I usually post about the message given in church on Sunday morning but this morning I have been led to do something different. This morning my devotional spoke right to me and my heart. This past week has been a difficult one for me. It seems to be true what they say, "When it rains, it pours." It has been one problem right after another this past week for me. I have cried a lot. Early in the week, I found myself saying, "When you get closer to God, Satan gets closer to you....this is just Satan trying to beat on you." I convinced myself everything was going to work out because I am a child of God. Then Saturday rolls around and I have a health scare. Right now, as I type, it is still unknown what is wrong with me. The scariest part is the unknown. What will be done? What will the outcome be? Is it fixable? Is it life threatening? All these thoughts staring me in the face as I type right now. Satan again, sitting in my head laughing at me for being scared. He thinks he has won.....He is mistaken. I opened my bible this morning to do a daily devotion and prayed that God speak to me. Guess what?! He did.
I am a believer that God speaks to me through the great Book! I often in times of question, just let my Bible fall open and believe God will show me answers on the page it opens to. This morning, my Bible opened up to a special devotional page titled: "FEAR"! Wow! When He speaks, He speaks! It wasn't too long ago that my husband and I walked through a storm of fear. In a past post, I shared the devotional message God gave to me then about being on the anvil and that my faith had been restored when God took care of that situation. I still believe He gave us that situation to help us through other trials......um....like the one I am now facing. Sometimes we don't understand why we go through trials in our lives but I can tell you that it is so you can face other trials with more faith than you had in the last trial. Each time you face trials in your life, your faith builds and begin to realize you can depend on God to carry you through every storm. I want to share word for word what my Bible gave me this morning. This comes from the Max Lucado Devotional Bible.
It says:
"Faith is often the child of fear. Fear propelled Peter out of the boat. He'd ridden these waves before. He knew what these storms could do. He'd heard the stories. He'd seen the wreckage. He knew the widos. He knew the storm could kill. And he wanted out.... Look into his eyes tonight and see fear - a suffocating heart racing fear of a man who has no way out. But out of this fear would be born an act of faith, for faith is often the child of fear. If Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water during a calm peaceful day, do you think that he would have walked out to him? Nor do I. Had the lake been carpet smooth and the journey pleasant do you think that Peter would have begged Jesus to take him on a stroll across the top of the water? Doubtful. But give a man a choice between sure death and a crazy chance, and he'll take the chance....every time. Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation. It wasn't logic that caused Moses to raise his staff on the bank of the Red Sea. It wasn't medical research that convinced Naaman to dip seven times in the river. It wasn't common sense that caused Paul to abandon the Law ans embrace grace. And it wasn't a confident committee that prayed in a small room in Jerusalem for Peter's release from prison. It was a fearful, desperate, band of backed-into-a-corner believers. It was a church with no options. A congregation of have nots pleading for help. And never were they stronger. At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear."
God is speaking to me it seems, almost all the time. My faith in Him will not be shaken. I know that whatever comes my way, He will use this to build me up and make me stronger for my next little storm. This is not going to be the last and I know that. Walking beside God will not always be a smooth road. Without rocks and roadblocks along the way, I would probably be walking the path alone but I realize that God is there walking beside me. If I walk out ahead of Him, I will stumble and get hurt. If I walk beside Him He is there to save me and help me across these hurdles in the way. I can't do this alone. He has to carry me and He will as long as I am willing to crawl up into His arms. I have to trust He knows what He is doing. He counted these tears and knew this day before I was born. He knows the outcome. I just have to trust and have faith in my God.
I know I am not alone. Many people out there are facing trials too. I pray that you are comforted by the words I found this morning in my devotion. I often can feel God cradling me when I need that comfort. I can hear Him saying, "Fear not my child. I am with you. I will take care of it." It gives me peace to know that my God is so awesome that He does teach me faith through my little storms of life. What has He taught you? Think about it.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Humble Yourself, Pray, Seek, and Ask
Our message this week was a special one with celebrating our 130th year as Sparta Baptist Church. The message fit perfectly as we reflect on the years past we also reflect on the four pillars of being a Christian. Our message comes from:
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There are 4 main things we must safeguard as Christians in this scripture.
1.) Humility
2.) Pray
3.) Seek
4.) Ask
Let's begin with humility. Why is it so difficult for people to humble themselves? We all battle this even though we KNOW that Satan uses our pride agaist us. Satan knows he has you when your pride gets between you and the Lord. If you have read this blog before you have already read about the importance of doing things for the glory of God alone and not for the glory of yourself. If you are there doing a service only so people will glorify you, then you are in trouble. How many real blessings has God sent your way but you missed because of your pride? How many times have you robbed ourself the grace and blessings of God because you are too worried about what people think of you? It is time to humble yourself before God and do things for the right reasons. I encourage you to read James 4:10.
Next, lets talk about something Christians don't do enough of......and that is.....Talk to God! Think about this...Do you answer God as quick as you answer your cell phone when it goes off? Do you talk to God as much as you should? We are told to pray without ceasing. That means continuously talking to God because He is there every minute of every single day and night. Why wouldn't we talk to Him? It is like a marriage or relationship where you are giving your partner the silent treatment. Think of how God must feel to be ignored. Do you like to be ignored? Would you like it very much if God decided to ignore you when you needed Him? We should never ignore God and pretend He isn't there. Pray without ceasing! I encourage you to read John 14:13, Ephesians 6:18, and 1 Thesalonians 5:17.
Seek! How often do we judge ourselves as being weak if we are Christians? Have you ever really just sat and thought about what people think of Christians? They see us as being weak and push overs. Being a Christian does not mean we tuck our tails between our legs and become a whimp. We are to stand up for what we believe in. We are to boldly seek His face and His will for us. And here is something to think about: If you are married how often do you seek your spouse's attention and approval? Most likely more than you seek out God's attention and approval! We are to look to God for everything. Read Psalms 27:8.
