Things have been tight in recent months. For most of our marriage, except for the two years we lived in Seminole, finances have always seemed tight. When the pressure has squeezed tighter like a vice grip, we have seen God be "Faithful Provider" time and time again. We experienced this twice in the past two weeks.
Brenda and I have made it our habit over the years to take our financial needs to God. We have trusted Him to hear and to intervene. We have been humbled over the years watching Him provide in dramatic ways. A week ago we were at the end of our resources and we needed groceries and to buy Tanner a birthday present. We did not have any extra money. A man who loves our family here in Paradise saw Brenda and gave her a generous gift without either she or I soliciting the gift. With that gift our needs were met for the week. We prayed and God heard and moved a man to come across Brenda's path and to give a generous and sacrificial gift. God is reliable.
This is the toughest week of every month for us. Our house payment is due back in Seminole and it takes just about all we both make to pay the house payment and utilities. We laid our needs before the Lord and as only a Faithful Provider can do, God moved a family from Seminole to send a love gift to us that came in the mail today. Brenda teared up when she opened the envelope and we both gave praise and glory to God. This has happened over and over again in the past six months. More than that it has happened over and over again over the past twenty years of our marriage.
We have never made finances the determining factor in following God. I have never asked a church what they could pay me. All we have been concerned with is where God wanted us and we trusted Him to provide for our needs. He has done that faithfully for two decades. O, the stories I could tell and have told. We were given meat by a family once that helped feed our family through some lean times. We have found groceries on our door step before. We have been given a television when a man found out ours had broken and we could not afford a new one. We did not ask and he took me to the store to help him move a new television he bought for his family. He picked out one for us as well. We have had money sent in the mail and put in our mail box anonymously. I have even found money left under my windshield wiper on a vehicle. Two times I have been given miracle vehicles and once given the money to buy the truck I now own because of God's provision through three families. I have had a front row seat to behold the faithfulness of God multiple times over the course of my ministry. He gets all the glory and all the honor.
Each time He provides, God gives me a larger platform to testify to His faithfulness. Isn't this what He promised to do for His children? "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread." [Ps 37:25]
"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." [Matt 6:31-34]
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." [Phil 4:19]
When we have a legitimate need, we have a Faithful Provider to supply that need. When Elijah stayed at the brook God sent the ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up God used a widow to provide for him. God is creative in the ways He provides for us.
One of the things Brenda prayed for this week was for money to be able to tithe. My entire check will go toward the house payment plus some of hers. God heard her petition and supplied what we needed. As we have faithfully tithed over the years we have witnessed the truth in [Malachi 3:8-10] come true before our eyes. "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."
Our desire for provision included not only to meet our financial obligations but also so we could give to the Lord. God honored that desire by moving a family from west Texas to be the vehicle through which He faithfully provided for our needs. Their generous gift paved the way for us to be able tithe and make the house payment.
There are many times when I have wondered why we have continued to live this way. We always have what we need but on rare occasion do we have a lot of extra. Despite the transition in our financial situation in leaving FBC Seminole, we have never been late on a bill. Praise the Lord. Though our house has not sold every single house payment has been made on time. We have gas in our vehicles (both of which are payed for) and our pantry is stocked. We have more than enough clothing for every season of the year. We had more than enough for a great Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As God continually shows up in our lives and faithfully provides for us, I want to faithfully testify of His faithfulness. Be encouraged. Your heavenly Father knows your situation too. He is just as able to provide for you as He did for Elijah and has done for me. Glory to His name.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Authentic
Of all the books in the Bible which is your favorite? If you are like many believers you may not be able to pick out a favorite one. I believe if I were to take a survey the book of Psalms would be at the top of many lists. In Psalms we see David as he walks with God in the triumphs as well as the trials of life. David's Psalms show an authentic heart of a true follower and a true worshiper of God.
Once again I found myself reading in the Psalms early this morning reading Psalm 42. I found it interesting in this Psalm how David expresses his heart as an authentic worshiper in the first part and then as a man facing despair in the latter part. "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" [Ps 42:1-2] David pants and thirsts for God. There is a craving, desire and an eager yearning for more of God. That is authentic worship. To make it more inspiring for me is he wrote this on an occasion when he battled despair. David faced enemies. He questioned why God did not rescue from those who sought his demise.
David refuses to settle for the cheap imitation of dutiful devotions, obligatory church attendance or mandated religious rules though. His passion in life included seeking and serving God in his generation. Fundamental to the authentic heart of David was a man after the heart of God. That is who David the warrior and the king was. He was an authentic worshiper. Though a man after God's own heart David had flaws. He had days of depression but you so often see David working through it in the Psalms. He authentically expressed his feelings but ultimately found his hope in God.
I find it startling in the same Psalm where David is expressing his unquenchable desire for more of God he also expresses his despair. "Why are you in despair O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." [PS 42:5] David faced bouts of depression. He lived with the inner turmoil of a despairing mind and heart.
He is not alone. You might be surprised to learn some of the heroes of the faith we admire so greatly struggled with depression. People like William Carey, David Brainerd, Charles Spurgeon, William Cowper and many others battled depression much or most of their adult lives. Yet these very authentic people still served and worshiped God in their generations. They pressed through despair to find hope in God as David did. In fact, God has used David's struggles to help the afore mentioned people as well as you and I.
We live in a synthetic society. We long to see authentic people. For me that means being authentic in the pulpit as I preach and behind this keyboard as I write. Many people are able to hide their emotions behind a poker face. I unfortunately am not one of those people. When the dark thoughts begin to invade my mind like an un-welcomed intruder those closest to me know it. I become withdrawn. I lose sight of hope and better days. There are days when my emotional state betrays me. On those days I am not a man of faith but a bottom dweller stuck in the miry clay.
At the risk of offending the hearers or readers I have chosen the route of authenticity anyway. Taking such a route is an admission I do not have my act all together. I walk with the Lord daily in the midst of triumphs and trials. I know how to fake it. I have stood on more than one occasion over the past twenty years when my heart ached, my emotions deceived me, and I preached to myself more than any other person present. I have held many things inside even from those closest to me but not from God. I know how to fake it before people but not God. With Him I am completely honest. I am learning to be more and more authentic publicly. There have been days when through tears I sank in a broken heap not understanding the ways of God or why He chose to delay in coming to my aid. There have been many days when I stood in hospitals and homes grieving with people who lost a spouse, child, or parent and I had no magic words to say. I could only cry with them. I have often sunk again in tears not understanding why God did not intervene to spare the tragedy or answer the prayers for healing.
Today as I prayed over [Ps 42:5] and answered the question as to why my soul despairs. I came up with a list of the specific trials I wrestle with and came up with seven specific ones. I do not think it necessary to share all of those. One by one I laid those things before the Lord. I determined to take them to the Lord and then focus on the Lord and His ability to deal with each situation.
Despair convinces me things will never change and there is no hope. That is being authentic on many mornings. There are many days when this great faith preacher and faith walker barely has enough faith to get out of bed and face the trials of starting a church, helping broken people, and preaching and teaching truth I may or may not see coming to fruition in my own life. Even on those days I continue to seek God through His word and He meets me where I am at. He rebukes my lack of faith, consoles my disappointments and frustrations, and strengthens me for the battles of the day.
When under the spell of despair, there are days when it is hard to write, preach, and relate without it spilling over. As I wrote yesterday, God is so gracious to take His word and to give just what I need to keep going. He has been doing that for over two decades. The truth is I have many good days and I also have many dark days. The greater truth is God walks with me through one as well as the other.
Yesterday and today have been good days and that all goes back to getting fresh words from God and sitting in His presence for prolonged periods of time. Sitting with Him and letting His word wash over me have kept my faith buoyant.
My private battles must remain mine privately. Everyone knows I am frustrated my house has not sold but I deal with so many more dark thoughts than that. Regardless of what challenges I must face I keep going to God as a worshiper. I keep yearning for more of Him and thirst to meet with Him in the privacy of the early mornings. There is no turning back or giving up. Even on the dark days He is the prize I am after and the reward I seek.
I can only hope in my authentic moments, as I wrestle with my life and ministry and find God in the middle of my mess, it serves to help someone else going through dark times. If nobody ever talks about the hard times we think everyone else has it together and we alone struggle. I want to be authentic. When I struggle I trust God to help me through it. I will still praise God on the dark days and come to Him with an authentic but broken heart. When the sun beats down on me and illumines a smooth path I want to be an authentic seeker and worshiper in those triumphal moments as well.
I have not met many authentic people who had the courage to share their struggles, disappointments and private battles. Most choose to fake it and pull the wool over the masses. David certainly did not do this. He lived an authentic life before God and people. His private struggles have been preserved in the Psalms and have served to help millions get through the tough times of life.
God, I thank you for your flawed but authentic servant David. His struggles have helped me the past two days in particular and countless other times over the past twenty years. Thank you for not allowing him to fake it. Thank you for his raw emotions captured in the chapters of Psalms. Reading them has brought strength, comfort, hope, and peace to this troubled soul on many occasions as well as to others. May I have the courage to be authentic and the faith to rediscover your goodness and faithfulness in every season of my life.
Once again I found myself reading in the Psalms early this morning reading Psalm 42. I found it interesting in this Psalm how David expresses his heart as an authentic worshiper in the first part and then as a man facing despair in the latter part. "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" [Ps 42:1-2] David pants and thirsts for God. There is a craving, desire and an eager yearning for more of God. That is authentic worship. To make it more inspiring for me is he wrote this on an occasion when he battled despair. David faced enemies. He questioned why God did not rescue from those who sought his demise.
David refuses to settle for the cheap imitation of dutiful devotions, obligatory church attendance or mandated religious rules though. His passion in life included seeking and serving God in his generation. Fundamental to the authentic heart of David was a man after the heart of God. That is who David the warrior and the king was. He was an authentic worshiper. Though a man after God's own heart David had flaws. He had days of depression but you so often see David working through it in the Psalms. He authentically expressed his feelings but ultimately found his hope in God.
I find it startling in the same Psalm where David is expressing his unquenchable desire for more of God he also expresses his despair. "Why are you in despair O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence." [PS 42:5] David faced bouts of depression. He lived with the inner turmoil of a despairing mind and heart.
He is not alone. You might be surprised to learn some of the heroes of the faith we admire so greatly struggled with depression. People like William Carey, David Brainerd, Charles Spurgeon, William Cowper and many others battled depression much or most of their adult lives. Yet these very authentic people still served and worshiped God in their generations. They pressed through despair to find hope in God as David did. In fact, God has used David's struggles to help the afore mentioned people as well as you and I.
We live in a synthetic society. We long to see authentic people. For me that means being authentic in the pulpit as I preach and behind this keyboard as I write. Many people are able to hide their emotions behind a poker face. I unfortunately am not one of those people. When the dark thoughts begin to invade my mind like an un-welcomed intruder those closest to me know it. I become withdrawn. I lose sight of hope and better days. There are days when my emotional state betrays me. On those days I am not a man of faith but a bottom dweller stuck in the miry clay.
At the risk of offending the hearers or readers I have chosen the route of authenticity anyway. Taking such a route is an admission I do not have my act all together. I walk with the Lord daily in the midst of triumphs and trials. I know how to fake it. I have stood on more than one occasion over the past twenty years when my heart ached, my emotions deceived me, and I preached to myself more than any other person present. I have held many things inside even from those closest to me but not from God. I know how to fake it before people but not God. With Him I am completely honest. I am learning to be more and more authentic publicly. There have been days when through tears I sank in a broken heap not understanding the ways of God or why He chose to delay in coming to my aid. There have been many days when I stood in hospitals and homes grieving with people who lost a spouse, child, or parent and I had no magic words to say. I could only cry with them. I have often sunk again in tears not understanding why God did not intervene to spare the tragedy or answer the prayers for healing.
Today as I prayed over [Ps 42:5] and answered the question as to why my soul despairs. I came up with a list of the specific trials I wrestle with and came up with seven specific ones. I do not think it necessary to share all of those. One by one I laid those things before the Lord. I determined to take them to the Lord and then focus on the Lord and His ability to deal with each situation.
Despair convinces me things will never change and there is no hope. That is being authentic on many mornings. There are many days when this great faith preacher and faith walker barely has enough faith to get out of bed and face the trials of starting a church, helping broken people, and preaching and teaching truth I may or may not see coming to fruition in my own life. Even on those days I continue to seek God through His word and He meets me where I am at. He rebukes my lack of faith, consoles my disappointments and frustrations, and strengthens me for the battles of the day.
When under the spell of despair, there are days when it is hard to write, preach, and relate without it spilling over. As I wrote yesterday, God is so gracious to take His word and to give just what I need to keep going. He has been doing that for over two decades. The truth is I have many good days and I also have many dark days. The greater truth is God walks with me through one as well as the other.
Yesterday and today have been good days and that all goes back to getting fresh words from God and sitting in His presence for prolonged periods of time. Sitting with Him and letting His word wash over me have kept my faith buoyant.
My private battles must remain mine privately. Everyone knows I am frustrated my house has not sold but I deal with so many more dark thoughts than that. Regardless of what challenges I must face I keep going to God as a worshiper. I keep yearning for more of Him and thirst to meet with Him in the privacy of the early mornings. There is no turning back or giving up. Even on the dark days He is the prize I am after and the reward I seek.
I can only hope in my authentic moments, as I wrestle with my life and ministry and find God in the middle of my mess, it serves to help someone else going through dark times. If nobody ever talks about the hard times we think everyone else has it together and we alone struggle. I want to be authentic. When I struggle I trust God to help me through it. I will still praise God on the dark days and come to Him with an authentic but broken heart. When the sun beats down on me and illumines a smooth path I want to be an authentic seeker and worshiper in those triumphal moments as well.
I have not met many authentic people who had the courage to share their struggles, disappointments and private battles. Most choose to fake it and pull the wool over the masses. David certainly did not do this. He lived an authentic life before God and people. His private struggles have been preserved in the Psalms and have served to help millions get through the tough times of life.
God, I thank you for your flawed but authentic servant David. His struggles have helped me the past two days in particular and countless other times over the past twenty years. Thank you for not allowing him to fake it. Thank you for his raw emotions captured in the chapters of Psalms. Reading them has brought strength, comfort, hope, and peace to this troubled soul on many occasions as well as to others. May I have the courage to be authentic and the faith to rediscover your goodness and faithfulness in every season of my life.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Learning to Sing in the Desert
I have come to the realization I am an emotionally fragile person. The most difficult aspect of my walk with the Lord through the labyrinth of life is my emotional state of mind. The challenges of life and ministry act like a stump grinder to my faith continually wearing me down. I am prone toward melancholy when I look away from God and His word. I can be on top of things one day and crater the next day.
I am sure I am not the only one. I can rejoice after a great day at church and over a grand move of God in or around my life and then stumble over the snares of this world. How do I cope? How do I preach and teach when there are times when I stand in need of the preaching, teaching, and a fresh touch from God?
I only have one answer. I abide in the word of God. Day in and day out I read scripture trusting God for the nourishment of soul to help me through the day.
Today, I needed to get away. I packed a Bible, this computer, and a book and headed for the local library to clear my head, pour out my soul to the Lord, and to get refocused. After a season of prayer I asked God to speak. In my normal devotional readings I am reading through the last chapters of the gospel of John. I sensed the Lord had something to speak to me through the Psalms today. I flipped the pages of my Bible until I found Psalms and let my eyes fall to the first chapter I came across.
As only God can do He used His word to speak to me. Here is what I read this morning. "Let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts, whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him." [Ps 63:3-4]
In the desert places of life where hope seems to sink like the setting sun God is still to be praised and exalted. In the wilderness experiences in life when you feel you have lost your way, everything seems confusing, and you cannot find your way out God is still praise worthy. If those desert experiences when you are dry and feel abandoned God is still the source of gladness.
