Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. [II Tim 2:20]
God has His special instruments. I am referring to those men and women who are used by Him on a grander scale than others. I am thinking about people like Chris Tomlin, Beth Moore, Louie Giglio, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, and Toby Mac just to name a few.
God has always had vessels of gold and silver set aside for special use. Pastors like Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd Jones, and John Piper. Missionaries like William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot and Lottie Moon. Evangelists like John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Charles Finney.
Most of us are vessels of wood and earthenware set aside for ordinary use. I have come to grips that my ministry will be lived in relative obscurity. Thousands may never flock to hear Sunday morning messages and my books may never top the best selling list. That does not mean for those of us who are ordinary vessels we are not important and cannot be used by God.
In my kitchen we have nice plates and we have everyday dishes. We certainly use the everyday dishes more than than the special plates. The everyday dishes serve a purpose. Your life serves a purpose as well. You may feel ordinary. Your ministry and role may not feel like a big deal but God is using you right where you are.
For this whole week Faith Community Church has been hosting a youth revival. I stand in deep admiration for adult leaders who have spent this week loving, investing in, leading, and serving students. They have cooked meals, cleaned up, and organized team activities. These are coaches, teachers, housewives, retired adults, secretaries, barbers and fathers who may feel ordinary but who are being used of God in extraordinary ways. This week does not feel ordinary. I see how God is using these men and women to love and reach out to students from all walks of life.
It does not matter whether you are a vessel of gold and silver or an earthenware vessel. God designed you for good works. [Eph 2:10] Whether God uses you on a bigger stage or in more ordinary ways; you have purpose. Never forget that as you love on your children, volunteer in your church and community, and give your life away. God gets to determine what type of vessel we are. We submit and live out our days in meaning and God designed purpose.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Repentance
I did not mean to sin. Truthfully I can make no excuses except that I have been living life in the fast lane going from one event to the next with no down time for weeks. My times with God have felt rushed as I had to hurry off to the next commitment while at the same time feeling so exhausted that getting up in the morning has been a chore. I chose sleep rather getting up early for prolonged time with God. The end result has not been good for me or those around me.
Our church is holding a youth revival of sorts this and I am preaching the messages. Yesterday felt like a blur. The whole family had to get up early and we were all out the door headed to Grapevine for dentist appointments by 7:15 a.m. This took up the whole morning. My quiet time yesterday felt really rushed. I told myself I would have extended time with God later in the day. By the time we got back to Wise County I had just enough time to change clothes to meet some of our students for a work out and devotion. After that I rushed home, showered and then it was time to be at the church for what we are calling "Summer's Last Blast."
Three times I sinned last night not meaning to. All three times the sin involved my attitude and the words I spoke. While praying this morning God convicted me. What I mean is God pierced my heart showing me my attitude and words were not honoring to Him. This was followed by sorrow and contrition. God did not stop there. There were three people I had to email this morning and ask their forgiveness for my sin.
I thank God for His chastisement this morning. I thank God for the sanctifying work He continues to do in me. I am angry that so easily, in a night of wanting to point students to Him and His saving grace, I missed the mark and fell into sin. It was not intentional. For those few moments my flesh triumphed over the Spirit of God. Matt lived instead of being crucified and Christ living in me. I sinned.
Many people stop right there. They dwell on their sin and camp out in sorrow, condemnation, and defeat. They never move forward in repentance and restoration. Praise to God He convicted me and lead me to repentance. The word repentance means literally a changing of the mind and a turning away from. In essence it is expressing sorrow over sin and getting a fresh start. That is what took place in my heart this morning. As I write this the sun has not risen but already God has been deep at work in my life.
I see how easily I can get off track in my attitude and my actions. That is why my time with the Lord each day is so important. I want to live a life pleasing to Him. I want to honor Him in what I do. I love that line in my favorite hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. O the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul. Even sin like last night where in a short four hour span I got it wrong three different times. Christ died for those sins too and they too are nailed to the cross and I bear them no more.
Yes, I got it wrong three different times but I got it right this morning in repentance. If you are living life like I have been in the fast lane for the past month and a half, you probably do not have much time to sit before the Lord and reflect on Him, His word, and your actions. When we live like this how easily do we get off track in big things as well as the little things in life. My sin involved three different conversations with three different people that were all in passing. They were not long drawn out conversations but still I sinned.
Most likely I would not have made a big deal out of them except God made them a big deal to me this morning. Have you felt the sting of conviction over your sin? Have you taken the time to be repentant. Our churches are filled with unrepentant people. Sin abounds but repentance, especially in a corporate worship setting, is almost extinct. True and genuine repentance is on the endangered species list in many Christian's lives.
Why is this such a big deal today. God wants us to live in holiness. [I Pet 1:15-16]. He wants us to live in holiness in all our behavior. We far too easily dismiss what we consider little slip ups. We blow it with the family. We sleep in rather than enjoy quiet time with God. We ignore God's prompting to give while greedily hanging onto our money for what we want. Sin abounds but does repentance abound.
I am not advocating that we go to confession like some do to be absolved of our sin. Christ's redemptive work on the cross is complete. I am forgiven and declared righteous based on no merit of my own but solely on His grace. See [II Cor 5:21] [Eph 2:8-9] Yes, I am forgiven but that does not mean that my fellowship with God cannot be hindered by my sin. It also means that when I am convicted there should be a sorrow in my heart that my sin has not honored God. That means that I have to be honest and not make excuses. At one point last night when my words and attitude were called into question by another person I actually tried to justify my sin by quoting a Bible verse! Sin on top of sin!
We need times of repentance in the church once again. Preachers need to call people to such repentance. Believers need to be ready to repent when God convicts them of sin. I almost wrote when God convicts people of wrong doing instead of writing the word sin. Wrong doing soft pedals the message. My slip up last night was not an error in judgment, a moment of weakness, or a flaw in my character. IT WAS SIN! Sin is an ugly word. It means I missed the mark. It does not sit well with readers or listeners in the pew often. It will not make the preacher many friends but we are living in an age where sin abounds. It abounds in the church with ministers of the gospel committing adultery, stealing money, and sexually abusing minors. Sin abounds where prominent church leaders use foul language and unscrupulous business tactics but remain members in good standing in the church because they give large sums of money. Sin abounds in Sunday School teachers and ministers who stand to teach the truth of God's word without ever taking the time to open God's word in their private lives during the week. Sin abounds in the church gossiper and trouble maker who are constantly stirring up strife among the brethren. Sin abounds in the power hungry and manipulating people in the pew. Sin abounds in those who lie to save face and who stab brothers and sisters in Christ in the back. This is hypocrisy. SIN ABOUNDS but the good news is so does grace. Repentance is the door way for grace for the lost as well as the saved.
My exhortation is for you to make repentance a regular part of your walk with God. If your pastor does not call people to repentance, I challenge you to challenge him to do so. I am thankful for God's gentle but firm rebuke this morning. I am thankful for a time of repentance to get a fresh start for the day and the sun still has not risen.
Our church is holding a youth revival of sorts this and I am preaching the messages. Yesterday felt like a blur. The whole family had to get up early and we were all out the door headed to Grapevine for dentist appointments by 7:15 a.m. This took up the whole morning. My quiet time yesterday felt really rushed. I told myself I would have extended time with God later in the day. By the time we got back to Wise County I had just enough time to change clothes to meet some of our students for a work out and devotion. After that I rushed home, showered and then it was time to be at the church for what we are calling "Summer's Last Blast."
Three times I sinned last night not meaning to. All three times the sin involved my attitude and the words I spoke. While praying this morning God convicted me. What I mean is God pierced my heart showing me my attitude and words were not honoring to Him. This was followed by sorrow and contrition. God did not stop there. There were three people I had to email this morning and ask their forgiveness for my sin.
I thank God for His chastisement this morning. I thank God for the sanctifying work He continues to do in me. I am angry that so easily, in a night of wanting to point students to Him and His saving grace, I missed the mark and fell into sin. It was not intentional. For those few moments my flesh triumphed over the Spirit of God. Matt lived instead of being crucified and Christ living in me. I sinned.
Many people stop right there. They dwell on their sin and camp out in sorrow, condemnation, and defeat. They never move forward in repentance and restoration. Praise to God He convicted me and lead me to repentance. The word repentance means literally a changing of the mind and a turning away from. In essence it is expressing sorrow over sin and getting a fresh start. That is what took place in my heart this morning. As I write this the sun has not risen but already God has been deep at work in my life.
I see how easily I can get off track in my attitude and my actions. That is why my time with the Lord each day is so important. I want to live a life pleasing to Him. I want to honor Him in what I do. I love that line in my favorite hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. O the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord O my soul. Even sin like last night where in a short four hour span I got it wrong three different times. Christ died for those sins too and they too are nailed to the cross and I bear them no more.
Yes, I got it wrong three different times but I got it right this morning in repentance. If you are living life like I have been in the fast lane for the past month and a half, you probably do not have much time to sit before the Lord and reflect on Him, His word, and your actions. When we live like this how easily do we get off track in big things as well as the little things in life. My sin involved three different conversations with three different people that were all in passing. They were not long drawn out conversations but still I sinned.
Most likely I would not have made a big deal out of them except God made them a big deal to me this morning. Have you felt the sting of conviction over your sin? Have you taken the time to be repentant. Our churches are filled with unrepentant people. Sin abounds but repentance, especially in a corporate worship setting, is almost extinct. True and genuine repentance is on the endangered species list in many Christian's lives.
Why is this such a big deal today. God wants us to live in holiness. [I Pet 1:15-16]. He wants us to live in holiness in all our behavior. We far too easily dismiss what we consider little slip ups. We blow it with the family. We sleep in rather than enjoy quiet time with God. We ignore God's prompting to give while greedily hanging onto our money for what we want. Sin abounds but does repentance abound.
I am not advocating that we go to confession like some do to be absolved of our sin. Christ's redemptive work on the cross is complete. I am forgiven and declared righteous based on no merit of my own but solely on His grace. See [II Cor 5:21] [Eph 2:8-9] Yes, I am forgiven but that does not mean that my fellowship with God cannot be hindered by my sin. It also means that when I am convicted there should be a sorrow in my heart that my sin has not honored God. That means that I have to be honest and not make excuses. At one point last night when my words and attitude were called into question by another person I actually tried to justify my sin by quoting a Bible verse! Sin on top of sin!
We need times of repentance in the church once again. Preachers need to call people to such repentance. Believers need to be ready to repent when God convicts them of sin. I almost wrote when God convicts people of wrong doing instead of writing the word sin. Wrong doing soft pedals the message. My slip up last night was not an error in judgment, a moment of weakness, or a flaw in my character. IT WAS SIN! Sin is an ugly word. It means I missed the mark. It does not sit well with readers or listeners in the pew often. It will not make the preacher many friends but we are living in an age where sin abounds. It abounds in the church with ministers of the gospel committing adultery, stealing money, and sexually abusing minors. Sin abounds where prominent church leaders use foul language and unscrupulous business tactics but remain members in good standing in the church because they give large sums of money. Sin abounds in Sunday School teachers and ministers who stand to teach the truth of God's word without ever taking the time to open God's word in their private lives during the week. Sin abounds in the church gossiper and trouble maker who are constantly stirring up strife among the brethren. Sin abounds in the power hungry and manipulating people in the pew. Sin abounds in those who lie to save face and who stab brothers and sisters in Christ in the back. This is hypocrisy. SIN ABOUNDS but the good news is so does grace. Repentance is the door way for grace for the lost as well as the saved.