Lastly, Ask for Forgiveness! We are ALL sinners. We have to daily repent our failures. We hide too much behind our pride somtimes to ask for forgiveness. Sin is like a cancer that eats away your life. You can't do anything on the outside of the world till you take care of your own heart! We keep no secrets from God. It is impossible to do so. Everything we do is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. Read Hebrews 4:13. It is important for us to understand that confession is simply agreeing with God that our acts were wrong. I think so many times people are scared to tell God what they did but really we have it all wrong.....He already knows what we did. Read Nehemiah 15:9.
2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that these 4 things are important in the Christian walk. He will hear us only if we do these 4 acts together. It is also important to remind those we witness to that no sin is too big to forgive. I think sometimes people who have never stepped inside a church feel they could never step into a church because their sins are just too big and there are so many but we have to let them know He does forgive and He throws our sins as far as the East is from the West. We can no longer allow ourselves and others to hide behind their pride. It is time to get things right. God WANTS to forgive your sinful deeds and thoughts through His grace. When we fall, we can dismiss it, deny it, distort it, or we can deal with it. God wants us to deal with it. Humble yourself, pray, seek God's will instead of your own, and ask for forgiveness!
2 Chronicles 7:14
King James Version (KJV)
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There are 4 main things we must safeguard as Christians in this scripture.
1.) Humility
2.) Pray
3.) Seek
4.) Ask
Let's begin with humility. Why is it so difficult for people to humble themselves? We all battle this even though we KNOW that Satan uses our pride agaist us. Satan knows he has you when your pride gets between you and the Lord. If you have read this blog before you have already read about the importance of doing things for the glory of God alone and not for the glory of yourself. If you are there doing a service only so people will glorify you, then you are in trouble. How many real blessings has God sent your way but you missed because of your pride? How many times have you robbed ourself the grace and blessings of God because you are too worried about what people think of you? It is time to humble yourself before God and do things for the right reasons. I encourage you to read James 4:10.
Next, lets talk about something Christians don't do enough of......and that is.....Talk to God! Think about this...Do you answer God as quick as you answer your cell phone when it goes off? Do you talk to God as much as you should? We are told to pray without ceasing. That means continuously talking to God because He is there every minute of every single day and night. Why wouldn't we talk to Him? It is like a marriage or relationship where you are giving your partner the silent treatment. Think of how God must feel to be ignored. Do you like to be ignored? Would you like it very much if God decided to ignore you when you needed Him? We should never ignore God and pretend He isn't there. Pray without ceasing! I encourage you to read John 14:13, Ephesians 6:18, and 1 Thesalonians 5:17.
Seek! How often do we judge ourselves as being weak if we are Christians? Have you ever really just sat and thought about what people think of Christians? They see us as being weak and push overs. Being a Christian does not mean we tuck our tails between our legs and become a whimp. We are to stand up for what we believe in. We are to boldly seek His face and His will for us. And here is something to think about: If you are married how often do you seek your spouse's attention and approval? Most likely more than you seek out God's attention and approval! We are to look to God for everything. Read Psalms 27:8.
Lastly, Ask for Forgiveness! We are ALL sinners. We have to daily repent our failures. We hide too much behind our pride somtimes to ask for forgiveness. Sin is like a cancer that eats away your life. You can't do anything on the outside of the world till you take care of your own heart! We keep no secrets from God. It is impossible to do so. Everything we do is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. Read Hebrews 4:13. It is important for us to understand that confession is simply agreeing with God that our acts were wrong. I think so many times people are scared to tell God what they did but really we have it all wrong.....He already knows what we did. Read Nehemiah 15:9.
2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that these 4 things are important in the Christian walk. He will hear us only if we do these 4 acts together. It is also important to remind those we witness to that no sin is too big to forgive. I think sometimes people who have never stepped inside a church feel they could never step into a church because their sins are just too big and there are so many but we have to let them know He does forgive and He throws our sins as far as the East is from the West. We can no longer allow ourselves and others to hide behind their pride. It is time to get things right. God WANTS to forgive your sinful deeds and thoughts through His grace. When we fall, we can dismiss it, deny it, distort it, or we can deal with it. God wants us to deal with it. Humble yourself, pray, seek God's will instead of your own, and ask for forgiveness!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
I Know Who You Are On Sunday....But Who Are You Every Other Day?
Our message today comes from Matthew 4:18 - 19.
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
How does this scripture relate to me? I don't know much about fishing except for the fact that it is absolutely disgusting to bait a hook! The only memory I have of fishing is the time spent with my grandfather out in a barren cow pasture. I couldn't bait the hook....but grandpa did it for me. However; if you thought this scripture was about fishing you are mistaken!
Peter and Andrew were fishing because that was their everyday job. It was how they put food on the table for their families. Today's message is about where you are on Monday through Saturday. Anyone that goes to church with you knows who you are on Sunday. Most know what you do Monday through Saturday. But do they see the same person on Monday through Saturday as they see on Sunday? As Jesus walked by the sea and saw Peter and Andrew fishing there, he called to them saying, "Come and follow me. I will make you fishers of men."
I don't know about you, but in our economy I care about my job and keeping my job. In my line of work, as a public school teacher, I battle this every day. It is sad that I have to tiptoe around with what I say when talking about my Faith. So this is a tough one for me. I would love to be able to just come out and teach my students like I do my Sunday School Class. I would love to share Jesus with them, but by law, I am forbidden. I pray that God takes hold of our schools every night so that I am more free to do that. I am not alone. There are many other jobs out there where our hands are tied. I have to be creative in the ways I share my faith. I do it through love and my actions with my students. I am not quiet about my life outside of school. I try to be a good role-model and teach good morals and values to my kids. Those same morals and values I expect my own daughter to have as she grows up in today's world. But just like Peter and Andrew, God has called me to cast out my net. He has called me to be fishers of men. It is no coincidence that I am a teacher. It is no coincidence that we have so many good Christians as teachers. God knows what He is doing. God placed us there for a reason. God also placed you in your job too for a reason.