At this very moment as I write and as you read this, God is riding over the desert times in our lives. He is present and accounted for. Our emotional state does not alter the fact God is in control. He is the source of gladness and rejoicing. He is here with me at this round table in the Decatur Public Library and He with you wherever you are. He is not only with us but also available to us.
I don't know what you are going through as you read this and you really do not know what desert I trudge through this hour either. I do know just knowing God rides through the deserts in our lives comforts me on two levels. First, I know we are not abandoned. We may be tempted to feel that way from time to time but God promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in the tough times. He rides through the desert experiences with us. He does not turn His back and leave us in our time of need. God is here. God is concerned. God is in control.
The second comforting truth is that God rides through the deserts. Focus on the word through. There are beginning points to deserts and there are ending points to deserts. God sees us through to lush green pastures and beside the still waters. What you are up against will last for a season. Your situation is temporary. If you are saved follower of Jesus it is temporary in that all of life is temporary. Getting through this desert for the child of God means a better existence in eternity.
Our troubles are temporary. The financial crisis eventually ends. The flu runs it course. The demands of family eventually lessen as children grow and become more independent. Burdens get lifted and nights of weeping turn into mornings with joy.
For these two reasons I can sing in the deserts. I sing because I know God is with me. I sing because I know God will bring me through the desert and my desert experiences are temporary.
Reading and meditating on this scripture today brought me peace and gladness. I am learning to sing in the deserts of life. I admit there are times when gladness fades and despair descends like a heavy fog. While I write this the skies are overcast and a misty rain is falling. On the inside of my soul though, God has used His word to break forth hope and gladness like the rising sun in the morning. On the inside I am singing like on a unclouded day.
The truth is nothing in my desert has changed. God is changing me and allowing me to sing in the desert because He is the source of my gladness and rejoicing. All this came as a result of reading my Bible. I am thankful for a journey to the library and a stroll through [Psalm 68:3-4] this morning. I am grateful for the lesson about learning to sing in the desert.
I am thinking of the song by Don Moen "God Will Make a Way." Sing with me. "God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide; hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, God will make a way. God will make a way." Sing in your desert for God is with you and God will see you through.
I am sure I am not the only one. I can rejoice after a great day at church and over a grand move of God in or around my life and then stumble over the snares of this world. How do I cope? How do I preach and teach when there are times when I stand in need of the preaching, teaching, and a fresh touch from God?
I only have one answer. I abide in the word of God. Day in and day out I read scripture trusting God for the nourishment of soul to help me through the day.
Today, I needed to get away. I packed a Bible, this computer, and a book and headed for the local library to clear my head, pour out my soul to the Lord, and to get refocused. After a season of prayer I asked God to speak. In my normal devotional readings I am reading through the last chapters of the gospel of John. I sensed the Lord had something to speak to me through the Psalms today. I flipped the pages of my Bible until I found Psalms and let my eyes fall to the first chapter I came across.
As only God can do He used His word to speak to me. Here is what I read this morning. "Let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts, whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him." [Ps 63:3-4]
In the desert places of life where hope seems to sink like the setting sun God is still to be praised and exalted. In the wilderness experiences in life when you feel you have lost your way, everything seems confusing, and you cannot find your way out God is still praise worthy. If those desert experiences when you are dry and feel abandoned God is still the source of gladness.
At this very moment as I write and as you read this, God is riding over the desert times in our lives. He is present and accounted for. Our emotional state does not alter the fact God is in control. He is the source of gladness and rejoicing. He is here with me at this round table in the Decatur Public Library and He with you wherever you are. He is not only with us but also available to us.
I don't know what you are going through as you read this and you really do not know what desert I trudge through this hour either. I do know just knowing God rides through the deserts in our lives comforts me on two levels. First, I know we are not abandoned. We may be tempted to feel that way from time to time but God promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in the tough times. He rides through the desert experiences with us. He does not turn His back and leave us in our time of need. God is here. God is concerned. God is in control.
The second comforting truth is that God rides through the deserts. Focus on the word through. There are beginning points to deserts and there are ending points to deserts. God sees us through to lush green pastures and beside the still waters. What you are up against will last for a season. Your situation is temporary. If you are saved follower of Jesus it is temporary in that all of life is temporary. Getting through this desert for the child of God means a better existence in eternity.
Our troubles are temporary. The financial crisis eventually ends. The flu runs it course. The demands of family eventually lessen as children grow and become more independent. Burdens get lifted and nights of weeping turn into mornings with joy.
For these two reasons I can sing in the deserts. I sing because I know God is with me. I sing because I know God will bring me through the desert and my desert experiences are temporary.
Reading and meditating on this scripture today brought me peace and gladness. I am learning to sing in the deserts of life. I admit there are times when gladness fades and despair descends like a heavy fog. While I write this the skies are overcast and a misty rain is falling. On the inside of my soul though, God has used His word to break forth hope and gladness like the rising sun in the morning. On the inside I am singing like on a unclouded day.
The truth is nothing in my desert has changed. God is changing me and allowing me to sing in the desert because He is the source of my gladness and rejoicing. All this came as a result of reading my Bible. I am thankful for a journey to the library and a stroll through [Psalm 68:3-4] this morning. I am grateful for the lesson about learning to sing in the desert.
I am thinking of the song by Don Moen "God Will Make a Way." Sing with me. "God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide; hold me closely to His side. With love and strength for each new day, God will make a way. God will make a way." Sing in your desert for God is with you and God will see you through.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Risk and Reward
Then Peter said, "Look we have left what we had and followed You." So He said to them, "I assure you: there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come." [Luke 18:28-30]
Can't you hear Peter really asking Jesus if the reward for following Him was worth the risk and the sacrifice. The truth is many have asked that same question throughout the ages. Following Jesus often comes with a price. Like Peter we can question whether the reward of being a disciple of Christ is really worth it.
Missionaries gave up the comforts of home, left parents behind along with financial security to take the gospel to far ends of the earth. I immediately think of William Carey and Hudson Taylor. Both dealt with the death of their wives while serving on the mission field. If you were to ask them if the rewards for following Christ were worth the risks and the sacrifice I am confident they would give a resounding yes.
We have conditioned our minds to believe that God never calls people to risky ventures or to really sacrifice. This simply does not square with the Bible. Many Christians insulate themselves from following Jesus because they cannot believe God would ever call them away from comfort and a life of security.
Jesus still calls people to follow Him to far away lands and to kingdom assignments where the American dream is laid aside for the greater dream of advancing the kingdom of God. When faced with such a choice the subtle thought arises, "What is in it for me? If I give up everything what do I get in return?" Make no mistake many people serve God with that kind of mentality.
The reward of eternal life far outweighs any sacrifice a child of God will ever make. One second in Heaven and we will all say, "It was worth all the hardships, trials, adversity, and sacrifice a thousand times over!" Think of it. For all of eternity we get to enjoy, know, and worship Jesus. Our minds cannot conceive what we will experience not for a few moments but forever. It is beyond our comprehension. We can only imagine what will it will be like but even in our imaginations we will never come close.
There is another reward for the child of God willing to follow Jesus with reckless abandon. Have you ever put your all into something. Maybe it was studying for a test, writing a research paper, playing a sport, mowing the yard, completing an assignment at work, or finishing a work out. You know that feeling of joyful satisfaction when you know you gave your best. When you fully committed yourself and you were all in you walk away with held high. You know you did hold back but fully vested yourself in a worthy endeavor.
I think many people will be shamed at the end of their lives because they held back from following Jesus fully. They bought into the lie that the rewards of security and comfort were the ultimate goals. These people build safety nets into their lives and can never say what Peter said, "We have left all we had to follow You Jesus."
At the time of this writing I can identify with Peter. We left a good and blessed life in Seminole to follow Jesus. Has the reward been worth the sacrifice. Absolutely. I am thinking of two men that trusted Christ as Savior in the past six months and have become my friends. One was the first person to be baptized at Faith Community Church and the other will be baptized in a couple of weeks. What greater reward is there than that? I have seen the reward of people who used to not have a church home now faithfully involved in Faith Community Church. I have seen the reward of those who had just about given up on the local church now experiencing true fellowship and life in this new congregation.
To be honest, I miss having my own home but in comparison to knowing I have fully obeyed the Lord in following Him and in what I will experience in eternity not having my own home is small thing. The greatest reward is Jesus Himself. He is my greatest treasure. He is the source of unending joy. He is our faithful provider. He is our good shepherd and giver of abundant life. Jesus is our all in all. NO SACRIFICE OR RISK I EVER GIVE OR MAKE COMPARES TO JESUS! He is worth it all.
So on this Thursday morning I recommit myself to following Him. I am all in. As much as I enjoyed past ministries and blessings I cannot afford to look behind me but must press on toward the goal of His high call on my life. I must press forward. Faith Community Church is a miracle church in the making. I know He called me to leave flocks I loved and still love in FBC Paradise and FBC Seminole. We also left a home, furniture, and church facilities. I have been blessed in following. Like the old song, "All I have needed His hand has provided."
When God calls you to follow Him, walk up to the edge of that call and take the next step. No matter how risky it looks or what great sacrifice that call requires of you step out anyway. Trust that the reward of following Jesus is worth the risk and the sacrifice. I am fully vested in Faith Community Church. There is no turning back. They have my heart and devotion. They have my love and service. They have my life and family. I will never forget the other churches and people I have served in the past. They will always be endeared to my heart. I have a new reward now in a band of followers of Jesus who are sacrificing to dream God's dream of Faith Community Church with Brenda and I. I love the courage, the faith, and the resolve of these people who have joined us. I am blessed and I will keep following for the reward is greater than the risk.
Can't you hear Peter really asking Jesus if the reward for following Him was worth the risk and the sacrifice. The truth is many have asked that same question throughout the ages. Following Jesus often comes with a price. Like Peter we can question whether the reward of being a disciple of Christ is really worth it.
Missionaries gave up the comforts of home, left parents behind along with financial security to take the gospel to far ends of the earth. I immediately think of William Carey and Hudson Taylor. Both dealt with the death of their wives while serving on the mission field. If you were to ask them if the rewards for following Christ were worth the risks and the sacrifice I am confident they would give a resounding yes.
We have conditioned our minds to believe that God never calls people to risky ventures or to really sacrifice. This simply does not square with the Bible. Many Christians insulate themselves from following Jesus because they cannot believe God would ever call them away from comfort and a life of security.
Jesus still calls people to follow Him to far away lands and to kingdom assignments where the American dream is laid aside for the greater dream of advancing the kingdom of God. When faced with such a choice the subtle thought arises, "What is in it for me? If I give up everything what do I get in return?" Make no mistake many people serve God with that kind of mentality.
The reward of eternal life far outweighs any sacrifice a child of God will ever make. One second in Heaven and we will all say, "It was worth all the hardships, trials, adversity, and sacrifice a thousand times over!" Think of it. For all of eternity we get to enjoy, know, and worship Jesus. Our minds cannot conceive what we will experience not for a few moments but forever. It is beyond our comprehension. We can only imagine what will it will be like but even in our imaginations we will never come close.
There is another reward for the child of God willing to follow Jesus with reckless abandon. Have you ever put your all into something. Maybe it was studying for a test, writing a research paper, playing a sport, mowing the yard, completing an assignment at work, or finishing a work out. You know that feeling of joyful satisfaction when you know you gave your best. When you fully committed yourself and you were all in you walk away with held high. You know you did hold back but fully vested yourself in a worthy endeavor.
I think many people will be shamed at the end of their lives because they held back from following Jesus fully. They bought into the lie that the rewards of security and comfort were the ultimate goals. These people build safety nets into their lives and can never say what Peter said, "We have left all we had to follow You Jesus."
At the time of this writing I can identify with Peter. We left a good and blessed life in Seminole to follow Jesus. Has the reward been worth the sacrifice. Absolutely. I am thinking of two men that trusted Christ as Savior in the past six months and have become my friends. One was the first person to be baptized at Faith Community Church and the other will be baptized in a couple of weeks. What greater reward is there than that? I have seen the reward of people who used to not have a church home now faithfully involved in Faith Community Church. I have seen the reward of those who had just about given up on the local church now experiencing true fellowship and life in this new congregation.
To be honest, I miss having my own home but in comparison to knowing I have fully obeyed the Lord in following Him and in what I will experience in eternity not having my own home is small thing. The greatest reward is Jesus Himself. He is my greatest treasure. He is the source of unending joy. He is our faithful provider. He is our good shepherd and giver of abundant life. Jesus is our all in all. NO SACRIFICE OR RISK I EVER GIVE OR MAKE COMPARES TO JESUS! He is worth it all.
So on this Thursday morning I recommit myself to following Him. I am all in. As much as I enjoyed past ministries and blessings I cannot afford to look behind me but must press on toward the goal of His high call on my life. I must press forward. Faith Community Church is a miracle church in the making. I know He called me to leave flocks I loved and still love in FBC Paradise and FBC Seminole. We also left a home, furniture, and church facilities. I have been blessed in following. Like the old song, "All I have needed His hand has provided."
When God calls you to follow Him, walk up to the edge of that call and take the next step. No matter how risky it looks or what great sacrifice that call requires of you step out anyway. Trust that the reward of following Jesus is worth the risk and the sacrifice. I am fully vested in Faith Community Church. There is no turning back. They have my heart and devotion. They have my love and service. They have my life and family. I will never forget the other churches and people I have served in the past. They will always be endeared to my heart. I have a new reward now in a band of followers of Jesus who are sacrificing to dream God's dream of Faith Community Church with Brenda and I. I love the courage, the faith, and the resolve of these people who have joined us. I am blessed and I will keep following for the reward is greater than the risk.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Keeping On
Earlier today I read Jesus' instruction in [Luke 11:9-10] "So I say to you, keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
All of us at one time or other have asked and not received what we asked from God. Does that mean we quit asking. No, we keep on asking all the while seeking to make sure our asking is in accordance with His will. [I Jn 5:14-15] Many years ago I read a statement by prayer warrior E.M. Bounds who wrote that you could fill an ocean with the unanswered prayers of people because they gave up praying too soon. Keep asking God for those things you need, desire and believe Him for. Though the answer may delay according to our schedules God is always right on time.
Keep searching and you will find. Keep seeking Him and more revelation of Him through His word. Keep seeking His peace and comfort and you will find them in the difficult times. Keep searching for His direction for your life and He will show you the the path. Keep searching for those who do not know Christ as Savior and you will find your path crosses theirs.
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened. You may have had doors shut on you to get a job. Keep asking, searching and knocking. God will open a door for you like for the lady I recently talked to at church who landed a great job after asking, searching, and knocking. Doors may have shut for you to get married. Keep waiting and trusting the Lord. Maybe you have experienced dead end after dead end as doors have remained closed to you. That does not mean the doors will always remain closed to you. Trust God to open whatever strategic doors need to be opened and opened when they need to be opened.
We are prone to give up too easily. I love the way this translation of this passage puts it. We are to keep on asking, to keep on searching, and to keep on knocking. This is continuous action. It is not a one time prayer like so many of us ask. This is day in and day out praying. This speaks to perseverance and never giving up. This smacks of unrelenting resolve.
The exercise of prayer can be discouraging. Lost souls do not always get saved right away. There are people I still pray for God to save after five years who show no indication of any desire for the things of God. Doors do not always open for us like we would want. Most of us know what it is like to have a door closed on a dream. A shut door does not mean we should give up but it might just mean the timing is not right.