My exhortation is for you to make repentance a regular part of your walk with God. If your pastor does not call people to repentance, I challenge you to challenge him to do so. I am thankful for God's gentle but firm rebuke this morning. I am thankful for a time of repentance to get a fresh start for the day and the sun still has not risen.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Fresh Voice of God
On this rainy cloudy and dreary day,
I come wanting to hear what you say,
I long for words of life come from you,
Words of direction on time and on cue,
That point my path and the steps to take,
When to go and when I need to brake,
Lord, I long for words filled with life,
Not words of confusion clouded with strife,
So on this day Lord I ask for you to speak,
The future without you looks drearily bleak,
So my heart is bent to hear your fresh voice,
To nourish my soul to live and to rejoice.
I come wanting to hear what you say,
I long for words of life come from you,
Words of direction on time and on cue,
That point my path and the steps to take,
When to go and when I need to brake,
Lord, I long for words filled with life,
Not words of confusion clouded with strife,
So on this day Lord I ask for you to speak,
The future without you looks drearily bleak,
So my heart is bent to hear your fresh voice,
To nourish my soul to live and to rejoice.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Good Morning Lord
Good morning Lord. I don't know what this day holds but I know you hold this day. As I walk through it I will do so trying to keep my gaze on you. As this day begins to dawn I can think of no better way to start it than to come into your presence to worship.
I worship you my King. I praise and adore you for your faithfulness, goodness, compassion, strength, mercy, provision, and holiness. I thank you for such a great salvation and for the ongoing work of sanctification in my life. You who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Thank you for your sacrifice that declared me righteous in your eyes. Thank you for your steadfast love when my performance has been less than stellar at times. Thank you for a wonderful wife and for kids that are a blessing. Thank you for true friends who stick close in the tough times and love unconditionally despite my many faults. Thank you for the gift of this day. It is day of opportunity to love you, worship you, seek you, and to get closer to you.
On this day I once again bow my life, my dreams, my family, and lay it all before you as my offering on your altar. I live my life on your altar. I am content doing your will whatever that may be and wherever that might take me. For this season I am thankful for the adventure of starting a church. I am thankful for the trials that have pushed me to rely on you more. I am thankful for those private moments with you where the tears have fallen, my burdens have been lifted, and when you turned my weeping into joy once again. These moments with you have been my life line and I crave more of them.
I know when I start my day with you nothing is impossible. In fact you say in your word all things are possible with you. You told Mary nothing is impossible for you. You reminded Sarah that nothing is difficult for you. You repeated that truth to Jeremiah. I know as I come before you today I come before the God who can move all my mountains. I come before you who can meet any need I will ever have. I come before you recalling your mighty acts in scripture, throughout history, and in my life. You, O, God are able. You are able to turn Faith Community Church around. You are able to call others to help us. You are able to pay my house off completely so my money is freed up to build your kingdom. You are able to publish my books. You are able to give my sons football scholarships or work in other ways to pay for their college. You are able to heal my wife. You are able to sustain me through every storm in life. You are able to restore my fellowship with friends from the past. You are able to open doors for me to preach revivals, camps, and conferences. You are able to work holiness into my life. You are able to keep opening your word and granting fresh anointing to preach. You are able to preserve the work of salvation in my boys and stir their desire to know you and to serve you. You are able to do anything.
Today I bow in your presence in love readily available to serve you. In this moment I enjoy you. I bask in your presence like a person enjoying the warmth of the sun on a brisk morning. You are great and I am small. You must increase while I must decrease. You must become greater while I must become less. You are a big deal while I am not a big deal at all.
I love you. I love you because you first loved me. I love you because you came after me while I was lost and drowning in my sins. You redeemed me and paid the ransom for my sins that held me hostage. You set me free and broke the chains of bondage that held me down. You gave me purpose for living. You have blessed me in ways I could never have anticipated and set me on a great adventure in following you.
Ah, Lord this is indeed a good morning because your mercies are new today and your compassions do not fail. This is the very day you have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day you have given me to love you, seek you, and to serve you. This is the day that you have given me to live, to worship, and to enjoy the beauty you have created. This is the day I get to enjoy my family and other people you have put in my life. This is the day I get to soak in the scriptures and learn more of you. This is the day I get to write and let the volcanic lava of truth you burn inside me erupt onto the printed page. This is the day I get to believe you for great, mighty, and impossible things. Nothing is impossible with you. I choose to live in faith and not doubt. I choose you today over the fleeting pleasures of this world. It is a good morning Lord and I am ready now to face the day. In Jesus name, amen!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
My Offering
I come with so little in pocket to offer My King,
No large sums of cash - no costly diamond rings,
I do not possess lands, riches -nor have I fame,
I have nothing of value to offer to my shame,
O, but Lord - I do come humbly with one little gift,
Placed lovingly before You to view to carefully sift,
It is not much - others are able to bring so much more,
Yet my offering I lay before Your throne on the floor,
A precious offering given from the depths of my soul,
I offer you my life - not in part - but offer the whole.
(Written after reading and meditating on the offering of the loaves and fish to feed the 4,000 in [Mark 8:1-9].)
An Offering
From where I sit I do not have a great deal to offer God. I do not have large sums of money to be given. My talents are few and rather ordinary. I do not have a large ministry. I serve a small church and the few books I have written have not even made the local best seller's list. I have little to offer.
All around me I see needs. Broken families. Lives destroyed by destructive behavior. Rampant sin. Poverty. Lostness. A nation heading on a collision course with God's judgment. At times I feel powerless to do anything about it or to make any difference.
I am sure that is how the person felt who had the seven loaves of bread in [Mark 8:1-9]. Seven loaves of bread. 4,000 people who had not eaten in three days. A desolate place where no food could be found or bought. The obstacle was huge. The offering of the seven loaves was small and might have seemed insignificant.
I googled the question how many people could seven loaves feed. One commented they served sandwiches for 35 people and that took five loaves. They estimated a sandwich and a half for every person (men eating two and women eating one.)How in the world could anyone think the small offering of seven loaves would make any difference? The disciples certainly didn't. I bet the hungry people didn't either.
Great obstacles met with sacrificial offerings equal God's opportunities. You know the rest. [Mark 8:9] sums up the whole story. "And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces." Little is much when God blesses it.
Today you come to God's table like me with little to offer. All you really have is your life. You offer that to be blessed, broken, and given in service. Little is much when God blesses it. You serve in your little corner of the harvest field faithfully. You leave the results up to God. You teach a class of junior high boys. You head up the hospitality team in your church. You serve on the missions board. You volunteer at the Care Center for senior adults in your community. You put a meager amount of money in the offering plate each week wishing you could do more. You offer your life laid down on the altar as a sacrifice. [Rom 12:1]
God can do much with what is offered to Him whether it be a few loaves, a few dollars, or a few years of devoted service.
God can do more with a true offering to Him than with talent, eloquence, charisma, riches, or fame. God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. [I Cor 1:27] I say it again. God can turn a little into much when He blesses it. So what about it? Will you make your offering today?
For some of you monetary offerings costs very little because you have money in ample supply. Will you offer the loaves and fishes of your life? Will you give your remaining days to follow His leadership and serve wherever He leads you. It may not require any great changes on your part other than being available. On the other hand He may call you to follow Him in leaving everything comfortable and familiar like He did with Abraham in [Gen 12:1-3]. Are you willing to lay it all on God's altar? Will you give Him the offering of your life and your "yes" to follow His leadership?
While walking on the campus of Dallas Baptist University last week at youth camp I saw a statue of Jesus with a net in His hands with this caption written on a large brick wall, "Will you follow Me?" Without hesitation I answered that question in the form of a prayer. "Yes! I have in the past. I still am. I will continue to follow You wherever You lead." That is my offering. That is my loaves. My life. All of it. Every dream. Every relationship. My finances. My future. My dreams. My home. All His. My writings are His. My preaching is devoted to Him. It is a small offering but I pray Jesus would take it, bless it and multiply it for His own purposes. Who will join me in the offering of your life? Little is much when God chooses to bless it.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Righteous Judge
O God, faithful and true - Righteous Judge,
From Your holy standards You don't budge,
You are set apart - all Your ways are just,
Sinners held accountable You will and must,
Hold forth true justice - none without excuse,
Just and right when You judge and accuse,
We deserve the holy gavel of Your sentence,
Only able to satisfy You through repentance,
Though a Righteous Judge still You acquit,
Those who sin and stand ready to admit,
Our hope is Jesus and Your marvelous grace,
To declare us righteous to meet face to face.
From Your holy standards You don't budge,
You are set apart - all Your ways are just,
Sinners held accountable You will and must,
Hold forth true justice - none without excuse,
Just and right when You judge and accuse,
We deserve the holy gavel of Your sentence,
Only able to satisfy You through repentance,
Though a Righteous Judge still You acquit,
Those who sin and stand ready to admit,
Our hope is Jesus and Your marvelous grace,
To declare us righteous to meet face to face.
There is Coming a Day
I am thinking at this moment of a time fixed in history where things will change. There is coming a day when Jesus will return not as a loving Savior but as a Righteous Judge. The Father alone knows this day. [Matt 24:36] It will come like a thief in the night when we do not expect it. [Matt 24:42]
This became a topic of conversation among our students at youth camp. They spent a solid hour asking me questions about the second coming, the rapture, the seven years of tribulation, the anti-Christ, mark of the beast and the end times. They know there is coming a day when people will be held accountable.
This celestial planet is fast spinning toward a date with judgment. Yet people seem unconcerned. They continue to live in open rebellion and defiance toward the God who created them. They continue in their sin unashamed as though God could be mocked. They fail to realize there is coming a day when they will reap what they sow. [Gal 6:6-8] There is coming a day of reckoning. There is coming a day when all must give account for their lives.
[Rev 19:11-16] paints a picture of such a day. Jesus will come as a righteous judge to declare war on those who have not been saved. He will come to trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God. This is not going to be a pleasant day. Husbands, wives, teenagers, rulers, common people, rich, poor, the famous and the obscure will all be judged. The only hope for survival will be for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins and from eternal damnation.
Though many have heard there are few who walk through the narrow gate. The gate is wide that leads to destruction and many go through it to their eternal damnation. [Matt 7:13-14] This is the popular way. This is the prevailing path of the day. This is the politically correct path but it is WRONG! DEAD WRONG! People are heading toward their own doom and they must be warned though many will never heed that warning.
Yes, there is coming a day. A terrible horrific day for the sinner. A day I cringe to think about. May we all be moved by the Spirit of God to "labor for the master from the dawn till setting sun to talk about his wondrous love and care." May we not get distracted from our mission to rescue the perishing by throwing out the life line of Jesus Christ and praying people will cling to Him for mercy and salvation against that coming day.
This became a topic of conversation among our students at youth camp. They spent a solid hour asking me questions about the second coming, the rapture, the seven years of tribulation, the anti-Christ, mark of the beast and the end times. They know there is coming a day when people will be held accountable.