Maybe you are to encounter a lost soul God intends for you to help. Maybe you are there because you are a peacemaker and you are surrounded by people who are not. Look around you. Tomorrow, when you go to work, step back and think about why God put you there. Do you realize how important your outside life is to your ministry? How many of us go to bed one person on Sunday night and wake up a totally different person on Monday morning? God knew you before you were born. He knows every hair on your head. He placed you in your job. He knows why he placed you there. What are you chasing? Are you chasing the American dollar or the glory of God? Be who God wants you to be at all hours of every single day no matter where you are.
Peter and Andrew gained the practice of gathering fish. God used their job to train them for His glory. Their everyday practice of catching fish prepared them to gather men together and share the Gospel with them. What is your physical job preparing you for? Why did God put you there?
It is so easy to just say you are a Christian, punch in your clock on Sunday, go home and then get into the groove of 9 to 5 everyday only to do the cycle over again. But how often do we minister outside the church? We typically just walk by, in our daily lives and we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the problems around us. Oh, but then on Sunday, we sit in our pews and sing our songs and listen to our preacher. 12:00 noon, watches are going off...time to go home! Punch out! See you next Sunday!
Think about this.....how many "Workaholics" do you know? How many people are giving so much time to their job that their family time and God time suffers? I know of a lot of fellow teachers, me included, work in the school on Saturdays and Sundays just to make their lessons perfect and their classrooms ready. At what cost? Our family, time spent with God, maybe even church. Now what if only 1/2 the people in the world worked as hard at ministering as they do in their physical jobs? Instead of being "workaholics" we should be "Godaholics", "Witnessaholics", and "Ministeraholics"! Our complete effort should be spend on working non-stop for Him and His glory. Do you work as hard with your personal walk with God as you do your physical everyday job? Remember, God put you there in that job for a reason. It isn't time to forget God, it is a time to use what you learn in church on Sundays for His glory!
If God brought you to it, He'll see you through it. Do you just punch in on Sunday morning only to punch out at noon? Or do you allow God to punch in with you everyday of the week and work alongside you?
Here is your invitation from God:
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
How does this scripture relate to me? I don't know much about fishing except for the fact that it is absolutely disgusting to bait a hook! The only memory I have of fishing is the time spent with my grandfather out in a barren cow pasture. I couldn't bait the hook....but grandpa did it for me. However; if you thought this scripture was about fishing you are mistaken!
Peter and Andrew were fishing because that was their everyday job. It was how they put food on the table for their families. Today's message is about where you are on Monday through Saturday. Anyone that goes to church with you knows who you are on Sunday. Most know what you do Monday through Saturday. But do they see the same person on Monday through Saturday as they see on Sunday? As Jesus walked by the sea and saw Peter and Andrew fishing there, he called to them saying, "Come and follow me. I will make you fishers of men."
I don't know about you, but in our economy I care about my job and keeping my job. In my line of work, as a public school teacher, I battle this every day. It is sad that I have to tiptoe around with what I say when talking about my Faith. So this is a tough one for me. I would love to be able to just come out and teach my students like I do my Sunday School Class. I would love to share Jesus with them, but by law, I am forbidden. I pray that God takes hold of our schools every night so that I am more free to do that. I am not alone. There are many other jobs out there where our hands are tied. I have to be creative in the ways I share my faith. I do it through love and my actions with my students. I am not quiet about my life outside of school. I try to be a good role-model and teach good morals and values to my kids. Those same morals and values I expect my own daughter to have as she grows up in today's world. But just like Peter and Andrew, God has called me to cast out my net. He has called me to be fishers of men. It is no coincidence that I am a teacher. It is no coincidence that we have so many good Christians as teachers. God knows what He is doing. God placed us there for a reason. God also placed you in your job too for a reason.
Maybe you are to encounter a lost soul God intends for you to help. Maybe you are there because you are a peacemaker and you are surrounded by people who are not. Look around you. Tomorrow, when you go to work, step back and think about why God put you there. Do you realize how important your outside life is to your ministry? How many of us go to bed one person on Sunday night and wake up a totally different person on Monday morning? God knew you before you were born. He knows every hair on your head. He placed you in your job. He knows why he placed you there. What are you chasing? Are you chasing the American dollar or the glory of God? Be who God wants you to be at all hours of every single day no matter where you are.
Peter and Andrew gained the practice of gathering fish. God used their job to train them for His glory. Their everyday practice of catching fish prepared them to gather men together and share the Gospel with them. What is your physical job preparing you for? Why did God put you there?
It is so easy to just say you are a Christian, punch in your clock on Sunday, go home and then get into the groove of 9 to 5 everyday only to do the cycle over again. But how often do we minister outside the church? We typically just walk by, in our daily lives and we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the problems around us. Oh, but then on Sunday, we sit in our pews and sing our songs and listen to our preacher. 12:00 noon, watches are going off...time to go home! Punch out! See you next Sunday!
Think about this.....how many "Workaholics" do you know? How many people are giving so much time to their job that their family time and God time suffers? I know of a lot of fellow teachers, me included, work in the school on Saturdays and Sundays just to make their lessons perfect and their classrooms ready. At what cost? Our family, time spent with God, maybe even church. Now what if only 1/2 the people in the world worked as hard at ministering as they do in their physical jobs? Instead of being "workaholics" we should be "Godaholics", "Witnessaholics", and "Ministeraholics"! Our complete effort should be spend on working non-stop for Him and His glory. Do you work as hard with your personal walk with God as you do your physical everyday job? Remember, God put you there in that job for a reason. It isn't time to forget God, it is a time to use what you learn in church on Sundays for His glory!
If God brought you to it, He'll see you through it. Do you just punch in on Sunday morning only to punch out at noon? Or do you allow God to punch in with you everyday of the week and work alongside you?