I know I am challenged this morning to keep on asking, searching, and knocking. This is the way the purposes of God in our lives, families and communities are advanced. Persevering prayer is of paramount in importance. You may read this today and be very discouraged that you have not received, not found what you have been seeking or not had doors open for you. You just haven't experienced those things yet. That does not mean you will never will. Keep on keeping on. May God never say of us we gave up too soon.
In some cases you might be asking for the wrong things, seeking the wrong things, and knocking on the wrong doors. There are times when God denies our requests because it is not in His plan. He knows better than us. If I am knocking on the wrong door God is not obligated to open it for me. I am grateful God has shut some doors in my life and left them locked tight no matter how I cried out to Him to open them. He has our best interest in mind. Sometimes doors remain closed for our protection.
Many times God delays in answering prayer simply because the timing is not right. In those cases God is telling us to wait. If you are going to learn to pray you are going to have to learn patience. You must learn that God is not often in a hurry but He is never late. His timing is perfect. That is a major trust issue for many reading this.
We all love it when God says, "Yes. You can have what you have been asking for." Until that day comes the great challenge is to keep asking, seeking and knocking with faith and fervency. Some keep on asking, searching and knocking but they no longer believe. They go through the motions. Keep on brothers and sisters. The answer for all of us may be closer than we think. This is not the time to give up. Keep on!
All of us at one time or other have asked and not received what we asked from God. Does that mean we quit asking. No, we keep on asking all the while seeking to make sure our asking is in accordance with His will. [I Jn 5:14-15] Many years ago I read a statement by prayer warrior E.M. Bounds who wrote that you could fill an ocean with the unanswered prayers of people because they gave up praying too soon. Keep asking God for those things you need, desire and believe Him for. Though the answer may delay according to our schedules God is always right on time.
Keep searching and you will find. Keep seeking Him and more revelation of Him through His word. Keep seeking His peace and comfort and you will find them in the difficult times. Keep searching for His direction for your life and He will show you the the path. Keep searching for those who do not know Christ as Savior and you will find your path crosses theirs.
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened. You may have had doors shut on you to get a job. Keep asking, searching and knocking. God will open a door for you like for the lady I recently talked to at church who landed a great job after asking, searching, and knocking. Doors may have shut for you to get married. Keep waiting and trusting the Lord. Maybe you have experienced dead end after dead end as doors have remained closed to you. That does not mean the doors will always remain closed to you. Trust God to open whatever strategic doors need to be opened and opened when they need to be opened.
We are prone to give up too easily. I love the way this translation of this passage puts it. We are to keep on asking, to keep on searching, and to keep on knocking. This is continuous action. It is not a one time prayer like so many of us ask. This is day in and day out praying. This speaks to perseverance and never giving up. This smacks of unrelenting resolve.
The exercise of prayer can be discouraging. Lost souls do not always get saved right away. There are people I still pray for God to save after five years who show no indication of any desire for the things of God. Doors do not always open for us like we would want. Most of us know what it is like to have a door closed on a dream. A shut door does not mean we should give up but it might just mean the timing is not right.
I know I am challenged this morning to keep on asking, searching, and knocking. This is the way the purposes of God in our lives, families and communities are advanced. Persevering prayer is of paramount in importance. You may read this today and be very discouraged that you have not received, not found what you have been seeking or not had doors open for you. You just haven't experienced those things yet. That does not mean you will never will. Keep on keeping on. May God never say of us we gave up too soon.
In some cases you might be asking for the wrong things, seeking the wrong things, and knocking on the wrong doors. There are times when God denies our requests because it is not in His plan. He knows better than us. If I am knocking on the wrong door God is not obligated to open it for me. I am grateful God has shut some doors in my life and left them locked tight no matter how I cried out to Him to open them. He has our best interest in mind. Sometimes doors remain closed for our protection.
Many times God delays in answering prayer simply because the timing is not right. In those cases God is telling us to wait. If you are going to learn to pray you are going to have to learn patience. You must learn that God is not often in a hurry but He is never late. His timing is perfect. That is a major trust issue for many reading this.
We all love it when God says, "Yes. You can have what you have been asking for." Until that day comes the great challenge is to keep asking, seeking and knocking with faith and fervency. Some keep on asking, searching and knocking but they no longer believe. They go through the motions. Keep on brothers and sisters. The answer for all of us may be closer than we think. This is not the time to give up. Keep on!
Sitting and Listening
While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand." The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one this is necessary. Mary has made the right choice and it will not be taken from her." [Luke 10:38-42]
Let me start by saying I think Martha really loved Jesus. I also think Martha's love language might have been serving. She opened her home to Jesus and I am pretty sure Martha was the kind of cook that cooked with a heart full of love. Yet, on this festive day Martha got distracted. Preparing the meal required work and a great deal of it. I am confident she wanted to give Jesus her best. As she scurried about working and laboring for Jesus she missed the whole point. She did not take the time to enjoy His presence.
I know many followers of Jesus who are busy serving Him but not taking the time to enjoy Him. It is easy to do. You get involved in many projects and tasks but the heart is not warmed with new affections for the very Lord you are serving. It is easy to become distracted. Even as I write this I have the potential distractions of starting a church, publishing my next book, raising money for the hospital in Honduras, writing this blog, writing my next book, and message preparation all on my mind. These things I am doing for Him can never substitute for my taking the time to enjoy just being with Him.
Mary did not get distracted or upset. Martha should have used the time Jesus came to her house to eat as worship. While she prepared a feast for the Lord she should have also taken the time of enjoying the feast of His presence in her home. Preparing the meal should have been an act of adoration. Instead she resented the very service she offered Jesus in feeding Him. She became not only distracted but upset with her sister, who sat at the feet of Jesus clinging to every thing He said.
Mary did two things I think we all need to do daily. First, she sat at the feet of Jesus. She gave Him her undivided attention. She contented herself to enjoy His presence. Nothing held greater interest for her. Do we content ourselves to sit at the feet of Jesus. I cannot get past the word sit. Far too many do not make time for sitting with the Lord. I just released a book titled "Sitting With the Savior." The whole book was written out of my quiet times with the Lord in my secret place. That is how this article came into being this morning. Jesus taught us, "But when you pray, go into your private room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." [Matt 6:6] Sitting with the Lord in secret must become our habit if we hope to make the best choice with our days.
I got up and sat in my recliner this morning. This is the secret place where I sit at the feet of Jesus. I pulled my Bible off the lamp stand and opened to the book of Luke and began reading where I left off yesterday. As I read I yearned for Jesus to speak to me. I had no agenda. I just wanted to sit with Him and to enjoy time with Him without any distractions. At this hour it is quiet. The sun will not rise for some time. Brenda and the boys are still enjoying the last moments of a sound night of sleep. It is just the Lord and me and I love it that way. As the Lord has been doing for years He awakened me and summoned me to come sit with Him. Nothing I do this whole day is more important that my sitting with Him.
Many complain they do not have time to sit with Jesus. They have busy lives with family, work, school, and extra curricular activities. These same people have little passion for God and the affections in their hearts have cooled. I am not saying they do not love God for they do. But they do not love like Jesus desires. Jesus called us to love Him supremely in [Luke 10:27] "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
This kind love and devotion for the Lord is not born out of fly by quiet times where we glance at Him and His word. This kind of affection for Jesus only comes from long sustained seasons of sitting at His feet. This is another form of worship. While I see people get so excited about corporate worship I wonder how many are equally as excited about private worship seated at the feet of Jesus. I love corporate worship. I love expressing my adoration for my King. To be honest, I prefer to sit at the feet of Jesus alone though. After years of preaching and teaching in all sorts of venues I have discovered I do not have to have a worship band, worship leader and throngs of people for me to enjoy Jesus. When I look back over the last decade of my life most of the significant encounters I have had with the Lord have come in my personal and private devotions while seated at His feet.
The second thing we can learn from Mary, is her desire to listen to what Jesus said. Do you long to listen to Him? Do you sit at the feet of Jesus and hang onto every word He speaks. I have made it no secret over the years that I think Jesus speaks to us primarily from His word. He has been using the scripture to speak to me. In fact, this is the third day in a row God has used His word to speak something very specific to me. Out of the overflow of those experiences I have written about what the He has shown me.
Like the Psalmist our daily prayer should be "Open my eyes that I behold wonderful things from your law" [Ps 119:18] Do you read your Bibles. Do you read your Bible as a worshipper sitting at the feet of Jesus assiduously hanging onto His every word?
I am amazed in this modern church age with all we have to help enhance our relationship with the Lord how few people really cultivate times of sitting with and listening to Him habitually. It is tragic. This is the right choice. It is the best part of the day. This has to be the first choice. We must determine that other things will get pushed to the back burner but time MUST be made to sit and listen.
Those two simple disciplines, if taken seriously, would revolutionize many lives and the church at large. If we sat with the Lord and listened to Him in our private lives our corporate worship would take on added significance and importance. We would enjoy Him more and yearn for more of Him.
I am grateful for my time with the Lord this morning and for the joy of sharing the overflow of that experience with you. O, brothers and sisters, sit at the feet of Jesus and listen arduously. Let the affections in your heart warm increasingly until you boil over with love and zeal for your God. Love Him first and love Him most. Do not let anything distract you from sitting at His feet and listening.
Let me start by saying I think Martha really loved Jesus. I also think Martha's love language might have been serving. She opened her home to Jesus and I am pretty sure Martha was the kind of cook that cooked with a heart full of love. Yet, on this festive day Martha got distracted. Preparing the meal required work and a great deal of it. I am confident she wanted to give Jesus her best. As she scurried about working and laboring for Jesus she missed the whole point. She did not take the time to enjoy His presence.
I know many followers of Jesus who are busy serving Him but not taking the time to enjoy Him. It is easy to do. You get involved in many projects and tasks but the heart is not warmed with new affections for the very Lord you are serving. It is easy to become distracted. Even as I write this I have the potential distractions of starting a church, publishing my next book, raising money for the hospital in Honduras, writing this blog, writing my next book, and message preparation all on my mind. These things I am doing for Him can never substitute for my taking the time to enjoy just being with Him.
Mary did not get distracted or upset. Martha should have used the time Jesus came to her house to eat as worship. While she prepared a feast for the Lord she should have also taken the time of enjoying the feast of His presence in her home. Preparing the meal should have been an act of adoration. Instead she resented the very service she offered Jesus in feeding Him. She became not only distracted but upset with her sister, who sat at the feet of Jesus clinging to every thing He said.
Mary did two things I think we all need to do daily. First, she sat at the feet of Jesus. She gave Him her undivided attention. She contented herself to enjoy His presence. Nothing held greater interest for her. Do we content ourselves to sit at the feet of Jesus. I cannot get past the word sit. Far too many do not make time for sitting with the Lord. I just released a book titled "Sitting With the Savior." The whole book was written out of my quiet times with the Lord in my secret place. That is how this article came into being this morning. Jesus taught us, "But when you pray, go into your private room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." [Matt 6:6] Sitting with the Lord in secret must become our habit if we hope to make the best choice with our days.
I got up and sat in my recliner this morning. This is the secret place where I sit at the feet of Jesus. I pulled my Bible off the lamp stand and opened to the book of Luke and began reading where I left off yesterday. As I read I yearned for Jesus to speak to me. I had no agenda. I just wanted to sit with Him and to enjoy time with Him without any distractions. At this hour it is quiet. The sun will not rise for some time. Brenda and the boys are still enjoying the last moments of a sound night of sleep. It is just the Lord and me and I love it that way. As the Lord has been doing for years He awakened me and summoned me to come sit with Him. Nothing I do this whole day is more important that my sitting with Him.
Many complain they do not have time to sit with Jesus. They have busy lives with family, work, school, and extra curricular activities. These same people have little passion for God and the affections in their hearts have cooled. I am not saying they do not love God for they do. But they do not love like Jesus desires. Jesus called us to love Him supremely in [Luke 10:27] "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
This kind love and devotion for the Lord is not born out of fly by quiet times where we glance at Him and His word. This kind of affection for Jesus only comes from long sustained seasons of sitting at His feet. This is another form of worship. While I see people get so excited about corporate worship I wonder how many are equally as excited about private worship seated at the feet of Jesus. I love corporate worship. I love expressing my adoration for my King. To be honest, I prefer to sit at the feet of Jesus alone though. After years of preaching and teaching in all sorts of venues I have discovered I do not have to have a worship band, worship leader and throngs of people for me to enjoy Jesus. When I look back over the last decade of my life most of the significant encounters I have had with the Lord have come in my personal and private devotions while seated at His feet.
The second thing we can learn from Mary, is her desire to listen to what Jesus said. Do you long to listen to Him? Do you sit at the feet of Jesus and hang onto every word He speaks. I have made it no secret over the years that I think Jesus speaks to us primarily from His word. He has been using the scripture to speak to me. In fact, this is the third day in a row God has used His word to speak something very specific to me. Out of the overflow of those experiences I have written about what the He has shown me.
Like the Psalmist our daily prayer should be "Open my eyes that I behold wonderful things from your law" [Ps 119:18] Do you read your Bibles. Do you read your Bible as a worshipper sitting at the feet of Jesus assiduously hanging onto His every word?
I am amazed in this modern church age with all we have to help enhance our relationship with the Lord how few people really cultivate times of sitting with and listening to Him habitually. It is tragic. This is the right choice. It is the best part of the day. This has to be the first choice. We must determine that other things will get pushed to the back burner but time MUST be made to sit and listen.
Those two simple disciplines, if taken seriously, would revolutionize many lives and the church at large. If we sat with the Lord and listened to Him in our private lives our corporate worship would take on added significance and importance. We would enjoy Him more and yearn for more of Him.
I am grateful for my time with the Lord this morning and for the joy of sharing the overflow of that experience with you. O, brothers and sisters, sit at the feet of Jesus and listen arduously. Let the affections in your heart warm increasingly until you boil over with love and zeal for your God. Love Him first and love Him most. Do not let anything distract you from sitting at His feet and listening.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Still Following
This morning I was reading in the book of Luke when I read a passage that grabbed my attention. I also noticed I had written something in the margin of my Bible next to that passage from a previous reading back in 2011.
"Don't be afraid," Jesus told Simon. "From now on you will be catching people!" Then they brought the boats to land, left everything and followed Him. [Luke 5:10-11]
I recall reading that passage back then. For months God had been speaking the same message to me, "Follow Me." Since January of 2011 I had heard this same resounding message over and over again. For months I did not know what it meant. Over time I began sensing God calling our family to go back to Paradise, TX to start a church. Later, I found out three different women were praying God would lead the Edwards family back to Paradise. One of these ladies had no idea the other two ladies were agreeing in prayer about this very thing. Six hours away in West Texas God was answering those prayers by calling me to follow Him.
On April, 21, 2011 I made a notation in the margin of my Bible next to the [Luke 5:10-11] text. Here is what I wrote. "Lord, I feel that is what you are calling me to do. To leave FBC Seminole, our home, and my salary to follow you back to Paradise to start a church."
Even now I can remember the great tug of war in my soul between staying in a church and in a community where we were loved, accepted and well taken care of or taking a huge step of faith. Seminole felt safe and secure. Starting a church seemed risky and costly. I cried out for hours and hours in tears for weeks on end wanting to know clearly what God was calling me to do. One afternoon several weeks later I laid face down on the carpet in my living room and completely surrendered to the will of God. That was the day I felt absolutely confident following Jesus meant leaving Seminole to start a church I did not even know the name of.