This celestial planet is fast spinning toward a date with judgment. Yet people seem unconcerned. They continue to live in open rebellion and defiance toward the God who created them. They continue in their sin unashamed as though God could be mocked. They fail to realize there is coming a day when they will reap what they sow. [Gal 6:6-8] There is coming a day of reckoning. There is coming a day when all must give account for their lives.
[Rev 19:11-16] paints a picture of such a day. Jesus will come as a righteous judge to declare war on those who have not been saved. He will come to trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God. This is not going to be a pleasant day. Husbands, wives, teenagers, rulers, common people, rich, poor, the famous and the obscure will all be judged. The only hope for survival will be for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins and from eternal damnation.
Though many have heard there are few who walk through the narrow gate. The gate is wide that leads to destruction and many go through it to their eternal damnation. [Matt 7:13-14] This is the popular way. This is the prevailing path of the day. This is the politically correct path but it is WRONG! DEAD WRONG! People are heading toward their own doom and they must be warned though many will never heed that warning.
Yes, there is coming a day. A terrible horrific day for the sinner. A day I cringe to think about. May we all be moved by the Spirit of God to "labor for the master from the dawn till setting sun to talk about his wondrous love and care." May we not get distracted from our mission to rescue the perishing by throwing out the life line of Jesus Christ and praying people will cling to Him for mercy and salvation against that coming day.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Supper
Some people call it dinner. I grew up calling lunch dinner and dinner supper. I would be out playing and I would hear my mother calling out from the front door, "Matt, come home. It's time for supper." Reluctantly I would break off a game of football, baseball, or riding bikes to come eat. We always ate at the table. I cannot even remember seeing a tv tray until I was in college.
We always ate home cooked food such as stuffed bell peppers, roast, stew, dumplings, goulash and fried chicken. We ate fresh vegetables like tomatoes, new potatoes, green beans, turnip greens, squash, green onions, fried green tomatoes, corn, and beans. Yum yum!
I never even saw a taco from Taco Bell or even laid eyes on a burrito until I was in high school at a friend's house. Supper was a delightful experience growing up.
For the past two years my family has not gotten to enjoy supper together. We have eaten off tv trays for Brenda and me, Tucker at the corner of a make shift bar, and the other three around a cheap table we bought. Tanner ate standing up because one of the bar stools collapsed on him months ago. For two long years the only time we sat down to eat at a table together was when we went out to eat.
Tanner asked me yesterday if we could eat our first cooked meal at the table in our new house in the dining room. Finally life slowed down enough tonight where we were able to cook a home cooked meal. Baked pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and corn. It is the best meal I have eaten in a long time. We sat around the dining room table and gave thanks for the meal, the house, getting to eat together as a family, and for the blessing of family. It was a true supper.
I am sure many of you reading this take sitting around a table sharing a meal together with family for granted. I hope I never take sharing supper with Brenda and the boys for granted again. Eating at a table, surrounded by my family, and enjoying delicious home cooked food sets my heart deep in contentment. What a blessing. Even more so knowing Taylor is entering into his senior year. We will have at home for much longer. This is something I asked God for. I asked God to bless us with a house Taylor could enjoy and make memories in before going off to college.
We at different times make comments like, "We can't believe God lets us live in this house. I can't believe this is our home." Today I am thankful for supper. Supper with my family. Supper at our dining table. Supper filled with memories. I don't ever want to forget this night and the supper we shared together.
We always ate home cooked food such as stuffed bell peppers, roast, stew, dumplings, goulash and fried chicken. We ate fresh vegetables like tomatoes, new potatoes, green beans, turnip greens, squash, green onions, fried green tomatoes, corn, and beans. Yum yum!
I never even saw a taco from Taco Bell or even laid eyes on a burrito until I was in high school at a friend's house. Supper was a delightful experience growing up.
For the past two years my family has not gotten to enjoy supper together. We have eaten off tv trays for Brenda and me, Tucker at the corner of a make shift bar, and the other three around a cheap table we bought. Tanner ate standing up because one of the bar stools collapsed on him months ago. For two long years the only time we sat down to eat at a table together was when we went out to eat.
Tanner asked me yesterday if we could eat our first cooked meal at the table in our new house in the dining room. Finally life slowed down enough tonight where we were able to cook a home cooked meal. Baked pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and corn. It is the best meal I have eaten in a long time. We sat around the dining room table and gave thanks for the meal, the house, getting to eat together as a family, and for the blessing of family. It was a true supper.
I am sure many of you reading this take sitting around a table sharing a meal together with family for granted. I hope I never take sharing supper with Brenda and the boys for granted again. Eating at a table, surrounded by my family, and enjoying delicious home cooked food sets my heart deep in contentment. What a blessing. Even more so knowing Taylor is entering into his senior year. We will have at home for much longer. This is something I asked God for. I asked God to bless us with a house Taylor could enjoy and make memories in before going off to college.
We at different times make comments like, "We can't believe God lets us live in this house. I can't believe this is our home." Today I am thankful for supper. Supper with my family. Supper at our dining table. Supper filled with memories. I don't ever want to forget this night and the supper we shared together.
103
I spent last week at youth camp on the campus of Dallas Baptist University. I have never seen a more beautiful college campus. The meeting place for the Bible study I taught and for our church group was down a steep hill. Three times a day I had to walk down that hill down steps. Somewhere on the second day I counted those steps going up and going down. 103.
My legs felt the burn. My lungs screamed for oxygen. My knees started to ache before the end of the week. I often had to get my mind right to climb those steps back to our dorm. The first forty were not that tough as you climbed to a gazebo with benches. I never stopped and sat down there. The last sixty or so steps is where the burn set in. They were steep and not evenly spaced. At times I had to take two steps before reaching the next step.
One day after teaching I walked outside and discovered it was raining. I decided to run up the steps with my backpack. At least that is what I attempted. By the time I got to steps eighty or so my legs burned so badly I was forced to slow down.
What an analogy for life. There are seasons of life when everyday feels like climbing up those steps. Life can be hard. Real hard. There are busy seasons. There are seasons battling injuries and disease. We face the sorrow of death of loved ones. We face crushing defeats and bitter failures. It is an uphill climb. Day after day and step by step we forge ahead with God's strength and grace.
There are times when we don't feel like climbing. We don't feel like going to work, chasing the kids, volunteering at church, praying and studying the scripture.
Life can be difficult. Uphill. God does not forsake us in those seasons. In fact He strengthens us during those seasons.[Phil 4:13] He enables us to endure, to press on, to persevere, and get to the top. Each day when I reached the top of those steps I rejoiced. That cannot compare to the rejoicing that will take place when I finally climb the last step of this life on planet earth and get to heaven. To live is Christ and to die is gain. [Phil 1:21]
103 is the number of steps I climbed. A total of 12 times I did that at camp. 46 is the number of years I have been alive. Eternity is the number of years I will spend in worship and enjoyment of my Savior in eternity. If I have to climb a few steps to get there it will only make eternity all the more worth it.
My legs felt the burn. My lungs screamed for oxygen. My knees started to ache before the end of the week. I often had to get my mind right to climb those steps back to our dorm. The first forty were not that tough as you climbed to a gazebo with benches. I never stopped and sat down there. The last sixty or so steps is where the burn set in. They were steep and not evenly spaced. At times I had to take two steps before reaching the next step.
One day after teaching I walked outside and discovered it was raining. I decided to run up the steps with my backpack. At least that is what I attempted. By the time I got to steps eighty or so my legs burned so badly I was forced to slow down.
What an analogy for life. There are seasons of life when everyday feels like climbing up those steps. Life can be hard. Real hard. There are busy seasons. There are seasons battling injuries and disease. We face the sorrow of death of loved ones. We face crushing defeats and bitter failures. It is an uphill climb. Day after day and step by step we forge ahead with God's strength and grace.
There are times when we don't feel like climbing. We don't feel like going to work, chasing the kids, volunteering at church, praying and studying the scripture.
Life can be difficult. Uphill. God does not forsake us in those seasons. In fact He strengthens us during those seasons.[Phil 4:13] He enables us to endure, to press on, to persevere, and get to the top. Each day when I reached the top of those steps I rejoiced. That cannot compare to the rejoicing that will take place when I finally climb the last step of this life on planet earth and get to heaven. To live is Christ and to die is gain. [Phil 1:21]
103 is the number of steps I climbed. A total of 12 times I did that at camp. 46 is the number of years I have been alive. Eternity is the number of years I will spend in worship and enjoyment of my Savior in eternity. If I have to climb a few steps to get there it will only make eternity all the more worth it.
Don't Do This
When my great uncle died I was driving to preach a camp in south Texas. I prayed and debated whether I should cut short my preaching assignment to attend the funeral on Friday. I knew what my uncle would have wanted. He would have wanted me to preach the gospel at camp and rejoice for him. He know I loved him.
The youth minister at camp proved gracious allowing me to preach what should have been the Thursday night message on Thursday morning. I spent the afternoon with the group and headed for home Thursday night. I arrived home after 11:00 p.m. and was on the road for the funeral the next morning by 9:00 a.m. I made it to the funeral with fifteen minutes to spare.
I had not seen my family in over a decade. I did not sit with them but sat in the back of the church alone. Most of them did not even know I was there until one of my cousins, who is a preacher also, mentioned me and gestured in my direction. When the service ended I filed by the casket stopping with tears in my eyes as I viewed the shell of Uncle Buddy's body. I then went out the side door and got in my truck ready to leave and head back home without having any contact with my family except my great uncle's children and grandchildren.
As I started the truck and cranked up the air conditioning I sensed the Lord whisper in my spirit, "Don't do this." That was it. Yet I knew what the Lord had told me. He did not want me to leave the funeral but go to the grave side and face my family. I sat there debating and wanting to drive away. Finally I moved up and waited on everyone to leave and pulled into the funeral procession line.
Driving to the cemetery I began rehearsing what I would to say to cousins, siblings, and extended family. I finally decided on, "It has been a long time." When I parked at the cemetery prepared to share my ice breaker someone called my name from behind. At first I could not make out the man who had called my name. He was bald, skinny, dirty, with sunken eyes with dark circles. Then I noticed it was my brother. He would not have been my first initial contact by choice. We made small talk but our conversation seemed forced and not natural.
Two brothers stood side by side but you would not have known it . He was dirty, scarred, with a raspy voice from years of smoking. I stood there in slacks, starched white shirt with a red tie. I am no better than he is. The only thing that differentiates the two of us is Jesus Christ saved me and changed my life.
At this point my cousin Gail, who is a couple years older than me, saw me from a distance and made a bee line for me hugging my neck. She broke the ice. After that I visited with her younger brother Ronny and several others. What a reunion.
After the grave side service I exchanged phone numbers with Gail and Ronny promising we would keep in touch. They were all gathering to visit but we were moving the next day and I had a five hour drive in front of me.
I am so glad God spoke to me and so glad that I listened and more glad that I obeyed. In facing my family I was able to get a huge monkey off my back and to remove over a decade of bitterness. God's voice did not come loudly. He spoke quietly and I could have missed it. How many times does God speak quietly and we never hear His voice. All He said was, "Don't do this." Thank you Jesus.