Here is your invitation from God:
YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BE A FISHER OF MEN
Who: YOU
Where: EVERYWHERE YOU GO
What: MINISTER TO OTHERS THROUGH WORDS AND ACTIONS
When: NOW!!!!
Why: WHEN THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO FISH, FISH THEY FLOURISH AND GOD CALLED YOU TO DO SO!!!!
Tomorrow when you clock in, look around you. Are you missing the opportunity to bait your hook or are you waiting for someone else to do it for you? Did you purposely leave God at home or did He help you clock in? Cast out your net everywhere you go and be a fisher of men!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Are You Willing To Step Out Of The Boat?
Our message today comes from Matthew 14: 26 - 31.
26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Most people have heard this story of Jesus walking on the water. Many relate it to miracles of Jesus but there is so much more to this scripture than just the miracles Jesus performed. It is about stepping out of the boat on FAITH. If we are ever going to act on our full potential as Christians we must get out of the boat. Many are scared to even get into the boat let alone step out of the boat. Jesus told Peter to "Come and step out of the boat." Peter knew the water was beneath him. He knew he would need to take a leap of faith to step onto the water with Jesus. Imagine the thoughts that probably went through his head before stepping onto the water. He stepped out and for a moment walked on the water with Jesus, but the minute he let his FEAR get the best of him, he began to sink.
FEAR can help us grow but FEAR can also cripple us. You either have FEAR WITH FAITH or you have FEAR WITHOUT FAITH. Fear WITH Faith is good. People that possess Fear With Faith act on their callings. People that possess Fear Without Faith are the ones that sit in the boat all their lives. How many of us are sitting in the boat and just watching the others step out of the boat? A lot of people who attend church are doing just that. They are afraid to step up because something requires too much responsibility or time or they are afraid of what others will say to them. OR they are afraid they will be asked to do even more?! Many church going people think and act in this way...."No, pastor, I think today I am going to just sit in this boat where I am comfortable and let everyone else step out. I'm too tired. I'm too old. I'm too young. I'm not good at this or that. But, pastor, when Jesus returns, I'll be ready."
LISTEN.....Do you really think God is going to notice you if you are just sitting in the boat? He will come for those with FAITH. You are either WITH Him or AGAINST Him. Where are you? Are you sitting in the boat letting everyone else do the work YOU are being called to do? Are you scared like Peter was to step out. Jesus said, "DO NOT BE AFRAID." Look at the scripture again. What happened when Peter began to sink? He called out, "Save me." Jesus didn't just let him drown. Jesus grabbed him and helped him.
We are seeing churches fall and sink because people are just sitting in the boat afraid to step out. Noah never told God, "You got the wrong man." Noah "got out of the boat" in a sense. He took a leap of faith. He listened to God's commands and acted on them. If you are struggling with a decision to serve, God is telling you to "Come" just as Jesus said to Peter. It isn't what you've got, it is what He will give you. What exactly have we to fear (except answering to God)? STEP OUT of the BOAT!
You either have to step out of the boat or we will just be another church. Your church can not grow and DO WHAT GOD WANTS IT TO DO if all the member lazily just sit in the boat. Don't put it off another day. God has a plan for you. No excuses will be accepted.
Great is the reward for those that step out of the boat. This week I encourage you to look up and study the following scriptures. Genesis 15:1, Matthew 5:12, Matthew 6:1 - 2, Revelation 20:11, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Please, I urge you....if God has spoken to you, don't just sit there! Get out of the boat and serve!
26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Most people have heard this story of Jesus walking on the water. Many relate it to miracles of Jesus but there is so much more to this scripture than just the miracles Jesus performed. It is about stepping out of the boat on FAITH. If we are ever going to act on our full potential as Christians we must get out of the boat. Many are scared to even get into the boat let alone step out of the boat. Jesus told Peter to "Come and step out of the boat." Peter knew the water was beneath him. He knew he would need to take a leap of faith to step onto the water with Jesus. Imagine the thoughts that probably went through his head before stepping onto the water. He stepped out and for a moment walked on the water with Jesus, but the minute he let his FEAR get the best of him, he began to sink.
FEAR can help us grow but FEAR can also cripple us. You either have FEAR WITH FAITH or you have FEAR WITHOUT FAITH. Fear WITH Faith is good. People that possess Fear With Faith act on their callings. People that possess Fear Without Faith are the ones that sit in the boat all their lives. How many of us are sitting in the boat and just watching the others step out of the boat? A lot of people who attend church are doing just that. They are afraid to step up because something requires too much responsibility or time or they are afraid of what others will say to them. OR they are afraid they will be asked to do even more?! Many church going people think and act in this way...."No, pastor, I think today I am going to just sit in this boat where I am comfortable and let everyone else step out. I'm too tired. I'm too old. I'm too young. I'm not good at this or that. But, pastor, when Jesus returns, I'll be ready."
LISTEN.....Do you really think God is going to notice you if you are just sitting in the boat? He will come for those with FAITH. You are either WITH Him or AGAINST Him. Where are you? Are you sitting in the boat letting everyone else do the work YOU are being called to do? Are you scared like Peter was to step out. Jesus said, "DO NOT BE AFRAID." Look at the scripture again. What happened when Peter began to sink? He called out, "Save me." Jesus didn't just let him drown. Jesus grabbed him and helped him.
We are seeing churches fall and sink because people are just sitting in the boat afraid to step out. Noah never told God, "You got the wrong man." Noah "got out of the boat" in a sense. He took a leap of faith. He listened to God's commands and acted on them. If you are struggling with a decision to serve, God is telling you to "Come" just as Jesus said to Peter. It isn't what you've got, it is what He will give you. What exactly have we to fear (except answering to God)? STEP OUT of the BOAT!
You either have to step out of the boat or we will just be another church. Your church can not grow and DO WHAT GOD WANTS IT TO DO if all the member lazily just sit in the boat. Don't put it off another day. God has a plan for you. No excuses will be accepted.