I will never forget July 22, 2011. We saw Tucker off to children's camp. Tanner had spent the night with a friend. Brenda, Turner, Taylor, and I went to eat breakfast together. I had a great lump in my throat and sadness in my heart. Taylor and I left town for good after breakfast that morning. We would not see the rest of the family for over six weeks. When I kissed Turner and Brenda goodbye after breakfast at La Sierra that morning I knew our lives would never be the same again.
When I drove out of town all I knew was that God had called me to start Faith Community Church. The initial core group chose this name. I knew I would live in a borrowed RV for a few days. I had no idea what the new church would be able to pay me. They met the previous night to discuss this. I would not find out until three hours later as Taylor and I drove through Abilene.
At the call of God we left everything to follow Him. I told this story last night to a man in our community during a break in a meeting who wanted to know what brought us back to this community. People have tried to concoct their own version. Many have believed we left Seminole because there was trouble and I had to leave. That is not true. We left because Jesus told us to follow Him.
He still calls people to do this. He still calls people to lay down the familiar and personal security to follow Him. All of this came flooding back into my mind as I read [Luke 5:10-11] this morning and the notation I made in the margin of my Bible back on April 21, 2011. After reading I sat and contemplated the events of the past year of my life. Here is what I wrote in the margin of my Bible this morning. "That is exactly what we did. We left FBC Seminole, our home, and salary to start Faith Community Church on July 22, 2011. Here we are. The church has grown to 100 in six months. 2-21-2012."
We are still following. If you have followed these blogs over the past six months you know the path from then to today has not been easy. You know I have battled discouragement and you know our house has not sold back in West Texas. You know the attendance at Faith Community has been up and down. This truth is perfectly clear to me though. God called my family here. No matter how tough the road is we cannot and will not turn back. We will keep following Him in the building of Faith Community Church.
I rejoice God has grown the church from less than one dozen people to over one hundred today in just six months. We baptized two people in 2011. So far this year we have already baptized four people and have two more scheduled in two weeks. Our student ministry went from seven back in July of 2011 to thirty-five today. In those six months God has added a part time worship pastor and a part time children's minister to our staff. God is saving adults and students. Faith Community church is having an impact on this community.
The Edwards family is still following Jesus. This story is only just beginning. Only the Lord knows what will happen in the next six months, year, and decade. All I know is I intend to keep following Him.
"Don't be afraid," Jesus told Simon. "From now on you will be catching people!" Then they brought the boats to land, left everything and followed Him. [Luke 5:10-11]
I recall reading that passage back then. For months God had been speaking the same message to me, "Follow Me." Since January of 2011 I had heard this same resounding message over and over again. For months I did not know what it meant. Over time I began sensing God calling our family to go back to Paradise, TX to start a church. Later, I found out three different women were praying God would lead the Edwards family back to Paradise. One of these ladies had no idea the other two ladies were agreeing in prayer about this very thing. Six hours away in West Texas God was answering those prayers by calling me to follow Him.
On April, 21, 2011 I made a notation in the margin of my Bible next to the [Luke 5:10-11] text. Here is what I wrote. "Lord, I feel that is what you are calling me to do. To leave FBC Seminole, our home, and my salary to follow you back to Paradise to start a church."
Even now I can remember the great tug of war in my soul between staying in a church and in a community where we were loved, accepted and well taken care of or taking a huge step of faith. Seminole felt safe and secure. Starting a church seemed risky and costly. I cried out for hours and hours in tears for weeks on end wanting to know clearly what God was calling me to do. One afternoon several weeks later I laid face down on the carpet in my living room and completely surrendered to the will of God. That was the day I felt absolutely confident following Jesus meant leaving Seminole to start a church I did not even know the name of.
I will never forget July 22, 2011. We saw Tucker off to children's camp. Tanner had spent the night with a friend. Brenda, Turner, Taylor, and I went to eat breakfast together. I had a great lump in my throat and sadness in my heart. Taylor and I left town for good after breakfast that morning. We would not see the rest of the family for over six weeks. When I kissed Turner and Brenda goodbye after breakfast at La Sierra that morning I knew our lives would never be the same again.
When I drove out of town all I knew was that God had called me to start Faith Community Church. The initial core group chose this name. I knew I would live in a borrowed RV for a few days. I had no idea what the new church would be able to pay me. They met the previous night to discuss this. I would not find out until three hours later as Taylor and I drove through Abilene.
At the call of God we left everything to follow Him. I told this story last night to a man in our community during a break in a meeting who wanted to know what brought us back to this community. People have tried to concoct their own version. Many have believed we left Seminole because there was trouble and I had to leave. That is not true. We left because Jesus told us to follow Him.
He still calls people to do this. He still calls people to lay down the familiar and personal security to follow Him. All of this came flooding back into my mind as I read [Luke 5:10-11] this morning and the notation I made in the margin of my Bible back on April 21, 2011. After reading I sat and contemplated the events of the past year of my life. Here is what I wrote in the margin of my Bible this morning. "That is exactly what we did. We left FBC Seminole, our home, and salary to start Faith Community Church on July 22, 2011. Here we are. The church has grown to 100 in six months. 2-21-2012."
We are still following. If you have followed these blogs over the past six months you know the path from then to today has not been easy. You know I have battled discouragement and you know our house has not sold back in West Texas. You know the attendance at Faith Community has been up and down. This truth is perfectly clear to me though. God called my family here. No matter how tough the road is we cannot and will not turn back. We will keep following Him in the building of Faith Community Church.
I rejoice God has grown the church from less than one dozen people to over one hundred today in just six months. We baptized two people in 2011. So far this year we have already baptized four people and have two more scheduled in two weeks. Our student ministry went from seven back in July of 2011 to thirty-five today. In those six months God has added a part time worship pastor and a part time children's minister to our staff. God is saving adults and students. Faith Community church is having an impact on this community.
The Edwards family is still following Jesus. This story is only just beginning. Only the Lord knows what will happen in the next six months, year, and decade. All I know is I intend to keep following Him.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday Evening
I started the day with a blog about starting another day on Monday morning. I just returned home a few minutes ago after a full and exciting day after 9:30 p.m.. I thought I would end the day with a quick blog on how Monday turned out.
When I went to eat breakfast at the Finish Line Cafe I ran into a man who attends our church but has not been in awhile. Only God could have orchestrated our being there at the same time without any other patrons for the last thirty minutes. We struck up a conversation about fatherhood, church, and of course one of our favorite topics which is sports. He left before I did and bought my breakfast. What a blessing. It truly was a divine appointment.
Later I had lunch with Brenda. We eat lunch together almost every day. She is my best friend. These lunches are a blessing for us. It is like going on a date everyday. We talk about everything under the sun on these lunch dates. I am blessed to get enjoy that time with her.
Later in the afternoon another man from our church called me to go get some ice cream his treat. We had no agenda. Just a couple of brothers in the Lord hanging out. He got a milk shake and I had a drumstick ice cream cone.
Later in the day I got to spend time with some teenage boys teaching baseball. We talked about the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. Two of those boys were mine. I was extremely proud of the job they did this afternoon even though neither had played baseball in a couple of years. I had to leave early in order to go to a meeting to support a friend.
While at the meeting I had the opportunity to talk to some of the most influential people in our community. It was a good day to talk about the Lord and to connect with people from all walks of life. I love this community and the people in it. In the big scheme of life I am just a little pawn but I have purpose. I am the pastor of Faith Community Church. I have the privilege of investing my gifts, talents, love, and time with the people of this community.
The highlight of the day had to be a text I received from a man who recently trusted Jesus as his Savior telling me he is in for the baptism celebration we are having on March 4th. PRAISE THE LORD. Monday turned out to be a great day. As I type this I am sitting in the living room with Brenda as she folds some laundry. Rocky IV is on the television and I am getting to write. Monday surpassed my expectations. I already anticipate what the Lord will do on Tuesday. I
When I went to eat breakfast at the Finish Line Cafe I ran into a man who attends our church but has not been in awhile. Only God could have orchestrated our being there at the same time without any other patrons for the last thirty minutes. We struck up a conversation about fatherhood, church, and of course one of our favorite topics which is sports. He left before I did and bought my breakfast. What a blessing. It truly was a divine appointment.
Later I had lunch with Brenda. We eat lunch together almost every day. She is my best friend. These lunches are a blessing for us. It is like going on a date everyday. We talk about everything under the sun on these lunch dates. I am blessed to get enjoy that time with her.
Later in the afternoon another man from our church called me to go get some ice cream his treat. We had no agenda. Just a couple of brothers in the Lord hanging out. He got a milk shake and I had a drumstick ice cream cone.
Later in the day I got to spend time with some teenage boys teaching baseball. We talked about the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. Two of those boys were mine. I was extremely proud of the job they did this afternoon even though neither had played baseball in a couple of years. I had to leave early in order to go to a meeting to support a friend.
While at the meeting I had the opportunity to talk to some of the most influential people in our community. It was a good day to talk about the Lord and to connect with people from all walks of life. I love this community and the people in it. In the big scheme of life I am just a little pawn but I have purpose. I am the pastor of Faith Community Church. I have the privilege of investing my gifts, talents, love, and time with the people of this community.
The highlight of the day had to be a text I received from a man who recently trusted Jesus as his Savior telling me he is in for the baptism celebration we are having on March 4th. PRAISE THE LORD. Monday turned out to be a great day. As I type this I am sitting in the living room with Brenda as she folds some laundry. Rocky IV is on the television and I am getting to write. Monday surpassed my expectations. I already anticipate what the Lord will do on Tuesday. I
Monday Morning
It is Monday morning. Time to start another work week. Time to begin another week of school for students. What I am more focused on this morning is this is a new day to seek God. It is a new day to get into His word and sit before Him in humility and hunger to relate to Him. It is a new day to not only seek Him but to also serve Him. It is a new day to follow wherever He leads.
On this Monday morning we forget the things that are behind us. Today we set our minds on those things in front of us. This is a new day to gain new strength in faith to face the battles that await us as we walk out the door. On this Monday we are not victims of our circumstances but instead we are victorious in Christ. Like the father of the demon possessed boy let our prayer be, "I do believe. Help my unbelief." [Mark 9:24]
On this day let us throw off the chains of doubt and despair as we dawn the garments of belief and hope. Our God fights for us. He does not leave us or forsake us. On this Monday morning we rest in God's love and sovereignty. God is in control. Storms may rage and it may appear Jesus is asleep and unconcerned about our situation but He is firmly in control.
On this Monday morning there is a calmness setting in for every true believer. We may have no control over the trials before us but we can walk through this Monday with peace knowing God is able to handle anything that comes our way. As Jesus said, "Everything is possible to the one who believes." [Mark 9:23b]
Peace is possible if we believe. Relief from stress is possible if we trust. Provision is possible if we have faith. Rest is possible for the one who has confidence in God and His promises. My battles are the same but today they seem more manageable. Yours may be the same as well. Today is not the day to give up or give in. Today is the day to stand firm in faith against the schemes of the wicked one. Today is the day to put on the armor and to fight for another day. Today is the day to depend on God's strength and supernatural enabling for the fight.
This is a new day filled with opportunities to experience God. None of us knows what divine encounters and divine appointments He is orchestrating. On this Monday we can live with a sense of adventure. On this Monday we can live with the confident expectation that God has gone before us to prepare the way and to make out paths straight.
Many people wake up on Mondays with a sense of dread. May this Monday morning be different. May we start the day with the excitement of taking each step of the day with our Great and Glorious King. On this Monday morning may we live in wonder and worship. Wonder at the evidence of God all around us in the green grass, the blue sky, the red robin, the towering trees, and the unique people who will come across our path. On this day may we live in the wonder of new truths revealed from His word. May we also live in worship as we lay our lives down at His feet as living sacrifices. May we worship at work, school, on the field and in our prayer closets. There is no greater act of worship for any of us on this Monday morning. Enjoy this Monday morning as a gift from God.
On this Monday morning we forget the things that are behind us. Today we set our minds on those things in front of us. This is a new day to gain new strength in faith to face the battles that await us as we walk out the door. On this Monday we are not victims of our circumstances but instead we are victorious in Christ. Like the father of the demon possessed boy let our prayer be, "I do believe. Help my unbelief." [Mark 9:24]
On this day let us throw off the chains of doubt and despair as we dawn the garments of belief and hope. Our God fights for us. He does not leave us or forsake us. On this Monday morning we rest in God's love and sovereignty. God is in control. Storms may rage and it may appear Jesus is asleep and unconcerned about our situation but He is firmly in control.
On this Monday morning there is a calmness setting in for every true believer. We may have no control over the trials before us but we can walk through this Monday with peace knowing God is able to handle anything that comes our way. As Jesus said, "Everything is possible to the one who believes." [Mark 9:23b]
Peace is possible if we believe. Relief from stress is possible if we trust. Provision is possible if we have faith. Rest is possible for the one who has confidence in God and His promises. My battles are the same but today they seem more manageable. Yours may be the same as well. Today is not the day to give up or give in. Today is the day to stand firm in faith against the schemes of the wicked one. Today is the day to put on the armor and to fight for another day. Today is the day to depend on God's strength and supernatural enabling for the fight.
This is a new day filled with opportunities to experience God. None of us knows what divine encounters and divine appointments He is orchestrating. On this Monday we can live with a sense of adventure. On this Monday we can live with the confident expectation that God has gone before us to prepare the way and to make out paths straight.
Many people wake up on Mondays with a sense of dread. May this Monday morning be different. May we start the day with the excitement of taking each step of the day with our Great and Glorious King. On this Monday morning may we live in wonder and worship. Wonder at the evidence of God all around us in the green grass, the blue sky, the red robin, the towering trees, and the unique people who will come across our path. On this day may we live in the wonder of new truths revealed from His word. May we also live in worship as we lay our lives down at His feet as living sacrifices. May we worship at work, school, on the field and in our prayer closets. There is no greater act of worship for any of us on this Monday morning. Enjoy this Monday morning as a gift from God.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Jesus, Do You Care?
Most of the blogs I write are born out of my private times with the Lord. As I sit with Him and read scripture morning after morning He speaks. Today He spoke through [Mark 4:35-41]. You know the story well. Jesus and the disciples were traveling across the sea when a violent storm arose. Jesus slept and the disciples doubted not only their on safety but Jesus' concern for their situation.
That is when they asked the question, "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to perish?" On one front it seems like a legitimate question. The storm was fierce. The waves were splashing over the sides of the boat so much so the boat had nearly become swamped. In such a storm the possibility of the boat sinking and the disciples drowning seemed like a real possibility.
This is where many of us live. We live asking, "Jesus do you care?" We face our own storms. Some are physical in nature. My wife battles rheumatoid arthritis. She aches every day and throughout the night. She told me yesterday if we did not have insurance her medications would cost over $20,000 a year. To be honest my first thought was, "Jesus do you not care? Why don't you just heal her completely as I have asked repeatedly so she does not need any medication?" I received no response from the Lord.
Some of you are battling emotional storms causing you to feel overwhelmed and without hope. Your spouse does not change. Your parents never seem supportive or show unconditional love. The boss is continually on your case demanding more productivity. Your work around the house is taken for granted. You are emotionally spent dealing with complicated and fractured relationships. You feel overwhelmed and begin to question, "Jesus don't you care?"
Some are battling spiritual storms. Perhaps you are confused by the mysterious ways God is working in your life. Maybe you cannot wrap your mind around why your trials do not end. Perhaps you grapple with doubt and despair that God will come through for you. Secretly in your soul you whisper, "Jesus do you care?"
I can relate. Suffice it to say that after years of a life spent seeking God in prayer and trusting Him for the impossible, I found myself recently asking Jesus if He really cared. I even entertained doubts and camped out with them.