The youth minister at camp proved gracious allowing me to preach what should have been the Thursday night message on Thursday morning. I spent the afternoon with the group and headed for home Thursday night. I arrived home after 11:00 p.m. and was on the road for the funeral the next morning by 9:00 a.m. I made it to the funeral with fifteen minutes to spare.
I had not seen my family in over a decade. I did not sit with them but sat in the back of the church alone. Most of them did not even know I was there until one of my cousins, who is a preacher also, mentioned me and gestured in my direction. When the service ended I filed by the casket stopping with tears in my eyes as I viewed the shell of Uncle Buddy's body. I then went out the side door and got in my truck ready to leave and head back home without having any contact with my family except my great uncle's children and grandchildren.
As I started the truck and cranked up the air conditioning I sensed the Lord whisper in my spirit, "Don't do this." That was it. Yet I knew what the Lord had told me. He did not want me to leave the funeral but go to the grave side and face my family. I sat there debating and wanting to drive away. Finally I moved up and waited on everyone to leave and pulled into the funeral procession line.
Driving to the cemetery I began rehearsing what I would to say to cousins, siblings, and extended family. I finally decided on, "It has been a long time." When I parked at the cemetery prepared to share my ice breaker someone called my name from behind. At first I could not make out the man who had called my name. He was bald, skinny, dirty, with sunken eyes with dark circles. Then I noticed it was my brother. He would not have been my first initial contact by choice. We made small talk but our conversation seemed forced and not natural.
Two brothers stood side by side but you would not have known it . He was dirty, scarred, with a raspy voice from years of smoking. I stood there in slacks, starched white shirt with a red tie. I am no better than he is. The only thing that differentiates the two of us is Jesus Christ saved me and changed my life.
At this point my cousin Gail, who is a couple years older than me, saw me from a distance and made a bee line for me hugging my neck. She broke the ice. After that I visited with her younger brother Ronny and several others. What a reunion.
After the grave side service I exchanged phone numbers with Gail and Ronny promising we would keep in touch. They were all gathering to visit but we were moving the next day and I had a five hour drive in front of me.
I am so glad God spoke to me and so glad that I listened and more glad that I obeyed. In facing my family I was able to get a huge monkey off my back and to remove over a decade of bitterness. God's voice did not come loudly. He spoke quietly and I could have missed it. How many times does God speak quietly and we never hear His voice. All He said was, "Don't do this." Thank you Jesus.
Monday, July 15, 2013
On the Road Again
I am writing this from a charter bus along with a load of teenagers heading to my second camp. It has been a whirl wind since camp last week with FBC Seminole. We drove to the hill country for camp with FBC Seminole. My beloved great uncle died on Monday. We drove home late Thursday night and then I got up early Friday to drive to Lufkin, TX for my great uncle's funeral.
God worked. I had the chance to be reconciled with some of my family I had not seen in over a decade. I will blog more about that when I have more time. On Saturday we moved into a different home from early in the morning to late at night. Sunday we enjoyed God in worship at church and then had to pick Taylor up in Denton from a camp. Today we are all headed to camp. Our children's group and youth group all are headed to camp this week. Brenda will be at home alone this week.
Life has been moving at a pretty good clip for the past few weeks. I would have not have been able to keep up this pace except for my times alone with God. Day after day sitting in His presence brings energy, life, and renewal. He guides and works. He is faithful. He is sustains us in the busy seasons of life as well as the slower seasons.
I hope you will make a habit of sitting in the presence of the Lord daily. I sat with Him again this morning to learn of Him. I love camp. In about an hour we will unload our luggage to our new home for the week and soak in the the presence of God day and night. That is what I love about camp. We eliminate the distractions so our focus remains on learning about God.
Life on the road is busy, exciting, at times challenging, but when you do it for God there are great rewards When you wholly lean on God to sustain you life on the road is not a chore but a delight. I don't know what God will do this week but I do know that God is at work in my life before we even get to camp.
God worked. I had the chance to be reconciled with some of my family I had not seen in over a decade. I will blog more about that when I have more time. On Saturday we moved into a different home from early in the morning to late at night. Sunday we enjoyed God in worship at church and then had to pick Taylor up in Denton from a camp. Today we are all headed to camp. Our children's group and youth group all are headed to camp this week. Brenda will be at home alone this week.
Life has been moving at a pretty good clip for the past few weeks. I would have not have been able to keep up this pace except for my times alone with God. Day after day sitting in His presence brings energy, life, and renewal. He guides and works. He is faithful. He is sustains us in the busy seasons of life as well as the slower seasons.
I hope you will make a habit of sitting in the presence of the Lord daily. I sat with Him again this morning to learn of Him. I love camp. In about an hour we will unload our luggage to our new home for the week and soak in the the presence of God day and night. That is what I love about camp. We eliminate the distractions so our focus remains on learning about God.
Life on the road is busy, exciting, at times challenging, but when you do it for God there are great rewards When you wholly lean on God to sustain you life on the road is not a chore but a delight. I don't know what God will do this week but I do know that God is at work in my life before we even get to camp.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
His Love Never Fails
Last night we continued our study through the fourth chapter of James. It was not an easy passage. Be miserable, mourn, and weep; turn your laughter into gloom. Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord that He might exalt you at the right time. [James 4:9-10]
Have you ever been miserable and sorrowful over your own personal sin? Can you recall times when your own sin brought you to tears like one grieving over the loss of someone close?
Most people do not take much time to reflect on the ugliness of their own sin. It is so much easier to never contemplate sin in our lives though it is there and it is destructive. Before preaching last night, I stayed behind while the rest of the camp went tubing. I spent much of the afternoon in repentance as the Lord brought sins to mind.
I stood before Him in humility to preach last night. I know I am not a big deal. I know that He must increase and I must decrease. [Jn 3:30] I have nothing to boast about except the cross of Jesus Christ. [Gal 6:14] The only reason I can come with confidence before His throne of grace to find mercy and to obtain help in my time of need [Heb 4:16] is because of God's grace. Jesus Christ paid my debt to make me righteous in Him. [II Cor 5:21]
There is no room to boast for any of us. We are all sinners. Our sin should cause all of us to be miserable and to mourn the fact that we do not live consistently. Sin is offensive to the Lord. Sin is ugly and many people do not understand the nature of repentance. The prophet Joel told people to return to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning rending their hearts and not their garments. [Joel 2:12]
Now there is a danger here. Some people never get past the mourning and weeping over their sin. They do not understand the true measure of God's grace nor the joy of being restored. These people live in condemnation and camp out in shame. I love the truth in Psalm 3:3, God is a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Have you have ever blown it in sin and hung your head in shame as you repented. Have you gone beyond that and felt God putting his fingers underneath your chin to lift your head to behold His love, forgiveness, and restoration.
This is what I preached last night. I called hard for repentance and for the lost to be saved. I also called all of us to remember His love never fails. I don't deserve that love anymore than you do. For His redeemed His love never fails [Rom 8:38-39]. It is that love that never fails that moves my heart to want to love Jesus all the more.
We sang that song "Your Love Never Fails" last night. God moved me to tears as I reflected on His love despite my sin. God moved in me to remind me that though I fail, am flawed, find myself in the very sin I hate, His grace is sufficient. His love never fails. I am not saying that He is always pleased with me. I disappoint Him often. O, but what liberating truth in that His love never fails. NEVER! He always deals with me in perfect love, perfect patience, perfect willingness to forgive, and the perfect chastisement over my rebellious acts.
Have you known the joy, peace, and relief of being restored to God? Like David after his sin with Bathsheeba and like Peter after denying Christ? Have you known the tenderness of a holy God lifting your head out of shame and condemnation back to fellowship with Him. Beloved we are declared righteous in Jesus. We did not earn that. Our sin is covered and we are granted access to a holy God because of Jesus Christ and His redemptive death on the cross. HALLELUJAH!
I have long held the hymn It Is Well With My Soul as my all time favorite. Every verse seems to build on truth. There is a line in that hymn that stirs me deeply. O the bliss of this glorious thought - my sin not in part but the whole - is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more - Praise the Lord - Praise the Lord O my soul. Yes, I am a sinner and my sin makes me miserable. But that is not the end of the story. Yes, I am a sinner. The whole truth is I am a redeemed sinner, forgiven, declared righteous in Christ. I have been given the right to be God's child [John 1:12] all because His love never fails.
What truth. I don't know if God moved people to repentance last night. I don't even know if anyone felt the love and grace of being restored last night. I just know His love never fails. PRAISE THE LORD!
Have you ever been miserable and sorrowful over your own personal sin? Can you recall times when your own sin brought you to tears like one grieving over the loss of someone close?
Most people do not take much time to reflect on the ugliness of their own sin. It is so much easier to never contemplate sin in our lives though it is there and it is destructive. Before preaching last night, I stayed behind while the rest of the camp went tubing. I spent much of the afternoon in repentance as the Lord brought sins to mind.
I stood before Him in humility to preach last night. I know I am not a big deal. I know that He must increase and I must decrease. [Jn 3:30] I have nothing to boast about except the cross of Jesus Christ. [Gal 6:14] The only reason I can come with confidence before His throne of grace to find mercy and to obtain help in my time of need [Heb 4:16] is because of God's grace. Jesus Christ paid my debt to make me righteous in Him. [II Cor 5:21]
There is no room to boast for any of us. We are all sinners. Our sin should cause all of us to be miserable and to mourn the fact that we do not live consistently. Sin is offensive to the Lord. Sin is ugly and many people do not understand the nature of repentance. The prophet Joel told people to return to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning rending their hearts and not their garments. [Joel 2:12]
Now there is a danger here. Some people never get past the mourning and weeping over their sin. They do not understand the true measure of God's grace nor the joy of being restored. These people live in condemnation and camp out in shame. I love the truth in Psalm 3:3, God is a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Have you have ever blown it in sin and hung your head in shame as you repented. Have you gone beyond that and felt God putting his fingers underneath your chin to lift your head to behold His love, forgiveness, and restoration.
This is what I preached last night. I called hard for repentance and for the lost to be saved. I also called all of us to remember His love never fails. I don't deserve that love anymore than you do. For His redeemed His love never fails [Rom 8:38-39]. It is that love that never fails that moves my heart to want to love Jesus all the more.
We sang that song "Your Love Never Fails" last night. God moved me to tears as I reflected on His love despite my sin. God moved in me to remind me that though I fail, am flawed, find myself in the very sin I hate, His grace is sufficient. His love never fails. I am not saying that He is always pleased with me. I disappoint Him often. O, but what liberating truth in that His love never fails. NEVER! He always deals with me in perfect love, perfect patience, perfect willingness to forgive, and the perfect chastisement over my rebellious acts.
Have you known the joy, peace, and relief of being restored to God? Like David after his sin with Bathsheeba and like Peter after denying Christ? Have you known the tenderness of a holy God lifting your head out of shame and condemnation back to fellowship with Him. Beloved we are declared righteous in Jesus. We did not earn that. Our sin is covered and we are granted access to a holy God because of Jesus Christ and His redemptive death on the cross. HALLELUJAH!