Great is the reward for those that step out of the boat. This week I encourage you to look up and study the following scriptures. Genesis 15:1, Matthew 5:12, Matthew 6:1 - 2, Revelation 20:11, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Please, I urge you....if God has spoken to you, don't just sit there! Get out of the boat and serve!
Monday, August 1, 2011
How to Grow
We want to welcome Brother Edd Deaton and his family to our church family. Brother Edd has officially taken the job of shepherd in our church. We thank God for this man being given to us. We know great things are happening before our very eyes and are overflowing with excitement to see what God has in store for us! This past Sunday Edd shared a sermon on tithing. However; it wasn't what you think.
When you want your love for someone to grow, or a relationship to grow, what kinds of things do you do? You most likely said, "Sacrifice". You have a beautiful child to raise...what do you do to help them grow? You sacrifice and become selfless. Can you buy love? We all know the answer to that question is no. When you want your marriage to grow, do you do it with money? Do you just toss out 100$ here and 100$ there and expect your spouse to love you more because of it? No, to truly allow your relationship to grow you make sacrifices for that person. You stop being so selfish and you give a little more. You give of yourself, your time, your efforts, etc... Have you ever stopped to think about growing your relationship with God or growing as a church even? What do we automatically think of when we shift our minds to growing a church? That's right.....money. But God doesn't want our money.....he wants our sacrifice. Just like we sacrifice for our children, He sacrificed for us. He gave more than we could ever give our children. He gave His only son to die on the cross to save us from our sins. It hurts God to see us so unappreciative of His sacrifice. If we want our churches to grow, we must sacrifice more than money. We must sacrifice our time, efforts, wisdom and talents. We must give our ALL! If God has your heart, He has your wallet. So many churches fall into that money trap but we mustn't. We must give of our hearts and minds. Those are the real tithes God expects from us.
In Mark 12:42 we read about the widow woman who had very little to give. In fact she had, to her name, only 1/2 a penny. She had no food, no husband to take care of her, no one, yet she gave all she had. Yet, the richest of rich dumped loads of money into the offering plate. Jesus stood up and said that the widower had given more than anyone else there. When she dropped that small offering into that plate, she was offering so much more than 1/2 cent. She was demonstrating her trust in the Lord. She had faith that He would take care of her. As He promises to do. Do you think it was easy for her to give all she had? Most likely, no. It won't be an easy road for anyone that makes sacrifices for God because that is the very thing that feeds Satan. He preys on people who give their ALL. This doesn't give you the excuse though to just sit around and let a few people do all the work either. God doesn't just call a few of us, He is calling ALL of us. We are all expecting to get into the same wonderful Heaven therefore we are all expected to tithe what we have for the honor of God.
We don't all have the same wisdom and talents. Some of us are called to pray, some are called to sing, some are called to guide and teach, some are called to witness, some are called to love and listen. Your job is to listen to what God calls you to do and then give your ALL in that area. A chain isn't a chain with just one link. We all have to do what we are called to do with 100% effort and sacrifice in order to grow as a church. We are to work as a team together in order to grow. It is like a college basketball game. The biggest game or our lives! We will never grow to our full protential if some of our teammates just want to sit on the bench. You want the church to grow, you must be willing to work. Remember this: NO ONE is EVER called to be a PEW WARMER! Help us grow. Pray to God that He let's you know what your calling is. Once you discover that, give 100% to it! That IS what we are told to do....."Deny thyself, pick up your cross, and follow me." This is the Final Four people. We must work to win (grow). It isn't time to sit on the bench....it's time to shine. The "head" of the NBA is watching this game! I'd hate to see you LOOKED OVER or TRADED to that "other" team!
When you want your love for someone to grow, or a relationship to grow, what kinds of things do you do? You most likely said, "Sacrifice". You have a beautiful child to raise...what do you do to help them grow? You sacrifice and become selfless. Can you buy love? We all know the answer to that question is no. When you want your marriage to grow, do you do it with money? Do you just toss out 100$ here and 100$ there and expect your spouse to love you more because of it? No, to truly allow your relationship to grow you make sacrifices for that person. You stop being so selfish and you give a little more. You give of yourself, your time, your efforts, etc... Have you ever stopped to think about growing your relationship with God or growing as a church even? What do we automatically think of when we shift our minds to growing a church? That's right.....money. But God doesn't want our money.....he wants our sacrifice. Just like we sacrifice for our children, He sacrificed for us. He gave more than we could ever give our children. He gave His only son to die on the cross to save us from our sins. It hurts God to see us so unappreciative of His sacrifice. If we want our churches to grow, we must sacrifice more than money. We must sacrifice our time, efforts, wisdom and talents. We must give our ALL! If God has your heart, He has your wallet. So many churches fall into that money trap but we mustn't. We must give of our hearts and minds. Those are the real tithes God expects from us.
In Mark 12:42 we read about the widow woman who had very little to give. In fact she had, to her name, only 1/2 a penny. She had no food, no husband to take care of her, no one, yet she gave all she had. Yet, the richest of rich dumped loads of money into the offering plate. Jesus stood up and said that the widower had given more than anyone else there. When she dropped that small offering into that plate, she was offering so much more than 1/2 cent. She was demonstrating her trust in the Lord. She had faith that He would take care of her. As He promises to do. Do you think it was easy for her to give all she had? Most likely, no. It won't be an easy road for anyone that makes sacrifices for God because that is the very thing that feeds Satan. He preys on people who give their ALL. This doesn't give you the excuse though to just sit around and let a few people do all the work either. God doesn't just call a few of us, He is calling ALL of us. We are all expecting to get into the same wonderful Heaven therefore we are all expected to tithe what we have for the honor of God.