God has spoken the same thing in response to my question, "Jesus do you care?" For the past two weeks God has jackhammered one response into my heart as I read through the book of Matthew and the book of Mark. His response to my question also came in the form of a question. "Why is your faith so little?" "Why do you have no faith?"
I have come to two conclusions. One of the great benefits of faith and prayer is the peace God gives His children in the middle of tough times. So much of the focus on my prayers is wanting to see the miracles come, the mountains moved, the circumstances changed. Now I understand more what God desires is that I be transformed on the inside to cope with whatever storms come into my life. While I focus on my outward challenges God often is more focused on my inward transformation. That is one of the great benefits of faith. When I truly have faith the storms do not rattle me. I trust God knows what He is doing and I know some storms are out of my ability to control.
The other thing I see relates to Jesus absolute perfect trust in His Father. How could Jesus sleep and the disciples stress? Jesus had inner peace with His Father. He had perfect trust and therefore could sleep soundly. The disciples had no inner peace. In fact Jesus did not chastise them for having little faith. He rebuked the fact they had no faith. The word "no" means "none at all." Truth is I have made the land of no faith my dwelling place far more frequently than I would like to admit which translated into my asking Jesus if He cared what I have been facing. This contributes to my stress levels, my anxiety, and inability to sleep soundly through the night. As I write this I have been up three and a half hours and the sun is not even up. Jesus slept in the middle of violent storm because He knew His Father had complete control over the storm and His life. This is a lesson I need to learn and suspect many of you too.
Jesus calmed the storm that night but more importantly to me is the fact He calmed me reading that passage this morning. My circumstances have not changed at all. Something has changed in me though. I know and believe God is in control. He is more than able to accomplish all that concerns me today as well as you. This is a comforting truth. It brings a calmness to my soul and mind.
So in response to our question, "Jesus do you care?" hear Him asking you, "Child do you trust Me?" If you really trust Him you will never doubt His care. You may not understand His ways but you will never doubt His love. Today I choose faith. What about you? In the days ahead I trust Jesus to keep shoring up that faith in all of us. He does care. He is not absent. Never mistake His silence for His absence. Yes, Jesus does care. Trust Him with whatever storm you are facing today.
That is when they asked the question, "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to perish?" On one front it seems like a legitimate question. The storm was fierce. The waves were splashing over the sides of the boat so much so the boat had nearly become swamped. In such a storm the possibility of the boat sinking and the disciples drowning seemed like a real possibility.
This is where many of us live. We live asking, "Jesus do you care?" We face our own storms. Some are physical in nature. My wife battles rheumatoid arthritis. She aches every day and throughout the night. She told me yesterday if we did not have insurance her medications would cost over $20,000 a year. To be honest my first thought was, "Jesus do you not care? Why don't you just heal her completely as I have asked repeatedly so she does not need any medication?" I received no response from the Lord.
Some of you are battling emotional storms causing you to feel overwhelmed and without hope. Your spouse does not change. Your parents never seem supportive or show unconditional love. The boss is continually on your case demanding more productivity. Your work around the house is taken for granted. You are emotionally spent dealing with complicated and fractured relationships. You feel overwhelmed and begin to question, "Jesus don't you care?"
Some are battling spiritual storms. Perhaps you are confused by the mysterious ways God is working in your life. Maybe you cannot wrap your mind around why your trials do not end. Perhaps you grapple with doubt and despair that God will come through for you. Secretly in your soul you whisper, "Jesus do you care?"
I can relate. Suffice it to say that after years of a life spent seeking God in prayer and trusting Him for the impossible, I found myself recently asking Jesus if He really cared. I even entertained doubts and camped out with them.
God has spoken the same thing in response to my question, "Jesus do you care?" For the past two weeks God has jackhammered one response into my heart as I read through the book of Matthew and the book of Mark. His response to my question also came in the form of a question. "Why is your faith so little?" "Why do you have no faith?"
I have come to two conclusions. One of the great benefits of faith and prayer is the peace God gives His children in the middle of tough times. So much of the focus on my prayers is wanting to see the miracles come, the mountains moved, the circumstances changed. Now I understand more what God desires is that I be transformed on the inside to cope with whatever storms come into my life. While I focus on my outward challenges God often is more focused on my inward transformation. That is one of the great benefits of faith. When I truly have faith the storms do not rattle me. I trust God knows what He is doing and I know some storms are out of my ability to control.
The other thing I see relates to Jesus absolute perfect trust in His Father. How could Jesus sleep and the disciples stress? Jesus had inner peace with His Father. He had perfect trust and therefore could sleep soundly. The disciples had no inner peace. In fact Jesus did not chastise them for having little faith. He rebuked the fact they had no faith. The word "no" means "none at all." Truth is I have made the land of no faith my dwelling place far more frequently than I would like to admit which translated into my asking Jesus if He cared what I have been facing. This contributes to my stress levels, my anxiety, and inability to sleep soundly through the night. As I write this I have been up three and a half hours and the sun is not even up. Jesus slept in the middle of violent storm because He knew His Father had complete control over the storm and His life. This is a lesson I need to learn and suspect many of you too.
Jesus calmed the storm that night but more importantly to me is the fact He calmed me reading that passage this morning. My circumstances have not changed at all. Something has changed in me though. I know and believe God is in control. He is more than able to accomplish all that concerns me today as well as you. This is a comforting truth. It brings a calmness to my soul and mind.
So in response to our question, "Jesus do you care?" hear Him asking you, "Child do you trust Me?" If you really trust Him you will never doubt His care. You may not understand His ways but you will never doubt His love. Today I choose faith. What about you? In the days ahead I trust Jesus to keep shoring up that faith in all of us. He does care. He is not absent. Never mistake His silence for His absence. Yes, Jesus does care. Trust Him with whatever storm you are facing today.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Do You Want to Go With Jesus?
As I read through the book of Matthew early this morning I came across a verse God has used many times in my life in the past. He saw fit to use it again this morning. I had to ask myself the question, do I really want to go with Jesus? Do I really want to be His disciple and learn from Him? Do I really want to be one of His followers?
Last night Brenda and I went out on a date. As we sat across from each other at dinner I told her I was sorry that our lives and ministry have been so hard. I reflected that I never dreamed our lives would have turned out the way they have. When we were first married I had great dreams. I honestly thought God had destined me to do some great things. Now twenty years later over dinner last night I began musing about the sacrifices and hardships of ministry. There have been many twists and turns. I have often felt like I failed. I can assure you at 46 years old I really thought I would have been further down the road in life and ministry. Going along with Jesus has meant many surprise changes of course I never saw coming.
Many years ago I pledged to follow Jesus anywhere at anytime and do anything. I laid my life, family, and ministry at His feet as an offering. I think this is what every believer should do. I can't say I have always liked where the Lord's leadership has taken us. There have been numerous steps of faith. There have been sacrifices and trials and more blessings than I can count.
Last night over dinner and during the past several days I have done a lot of pondering. I have tried to make sense out of my life. I asked Brenda hard questions about our present and our future. She is a rock. Seldom does she have the extreme mood swings I am prone to. She listens patiently, rebukes gently, and encourages continually. In that context, I came across [Matt 16:24] this morning.
Many people want to follow Jesus as long as things work out well for them. When the blessings come in like a flood it is easy to go along with Jesus. When success increases and the path is smooth it is joy to go with the Jesus. Jesus' words speak more to sacrifice than a life of comfort this morning though. His challenge has hit me strong in the past. It is hitting me strongly again this morning. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.'" [Matt 16:24]
Part of denying myself is denying my wants and rights to an easy life. Compared to many friends and family my life does not measure up. At 46 I have less than $5,000 in life savings. We do not have anything set back for retirement. Time and time again I continually start over. This is not what I planned as a young idealistic ministry student on the campus of Howard Payne University. Yet, my one desire has always been to follow Jesus.
Brenda asked me last night if personal success had been my ambition. I had to tell her building the kingdom of God has been my driving passion. Building God's kingdom has meant little time or desire to build Matt's Kingdom. I have denied myself the privilege of choosing my own ministry. I have denied myself the right to set my own salary or to make financial compensation a determining factor in where and whether I would go with Jesus. I deserve no credit or applause for this because I believe every child of God should live that way. We should live completely surrendered to the Lord.
Part of living completely surrendered means denying yourself. Truth be known it does not matter what I want. It only matters what He wants. Jesus spoke [Matthew 16:24] to His disciples knowing if they went with Him it would mean suffering and eventually martyrdom for most of them. He still challenged them to follow Him anyway.
We are inundated with the subtle and deceptive message that going along with Jesus means a life of reward and blessing not taking into account that following Jesus also means taking some risks, enduring hardships, facing opposition and sacrifice. If I am truly denying myself it doesn't matter how hard following Jesus gets. I have spent a life time protecting Matt's interests and rights. I am prone to want to avoid the hardships and to embrace the easy life. This morning I am reminded again that I am to utterly renounce every right over my life. How it turns out is out of my hands. Jesus alone has the right to determine my course. There is a sweetness to this surrender. This is familiar ground. Sweetly I surrender my life, my days, and my future to Him.
Jesus challenges His followers to take up their cross. We are not called to take up His cross because we can't. He alone could purchase redemption. That does not mean that you and I may not be called to suffer. This thought flies in the face of the American dream. The cross meant two things back during Jesus day. Death and suffering. I like what Paul wrote in [Galatians 2:20] "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
When I take up my cross I am taking up the crucified life. My life is now Christ's life. A dead man has no rights. It is no longer Matt living, planning and choosing. Jesus gets to call all the shots. If He suffered the cross who am I to think that I get to avoid suffering and hardships at all costs. Staying on the cross helps keeps life in perspective.
Jesus calls us to follow Him. He never says where that might lead. For some following Jesus has led to a life of fame and fortune. For others following Jesus has meant a life of hardship and hazards. We are called to follow regardless of where it leads. Jesus is the leader and we are to fall in behind Him and let Him determine the direction. I assure you, I never dreamed following Him would lead me back to Paradise to start a church. I can question, rationalize and even resist or I can submit and surrender.
The decision has already been made. I may never pastor a large church. I may never author best selling books. I may never get to retire because I have nothing to retire on. I may never have abundance. In the end that does not matter. If I am really surrendered and determined to go with Jesus I must also let Him determine the course. Regardless of where it leads I choose again this morning to go with Jesus.
Last night Brenda and I went out on a date. As we sat across from each other at dinner I told her I was sorry that our lives and ministry have been so hard. I reflected that I never dreamed our lives would have turned out the way they have. When we were first married I had great dreams. I honestly thought God had destined me to do some great things. Now twenty years later over dinner last night I began musing about the sacrifices and hardships of ministry. There have been many twists and turns. I have often felt like I failed. I can assure you at 46 years old I really thought I would have been further down the road in life and ministry. Going along with Jesus has meant many surprise changes of course I never saw coming.
Many years ago I pledged to follow Jesus anywhere at anytime and do anything. I laid my life, family, and ministry at His feet as an offering. I think this is what every believer should do. I can't say I have always liked where the Lord's leadership has taken us. There have been numerous steps of faith. There have been sacrifices and trials and more blessings than I can count.
Last night over dinner and during the past several days I have done a lot of pondering. I have tried to make sense out of my life. I asked Brenda hard questions about our present and our future. She is a rock. Seldom does she have the extreme mood swings I am prone to. She listens patiently, rebukes gently, and encourages continually. In that context, I came across [Matt 16:24] this morning.
Many people want to follow Jesus as long as things work out well for them. When the blessings come in like a flood it is easy to go along with Jesus. When success increases and the path is smooth it is joy to go with the Jesus. Jesus' words speak more to sacrifice than a life of comfort this morning though. His challenge has hit me strong in the past. It is hitting me strongly again this morning. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.'" [Matt 16:24]
Part of denying myself is denying my wants and rights to an easy life. Compared to many friends and family my life does not measure up. At 46 I have less than $5,000 in life savings. We do not have anything set back for retirement. Time and time again I continually start over. This is not what I planned as a young idealistic ministry student on the campus of Howard Payne University. Yet, my one desire has always been to follow Jesus.
Brenda asked me last night if personal success had been my ambition. I had to tell her building the kingdom of God has been my driving passion. Building God's kingdom has meant little time or desire to build Matt's Kingdom. I have denied myself the privilege of choosing my own ministry. I have denied myself the right to set my own salary or to make financial compensation a determining factor in where and whether I would go with Jesus. I deserve no credit or applause for this because I believe every child of God should live that way. We should live completely surrendered to the Lord.
Part of living completely surrendered means denying yourself. Truth be known it does not matter what I want. It only matters what He wants. Jesus spoke [Matthew 16:24] to His disciples knowing if they went with Him it would mean suffering and eventually martyrdom for most of them. He still challenged them to follow Him anyway.
We are inundated with the subtle and deceptive message that going along with Jesus means a life of reward and blessing not taking into account that following Jesus also means taking some risks, enduring hardships, facing opposition and sacrifice. If I am truly denying myself it doesn't matter how hard following Jesus gets. I have spent a life time protecting Matt's interests and rights. I am prone to want to avoid the hardships and to embrace the easy life. This morning I am reminded again that I am to utterly renounce every right over my life. How it turns out is out of my hands. Jesus alone has the right to determine my course. There is a sweetness to this surrender. This is familiar ground. Sweetly I surrender my life, my days, and my future to Him.
Jesus challenges His followers to take up their cross. We are not called to take up His cross because we can't. He alone could purchase redemption. That does not mean that you and I may not be called to suffer. This thought flies in the face of the American dream. The cross meant two things back during Jesus day. Death and suffering. I like what Paul wrote in [Galatians 2:20] "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
When I take up my cross I am taking up the crucified life. My life is now Christ's life. A dead man has no rights. It is no longer Matt living, planning and choosing. Jesus gets to call all the shots. If He suffered the cross who am I to think that I get to avoid suffering and hardships at all costs. Staying on the cross helps keeps life in perspective.
Jesus calls us to follow Him. He never says where that might lead. For some following Jesus has led to a life of fame and fortune. For others following Jesus has meant a life of hardship and hazards. We are called to follow regardless of where it leads. Jesus is the leader and we are to fall in behind Him and let Him determine the direction. I assure you, I never dreamed following Him would lead me back to Paradise to start a church. I can question, rationalize and even resist or I can submit and surrender.
The decision has already been made. I may never pastor a large church. I may never author best selling books. I may never get to retire because I have nothing to retire on. I may never have abundance. In the end that does not matter. If I am really surrendered and determined to go with Jesus I must also let Him determine the course. Regardless of where it leads I choose again this morning to go with Jesus.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Rest for the Weary Soul
As I write this early in the morning I have already been up two hours and we are not even close to the sun rising. I am weary. I have not slept soundly through the night for years and especially over the past few months. I may wake up anytime between 2:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. I never know when I will suddenly be awakened from a sound sleep. I go to bed early by most people's standards. I read a lot of scripture during this time. There are extended times of prayer. I read other books and sometimes watch television. I have been watching the news for the past hour while writing this blog at the same time.
The truth is I get weary. The truth is I have been weary for a long time. We all need physical rest but I do not think that is the source of the great weariness of my soul. I am weary in different ways like so many others around me. I am weary spiritually and emotionally. I see others who are enduring the fatigue in their souls as well. It does not take rocket science to figure out why I am so weary when I look back over the past two years of my life. The pace has been insane.
I preached more in 2010 than I had in any one year period in my life. On average I preached five times every week. FIVE TIMES! Do the math. That was 250 times. On top of that we had the twenty-three day revival where I preached twenty-six times in those twenty-three days. So add another 14 messages on top of those weekly messages plus 4 more for a youth winter camp and 8 more for a youth camp and that brings the total for the year up to 276 times for the year. I know now all that preaching took a toll on me more emotionally and spiritually than I realized. I love preaching and teaching. I am passionate about it. I have to be honest now in hindsight and say all of that preaching in many ways emptied my spiritual reserves.