I have long held the hymn It Is Well With My Soul as my all time favorite. Every verse seems to build on truth. There is a line in that hymn that stirs me deeply. O the bliss of this glorious thought - my sin not in part but the whole - is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more - Praise the Lord - Praise the Lord O my soul. Yes, I am a sinner and my sin makes me miserable. But that is not the end of the story. Yes, I am a sinner. The whole truth is I am a redeemed sinner, forgiven, declared righteous in Christ. I have been given the right to be God's child [John 1:12] all because His love never fails.
What truth. I don't know if God moved people to repentance last night. I don't even know if anyone felt the love and grace of being restored last night. I just know His love never fails. PRAISE THE LORD!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Surrenderd
Lord, all I am is Yours down to the last drop,
On Your altar my soul my life willingly I flop,
I hold nothing back, surrendered to You freely,
You have all of me - forever and completely,
My soul is abandoned - You have my heart,
Day by day on Your altar voluntarily I start,
I am surrendered holding not one thing back,
My future is Yours - my bags remain packed,
I press my ear to hear You my Sovereign King,
I surrender all to You - You have my everything,
My wife, my four boys, possessions and ministry,
All are Yours as I follow - surrendered obediently,
I offer you my best - presented a living sacrifice,
You have my all - I surrender the rest of my life
I bow my heart, my soul, I worship and I sing,
Jesus I am surrendered You have my everything.
ME - 7-10-13
On Your altar my soul my life willingly I flop,
I hold nothing back, surrendered to You freely,
You have all of me - forever and completely,
My soul is abandoned - You have my heart,
Day by day on Your altar voluntarily I start,
I am surrendered holding not one thing back,
My future is Yours - my bags remain packed,
I press my ear to hear You my Sovereign King,
I surrender all to You - You have my everything,
My wife, my four boys, possessions and ministry,
All are Yours as I follow - surrendered obediently,
I offer you my best - presented a living sacrifice,
You have my all - I surrender the rest of my life
I bow my heart, my soul, I worship and I sing,
Jesus I am surrendered You have my everything.
ME - 7-10-13
All I Am is Yours
Yesterday, we spent the whole day at a water park and did not start our worship service until nearly 9:45 p.m. Everyone was tired. We still pressed into the presence of God. Sean was anointed in leading us in worship. He sang one of my favorite songs. The chorus goes, "So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the One who gave it all, so I'll stand my soul Lord to You surrendered all I am is Yours."
I preached from [James 4:8] about drawing near to God and God drawing near to us. One of the first steps for that to take place is to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. We must repent of sin. We dwelled on the majesty and magnificence of God desiring to draw near to us. Superior stooping down the commune with the inferior. The Creator giving audience to the creation. Those students stayed engaged until 11:00 p.m. We were in the presence of a holy, mighty, and loving God. In the end, we discussed that God wants all of us down to the last drop like water poured from a bottle. He wants to come near us and get close to us. He wants us to live "all I am is Yours" more than to just sing the words. He wants more than for us to live out the remainder of our lives as good church members. He wants to be in relationship with us. He wants to be the center of our universe, the object of our deepest affections, the One to whom we are most loyal, the leader we follow, the audience of One we worship, the cause we live for, the focus of our passion, the One to whom we abandon our hearts, and the One to whom we surrender our souls. That is what God wants and deserves.
When we take steps to draw near to Him or get closer to Him, He draws near to us as well. This makes loving, serving, and worshipping Jesus real, dynamic, exciting, and the greatest adventure we could ever know. This is more than learning facts about God. I can learn facts about Presidents of the United States or celebrities but that does not mean that I know them. Furthermore, those people do not care to know me. God does. He wants to be known. He waits to be wanted and is ever ready to draw near to those whose hearts and souls are abandoned to Him.
During the invitation I got on my knees and pressed my head against the concrete floor and prayed, "Lord, all I am is Yours. I am completed surrendered to You as much as I know how. I lay my life down on Your altar. I am Yours to the last drop. I will do anything You want me to do." While praying I had a flash back in my mind. I was transported back to another youth worship service years ago after preaching from [Rom 12:1] I urge you by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy which is your reasonable service of worship. That night I preached that message because God was dealing with me about relocating my ministry. When I gave the invitation many students responded. I found my way off the stage and through all those kneeling students to the side of the stage near the organ. I knelt down before the Lord and prayed a similar prayer as I prayed last night. I prayed, "Lord if nobody else in this whole room means it I lay my life, family, and future at your feet on your altar as sacrifice to You. If you want to move me I give you my yes right now. You have all of me." In essence what I prayed last night and that night several years ago was, "All I am is Yours. Down to the last drop. You can do with me what You please."
That is an exciting thing to pray and an exciting way to live but it is not easy. It has meant for me never getting to stay with churches and people I love. It has meant starting over again and again. It has meant dwindling salaries and the necessity of trusting God for provision. It has meant living in some less than desirable conditions. It has meant preaching in small venues. It has meant living daily available and surrendered to God. It has not been easy. In fact there have been times it has been hard, confusing, and painful to be surrendered to God and His call. I have wept. I have been confused. I have been forsaken by people but never by God.
This morning as I write this, I say with all assurance it has been worth it. I would not want to live any other way than for all of me to be all of His for all of my days. Now, as we bring this to a close, I have a question for you I posed to those students last night. Will you draw near to God and totally abandon your heart, soul, and life to Him? Will you say, sing, and live that all you are is His? He awaits your response.
I preached from [James 4:8] about drawing near to God and God drawing near to us. One of the first steps for that to take place is to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. We must repent of sin. We dwelled on the majesty and magnificence of God desiring to draw near to us. Superior stooping down the commune with the inferior. The Creator giving audience to the creation. Those students stayed engaged until 11:00 p.m. We were in the presence of a holy, mighty, and loving God. In the end, we discussed that God wants all of us down to the last drop like water poured from a bottle. He wants to come near us and get close to us. He wants us to live "all I am is Yours" more than to just sing the words. He wants more than for us to live out the remainder of our lives as good church members. He wants to be in relationship with us. He wants to be the center of our universe, the object of our deepest affections, the One to whom we are most loyal, the leader we follow, the audience of One we worship, the cause we live for, the focus of our passion, the One to whom we abandon our hearts, and the One to whom we surrender our souls. That is what God wants and deserves.
When we take steps to draw near to Him or get closer to Him, He draws near to us as well. This makes loving, serving, and worshipping Jesus real, dynamic, exciting, and the greatest adventure we could ever know. This is more than learning facts about God. I can learn facts about Presidents of the United States or celebrities but that does not mean that I know them. Furthermore, those people do not care to know me. God does. He wants to be known. He waits to be wanted and is ever ready to draw near to those whose hearts and souls are abandoned to Him.
During the invitation I got on my knees and pressed my head against the concrete floor and prayed, "Lord, all I am is Yours. I am completed surrendered to You as much as I know how. I lay my life down on Your altar. I am Yours to the last drop. I will do anything You want me to do." While praying I had a flash back in my mind. I was transported back to another youth worship service years ago after preaching from [Rom 12:1] I urge you by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy which is your reasonable service of worship. That night I preached that message because God was dealing with me about relocating my ministry. When I gave the invitation many students responded. I found my way off the stage and through all those kneeling students to the side of the stage near the organ. I knelt down before the Lord and prayed a similar prayer as I prayed last night. I prayed, "Lord if nobody else in this whole room means it I lay my life, family, and future at your feet on your altar as sacrifice to You. If you want to move me I give you my yes right now. You have all of me." In essence what I prayed last night and that night several years ago was, "All I am is Yours. Down to the last drop. You can do with me what You please."
That is an exciting thing to pray and an exciting way to live but it is not easy. It has meant for me never getting to stay with churches and people I love. It has meant starting over again and again. It has meant dwindling salaries and the necessity of trusting God for provision. It has meant living in some less than desirable conditions. It has meant preaching in small venues. It has meant living daily available and surrendered to God. It has not been easy. In fact there have been times it has been hard, confusing, and painful to be surrendered to God and His call. I have wept. I have been confused. I have been forsaken by people but never by God.
This morning as I write this, I say with all assurance it has been worth it. I would not want to live any other way than for all of me to be all of His for all of my days. Now, as we bring this to a close, I have a question for you I posed to those students last night. Will you draw near to God and totally abandon your heart, soul, and life to Him? Will you say, sing, and live that all you are is His? He awaits your response.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Let It Pour
I was in the middle of preaching last night under an outdoor tabernacle when I started seeing flashes of lightening out of the corner of my eye. Soon the winds picked up and it began to rain. At first it only sprinkled. Then it began to deluge. The rain started coming sideways underneath the tabernacle. The pouring rain pounded so loudly on the tin roof that I had to stop talking several times because even with a microphone I could not talk louder than the pounding rain. At times it felt like God Himself was passing by in the storm in trying to get the attention of all the students.
That rain storm lasted for the majority of the service. It poured. I stopped not knowing what to do so I prayed under my breath for direction. There were several moments we just sat in silence beholding the power of God in that storm. In similar fashion we long for the Spirit of God to be poured out on us. He has been this far and we expect He will only intensify over the course of these next several nights.
It dawned on me later in the evening what a rare and special thing it is for these students to see rain at all much less a pouring rain like we saw. How I long for God to pour His Spirit out like a pouring rain storm on His church once again. Just like those students have not seen rain in some time many of God's churches have not had the Spirit poured out on them in years. They may have forgotten what it is like.
Lord, Your church needs reviving. This is not news for You. I ask You to open up the Heavens and let the rain of Your Spirit fall once again. I ask You to pour down on Your church again. You know what we need much better than me. I ask You to revive us once again so we bear much fruit for You. Let it pour.
That rain storm lasted for the majority of the service. It poured. I stopped not knowing what to do so I prayed under my breath for direction. There were several moments we just sat in silence beholding the power of God in that storm. In similar fashion we long for the Spirit of God to be poured out on us. He has been this far and we expect He will only intensify over the course of these next several nights.
It dawned on me later in the evening what a rare and special thing it is for these students to see rain at all much less a pouring rain like we saw. How I long for God to pour His Spirit out like a pouring rain storm on His church once again. Just like those students have not seen rain in some time many of God's churches have not had the Spirit poured out on them in years. They may have forgotten what it is like.
Lord, Your church needs reviving. This is not news for You. I ask You to open up the Heavens and let the rain of Your Spirit fall once again. I ask You to pour down on Your church again. You know what we need much better than me. I ask You to revive us once again so we bear much fruit for You. Let it pour.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Summer Camp
For the past two decades summer camp has been an integral part of my summer routine. It started as a student back in 1983. Then I became a camp sponsor in my college years before becoming a youth minister and taking students to camp. I was given teaching opportunities for the morning Bible Studies at a few camps. Eventually God allowed me the blessing of preaching many youth camps. That is what I am off to do later this morning. Tanner and Tucker are going with me as I will preach a youth camp near San Antonio later tonight.
There will be much prayer. There will be the fun and laughter with students. There will be great worship and hard preaching. I love camp.
I love getting away from the world for a few days and turning our entire focus onto God stuff without the distractions of work, school, sports, and media. I have seen many lives saved and many saved come to repentance at summer camp.
I am both humbled and honored that God allows me to continue to preach and minister to students. I am getting up there in years and closing in on forty-seven. Many think that I am past being able to minister to and to relate to students. I attribute that ability to relate to students to God. First and foremost you have to love them. When students truly know you care they let you into their lives.