We don't all have the same wisdom and talents. Some of us are called to pray, some are called to sing, some are called to guide and teach, some are called to witness, some are called to love and listen. Your job is to listen to what God calls you to do and then give your ALL in that area. A chain isn't a chain with just one link. We all have to do what we are called to do with 100% effort and sacrifice in order to grow as a church. We are to work as a team together in order to grow. It is like a college basketball game. The biggest game or our lives! We will never grow to our full protential if some of our teammates just want to sit on the bench. You want the church to grow, you must be willing to work. Remember this: NO ONE is EVER called to be a PEW WARMER! Help us grow. Pray to God that He let's you know what your calling is. Once you discover that, give 100% to it! That IS what we are told to do....."Deny thyself, pick up your cross, and follow me." This is the Final Four people. We must work to win (grow). It isn't time to sit on the bench....it's time to shine. The "head" of the NBA is watching this game! I'd hate to see you LOOKED OVER or TRADED to that "other" team!
Friday, July 15, 2011
So What's Your Story?
This post today, brings you a devotion I keep marked in my Bible. I am going to share with you the actual devotional as it is written in my Bible, but I am also going to share with you WHY I keep it marked for easy reference. The title of this post is "So What's Your Story?" This is my story.
I grew up in church. My family attended every Sunday they could. I was involved in GA's, Acteens, Children's Choir, Youth Group, Sunday School, and basically anything I could get my hands on within my church. I became a Christian in 1987. Easter Sunday to be exact. I was 12. I continued my church attendance when I went to college in 1994. I attended Campbellsville University and was an active member in their Baptist Student Union. I lead the Acteen's group at my church in Campbellsville and was even a camp counselor at GA/Acteen Camp in 1996. In all those years of service though, I didn't have a story. I went, one summer, with the Baptist Student Union to Panama City Beach, Florida to witness to others in a program called Beach Reach. All my fellow sudents and friends had testimonies to share but I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of sharing my testimony because I didn't have any major hurts or disappointments in my life to share. I felt I didn't have a story to tell. I didn't have a testimony.
Fast forward a few years and you find I got married in 1998 to my first husband. Yes, the first chapter in my story......I was previously married. Made a promise before God and broke it 4 years later. I felt ashamed and unworthy of God's love or forgiveness. I mean, afterall, in my mind divorce was not acceptable to God and I quit going to church on a regular basis. That is until, he got my attention with a bi-polar boyfriend that was somewhat mentally and verbally abusive. I needed out and the only way I knew to get out was to turn to God. I returned to church and began working with the preschool aged children. Soon after, I met my now husband. It is truly amazing how God gives us gifts. Did I feel I deserved such a wonderful man or a second chance at love....NO....but He was giving it to me anyway.
That gift God gave me became officially mine in 2006 when we married. Here comes chapter 2 of my story....we decided to build a house. We went with a reputable builder. We moved in January 2008. The Monday after we moved in, we got a lien notice on our home. I called our builder and was informed that his company had gone bankrupt. I was devastated. He had cashed the last check I had written but couldn't afford to pay all the companies that contributed materials for our home. When talking to the companies that had liens on our property (yes, there was more than one) they told us that there were about 12 other families in our same situation with our builder. This was the most devastating time in our lives. We didn't know what to do or where to go. We pressed felony charges immediately but our lives hung in the balance. The time between filing charges and getting news from our attourney was almost unbearable. I missed a lot of work due to depression and it was on one of those days God spoke to me.
I was flipping through channels and stumbled across The Church Channel. There it was! Something caught my eye! A preacher (don't know his name) was standing there next to a framed building. He was talking about God being the foundation of your life. He said, "If God is not your foundation, your house will fall in." I ran and got paper and pencil and started jotting down everything I could. At some point, I heard God telling me to write these verses and statements on the basement walls. I proceeded to go to the basement with pencil in hand and wrote on our foundational walls. Everytime I finished one verse or prayer, I would pray and then move over a few feet and write another one. This continued until I was surrounded by verses and prayers on all 4 of our home's foundational walls.
It was that day, I handed everything over to God. I had come to peace about it. It was March by the time our courtdate rolled around. We went into court not knowing the outcome but believing that God would take care of it. Our builder's attorney walks over and hands us a list of all companies that contributed to building our home with reciepts that they had all been taken care of. We walked out of that courtroom with a new faith. What strengthened it even more was when I called the lien companies to inquire about when they planned to lift the liens, I discovered we were the ONLY ones out of 12 taken care of.
Now, when I need to witness to others or someone is feeling like their faith is gone, I take them to my basement. I show them and tell them what God did for us. That's my story.
One of the other things I did while in my state of depression was to read my Devotional Bible. One particular devotion spoke to me and I keep it marked as a reminder of that trial time. It is a reminder to me to have faith in all I do.
*Taken from On the Anvil by Max Lucado:
On God's anvil. Perhaps you've been there. Melted down. Formless. Undone. I know. I've been on it. It's rough. It's a spiritual slump, a famine. The fire goes out. Although the fire may flame for a moment, it soon disappears. We drift downward. Downward into the foggy valley of question, the misty lowland of discouragement.....Passion? It slips out the door. Enthusiasm? Are you kidding? Anvil time....Pound, Pound, Pound. I hope you're not on the anvil. (Unless you need to be and if so, I hope you are.) Anvil time is not to be avoided; it's to be experienced....To escape it could be to escape God. God sees our life from beginning to end. He may lead us through a storm at age thirty so we can endure a hurricane at age sixty. An instrument is useful only if it's in the right shape. A dull ax or a bent screwdriver needs attention, and so do we. A good blacksmith keeps his tools in shape. So does God. Should God place you on his anvil, be thankful. It means he thinks you're still worth reshaping!
Powerful. You see, that experience my husband and I went through deepened our Faith in God. He put us through that storm to strengthen us. We know that to be a Christian, we have not seen the last of our trials. None of us have perfect lives where nothing goes wrong. The secret is, to have Faith that God will take care of you and that He knows what is best for you. We were blessed soon after our courtdate with the pregnancy of our precious daughter. God allows storms to happen for several reasons. He allowed the storm to happen to us not only to build up our Faith in Him.....but He gave us a story we can share with others! That testimony I never had, came from that storm. So now I ask you, what's your story? Share it with someone today! If you don't have one, you will. Allow God to be your weatherman and you will come out of the storm stronger than you were when you went in. Allow God to shapen you so that you can be a tool in His field!