When I look back on that season in my life I remember waking up some days and thinking to myself, "I have nothing left to give." Yet the service times were set and people expected to hear a fresh word from God. Many times that meant my getting up at 3:00 a.m. crying out to God in desperation for another message. Many times during that year I felt only one step ahead of the next service. In the grind of continual message preparation I did not have or take the time to read for pleasure. My life was consumed with getting ready for the next preaching assignment whether that meant at FBC Seminole or the outside preaching engagements people invited me to attend.
The first six months of 2011 were reflective and spiritually draining on top of the fatigue I felt stumbling out of 2010. During the early months of 2011 God began telling me to follow Him but I could not discern what that meant. I heard this message in scripture reading, songs on the radio and even once on a picture Turner colored for me. I wrestled with God in private prayer to discern what following Him meant. That meant more getting up between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. praying and pleading with God to tell me where He wanted me to follow Him. During April I became sure God telling me to follow Him meant I would leave Seminole. Over the next couple of months that call to follow God became clarified in my heart and mind to mean starting a church in Paradise, TX.
In late June I preached a youth camp in Panama City, FL. I almost resigned from FBC Seminole before leaving for the camp but since the youth group from Seminole would be at the camp in Florida I decided to wait so as not to ruin their camp. I resigned my position at FBC Seminole the following Sunday morning on July 3rd. I drove out of Seminole July 22nd for a preaching assignment in East Texas on July 24th for the Southside Baptist Church who came along side us a sponsoring church. July 31st we met at the daycare as the newly founded Faith Community Church for the first time. The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity. I have served in the dual roles as pastor and youth pastor.
On a weekly basis I am teaching and preaching four times. The real toll of weariness for me is the responsibility to lead and make the many financial decisions related to starting a church. I feel the weight of the new church daily. There are many decisions about how and where to spend the church finances wisely. We do not have our own space and I have not had an office since the church began. The weight of this new church presses on me night and day.
When you accompany all of this with no real vacation time in the past eighteen months I wake up today tired and burdened. Before you jump to the wrong conclusions please hear me out. Yes, I am tired. Most people I know are tired. Other pastors work harder than I. Many men and women routinely put in anywhere to sixty to eighty hours of work on an average week for their jobs. I am not looking for sympathy or pats on the back. I am just taking an honest look at myself and I know I am weary and burdened with all that comes with starting a new church.
I am not throwing in the towel or near cratering and there is only reason for that. Jesus has invited me and you to come to Him. We are invited to bring our weary and burdened souls to Him to find rest. I am talking about more than a good night sleep of rest. I am talking about an inner renewal and refreshing that gives us strength and courage to keep battling, working, and trusting. The kind of rest Jesus offers helps the emotionally battered wife keep loving her husband and trusting God to help her cope and to transform him. To the overworked and underappreciated man Jesus offers rest and recovery of strength.
Jesus gives rest to the weary parent who prays with tears for a defiant and sullen child. Jesus gives rest to the soul weighed down with cares and concerns from business. To those heavy laden with financial burdens Jesus gives rest. To the burned out Jesus offers restoration. To the emotionally numb Jesus grants refreshing.
Just as a machine cannot function properly when the r.p.ms. are maxed out for prolonged period of times neither can our bodies, minds or souls. Jesus invites us to Himself. He is a refuge from the storms of life. He is an oasis in the desert. He is shade from the heat. He is a hiding place from the rat race of life. He is a gentle repose from the continual grind of responsibility.
He offers more to us than a life of just fulfilling our duty as spouses, parents, and workers. I know many who do their duty but have lost vitality. They plod through their responsibilities before falling into bed in sheer exhaustion. These people have little to give emotionally to their families, friends, and more importantly to their God. Yet, these same people will dutifully serve at their local church with little to no joy and waning passion. Before they know what happened these people feel distant from God and emotionally disconnected from people around them.
In this weary state a relentless hunger often arises for pleasure, relief, and entertainment. This explains why so many respected citizens fall off the wagon with poor morale choices. In their fatigue these people just want relief and are willing to find it even in the wrong places. Jesus offers the better alternative. He offers true rest. In His rest strength is recovered as our souls are brought back to life and health. I know hundreds of people who need this.
Today I am being honest. I know words like duty, work, persevering, pressing on as well as others like them are seen as badges of courage and honor. To admit fatigue is a sign of weakness by many. I cannot be concerned how this is perceived by you the reader. The honest truth is I am weary and I know for my physical, emotional, and spiritual health I need to find rest in Jesus. He is my only source for rest.
I propose to do that in two different ways. I will continue to sit with the Lord in my personal devotions. I will also take some time off and get away for an extended time of reflection, rest, and spiritual renewal. Meditating on this scripture has already set me on the path toward healing and revival. Jesus is the only rest for weary souls. Will you take Him at His word today?
The truth is I get weary. The truth is I have been weary for a long time. We all need physical rest but I do not think that is the source of the great weariness of my soul. I am weary in different ways like so many others around me. I am weary spiritually and emotionally. I see others who are enduring the fatigue in their souls as well. It does not take rocket science to figure out why I am so weary when I look back over the past two years of my life. The pace has been insane.
I preached more in 2010 than I had in any one year period in my life. On average I preached five times every week. FIVE TIMES! Do the math. That was 250 times. On top of that we had the twenty-three day revival where I preached twenty-six times in those twenty-three days. So add another 14 messages on top of those weekly messages plus 4 more for a youth winter camp and 8 more for a youth camp and that brings the total for the year up to 276 times for the year. I know now all that preaching took a toll on me more emotionally and spiritually than I realized. I love preaching and teaching. I am passionate about it. I have to be honest now in hindsight and say all of that preaching in many ways emptied my spiritual reserves.
When I look back on that season in my life I remember waking up some days and thinking to myself, "I have nothing left to give." Yet the service times were set and people expected to hear a fresh word from God. Many times that meant my getting up at 3:00 a.m. crying out to God in desperation for another message. Many times during that year I felt only one step ahead of the next service. In the grind of continual message preparation I did not have or take the time to read for pleasure. My life was consumed with getting ready for the next preaching assignment whether that meant at FBC Seminole or the outside preaching engagements people invited me to attend.
The first six months of 2011 were reflective and spiritually draining on top of the fatigue I felt stumbling out of 2010. During the early months of 2011 God began telling me to follow Him but I could not discern what that meant. I heard this message in scripture reading, songs on the radio and even once on a picture Turner colored for me. I wrestled with God in private prayer to discern what following Him meant. That meant more getting up between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. praying and pleading with God to tell me where He wanted me to follow Him. During April I became sure God telling me to follow Him meant I would leave Seminole. Over the next couple of months that call to follow God became clarified in my heart and mind to mean starting a church in Paradise, TX.
In late June I preached a youth camp in Panama City, FL. I almost resigned from FBC Seminole before leaving for the camp but since the youth group from Seminole would be at the camp in Florida I decided to wait so as not to ruin their camp. I resigned my position at FBC Seminole the following Sunday morning on July 3rd. I drove out of Seminole July 22nd for a preaching assignment in East Texas on July 24th for the Southside Baptist Church who came along side us a sponsoring church. July 31st we met at the daycare as the newly founded Faith Community Church for the first time. The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity. I have served in the dual roles as pastor and youth pastor.
On a weekly basis I am teaching and preaching four times. The real toll of weariness for me is the responsibility to lead and make the many financial decisions related to starting a church. I feel the weight of the new church daily. There are many decisions about how and where to spend the church finances wisely. We do not have our own space and I have not had an office since the church began. The weight of this new church presses on me night and day.
When you accompany all of this with no real vacation time in the past eighteen months I wake up today tired and burdened. Before you jump to the wrong conclusions please hear me out. Yes, I am tired. Most people I know are tired. Other pastors work harder than I. Many men and women routinely put in anywhere to sixty to eighty hours of work on an average week for their jobs. I am not looking for sympathy or pats on the back. I am just taking an honest look at myself and I know I am weary and burdened with all that comes with starting a new church.
I am not throwing in the towel or near cratering and there is only reason for that. Jesus has invited me and you to come to Him. We are invited to bring our weary and burdened souls to Him to find rest. I am talking about more than a good night sleep of rest. I am talking about an inner renewal and refreshing that gives us strength and courage to keep battling, working, and trusting. The kind of rest Jesus offers helps the emotionally battered wife keep loving her husband and trusting God to help her cope and to transform him. To the overworked and underappreciated man Jesus offers rest and recovery of strength.
Jesus gives rest to the weary parent who prays with tears for a defiant and sullen child. Jesus gives rest to the soul weighed down with cares and concerns from business. To those heavy laden with financial burdens Jesus gives rest. To the burned out Jesus offers restoration. To the emotionally numb Jesus grants refreshing.
Just as a machine cannot function properly when the r.p.ms. are maxed out for prolonged period of times neither can our bodies, minds or souls. Jesus invites us to Himself. He is a refuge from the storms of life. He is an oasis in the desert. He is shade from the heat. He is a hiding place from the rat race of life. He is a gentle repose from the continual grind of responsibility.
He offers more to us than a life of just fulfilling our duty as spouses, parents, and workers. I know many who do their duty but have lost vitality. They plod through their responsibilities before falling into bed in sheer exhaustion. These people have little to give emotionally to their families, friends, and more importantly to their God. Yet, these same people will dutifully serve at their local church with little to no joy and waning passion. Before they know what happened these people feel distant from God and emotionally disconnected from people around them.
In this weary state a relentless hunger often arises for pleasure, relief, and entertainment. This explains why so many respected citizens fall off the wagon with poor morale choices. In their fatigue these people just want relief and are willing to find it even in the wrong places. Jesus offers the better alternative. He offers true rest. In His rest strength is recovered as our souls are brought back to life and health. I know hundreds of people who need this.
Today I am being honest. I know words like duty, work, persevering, pressing on as well as others like them are seen as badges of courage and honor. To admit fatigue is a sign of weakness by many. I cannot be concerned how this is perceived by you the reader. The honest truth is I am weary and I know for my physical, emotional, and spiritual health I need to find rest in Jesus. He is my only source for rest.
I propose to do that in two different ways. I will continue to sit with the Lord in my personal devotions. I will also take some time off and get away for an extended time of reflection, rest, and spiritual renewal. Meditating on this scripture has already set me on the path toward healing and revival. Jesus is the only rest for weary souls. Will you take Him at His word today?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
My First Lady
Twenty and a half years ago I stood at the altar of the FBC of Hurst, TX to marry Brenda. We both had a lot of hopes and dreams. She worked as a Senior Merchandise Manager for JC Penney and I served a church in Weatherford, TX as a part time student pastor as well as being a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.
We had grand dreams as we started our lives together. Neither of us foresaw the great challenges, heart breaks, and deep sorrows we would experience. We were young, in love and idealistic. We rejoiced during that youth ministry when dozens of students trusted Christ as Savior and followed in baptism. We made our home in old tiny farm house. Life was simple and we had high hopes and dreams for the future.
After two years we left that church as I began my pastoral ministry. I served the next church in Burke, TX for five years. It proved to be five of the hardest years of our lives. I learned the hard way that there is much more to serving as a pastor than just preaching. I traveled full time for five years after leaving that church vowing I would never pastor again. My traveling ministry forced Brenda to endure financial hardships and life without a husband at home while trying to raise young boys. She never wavered but stood strong with me through those hard days. Eventually she felt God leading her to quit work and the financial trials continued.
When I sensed the Lord calling me back into pastoral ministry she gave me her full support. We tried to start a church. We worked hard and prayed harder but saw it die a slow painful death after four years of labor. The financial trials intensified over the course of the next eighteen months. I did not have a church to serve other than a handful of people who gathered in our living room to be taught the Bible. Door after door shut on us to find a new church to serve. Over thirty to be exact. It felt like nobody wanted us and I lost a lot of confidence and went through a severe bout of depression during that time. Brenda keep believing in me and encouraging me. She never blamed me or complained about the financial hardships. She managed our meager income and endured the stress and difficulty with joy and a love and respect for I still cannot fathom.
When FBC Paradise called she felt the Lord's leading in it long before I did. I was hesitant but she had God's peace. We enjoyed four of the best years we could have imagined with those dear people. We still look back on our ministry to that church with fond memories. Out of nowhere God called us away from Paradise and close proximity to her family to far West Texas. Brenda was resistant at first until she heard the Lord's voice for herself. She followed out to the land of dirt and wind.
Our brief two years in Seminole were better than I can put down in this blog. We experienced the greatest success in ministry and witnessed outpouring of God's power in ways we never have dreamed. Brenda impacted many lives in Seminole both in and outside the church. When God began leading me to follow Him away from Seminole and back to Paradise once again Brenda followed with me through tears. Leaving Seminole was hard but she followed God with me to a life of completely starting over. She gave up her friends, her ladies' Bible study class, a great salary, and her home. For months she was forced to live in a house of a friend in Paradise while I lived in an RV. Today she lives in a tiny home where we cannot even fit a dining table. She does not complain but makes the best of it.
She is my best friend. My soul mate. She is my first and my leading lady. Nobody other than God has more influence on my life than she does. I love her deeply. I gladly praise her for all to hear. [Prov 31:31]
We had grand dreams as we started our lives together. Neither of us foresaw the great challenges, heart breaks, and deep sorrows we would experience. We were young, in love and idealistic. We rejoiced during that youth ministry when dozens of students trusted Christ as Savior and followed in baptism. We made our home in old tiny farm house. Life was simple and we had high hopes and dreams for the future.
After two years we left that church as I began my pastoral ministry. I served the next church in Burke, TX for five years. It proved to be five of the hardest years of our lives. I learned the hard way that there is much more to serving as a pastor than just preaching. I traveled full time for five years after leaving that church vowing I would never pastor again. My traveling ministry forced Brenda to endure financial hardships and life without a husband at home while trying to raise young boys. She never wavered but stood strong with me through those hard days. Eventually she felt God leading her to quit work and the financial trials continued.
When I sensed the Lord calling me back into pastoral ministry she gave me her full support. We tried to start a church. We worked hard and prayed harder but saw it die a slow painful death after four years of labor. The financial trials intensified over the course of the next eighteen months. I did not have a church to serve other than a handful of people who gathered in our living room to be taught the Bible. Door after door shut on us to find a new church to serve. Over thirty to be exact. It felt like nobody wanted us and I lost a lot of confidence and went through a severe bout of depression during that time. Brenda keep believing in me and encouraging me. She never blamed me or complained about the financial hardships. She managed our meager income and endured the stress and difficulty with joy and a love and respect for I still cannot fathom.
When FBC Paradise called she felt the Lord's leading in it long before I did. I was hesitant but she had God's peace. We enjoyed four of the best years we could have imagined with those dear people. We still look back on our ministry to that church with fond memories. Out of nowhere God called us away from Paradise and close proximity to her family to far West Texas. Brenda was resistant at first until she heard the Lord's voice for herself. She followed out to the land of dirt and wind.
Our brief two years in Seminole were better than I can put down in this blog. We experienced the greatest success in ministry and witnessed outpouring of God's power in ways we never have dreamed. Brenda impacted many lives in Seminole both in and outside the church. When God began leading me to follow Him away from Seminole and back to Paradise once again Brenda followed with me through tears. Leaving Seminole was hard but she followed God with me to a life of completely starting over. She gave up her friends, her ladies' Bible study class, a great salary, and her home. For months she was forced to live in a house of a friend in Paradise while I lived in an RV. Today she lives in a tiny home where we cannot even fit a dining table. She does not complain but makes the best of it.