For the next four days my entire focus will be on seeking God to move at this camp. That is my desire. Please pray with me for the saving of souls and for the call of the saved to repent. I ask you to pray with me for a great moving of God in the hearts of students and adults alike.
There will be much prayer. There will be the fun and laughter with students. There will be great worship and hard preaching. I love camp.
I love getting away from the world for a few days and turning our entire focus onto God stuff without the distractions of work, school, sports, and media. I have seen many lives saved and many saved come to repentance at summer camp.
I am both humbled and honored that God allows me to continue to preach and minister to students. I am getting up there in years and closing in on forty-seven. Many think that I am past being able to minister to and to relate to students. I attribute that ability to relate to students to God. First and foremost you have to love them. When students truly know you care they let you into their lives.
For the next four days my entire focus will be on seeking God to move at this camp. That is my desire. Please pray with me for the saving of souls and for the call of the saved to repent. I ask you to pray with me for a great moving of God in the hearts of students and adults alike.
Friday, July 5, 2013
If We Believe
If so many Christians believe in prayer why is the prayer meeting extinct or on the endangered list in most churches. If so many believe prayer is vital why do so many Christians admit to lagging behind in their personal prayer lives. If so many devoted followers of Jesus believe in the power of prayer why is the church in the United States so impotent.
Tough questions but questions that not only need to be asked but that also need to be answered. If so many churches believe in prayer where is the proof? If I were a pagan and followed most churches around for a week I would not be convinced that prayer is important. The same would be true of many church members. Many make little to no time for prayer. How can it be said of many churches or Christians that we truly believe in prayer.
Read through the book of Acts. You can hardly turn a page in that exciting book without seeing someone praying somewhere. They set the standard for relying on God and experiencing His power in the saving of souls, establishing new churches, and seeing some healed.
We have a tendency to lean on our technology, talent, and techniques. We do not lean on God through prayer near as much. Somewhere deep down I am convinced that many people in the church believe they can do life without prayer until an emergency arises. If that statement were not true people would alter their schedules and rearrange priorities skipping anything but prayer.
Prayer is work. Hard work. Soul agonizing work when really done. I've tried to hold prayer meetings in all of the five churches I have served as pastor. They have never been well attended though I could point you to some dramatic answers to those prayers.
I have come to the conclusion that many do not really believe prayer is an effective use of time. A lot of people do not believe prayer works by their lack of commitment to exercising fervent prayer. The results tell the truth. What do you believe? Does your life and church back up that belief?
Tough questions but questions that not only need to be asked but that also need to be answered. If so many churches believe in prayer where is the proof? If I were a pagan and followed most churches around for a week I would not be convinced that prayer is important. The same would be true of many church members. Many make little to no time for prayer. How can it be said of many churches or Christians that we truly believe in prayer.
Read through the book of Acts. You can hardly turn a page in that exciting book without seeing someone praying somewhere. They set the standard for relying on God and experiencing His power in the saving of souls, establishing new churches, and seeing some healed.
We have a tendency to lean on our technology, talent, and techniques. We do not lean on God through prayer near as much. Somewhere deep down I am convinced that many people in the church believe they can do life without prayer until an emergency arises. If that statement were not true people would alter their schedules and rearrange priorities skipping anything but prayer.
Prayer is work. Hard work. Soul agonizing work when really done. I've tried to hold prayer meetings in all of the five churches I have served as pastor. They have never been well attended though I could point you to some dramatic answers to those prayers.
I have come to the conclusion that many do not really believe prayer is an effective use of time. A lot of people do not believe prayer works by their lack of commitment to exercising fervent prayer. The results tell the truth. What do you believe? Does your life and church back up that belief?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Preach With Power
I have stood often behind the sacred desk,
Determined to preach and give my best,
Only my best is not good and will not do,
If I hope to paint a clearer picture of You,
My eloquence mars the picture to be seen,
Clouding the glory and majesty my King,
My intellect does not nor can easily impress,
You or the crowds dressed in Sunday best,
What do hearts need in those sacred hours,
Anointed messages preached with power,
Power from You poured out from on high,
Let me preach with power or let me die.
ME 7-4-03
Determined to preach and give my best,
Only my best is not good and will not do,
If I hope to paint a clearer picture of You,
My eloquence mars the picture to be seen,
Clouding the glory and majesty my King,
My intellect does not nor can easily impress,
You or the crowds dressed in Sunday best,
What do hearts need in those sacred hours,
Anointed messages preached with power,
Power from You poured out from on high,
Let me preach with power or let me die.
ME 7-4-03
Fresh Anointing
I have preached my fare share of dead sermons born in the head rather than in the heart. I have to admit there have been times preaching and teaching when I stood behind the pulpit with little expectation for God to move. I have known the vanity of preaching when I did not feel I had God's fresh anointing.
When I use the phrase fresh anointing many may have a different definition but what I mean is that supernatural enabling and empowering that comes from God. As one author put it, this kind of anointing cannot be learned but must be earned in the prayer closet. I am referring to an anointing that comes with fire in the heart and soul.
The late revival preacher and author Leonard Ravenhill once wrote, "We have too many dead preachers preaching too many dead sermons to too many dead people in the pews." Fresh anointing comes from time spent in the presence of God. It comes from prayerfully wrestling with the text and fearlessly standing in the public to proclaim, "Thus says the Lord!"
Paul had fresh anointing to preach. He wrote, My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith may not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power. [I Cor 2:4-5] How many intellectuals stand in the pulpit and proclaim their latest discoveries in the church with beautiful eloquence but no power and no fire. They preach with a cold heart to frozen hearts in the pew. We need preachers with fire. God's fire. We need preachers who preach with a demonstration of power. God's power. Not the power to manipulate people emotionally to get them to walk the aisle and bend the knee. We must have God's power to convict of sin, to regenerate the lost, and to bring people to sorrowful repentance. We need God's power to revive lifeless churches and those barely clinging to life on life support of programs.
I was recently in a meeting when I heard a minister say to the rest of the group that they did not have quiet time with God. This minister confessed to not having personal devotions. My heart sunk. How many in leadership do not spend time in the prayer closet and all their ministry is a sham. How many do ministry without a demonstration of God's power and are content to do so?
O how we need fresh anointing preachers. We need messages born from God to preachers whose hearts are aflame and lips are ready to spew the molten lava of God's word. I read yesterday of a pastor whose sermons were characterized as being like fire and the people who heard him preach were like grass. When this man preached hearts were ignited with fire in the soul. I wish I could say that was true of me. Sadly it is not. I have preached for decades and seen many Sundays of barren altars.
I have preached with all my heart and fallen to my knees at the altar to do business with God personally. Many times when I arose I found no one else had moved one inch from their pew. Preaching with God's fresh anointing means preaching with God's power. Hearts are moved. Souls are saved. The church is revived.
I must become one of these anointed preachers. Brenda often chides me for being so impatient when it does not appear God is working in the hearts of the people. How can I be otherwise. I believe the message of God's word from my head to my feet. She often says that when I am preaching my whole body is in it. How can I ever deliver messages from God and be content when there is no life change, no acceptance of the truth, and souls are not saved and revived. How I can ever be content to preach with anything less in mind than a demonstration of God's power.
I want God's fresh anointing. I want God's power on my preaching. I want to preach like thunder used of God to rattle the souls of a church, community, and nation. This kind of fresh anointing will not be learned or earned in a seminary classroom. It cannot be handed down from reading books. It comes from the presence of God in the prayer closet. To the prayer closet I must devote myself.
O God, we need you. We have tried to preach, program and do church without You. We have used our intellect more than our faith. We have preached the icy messages of eloquence more than the fire breathed messages cloaked in Your power. We have put our confidence in our education and ability putting Your church to sleep in apathy. We have preached to tickle the ears rather than to fearlessly declare the whole counsel of God. I pray You would start in my heart bringing a fresh anointing. I ask You to rekindle the revival fire in my soul. I ask You to deepen my desire for time alone with You! I ask You to open my hears and eyes to hear from You and to see truth. May I like Paul not preach with persuasive words of human wisdom but in a demonstration of Your power. Nothing less will help this sinful sick age. So I ask You for the fire of Your presence to flood every fiber of my soul and every chamber of my heart. May I be shut out from the world that I may ever remain shut up alone with You in life giving prayer. I ask You for fresh anointing not just for this week and for the next message but for every day of my remaining life. Nothing less will do. In Jesus name, amen.
When I use the phrase fresh anointing many may have a different definition but what I mean is that supernatural enabling and empowering that comes from God. As one author put it, this kind of anointing cannot be learned but must be earned in the prayer closet. I am referring to an anointing that comes with fire in the heart and soul.
The late revival preacher and author Leonard Ravenhill once wrote, "We have too many dead preachers preaching too many dead sermons to too many dead people in the pews." Fresh anointing comes from time spent in the presence of God. It comes from prayerfully wrestling with the text and fearlessly standing in the public to proclaim, "Thus says the Lord!"
Paul had fresh anointing to preach. He wrote, My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith may not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power. [I Cor 2:4-5] How many intellectuals stand in the pulpit and proclaim their latest discoveries in the church with beautiful eloquence but no power and no fire. They preach with a cold heart to frozen hearts in the pew. We need preachers with fire. God's fire. We need preachers who preach with a demonstration of power. God's power. Not the power to manipulate people emotionally to get them to walk the aisle and bend the knee. We must have God's power to convict of sin, to regenerate the lost, and to bring people to sorrowful repentance. We need God's power to revive lifeless churches and those barely clinging to life on life support of programs.
I was recently in a meeting when I heard a minister say to the rest of the group that they did not have quiet time with God. This minister confessed to not having personal devotions. My heart sunk. How many in leadership do not spend time in the prayer closet and all their ministry is a sham. How many do ministry without a demonstration of God's power and are content to do so?
O how we need fresh anointing preachers. We need messages born from God to preachers whose hearts are aflame and lips are ready to spew the molten lava of God's word. I read yesterday of a pastor whose sermons were characterized as being like fire and the people who heard him preach were like grass. When this man preached hearts were ignited with fire in the soul. I wish I could say that was true of me. Sadly it is not. I have preached for decades and seen many Sundays of barren altars.
I have preached with all my heart and fallen to my knees at the altar to do business with God personally. Many times when I arose I found no one else had moved one inch from their pew. Preaching with God's fresh anointing means preaching with God's power. Hearts are moved. Souls are saved. The church is revived.
I must become one of these anointed preachers. Brenda often chides me for being so impatient when it does not appear God is working in the hearts of the people. How can I be otherwise. I believe the message of God's word from my head to my feet. She often says that when I am preaching my whole body is in it. How can I ever deliver messages from God and be content when there is no life change, no acceptance of the truth, and souls are not saved and revived. How I can ever be content to preach with anything less in mind than a demonstration of God's power.
I want God's fresh anointing. I want God's power on my preaching. I want to preach like thunder used of God to rattle the souls of a church, community, and nation. This kind of fresh anointing will not be learned or earned in a seminary classroom. It cannot be handed down from reading books. It comes from the presence of God in the prayer closet. To the prayer closet I must devote myself.