I grew up in church. My family attended every Sunday they could. I was involved in GA's, Acteens, Children's Choir, Youth Group, Sunday School, and basically anything I could get my hands on within my church. I became a Christian in 1987. Easter Sunday to be exact. I was 12. I continued my church attendance when I went to college in 1994. I attended Campbellsville University and was an active member in their Baptist Student Union. I lead the Acteen's group at my church in Campbellsville and was even a camp counselor at GA/Acteen Camp in 1996. In all those years of service though, I didn't have a story. I went, one summer, with the Baptist Student Union to Panama City Beach, Florida to witness to others in a program called Beach Reach. All my fellow sudents and friends had testimonies to share but I felt very uncomfortable with the idea of sharing my testimony because I didn't have any major hurts or disappointments in my life to share. I felt I didn't have a story to tell. I didn't have a testimony.
Fast forward a few years and you find I got married in 1998 to my first husband. Yes, the first chapter in my story......I was previously married. Made a promise before God and broke it 4 years later. I felt ashamed and unworthy of God's love or forgiveness. I mean, afterall, in my mind divorce was not acceptable to God and I quit going to church on a regular basis. That is until, he got my attention with a bi-polar boyfriend that was somewhat mentally and verbally abusive. I needed out and the only way I knew to get out was to turn to God. I returned to church and began working with the preschool aged children. Soon after, I met my now husband. It is truly amazing how God gives us gifts. Did I feel I deserved such a wonderful man or a second chance at love....NO....but He was giving it to me anyway.
That gift God gave me became officially mine in 2006 when we married. Here comes chapter 2 of my story....we decided to build a house. We went with a reputable builder. We moved in January 2008. The Monday after we moved in, we got a lien notice on our home. I called our builder and was informed that his company had gone bankrupt. I was devastated. He had cashed the last check I had written but couldn't afford to pay all the companies that contributed materials for our home. When talking to the companies that had liens on our property (yes, there was more than one) they told us that there were about 12 other families in our same situation with our builder. This was the most devastating time in our lives. We didn't know what to do or where to go. We pressed felony charges immediately but our lives hung in the balance. The time between filing charges and getting news from our attourney was almost unbearable. I missed a lot of work due to depression and it was on one of those days God spoke to me.
I was flipping through channels and stumbled across The Church Channel. There it was! Something caught my eye! A preacher (don't know his name) was standing there next to a framed building. He was talking about God being the foundation of your life. He said, "If God is not your foundation, your house will fall in." I ran and got paper and pencil and started jotting down everything I could. At some point, I heard God telling me to write these verses and statements on the basement walls. I proceeded to go to the basement with pencil in hand and wrote on our foundational walls. Everytime I finished one verse or prayer, I would pray and then move over a few feet and write another one. This continued until I was surrounded by verses and prayers on all 4 of our home's foundational walls.
It was that day, I handed everything over to God. I had come to peace about it. It was March by the time our courtdate rolled around. We went into court not knowing the outcome but believing that God would take care of it. Our builder's attorney walks over and hands us a list of all companies that contributed to building our home with reciepts that they had all been taken care of. We walked out of that courtroom with a new faith. What strengthened it even more was when I called the lien companies to inquire about when they planned to lift the liens, I discovered we were the ONLY ones out of 12 taken care of.
Now, when I need to witness to others or someone is feeling like their faith is gone, I take them to my basement. I show them and tell them what God did for us. That's my story.
One of the other things I did while in my state of depression was to read my Devotional Bible. One particular devotion spoke to me and I keep it marked as a reminder of that trial time. It is a reminder to me to have faith in all I do.
*Taken from On the Anvil by Max Lucado:
On God's anvil. Perhaps you've been there. Melted down. Formless. Undone. I know. I've been on it. It's rough. It's a spiritual slump, a famine. The fire goes out. Although the fire may flame for a moment, it soon disappears. We drift downward. Downward into the foggy valley of question, the misty lowland of discouragement.....Passion? It slips out the door. Enthusiasm? Are you kidding? Anvil time....Pound, Pound, Pound. I hope you're not on the anvil. (Unless you need to be and if so, I hope you are.) Anvil time is not to be avoided; it's to be experienced....To escape it could be to escape God. God sees our life from beginning to end. He may lead us through a storm at age thirty so we can endure a hurricane at age sixty. An instrument is useful only if it's in the right shape. A dull ax or a bent screwdriver needs attention, and so do we. A good blacksmith keeps his tools in shape. So does God. Should God place you on his anvil, be thankful. It means he thinks you're still worth reshaping!
Powerful. You see, that experience my husband and I went through deepened our Faith in God. He put us through that storm to strengthen us. We know that to be a Christian, we have not seen the last of our trials. None of us have perfect lives where nothing goes wrong. The secret is, to have Faith that God will take care of you and that He knows what is best for you. We were blessed soon after our courtdate with the pregnancy of our precious daughter. God allows storms to happen for several reasons. He allowed the storm to happen to us not only to build up our Faith in Him.....but He gave us a story we can share with others! That testimony I never had, came from that storm. So now I ask you, what's your story? Share it with someone today! If you don't have one, you will. Allow God to be your weatherman and you will come out of the storm stronger than you were when you went in. Allow God to shapen you so that you can be a tool in His field!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Who Are You?
Bro. Ed Deaton, yet again, shared a wonderful message with the members of Sparta Baptist Church. Each week, we are blessed by what God lays on his heart. If you are looking for a place to land and call home, please consider visiting Sparta Baptist Church. I am sure you will feel as blessed as we all do, to be listening to God's word spoken through someone as fluent as Bro. Ed.