She is my best friend. My soul mate. She is my first and my leading lady. Nobody other than God has more influence on my life than she does. I love her deeply. I gladly praise her for all to hear. [Prov 31:31]
Monday, February 13, 2012
Closed Doors
I write this day out of frustration. Doors keep shutting on us. We gt word someone was interested in looking at our house and then the next thing we hear the lookers are going in a different direction. They say the house is too expensive but all we are asking is exactly what we paid for it. This has happened repeatedly over the past seven months. We have not had even one offer on the house in all that time.
I got wind on a bigger rent house available and called to find out about it. I actually heard about it several weeks ago but at the time I thought our house would sell and we did not want to move from this rent house to another rent house only to finally be able to buy a house and then move a third time. We decided to go drive by the rent house (which was four bedrooms) on Saturday. We drove out to take a look at it and liked what we saw from the outside. I found out today somebody moved into the house yesterday. Every house we have really liked here and we thought we could afford has already sold. Rental property is few and far in between. More closed doors.
It is a burden I continually cast on the Lord. I do not understand why He continues to shut doors for us. Month after month we have continued to pay for a house in Seminole we no longer get to enjoy. Only those who have been through similar experiences can relate to the frustration. With each passing month the financial screws tighten a little more as we keep paying for that house. More and more we are having to reach deeper to make the ends meet.
We have prayed and prayed. I cannot even tell you how many hours we have poured into praying for that house to sell as individuals and as a family. With each passing month the frustration mounts. No matter what angle I look at this from I cannot understand why God continues to shut this door.
Paul had doors shut on him. Often he was prevented from going to places he wanted to minister. God had His reasons then as He has His reasons now. Time and time again I have gone back to [Is 55:8-9]. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not My ways. For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."Sometimes you can look back in hindsight and see the reasons why God shut doors. At other times you never discover the reasons and are left to cope with all the why questions.
In the past I felt assured there were two different churches we were going to serve, one in Tyler, TX and the other in Odessa, TX. Both doors were shut. In hindsight both churches had troubled pasts and would have been difficult churches to serve. God shut the doors to both to save us from a lot of heartache. Instead we were led to the Paradise community. In hindsight we saw God closed doors to bring us into something better.
The issue with our housing is more difficult to understand. I do not doubt God called me to follow Him to start Faith Community Church. Therefore I deduce that it was the will of God for my family to move from our house to here and our house had to be sold. For seven months we have been praying along with countless others asking God to bring a buyer. Our salary was cut significantly to start this church yet it was a step we felt and still believe God called us to take. We have not even had anyone make an offer on the house in these seven months. People have offered to rent our house. Many have counseled me not to do this. Our house is in mint condition now and is ready to move in. If I am clearly in the will of God, and we see evidence of that on many fronts, it is hard to discern the reason for the closed doors on selling our home or buying a new one. The more frustrating thing is watching our savings account dwindle we were hoping to use for a down payment on a house every month. Even as I ask these questions I know there are no real answers.
We have no choice but to keep waiting and to keep trusting. We have no choice but to look for the positive in all of this. We have both read and quoted relevant Bible verses. We have prayed and prayed. Others have prayed for us. At the least I am not living in an RV while my family lives under a different roof. God has His reasons for the delay and for keeping the doors shut. I do not understand them. I may never understand why He keeps closing doors on us. I even have doubts about posting this blog. Nobody wants to hear that the man who has preached and written so much about faith struggles from time to time. Truth is as of late it has been harder to preach and to write when you are clinging to hope and faith by a thread.
I am not abandoning hope. I know God can move my mountains and believe me I have asked Him to move them over and over again. Not understanding is the hardest part. I think it would be helpful to know why or to see down the road but His thoughts are higher than mine and His ways are way different than my ways. I am stuck in between a rock and a hard place.
These are days when you simply have to gut it out. I have to gut it out in my mind and dwell on God and my pursuit of deeper love for Him. I have to gut it out in my faith and keep asking and trusting God to come through no matter how long I have to wait on Him. I have to gut it out in perseverance and serving to live with confident expectation.
For this season God keeps shutting the door but I am reminded of another scripture. This is also a scripture about doors but it is one that gives me hope. "Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the doors will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." [Matt 7:7-8]
So we keep asking, searching, and knocking. By faith I know the day will come when I write about the answers to all those prayers and when the doors are flung open wide. Until then, more asking, seeking, and knocking.
I got wind on a bigger rent house available and called to find out about it. I actually heard about it several weeks ago but at the time I thought our house would sell and we did not want to move from this rent house to another rent house only to finally be able to buy a house and then move a third time. We decided to go drive by the rent house (which was four bedrooms) on Saturday. We drove out to take a look at it and liked what we saw from the outside. I found out today somebody moved into the house yesterday. Every house we have really liked here and we thought we could afford has already sold. Rental property is few and far in between. More closed doors.
It is a burden I continually cast on the Lord. I do not understand why He continues to shut doors for us. Month after month we have continued to pay for a house in Seminole we no longer get to enjoy. Only those who have been through similar experiences can relate to the frustration. With each passing month the financial screws tighten a little more as we keep paying for that house. More and more we are having to reach deeper to make the ends meet.
We have prayed and prayed. I cannot even tell you how many hours we have poured into praying for that house to sell as individuals and as a family. With each passing month the frustration mounts. No matter what angle I look at this from I cannot understand why God continues to shut this door.
Paul had doors shut on him. Often he was prevented from going to places he wanted to minister. God had His reasons then as He has His reasons now. Time and time again I have gone back to [Is 55:8-9]. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not My ways. For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."Sometimes you can look back in hindsight and see the reasons why God shut doors. At other times you never discover the reasons and are left to cope with all the why questions.
In the past I felt assured there were two different churches we were going to serve, one in Tyler, TX and the other in Odessa, TX. Both doors were shut. In hindsight both churches had troubled pasts and would have been difficult churches to serve. God shut the doors to both to save us from a lot of heartache. Instead we were led to the Paradise community. In hindsight we saw God closed doors to bring us into something better.
The issue with our housing is more difficult to understand. I do not doubt God called me to follow Him to start Faith Community Church. Therefore I deduce that it was the will of God for my family to move from our house to here and our house had to be sold. For seven months we have been praying along with countless others asking God to bring a buyer. Our salary was cut significantly to start this church yet it was a step we felt and still believe God called us to take. We have not even had anyone make an offer on the house in these seven months. People have offered to rent our house. Many have counseled me not to do this. Our house is in mint condition now and is ready to move in. If I am clearly in the will of God, and we see evidence of that on many fronts, it is hard to discern the reason for the closed doors on selling our home or buying a new one. The more frustrating thing is watching our savings account dwindle we were hoping to use for a down payment on a house every month. Even as I ask these questions I know there are no real answers.
We have no choice but to keep waiting and to keep trusting. We have no choice but to look for the positive in all of this. We have both read and quoted relevant Bible verses. We have prayed and prayed. Others have prayed for us. At the least I am not living in an RV while my family lives under a different roof. God has His reasons for the delay and for keeping the doors shut. I do not understand them. I may never understand why He keeps closing doors on us. I even have doubts about posting this blog. Nobody wants to hear that the man who has preached and written so much about faith struggles from time to time. Truth is as of late it has been harder to preach and to write when you are clinging to hope and faith by a thread.
I am not abandoning hope. I know God can move my mountains and believe me I have asked Him to move them over and over again. Not understanding is the hardest part. I think it would be helpful to know why or to see down the road but His thoughts are higher than mine and His ways are way different than my ways. I am stuck in between a rock and a hard place.
These are days when you simply have to gut it out. I have to gut it out in my mind and dwell on God and my pursuit of deeper love for Him. I have to gut it out in my faith and keep asking and trusting God to come through no matter how long I have to wait on Him. I have to gut it out in perseverance and serving to live with confident expectation.
For this season God keeps shutting the door but I am reminded of another scripture. This is also a scripture about doors but it is one that gives me hope. "Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the doors will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." [Matt 7:7-8]
So we keep asking, searching, and knocking. By faith I know the day will come when I write about the answers to all those prayers and when the doors are flung open wide. Until then, more asking, seeking, and knocking.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Greater and Lesser
I just sent the boys off to school with a morning devotion from [Jn 3:30] "He must increase but I must decrease." Another translation words it differently. Instead of the word "increase" the word "greater" is used and instead of the word "decrease" the word "less" is used. The whole point is that Jesus must continue to become greater and greater in our lives while at the same time we become less and less important.
I told the boys that as an author it has never been about me making a name for myself when I write books. I write for Jesus and He can do with my books, articles and blogs whatever He wants. If it pleases Him to keep me in obscurity and my books out of the mainstream market I must become less. If it pleases Him to use those books broadly around the world then He gets the credit. It is all about Him.
I reminded the boys that when they play sports it is not about everyone remembering their name or their name becoming famous. They should play to make a bigger deal out of Jesus. Jesus must be exalted, promoted and made famous in our lives on whatever platform God gives us. Far too many people really live to make a bigger deal out of themselves.
Celebrities come and go. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, Marilynn Monroe, and countless others have taken center stage for awhile and then faded into our minds and the pages of history. These people have been household names but they have never surpassed the name of Jesus. They have come and gone. Those people made their mark and either retired or died and in some cases both. Jesus' influence on this world continues. He is alive and active in the lives of millions and millions of people TODAY and FOREVER!
Many reject and defy Him today as they have done through the ages. Jesus will get His due. "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Phil 2:9-11]
He not only must become greater and us lesser but He is greater and we are inferior. That is the simple fact. Our days will come to an end. We are but a vapor here for a little while and then gone. Jesus is forever. He is greater and we are less.
I told the boys that as an author it has never been about me making a name for myself when I write books. I write for Jesus and He can do with my books, articles and blogs whatever He wants. If it pleases Him to keep me in obscurity and my books out of the mainstream market I must become less. If it pleases Him to use those books broadly around the world then He gets the credit. It is all about Him.
I reminded the boys that when they play sports it is not about everyone remembering their name or their name becoming famous. They should play to make a bigger deal out of Jesus. Jesus must be exalted, promoted and made famous in our lives on whatever platform God gives us. Far too many people really live to make a bigger deal out of themselves.
Celebrities come and go. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods, Marilynn Monroe, and countless others have taken center stage for awhile and then faded into our minds and the pages of history. These people have been household names but they have never surpassed the name of Jesus. They have come and gone. Those people made their mark and either retired or died and in some cases both. Jesus' influence on this world continues. He is alive and active in the lives of millions and millions of people TODAY and FOREVER!
Many reject and defy Him today as they have done through the ages. Jesus will get His due. "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Phil 2:9-11]
He not only must become greater and us lesser but He is greater and we are inferior. That is the simple fact. Our days will come to an end. We are but a vapor here for a little while and then gone. Jesus is forever. He is greater and we are less.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
On the Scent of Revival
I have been on a relentless pursuit of revival since my days back at Howard Payne University. I was introduced to some authors who whetted my appetite for seasons where God visits His people in power. The more I read the more I yearned to see that happen in my lifetime. I prayed for over a decade and never saw anything like that until after a youth retreat we took at the Burke Baptist Church I served as pastor.
The students shared in the evening service after their retreat and the power of God came down. Not one time in my ministry have I ever had anyone ask me what a group of three adults asked me that night as the service ended. They asked if we would meet again the following Monday night. We kept meeting for two weeks. Services lasted for two and two and a half hours with most of that time being directed in worship and response to the message.
A few years later I preached a revival on the campus of Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, TX. Those students prayed and hungered for God. They prayed and prayed asking God to visit their campus in power. When I gave the invitation that first night God clearly instructed me to get out of the way. I prostrated myself on the floor with my head positioned under a chair. The sound of weeping and sobbing echoed through the room as people repented of sin and got right with God. We met three hours that first night and close to two hours of that was people responding to God. The revival lasted for three weeks. Many were saved and the work of God burned hotly in our hearts.
Neither of those revivals can compare to what we experienced in Seminole August of 2010. For twenty-three straight nights the glory came down. Over twenty people were saved including several senior adults. People repented of sin. Again the worship services lasted two to three hours. Those were days I will never forget. Day after day God gave me a fresh word to preach for that day. It felt like we were caught in the current of a river and flowed as the Holy Spirit moved in us.
Like a hound dog who has picked up the trail I am onto the scent of revival for Paradise, TX. I believe God wills it and I want it. I am onto the scent of revival and off in hot pursuit to track it down. We are praying for God to Shake the City here as He has done in other places in the past. I hunger for more revival. Not meetings but genuine encounters with God. There is a price to pay for revival but God has put it in my heart to stay on the scent and to relentlessly pursue revival regardless of the price. Please join me in prayer.
We plan to hold our first service on July 15th. Since Faith Community Church does not have our own facilities we are also planning on an old fashioned tent revival even during the dog days of summer. My long time friend, Chris Nash, who led worship during the Burke revival and the revival at Angelina College will be joining us for the Paradise "Shake the City Revival."
Lord, I ask you to do it again. I ask you to do what you did in Burke, Lufkin, and Seminole again. Please do it again in Paradise. Help me stay on the scent of revival.
The students shared in the evening service after their retreat and the power of God came down. Not one time in my ministry have I ever had anyone ask me what a group of three adults asked me that night as the service ended. They asked if we would meet again the following Monday night. We kept meeting for two weeks. Services lasted for two and two and a half hours with most of that time being directed in worship and response to the message.
A few years later I preached a revival on the campus of Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, TX. Those students prayed and hungered for God. They prayed and prayed asking God to visit their campus in power. When I gave the invitation that first night God clearly instructed me to get out of the way. I prostrated myself on the floor with my head positioned under a chair. The sound of weeping and sobbing echoed through the room as people repented of sin and got right with God. We met three hours that first night and close to two hours of that was people responding to God. The revival lasted for three weeks. Many were saved and the work of God burned hotly in our hearts.
Neither of those revivals can compare to what we experienced in Seminole August of 2010. For twenty-three straight nights the glory came down. Over twenty people were saved including several senior adults. People repented of sin. Again the worship services lasted two to three hours. Those were days I will never forget. Day after day God gave me a fresh word to preach for that day. It felt like we were caught in the current of a river and flowed as the Holy Spirit moved in us.
Like a hound dog who has picked up the trail I am onto the scent of revival for Paradise, TX. I believe God wills it and I want it. I am onto the scent of revival and off in hot pursuit to track it down. We are praying for God to Shake the City here as He has done in other places in the past. I hunger for more revival. Not meetings but genuine encounters with God. There is a price to pay for revival but God has put it in my heart to stay on the scent and to relentlessly pursue revival regardless of the price. Please join me in prayer.
We plan to hold our first service on July 15th. Since Faith Community Church does not have our own facilities we are also planning on an old fashioned tent revival even during the dog days of summer. My long time friend, Chris Nash, who led worship during the Burke revival and the revival at Angelina College will be joining us for the Paradise "Shake the City Revival."
Lord, I ask you to do it again. I ask you to do what you did in Burke, Lufkin, and Seminole again. Please do it again in Paradise. Help me stay on the scent of revival.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Breaking the Grip of Satan
There is no use denying it. Satan has a firm grip on this country and most of our communities. Even a casual observer can see the evidence. Since 1960 the number of couples living together has gone up from 439,000 to 5,500,000. Just since 1960 sex before marriage has increased 25,000%. Pornographic websites jumped from 14 million in 1998 to over 372 million by 2004. He has a firm grip on our country.