O God, we need you. We have tried to preach, program and do church without You. We have used our intellect more than our faith. We have preached the icy messages of eloquence more than the fire breathed messages cloaked in Your power. We have put our confidence in our education and ability putting Your church to sleep in apathy. We have preached to tickle the ears rather than to fearlessly declare the whole counsel of God. I pray You would start in my heart bringing a fresh anointing. I ask You to rekindle the revival fire in my soul. I ask You to deepen my desire for time alone with You! I ask You to open my hears and eyes to hear from You and to see truth. May I like Paul not preach with persuasive words of human wisdom but in a demonstration of Your power. Nothing less will help this sinful sick age. So I ask You for the fire of Your presence to flood every fiber of my soul and every chamber of my heart. May I be shut out from the world that I may ever remain shut up alone with You in life giving prayer. I ask You for fresh anointing not just for this week and for the next message but for every day of my remaining life. Nothing less will do. In Jesus name, amen.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
They Come
Lord, they come from all across the globe,
To grasp Your word to help them grow,
They come from near and from afar,
Asking You to rekindle their heart fire,
I write what you give dispensing truth,
For them to discover like a seeking sleuth,
They come hungry not for me but You,
The words of men never satisfactory do,
They come from all tribes and all nations,
Some lost and some redeemed new creations,
They come those whom I love and have met,
They also come those whom I can't forget,
Others come I've never beheld face to face,
Many I will never meet until time is erased,
They still come to drink and learn of You,
I ask You to work in ways I could never do,
May they keep coming by the multitudes,
Coming closer and getting a more intimate view,
Please keep giving me truth to ponder and write,
I ask you to keep sending them for fuel to fight.
ME 7-02-13
To grasp Your word to help them grow,
They come from near and from afar,
Asking You to rekindle their heart fire,
I write what you give dispensing truth,
For them to discover like a seeking sleuth,
They come hungry not for me but You,
The words of men never satisfactory do,
They come from all tribes and all nations,
Some lost and some redeemed new creations,
They come those whom I love and have met,
They also come those whom I can't forget,
Others come I've never beheld face to face,
Many I will never meet until time is erased,
They still come to drink and learn of You,
I ask You to work in ways I could never do,
May they keep coming by the multitudes,
Coming closer and getting a more intimate view,
Please keep giving me truth to ponder and write,
I ask you to keep sending them for fuel to fight.
ME 7-02-13
Extended Flock
But I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of the full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [Col 2:1-3]
Notice the burden Paul had for people, many whom he had never met face to face. He says he had a great struggle over those people. The word "struggle" means a great battle in his soul. He had a burden for the people at Colossae and Thessolonica. He had a shepherd's heart.
I feel that same sense of burden today as I write this. God has entrusted an extended flock to me to challenge, nurture, feed, and comfort through these writings. Many of the people who had read these meditations I have never met face to face. Take for example the fact that I never pastored a church of over 300 people. Yet, 51,000 times people have come to this blog to read for various reasons. Out of those 51,000 hits to this site the vast majority have been from people living in the United States. It doesn't stop there. Just this week alone people from Latvia, Germany, Australia, Philippines, and France have read some of these blogs. Since we began posting these entries several years ago people from South Korea, The United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, and India in addition to these other countries previously mentioned have visited this site numerous times. Most likely I will never meet these people this side of Heaven but my heart has a great struggle for each of you. I want you to know Christ and be encouraged in Him. I want you to know the hidden treasure that is Christ.
I have a great struggle in my heart burning more now than ever to get truth out. Whether that be preaching in person, writing these messages, and hopefully one day soon making messages available on the world wide web as well. I have a desire to see people grow in Christ and to see the church of God revived. That is a burden I struggle with here in Paradise, TX with Faith Community Church as well as the church at large.
You are my extended flock. I may not remain by your bedsides during times of crisis or stand before you week after week teaching truth in person, but through this venue the messages God gives me literally spans the globe. I trust Christ is working in your hearts to have His will and way as you read and reflect.
I write with a struggle today. Wondering how many God will lead to this site. Wondering how many will come to understand the mystery that is Christ. Wondering if these writings ever make a difference. It would be nice to hear from you from time to time for encouragement. I write and send these things into cyberspace never knowing what the end result is.
It does not matter if I am encouraged. My struggle is to write for God and for each of you. Know today you are each in my heart though I do not know who you are. Know that I am praying for each of you and for the expansion of this ministry further than I ever could have imagined.
I may never stand before a flock of several hundred or several thousand. Through this writing ministry I literally have an extended flock of thousands covering dozens of countries around the world. Please know today I love you. Also know I have a great struggle on your behalf and I pray for each of you. May the Lord continue to use and expand this ministry.
Notice the burden Paul had for people, many whom he had never met face to face. He says he had a great struggle over those people. The word "struggle" means a great battle in his soul. He had a burden for the people at Colossae and Thessolonica. He had a shepherd's heart.
I feel that same sense of burden today as I write this. God has entrusted an extended flock to me to challenge, nurture, feed, and comfort through these writings. Many of the people who had read these meditations I have never met face to face. Take for example the fact that I never pastored a church of over 300 people. Yet, 51,000 times people have come to this blog to read for various reasons. Out of those 51,000 hits to this site the vast majority have been from people living in the United States. It doesn't stop there. Just this week alone people from Latvia, Germany, Australia, Philippines, and France have read some of these blogs. Since we began posting these entries several years ago people from South Korea, The United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, and India in addition to these other countries previously mentioned have visited this site numerous times. Most likely I will never meet these people this side of Heaven but my heart has a great struggle for each of you. I want you to know Christ and be encouraged in Him. I want you to know the hidden treasure that is Christ.
I have a great struggle in my heart burning more now than ever to get truth out. Whether that be preaching in person, writing these messages, and hopefully one day soon making messages available on the world wide web as well. I have a desire to see people grow in Christ and to see the church of God revived. That is a burden I struggle with here in Paradise, TX with Faith Community Church as well as the church at large.
You are my extended flock. I may not remain by your bedsides during times of crisis or stand before you week after week teaching truth in person, but through this venue the messages God gives me literally spans the globe. I trust Christ is working in your hearts to have His will and way as you read and reflect.
I write with a struggle today. Wondering how many God will lead to this site. Wondering how many will come to understand the mystery that is Christ. Wondering if these writings ever make a difference. It would be nice to hear from you from time to time for encouragement. I write and send these things into cyberspace never knowing what the end result is.
It does not matter if I am encouraged. My struggle is to write for God and for each of you. Know today you are each in my heart though I do not know who you are. Know that I am praying for each of you and for the expansion of this ministry further than I ever could have imagined.
I may never stand before a flock of several hundred or several thousand. Through this writing ministry I literally have an extended flock of thousands covering dozens of countries around the world. Please know today I love you. Also know I have a great struggle on your behalf and I pray for each of you. May the Lord continue to use and expand this ministry.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Prophet or Profit
I have always been partial to the prophets. By far I would have to say my favorite Bible prophet is Elijah. He had boldness, power through prayer, a strong faith (except for that one weak moment), the ability to hear from God, and a fierce opposition to hypocrisy and those who opposed God. My love for prophets does not stop there. I have a great fondness for more modern prophets like the late A.W. Tozer and Leonard Ravenhill. I am reading a Tozer book now and delight in the hard truth he wrote and preached. Ravenhill preached hard and wrote hard books like America is Too Young to Die, Why Revival Tarries, and Sodom Had No Bible.
Prophets speak for God and do not flinch in calling people to repentance. They are fiery, passionate, and bold. They typically see things as black and white with little grey area. They are often loners who are content to be shut up with God until they have God's message to be proclaimed in the public sector. Prophets do not win awards. They are not invited to luncheons. They do not get promoted or highly recognized very often on this earth. They are misunderstood, shunned, and often rejected by their preaching peers.
True prophets are rarely appreciated in their own lifetimes. It is only after their deaths and history tells their story do people begin to place value on their ministries.
Many preachers are spineless. They preach for profit. To preach as a prophet would mean dwindling crowds, smaller offerings, fewer promotions, and bare bones salaries. In this seeker sensitive age preachers like to preach what plays well with the crowds. Repentance has never played well with the crowds. Preaching holy living is another topic not highly requested or written about. There is not much profit in that kind of preaching or writing.
In a day of mega churches we also live with a famine in the land for hearing the word of God preached with boldness and a demonstration of power by prophets who do not care the least about personal profit. There is a place for teaching and preaching. There is a place for exposition of the scriptures to edify and console. There is also a place for prophets.
What happened to the ministry of the prophet? Where are they today to call us to repentance and to not shy away from preaching the hard messages to a soft church age built on entertainment and felt needs preaching. Is there not a need for the people of God to turn from sin and hypocrisy in genuine repentance and mourning?
Many years ago I preached a message in a new seeker church. They did not really know me and when I cracked open the Bible that Sunday morning to preach from Isaiah 6 on the holiness of God you could almost see them choking. I mean literally choking down their donuts, pastries, and cups of coffee while I preached on the holiness of a God who is not revered or worshipped for who He really is. They had been fed a steady diet of love, grace, and ease in Zion.
Typically afterward few people shook my hand. I was not invited out by anyone for lunch. Nobody stood in line to purchase one of my books.
Many preachers profit from ministry. Prophets seldom do. They are more concerned with pleasing God than pleasing people. Prophets at times do not make good pastors. They preach too hard. They refuse to compromise and just play the church game to get along. Prophets ruffle feathers, they rock the boat, and they shake up the status quo. Many churches have no place behind their pulpits for prophets. They long for the celebrity pastor who can build up the budget, attendance, and prestige of the church not present a spotless bride to the Jesus the Bridegroom.
What does this land need? Do we need more preachers for hire or do we need prophets who have been shut up with God. Preachers when they come out they come out with a true message from God to this sinful age. May God let the prophetic mantle fall on His own once again even if it means little personal profit.
Prophets speak for God and do not flinch in calling people to repentance. They are fiery, passionate, and bold. They typically see things as black and white with little grey area. They are often loners who are content to be shut up with God until they have God's message to be proclaimed in the public sector. Prophets do not win awards. They are not invited to luncheons. They do not get promoted or highly recognized very often on this earth. They are misunderstood, shunned, and often rejected by their preaching peers.
True prophets are rarely appreciated in their own lifetimes. It is only after their deaths and history tells their story do people begin to place value on their ministries.
Many preachers are spineless. They preach for profit. To preach as a prophet would mean dwindling crowds, smaller offerings, fewer promotions, and bare bones salaries. In this seeker sensitive age preachers like to preach what plays well with the crowds. Repentance has never played well with the crowds. Preaching holy living is another topic not highly requested or written about. There is not much profit in that kind of preaching or writing.
In a day of mega churches we also live with a famine in the land for hearing the word of God preached with boldness and a demonstration of power by prophets who do not care the least about personal profit. There is a place for teaching and preaching. There is a place for exposition of the scriptures to edify and console. There is also a place for prophets.
What happened to the ministry of the prophet? Where are they today to call us to repentance and to not shy away from preaching the hard messages to a soft church age built on entertainment and felt needs preaching. Is there not a need for the people of God to turn from sin and hypocrisy in genuine repentance and mourning?