Our message for this post comes from James 1:1.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
This may not sound like much of a passage to use in gathering life information but if we look deeply, we find it. Do you know who James was? It says above in the verse that James was a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. But that wasn't all. Do you know who James was? You may not since James obviously didn't brag about who he was in the passage above. Never did James brag about who he was but he certainly could have. If we were in James' shoes, we would have. James was Jesus' half brother.
You know, when people ask me where I live. I don't tell them that I live in a county between Cincinnati and Louisville. I tell them that I live in the same county as the Kentucky Speedway. Why? Because they are bragging rights and maybe, just maybe someone will say, "Oh, I have been there!" Do you think if you ran into a famous person's long lost 15th cousin they would simply tell you their name? No, they would say, "My name is so and so and I am so and so's 15th cousin." James certainly could have bragged about who he was, but he didn't. It didn't matter to him. He cared more about spreading the word of the Lord than who he was. He thought of himself as a servant to his very own half brother. He wanted us to know he viewed himself as a servant.
The number one thing killing America is our pride. We are too proud to do anything the Lord wants us to do. Think about this....who are we serving? Are we serving ourselves? Are we spending enough time serving the Lord? You have 30 minutes before bed. You have a choice to either watch your favorite show on telivision or spend time reading your Bible. What do we choose 99% of the time? Yep, you guessed it, the television because we are too busy serving ourselves to serve the Lord. You know what is going to happen? The Lord is going to look down at America for such pride. Where will you be when He returns? Will you be glued to the television or will your nose be stuck in the Good Book?
What is a good servant? The definition could be confusing and possibly leave room for argument. Some may view servanthood as a 5 minutes a day thing while others view it as an every minute of every day thing. If you think about a waiter or waitress in a restaraunt it can help with understanding the definition of a servant. When you go to a restaraunt, do you want to sit at a table where the waitress gives you 5 minutes of service or would you rather sit at a table where the waitress waits on you the entire duration you are there? Most likely you wouldn't tip the first waitress! Now, what sort of tip would the Lord give you for your service?
How can I be a good servant? The Bible says, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me." Wait, wait, wait.....what was that first part again? "DENY YOURSELF". That means get rid of your pride and selfishness! To be a good servant you must, labor for someone else, care enough about something to pick up and take care of it, spend quality time in prayer (remember, God will help you discover what he wants you to do), associate yourself with good people, music and books, and seek opportunities to witness/tell others about His love. However; be careful and choose your path wisely. Don't fall into the trap of wanting things in return for your services either! God loves a cheerful giver. You must serve without thinking you will get something in return!
A lot of people are scared to serve or feel they aren't qualified to serve. We all need to realize that we all have the same mercy upon us as the preachers, deacons and EVEN the apostles in the Bible! You are never too old to serve the Lord. Your retirement begins the time the Lord takes you home. Stop being a servant of the world and become a servant of the Lord. Your tip depends on it! You have a choice.....no tip at all and spend an eternity in Hell or the best tip ever offered.....an eternity in Heaven. What kind of tip will the Lord give to you for your service?
Our message for this post comes from James 1:1.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
This may not sound like much of a passage to use in gathering life information but if we look deeply, we find it. Do you know who James was? It says above in the verse that James was a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. But that wasn't all. Do you know who James was? You may not since James obviously didn't brag about who he was in the passage above. Never did James brag about who he was but he certainly could have. If we were in James' shoes, we would have. James was Jesus' half brother.
You know, when people ask me where I live. I don't tell them that I live in a county between Cincinnati and Louisville. I tell them that I live in the same county as the Kentucky Speedway. Why? Because they are bragging rights and maybe, just maybe someone will say, "Oh, I have been there!" Do you think if you ran into a famous person's long lost 15th cousin they would simply tell you their name? No, they would say, "My name is so and so and I am so and so's 15th cousin." James certainly could have bragged about who he was, but he didn't. It didn't matter to him. He cared more about spreading the word of the Lord than who he was. He thought of himself as a servant to his very own half brother. He wanted us to know he viewed himself as a servant.
The number one thing killing America is our pride. We are too proud to do anything the Lord wants us to do. Think about this....who are we serving? Are we serving ourselves? Are we spending enough time serving the Lord? You have 30 minutes before bed. You have a choice to either watch your favorite show on telivision or spend time reading your Bible. What do we choose 99% of the time? Yep, you guessed it, the television because we are too busy serving ourselves to serve the Lord. You know what is going to happen? The Lord is going to look down at America for such pride. Where will you be when He returns? Will you be glued to the television or will your nose be stuck in the Good Book?
What is a good servant? The definition could be confusing and possibly leave room for argument. Some may view servanthood as a 5 minutes a day thing while others view it as an every minute of every day thing. If you think about a waiter or waitress in a restaraunt it can help with understanding the definition of a servant. When you go to a restaraunt, do you want to sit at a table where the waitress gives you 5 minutes of service or would you rather sit at a table where the waitress waits on you the entire duration you are there? Most likely you wouldn't tip the first waitress! Now, what sort of tip would the Lord give you for your service?
How can I be a good servant? The Bible says, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me." Wait, wait, wait.....what was that first part again? "DENY YOURSELF". That means get rid of your pride and selfishness! To be a good servant you must, labor for someone else, care enough about something to pick up and take care of it, spend quality time in prayer (remember, God will help you discover what he wants you to do), associate yourself with good people, music and books, and seek opportunities to witness/tell others about His love. However; be careful and choose your path wisely. Don't fall into the trap of wanting things in return for your services either! God loves a cheerful giver. You must serve without thinking you will get something in return!
A lot of people are scared to serve or feel they aren't qualified to serve. We all need to realize that we all have the same mercy upon us as the preachers, deacons and EVEN the apostles in the Bible! You are never too old to serve the Lord. Your retirement begins the time the Lord takes you home. Stop being a servant of the world and become a servant of the Lord. Your tip depends on it! You have a choice.....no tip at all and spend an eternity in Hell or the best tip ever offered.....an eternity in Heaven. What kind of tip will the Lord give to you for your service?
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