At times I wonder if it were any easier back in earlier times to serve God and break the power of Satan. We know from historical accounts that it was not easy for the apostles, the reformers, or for those involved in settling the United States. Yet God worked in those situations. God used the apostles to spread the gospel, write the Bible and plant churches. God used the reformers to break the iron like grip of Satan through the Catholic church. God used George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards to usher in days of the First Great Awakening when many turned to faith in Christ in the Colonies.
I am firmly convinced that the only way the grip of Satan can be broken is through revival and spiritual awakening. We know from history the only way revivals come is through the fervent and continued prayers of God's people. This has been born out time and time again. I know there is a remnant in the United States of America who still pray and plead with God to break the grip of Satan. The continual incense of prayer wafts before a great God.He listens. He holds the power to break the vice like grip of Satan on our students, young adults, and on married men and women. God holds the power to turn a nation back to Him.
Is that really what we want? Do we want to see salvations and true transformations in our communities? Let us not give lip service to this question. The enemy has advanced for decades. It has been a long time since the good old USA has really experienced a genuine revival that not only crippled but broken the grip of Satan. I would love to see that in my lifetime but am I willing to pay the price in relentless prayer and devotion to holiness in living. Many have lived this way and have not seen the grip of Satan broken. They died in faith passing the baton to our generation. It is time to give ourselves to the pursuit of God and revival.
At times I wonder if it were any easier back in earlier times to serve God and break the power of Satan. We know from historical accounts that it was not easy for the apostles, the reformers, or for those involved in settling the United States. Yet God worked in those situations. God used the apostles to spread the gospel, write the Bible and plant churches. God used the reformers to break the iron like grip of Satan through the Catholic church. God used George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards to usher in days of the First Great Awakening when many turned to faith in Christ in the Colonies.
I am firmly convinced that the only way the grip of Satan can be broken is through revival and spiritual awakening. We know from history the only way revivals come is through the fervent and continued prayers of God's people. This has been born out time and time again. I know there is a remnant in the United States of America who still pray and plead with God to break the grip of Satan. The continual incense of prayer wafts before a great God.He listens. He holds the power to break the vice like grip of Satan on our students, young adults, and on married men and women. God holds the power to turn a nation back to Him.
Is that really what we want? Do we want to see salvations and true transformations in our communities? Let us not give lip service to this question. The enemy has advanced for decades. It has been a long time since the good old USA has really experienced a genuine revival that not only crippled but broken the grip of Satan. I would love to see that in my lifetime but am I willing to pay the price in relentless prayer and devotion to holiness in living. Many have lived this way and have not seen the grip of Satan broken. They died in faith passing the baton to our generation. It is time to give ourselves to the pursuit of God and revival.
Contentment
"... for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content, whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." [Phil 4:11-13]
We live in a very discontented society. People are not content in their marriages and go looking for love in all the wrong places. People are not content with what they own so they go deeper into debt trying to satisfy an inner yearning nothing on this earth can satisfy. The child, after Christmas or a birthday, begins making plans for what they want next. Regardless of how much money we make there is always the desire to make a little more.
Reading Paul this morning is a great reminder that our contentment is found in Christ and nowhere else. So if you wake up today with chronic disease, you will never find contentment in the way you feel but you can find contentment in Christ who helps you endure. He provides a joy that goes much deeper than our circumstances. If you wake up this morning coping with grief from the death of a spouse or loved one, you will never find contentment in the days ahead in your loneliness. Christ is a companion who never leaves us or forsakes us especially in the tough times. If you wake up this morning still mourning a failed a marriage, you will never find contentment with a broken heart. You can find peace and hope only in the one who heals and mends broken hearts. Should you awake to financial woes, you will never be content as long as you focus on your needs. Turn your gaze to the One who promises to meet those needs.
If you and I could learn to be content in whatever circumstances we are facing at the moment how much easier life would be. Can we really learn to be satisfied in abundance as well as poverty? Is it really possible to be contented when our bellies growl with hunger pangs as well as to be contented when we feast sumptuously? Can we maintain the same faith, the same joy and the same contentedness when we have little as well as when we have a lot?
Paul wrote these verses in prison. You and I endure the private prisons of our own thoughts and attitudes. What we think and dwell on soon begins to affect our attitude, faith, joy, and hope. For Paul the focus was Christ. He trusted Christ to help him endure whatever trial came his way. He trusted Christ for the strength to get through the hard days.
I recall the three months I lived in the RV after moving back to Paradise. At times the walls seemed to close in. Yet on the nights it rained I thanked God for a shelter from the rain. On the days when the temperatures soared to one hundred seven degrees I contented myself in the cool refuge of that space. In the first days I contented myself on meals of sandwiches and chips. There were days and nights when it all got the best of me and those were the days when I chose to dwell on my circumstances rather than the goodness of God.
This morning I no longer live in the RV. Brenda, the boys and I now dwell in a small rent house. I have plenty of reason to be content. We are all under one roof. For three months while I lived in the RV the rest of the family lived in a house of a friend. The meals are much more elaborate than sandwiches and chips now. I have my own chair and can cook in my own kitchen. I sleep in my own bed next to the love of my life. God is continually teaching us to be content in the circumstances we are in.
At times this has been a painful lesson to learn. One thing I know for sure. When I keep my attention on seeking God the contentment follows. When I choose to focus on what I don't like about my circumstances I can lose hope, joy, and sink into despair.
Living in prison could not have been Paul's chief ambition. I think He just wanted to serve God and obey Him. Doing so meant the loss of freedom, the physical torture, and the constant battle of the mind. Paul learned the secret of contentment and found it to be trusting Christ for strength to endure every day. Some days for Paul, just like us, were better than others. There were days when he preached and saw multitudes turn to Christ. There were other days when he was arrested and beaten without mercy. The same Christ helped him to not only endure both sets of days but to do so with a joy and contentment that is rare today.
I don't know what you are up against today. I just know Jesus Christ makes His strength available to those who need it. He can empower us to experience genuine contentment and peace no matter what we are facing. We all need that.
We live in a very discontented society. People are not content in their marriages and go looking for love in all the wrong places. People are not content with what they own so they go deeper into debt trying to satisfy an inner yearning nothing on this earth can satisfy. The child, after Christmas or a birthday, begins making plans for what they want next. Regardless of how much money we make there is always the desire to make a little more.
Reading Paul this morning is a great reminder that our contentment is found in Christ and nowhere else. So if you wake up today with chronic disease, you will never find contentment in the way you feel but you can find contentment in Christ who helps you endure. He provides a joy that goes much deeper than our circumstances. If you wake up this morning coping with grief from the death of a spouse or loved one, you will never find contentment in the days ahead in your loneliness. Christ is a companion who never leaves us or forsakes us especially in the tough times. If you wake up this morning still mourning a failed a marriage, you will never find contentment with a broken heart. You can find peace and hope only in the one who heals and mends broken hearts. Should you awake to financial woes, you will never be content as long as you focus on your needs. Turn your gaze to the One who promises to meet those needs.
If you and I could learn to be content in whatever circumstances we are facing at the moment how much easier life would be. Can we really learn to be satisfied in abundance as well as poverty? Is it really possible to be contented when our bellies growl with hunger pangs as well as to be contented when we feast sumptuously? Can we maintain the same faith, the same joy and the same contentedness when we have little as well as when we have a lot?
Paul wrote these verses in prison. You and I endure the private prisons of our own thoughts and attitudes. What we think and dwell on soon begins to affect our attitude, faith, joy, and hope. For Paul the focus was Christ. He trusted Christ to help him endure whatever trial came his way. He trusted Christ for the strength to get through the hard days.
I recall the three months I lived in the RV after moving back to Paradise. At times the walls seemed to close in. Yet on the nights it rained I thanked God for a shelter from the rain. On the days when the temperatures soared to one hundred seven degrees I contented myself in the cool refuge of that space. In the first days I contented myself on meals of sandwiches and chips. There were days and nights when it all got the best of me and those were the days when I chose to dwell on my circumstances rather than the goodness of God.
This morning I no longer live in the RV. Brenda, the boys and I now dwell in a small rent house. I have plenty of reason to be content. We are all under one roof. For three months while I lived in the RV the rest of the family lived in a house of a friend. The meals are much more elaborate than sandwiches and chips now. I have my own chair and can cook in my own kitchen. I sleep in my own bed next to the love of my life. God is continually teaching us to be content in the circumstances we are in.
At times this has been a painful lesson to learn. One thing I know for sure. When I keep my attention on seeking God the contentment follows. When I choose to focus on what I don't like about my circumstances I can lose hope, joy, and sink into despair.
Living in prison could not have been Paul's chief ambition. I think He just wanted to serve God and obey Him. Doing so meant the loss of freedom, the physical torture, and the constant battle of the mind. Paul learned the secret of contentment and found it to be trusting Christ for strength to endure every day. Some days for Paul, just like us, were better than others. There were days when he preached and saw multitudes turn to Christ. There were other days when he was arrested and beaten without mercy. The same Christ helped him to not only endure both sets of days but to do so with a joy and contentment that is rare today.
I don't know what you are up against today. I just know Jesus Christ makes His strength available to those who need it. He can empower us to experience genuine contentment and peace no matter what we are facing. We all need that.
Watchman on the Walls
It is 3:06 a.m. and God has summoned me out of bed for two reasons. I am to write this blog calling other people to take their watch on the walls of their cities and I am watch over Paradise, TX in prayer this morning. God appoints the watchmen over cities. It is a privileged ministry with a price tag. When God appoints you to be a watchman He can call you to take your watch anytime He wants.
I recall reading about one man that God awoke every night between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Those were hours set aside to pray. This continued to be his habit for years and what did God do? He ushered in the Great Welsh Revival where God saved 150,000 in a year in that country.
"Jerusalem, I have appointed watchman on your walls; they will never be silent, day or night. You, who remind the Lord, no rest for you! Do not give Him rest until He establishes and makes her Jerusalem the praise of the earth." [Is 62:6-7]
God appoints the watchmen. Many times I have made emotional decisions when it comes to a life devoted to prayer. I have read about other prayers warriors or heard someone talk about prayer and I jumped in with both feet only to have that commitment fade with time. Watchmen are not called out of emotionalism. They are called and appointed by God. They understand the seriousness of the task at hand. The enemy is scheming every perverted and wicked thing possible to defeat the armies of the living God. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking to devour. [I Pet 5:8] While the church slumbers the enemy advances snaring people into the vice of sin they will spend years trying to be freed from. Marriages are under assault. Our schools are a war zone for sex, drugs, and decadent behavior.
I am grateful for a group of ladies who have been standing on the walls of Paradise, TX for decades in prayer. They gather weekly to pray for family, friends, and the Paradise community. I am grateful for a group of ladies who gather each morning to stand on the walls of Seminole, TX in prayer and have been doing so for the past eighteen months. I know of a church in Lubbock, TX where as many as 500 gather weekly to stand on the walls of Lubbock and keep watch over the city. I have read of a church in Brooklyn, NY where as many as a thousand people gather on Tuesday nights to pray for the transformation of the lost and the city. I have read of a church in Seoul, Korea where thousands of people gather every morning at 5:00 a.m. and all night on Friday nights to stand in the gap for their nation and the world.
At this very moment someone is praying and keeping watch somewhere close to you. God appointed them. God placed the desire in them to join this vital ministry. Most of the time you will never know who the watchmen are. They do not advertise their ministry. Night and day they take up their post and pray on tirelessly. Day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. These prayer warriors persevere and will not give up or give in. They relentlessly pound the doors of Heaven trusting God for salvations, revival and spiritual awakening. They protect their communities as they detect the work of the enemy and direct the full arsenal of Heaven against the enemy's onslaught.
Keeping watch is a tiring work. In fact watchmen are challenged to take no rest for themselves nor give God any rest as night and day petitions are brought to the throne of grace. For many of these men and women their prayers will long outlive them. Even today you might benefit from prayers prayed long ago that are still coming to fruition.
Do you long for spiritual transformation so real and dramatic that your town would become a praise in the earth? Do you long for the very mention of your town to invoke images of the glory of God rather than the gore of the evil one? God has done it in the past and watchmen cry out for God to do it again.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with a lady who longs to devote her whole life to prayer. She is actively seeking to simplify her life so as to take even longer watches on the walls of her city and for those she loves. I am humbled to be a beneficiary of her watches in prayer. She challenges me and inspires me to keep devoting myself to prayer no matter how long the delays in seeing the answers are.
Thank God for the watchmen in your community. This very hour someone somewhere is taking their post and keeping watch in prayer. Somebody is crying out to God and trusting God to push back the enemy on your front. Thank God for those appointed to keep watch over you and those you love.
I recall reading about one man that God awoke every night between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Those were hours set aside to pray. This continued to be his habit for years and what did God do? He ushered in the Great Welsh Revival where God saved 150,000 in a year in that country.
"Jerusalem, I have appointed watchman on your walls; they will never be silent, day or night. You, who remind the Lord, no rest for you! Do not give Him rest until He establishes and makes her Jerusalem the praise of the earth." [Is 62:6-7]
God appoints the watchmen. Many times I have made emotional decisions when it comes to a life devoted to prayer. I have read about other prayers warriors or heard someone talk about prayer and I jumped in with both feet only to have that commitment fade with time. Watchmen are not called out of emotionalism. They are called and appointed by God. They understand the seriousness of the task at hand. The enemy is scheming every perverted and wicked thing possible to defeat the armies of the living God. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking to devour. [I Pet 5:8] While the church slumbers the enemy advances snaring people into the vice of sin they will spend years trying to be freed from. Marriages are under assault. Our schools are a war zone for sex, drugs, and decadent behavior.
I am grateful for a group of ladies who have been standing on the walls of Paradise, TX for decades in prayer. They gather weekly to pray for family, friends, and the Paradise community. I am grateful for a group of ladies who gather each morning to stand on the walls of Seminole, TX in prayer and have been doing so for the past eighteen months. I know of a church in Lubbock, TX where as many as 500 gather weekly to stand on the walls of Lubbock and keep watch over the city. I have read of a church in Brooklyn, NY where as many as a thousand people gather on Tuesday nights to pray for the transformation of the lost and the city. I have read of a church in Seoul, Korea where thousands of people gather every morning at 5:00 a.m. and all night on Friday nights to stand in the gap for their nation and the world.
At this very moment someone is praying and keeping watch somewhere close to you. God appointed them. God placed the desire in them to join this vital ministry. Most of the time you will never know who the watchmen are. They do not advertise their ministry. Night and day they take up their post and pray on tirelessly. Day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. These prayer warriors persevere and will not give up or give in. They relentlessly pound the doors of Heaven trusting God for salvations, revival and spiritual awakening. They protect their communities as they detect the work of the enemy and direct the full arsenal of Heaven against the enemy's onslaught.
Keeping watch is a tiring work. In fact watchmen are challenged to take no rest for themselves nor give God any rest as night and day petitions are brought to the throne of grace. For many of these men and women their prayers will long outlive them. Even today you might benefit from prayers prayed long ago that are still coming to fruition.
Do you long for spiritual transformation so real and dramatic that your town would become a praise in the earth? Do you long for the very mention of your town to invoke images of the glory of God rather than the gore of the evil one? God has done it in the past and watchmen cry out for God to do it again.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with a lady who longs to devote her whole life to prayer. She is actively seeking to simplify her life so as to take even longer watches on the walls of her city and for those she loves. I am humbled to be a beneficiary of her watches in prayer. She challenges me and inspires me to keep devoting myself to prayer no matter how long the delays in seeing the answers are.
Thank God for the watchmen in your community. This very hour someone somewhere is taking their post and keeping watch in prayer. Somebody is crying out to God and trusting God to push back the enemy on your front. Thank God for those appointed to keep watch over you and those you love.
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