Many years ago I preached a message in a new seeker church. They did not really know me and when I cracked open the Bible that Sunday morning to preach from Isaiah 6 on the holiness of God you could almost see them choking. I mean literally choking down their donuts, pastries, and cups of coffee while I preached on the holiness of a God who is not revered or worshipped for who He really is. They had been fed a steady diet of love, grace, and ease in Zion.
Typically afterward few people shook my hand. I was not invited out by anyone for lunch. Nobody stood in line to purchase one of my books.
Many preachers profit from ministry. Prophets seldom do. They are more concerned with pleasing God than pleasing people. Prophets at times do not make good pastors. They preach too hard. They refuse to compromise and just play the church game to get along. Prophets ruffle feathers, they rock the boat, and they shake up the status quo. Many churches have no place behind their pulpits for prophets. They long for the celebrity pastor who can build up the budget, attendance, and prestige of the church not present a spotless bride to the Jesus the Bridegroom.
What does this land need? Do we need more preachers for hire or do we need prophets who have been shut up with God. Preachers when they come out they come out with a true message from God to this sinful age. May God let the prophetic mantle fall on His own once again even if it means little personal profit.
Friendship with the World
"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." [James 4:4]
God's church is filled with two timing, unfaithful, spiritual adulterating church members. There is no easy way to say this. You can make a list of sins and find church going people engaged in many of those sinful behaviors. There is lying, gossip, back stabbing, adultery, fornication, profane speech, cheating, un-forgiveness, drunkenness, and the list goes on. What is worse is there is not shame or remorse for such behavior by many who sit in the pews on Sunday but live for the Devil the rest of the week.
I am not speaking to the pagans outside in the church engaged in this type of behavior. Neither is James. We are both addressing Christians. Christians who have embraced compromise along the way. It did not seem a big deal at the time. A corner was cut, a forbidden fruit was nibbled, caution was thrown to the wind for a few moments of fun and pleasure. What started out as a little compromise for some has now become unashamed friendship with the world.
Christians drink the world's brew, laugh at their crude jokes, embrace profane language in the form of movie and television entertainment, dress in the world's fashions, wear our hair like the glamorous people of Hollywood, all the while, shunning words like holiness, consecration, and righteousness.
The church is stained. The church has become chummy companions with the world. When is the last time you heard a good biblical message on holy living? That is not a felt need by the world. It is a need just the same for people who have made the world an associate and become friendly with in lifestyles while rejecting, ignoring, and rebelling against God.
Church do you not get this? GOD IS OFFENDED BY SIN! HE HATES SIN! I did not say He hates the sinner. I said He hates sin. When sinful pagan lifestyles are embraced by God's own people we make ourselves odious in His sight. That is what the world "enemy" means in [James 4:4] Go read your old testament and see how God treated His own covenant people when they rejected Him. Read in Acts 5:1-11 how God dealt with the sin of Annanias and Sapphira for the sin of lying. Read what God had to say to many of the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three. REPENT! A message sorely needed in the church today. REPENT does go over well with the television and radio audience. REPENT does not make the top ten best selling book list at the store. REPENT does not draw the crowds on Sunday mornings in fact it often repels the crowds.
How can Christian people sit around in front of the latest sitcoms laughing and embracing things like; Happily Divorced, The Modern Family, Bates Motel, Mad Men, Cougar Town and others. In these shows homosexuality is flaunted, adultery is embraced, sexual promiscuity is showcased as normal, divorced is mocked as a preferred lifestyle, and fathers are often spineless or unfaithful to their spouse and children. All of these things are clearly spoken against in the scriptures. The only way children of God can watch these things is with a closed Bible and a closed heart to the Spirit of God.
Blessed is the pure in heart for they shall see God. [Matt 5:8]
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. [ I Thess 5:21-22]
As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior because it is written, 'You shall be holy for I am holy." [I Pet 1:14-16]
Church do you examine the music you listen to carefully? Parents do you even know what is playing behind those headphones constantly plugged to your children's ears? Do you closely examine what you watch in your home or at the movie theater seeking to abstain from every form of evil? Horror movies out. Movies with profanity off limits. Sexually implicit pictures out of bounds. You will find very little entertainment God honoring you can watch.
Because the church has made the world a close companion hearts are hard to the things of God. They have become calloused. God still moves and works as He has always done. People who have become friendly with the world are no longer sensitive to the things of God's Spirit. They are no longer sensitive to the scriptures, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, nor God's chastisement. They prefer a life of rebellion making themselves enemies of God rather than yielding and submitting to Him.
It is time for the people of God to take an honest look at how friendly we have become with the world in our behavior. It is time to open our eyes, our hearts, our Bibles and spirits asking God to search our hearts to see if He finds any wicked way in us. It is time for judgement to begin in the house of God. It is time to make a break from friendship with the world to cultivate communion with Christ. It is time to embrace holiness and shun hypocrisy. What will it be church? Friendship with the world or friendship with God? It is time to decide.
God's church is filled with two timing, unfaithful, spiritual adulterating church members. There is no easy way to say this. You can make a list of sins and find church going people engaged in many of those sinful behaviors. There is lying, gossip, back stabbing, adultery, fornication, profane speech, cheating, un-forgiveness, drunkenness, and the list goes on. What is worse is there is not shame or remorse for such behavior by many who sit in the pews on Sunday but live for the Devil the rest of the week.
I am not speaking to the pagans outside in the church engaged in this type of behavior. Neither is James. We are both addressing Christians. Christians who have embraced compromise along the way. It did not seem a big deal at the time. A corner was cut, a forbidden fruit was nibbled, caution was thrown to the wind for a few moments of fun and pleasure. What started out as a little compromise for some has now become unashamed friendship with the world.
Christians drink the world's brew, laugh at their crude jokes, embrace profane language in the form of movie and television entertainment, dress in the world's fashions, wear our hair like the glamorous people of Hollywood, all the while, shunning words like holiness, consecration, and righteousness.
The church is stained. The church has become chummy companions with the world. When is the last time you heard a good biblical message on holy living? That is not a felt need by the world. It is a need just the same for people who have made the world an associate and become friendly with in lifestyles while rejecting, ignoring, and rebelling against God.
Church do you not get this? GOD IS OFFENDED BY SIN! HE HATES SIN! I did not say He hates the sinner. I said He hates sin. When sinful pagan lifestyles are embraced by God's own people we make ourselves odious in His sight. That is what the world "enemy" means in [James 4:4] Go read your old testament and see how God treated His own covenant people when they rejected Him. Read in Acts 5:1-11 how God dealt with the sin of Annanias and Sapphira for the sin of lying. Read what God had to say to many of the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three. REPENT! A message sorely needed in the church today. REPENT does go over well with the television and radio audience. REPENT does not make the top ten best selling book list at the store. REPENT does not draw the crowds on Sunday mornings in fact it often repels the crowds.
How can Christian people sit around in front of the latest sitcoms laughing and embracing things like; Happily Divorced, The Modern Family, Bates Motel, Mad Men, Cougar Town and others. In these shows homosexuality is flaunted, adultery is embraced, sexual promiscuity is showcased as normal, divorced is mocked as a preferred lifestyle, and fathers are often spineless or unfaithful to their spouse and children. All of these things are clearly spoken against in the scriptures. The only way children of God can watch these things is with a closed Bible and a closed heart to the Spirit of God.
Blessed is the pure in heart for they shall see God. [Matt 5:8]
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. [ I Thess 5:21-22]
As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior because it is written, 'You shall be holy for I am holy." [I Pet 1:14-16]
Church do you examine the music you listen to carefully? Parents do you even know what is playing behind those headphones constantly plugged to your children's ears? Do you closely examine what you watch in your home or at the movie theater seeking to abstain from every form of evil? Horror movies out. Movies with profanity off limits. Sexually implicit pictures out of bounds. You will find very little entertainment God honoring you can watch.
Because the church has made the world a close companion hearts are hard to the things of God. They have become calloused. God still moves and works as He has always done. People who have become friendly with the world are no longer sensitive to the things of God's Spirit. They are no longer sensitive to the scriptures, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, nor God's chastisement. They prefer a life of rebellion making themselves enemies of God rather than yielding and submitting to Him.
It is time for the people of God to take an honest look at how friendly we have become with the world in our behavior. It is time to open our eyes, our hearts, our Bibles and spirits asking God to search our hearts to see if He finds any wicked way in us. It is time for judgement to begin in the house of God. It is time to make a break from friendship with the world to cultivate communion with Christ. It is time to embrace holiness and shun hypocrisy. What will it be church? Friendship with the world or friendship with God? It is time to decide.
Back to Work
We are back from vacation. Back to life preaching, writing, and mowing. Back to reality. No more leisure days of tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, jogging, and fishing. Back to work for Brenda, the boys, and me.
Back to work in trying to see this church grow. Back to preparing messages and delivering them. Back to preparing our students for youth camp and a youth revival I will preach here at the end of the summer. Back to work mowing yards. Two of the four days we have been back I have spent on top of the mower. Back to working out. Lifting weights, jogging, and core training. Tonight at 6:00 p.m. a dozen or so junior high and high school guys will meet us at the field house for two hours of hard work in preparation for the upcoming football season I lead with another dad.
I have this week at home. Next week I will be traveling to Canyon Lake, TX where I will preach a youth camp for FBC Seminole. I am taking three of the boys with me. Taylor will be attending a football camp that same week in Denton. We will come home for the weekend and then all head out for our camp the following week. Either at the end of this week or after youth camp we are supposed to move. Packing, lifting, loading, and relocating. Yes, it is back to work on several fronts.
I could use your prayers on several fronts. God is at work and I ask you to pray that God would show me clearly where He is working so I can join Him. I have a couple of books cooking in the back of mind I need prayers to be able to write and complete with God's anointing. I ask for your prayers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in preaching camp next week (July 8-12), in teaching high school students at our camp (July 15-19) and our youth revival (July 28-31). I also have some other things cooking on the stove I am not at liberty to share at this time. Time management is a great need during the rest of this summer. As always your prayers are needed and appreciated.
Back to work in trying to see this church grow. Back to preparing messages and delivering them. Back to preparing our students for youth camp and a youth revival I will preach here at the end of the summer. Back to work mowing yards. Two of the four days we have been back I have spent on top of the mower. Back to working out. Lifting weights, jogging, and core training. Tonight at 6:00 p.m. a dozen or so junior high and high school guys will meet us at the field house for two hours of hard work in preparation for the upcoming football season I lead with another dad.
I have this week at home. Next week I will be traveling to Canyon Lake, TX where I will preach a youth camp for FBC Seminole. I am taking three of the boys with me. Taylor will be attending a football camp that same week in Denton. We will come home for the weekend and then all head out for our camp the following week. Either at the end of this week or after youth camp we are supposed to move. Packing, lifting, loading, and relocating. Yes, it is back to work on several fronts.
I could use your prayers on several fronts. God is at work and I ask you to pray that God would show me clearly where He is working so I can join Him. I have a couple of books cooking in the back of mind I need prayers to be able to write and complete with God's anointing. I ask for your prayers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in preaching camp next week (July 8-12), in teaching high school students at our camp (July 15-19) and our youth revival (July 28-31). I also have some other things cooking on the stove I am not at liberty to share at this time. Time management is a great need during the rest of this summer. As always your prayers are needed and appreciated.
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