans. It seemed that Satan had defeated Jesus (struck his heel), but Jesus' resurrection defeated Satan instead. Jesus was killed, but God raised him to sit on the throne at the right hand of God where he reigns even today and forever. So, Jesus 'crushed his (Satan's) head'.
And we are free to believe in Him, to worship Him, to serve Him because;
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5
Once again, the route of the problem of our America is that we DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
Take time to worship Him during this week and weekend.
Amen
Bill/Dad
Monday, March 29, 2010
Practice godliness... this is so appropriate to the intent of this Blog...
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Love you;
Bill/Dad
1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Love you;
Bill/Dad
Sunday, March 28, 2010
A day in the Life...
Lord, praise you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise you because all blessings flow from you…. We praise you; all of your creatures/creation here on earth. Praise you in heaven where you are and where Jesus Christ our savior is sitting on the throne of the Kingdom. Praise you, Father, Your Son and Your Holy Ghost………… Amen.
Oh, my. I was feelin’ your Spirit yesterday. As I drove through Murfreesboro, TN, delivering pizza (yup, a side job with Pizza Hut....), and as I socialized with my fellow 'team' members, my eyes and spirit were opened to the world as You might see it. It was truly amazing to see the people in their communities, to meet them at their doors, to have a smile and a glad comment; to look them in the eyes and truly express love, from You. I was floored by the conditions in which many of these people live and the imagined circumstances behind the environments they are in.
It brought me back to the conversation I had with my friend Rick in the morning, yesterday. Rick is the development director for a shelter in MA. He is a dear Christian brother of mine who has an incredible heart for the poor. He and I have been talking about discipleship, governance and our experiences in one-to-one ministry. He has discovered that, what, I believe, are the majority of cases he sees, that peoples' lives are off-center because they are off the 'Godly' center (my words and interpretation). It is parallel with what I have been discovering as well, that; we have walked away from our belief and trust in God. We are not learning and assimilating the Word of God through Jesus Christ so that our lives are built on the sand, not on the rocky soil.
Matthew 7:24-29
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Therefore the mandate remains the same; "Practice godliness and participate in His work to renew America one man at a time through regeneration in Christ".
Amen;
Love you..
Bill/Dad
Oh, my. I was feelin’ your Spirit yesterday. As I drove through Murfreesboro, TN, delivering pizza (yup, a side job with Pizza Hut....), and as I socialized with my fellow 'team' members, my eyes and spirit were opened to the world as You might see it. It was truly amazing to see the people in their communities, to meet them at their doors, to have a smile and a glad comment; to look them in the eyes and truly express love, from You. I was floored by the conditions in which many of these people live and the imagined circumstances behind the environments they are in.
It brought me back to the conversation I had with my friend Rick in the morning, yesterday. Rick is the development director for a shelter in MA. He is a dear Christian brother of mine who has an incredible heart for the poor. He and I have been talking about discipleship, governance and our experiences in one-to-one ministry. He has discovered that, what, I believe, are the majority of cases he sees, that peoples' lives are off-center because they are off the 'Godly' center (my words and interpretation). It is parallel with what I have been discovering as well, that; we have walked away from our belief and trust in God. We are not learning and assimilating the Word of God through Jesus Christ so that our lives are built on the sand, not on the rocky soil.
Matthew 7:24-29
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Therefore the mandate remains the same; "Practice godliness and participate in His work to renew America one man at a time through regeneration in Christ".
Amen;
Love you..
Bill/Dad
Friday, March 26, 2010
Attempting to get more regular... more postings, I mean, lol...
Hey all.... We now live in Murfreesboro, TN!!! I know that's hard for the thousands of followers (sic) out there to understand, but, we moved here on March 15th.
So, since I've been attaching the URL for this blog to some of my correspondence, I figured I better begin using it more regularly. I have been writing in a journal, but not posting it because it is much more personal and rambling, of course. But, now, here I am and I'll become more regular in my postings. (pray for me .... )
I believe I said that I wanted this blog to be about 'Christian reconstructionism'. I have been walking down that path, probably since last October or earlier and it has been a great spiritual exercise. I don't know if I have posted this before, but the mantra for the entire exercise became;
"Practice godliness and participate in His work to renew America one man at a time through regeneration in Christ."
I hope it sounds like the great commission to you, because that is what it has become for me! After walking through the Gary DeMar book and series; "God and Government", it became clear that we were established as a Christian nation; growing up men and women of God, but, by acquiescing our Godly heritage and allowing worldliness to promulgate in our culture, we have lost America's true direction; growing up in our salvation or sanctification. Men slowly, but with greater and greater acceleration, walked away from godliness and fell victim to their own lusts and desires so that Romans 1 has become more and more prevalent in America;
16 .... the gospel ... it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes... 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'
and further
18 The wrath of god is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
(God made it plain to them)
20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
(Men are without excuse)
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(They neither glorified God nor gave thanks to Him)
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
This is the condition of our America. Because we refused to recognize God as God, God gave us over to the sinful desires of our hearts.
We need to 'renew America one man at a time through regeneration in Christ'.
More next time....
Love you;
Bill/Dad
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
If my people..... pray...
A dear friend of mine, just yesterday, sent this plea. Please click on the link and listen to the entire song as well as read the posting.
I believe it is the only answer to our nations' woes.
Sorry, this link is now down for some reason... but, it was the Lord's prayer sung by Andrea Boccelli (sp)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Caesar to Caesar - God to God
What did Jesus mean when He said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”? (Mark 12:1-17; Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26)
Mark 12:1-17 – “"Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
Pay your taxes…
Matthew 22:15-22 – “Jesus, knowing their evil intent..”
Pay your taxes!
Luke 20:20-26 – “He saw through their duplicity,
Pay your taxes!
For me, the most striking thing about this discourse away from Jesus’ response; ‘Pay your taxes!’, is the fact that; 1. They recognized Him as a man of character and preacher of the truth; not ‘swayed by men’, and, 2. Jesus knew they were trying to trap him, that they were duplicitous and acting with evil intent.
He knew men, he was not swayed by the world and he spoke the truth.
"Pay your taxes”
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Why is America losing it's blessing?
Oh, my….. my thoughts are interesting.
America……….. God saved us. God provided for us. We forsook Him. He left us to our own devices. He will not hear us when we pray because;
1. We do not believe
2. We perform meaningless ceremonies (heartless, without a belief and love of God)
3. Our hearts are not with Him.
"Practice godliness and participate in His work to renew America one man at a time through regeneration in Christ."
A Rebellious Nation
2 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."
4 Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.
13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
21 See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers!
22 Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.
24 Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: "Ah, I will get relief from my foes and avenge myself on my enemies.
25 I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.
26 I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City."
27 Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.
28 But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will 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.
11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will 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. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17 "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.'
19 "But if you [c] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you [d] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 22 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.' "
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