No Time for Sitting Still

"Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes absolutely contented with the thought he is thinking and the deeds he is doing; when there is not forever beating at the door of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows he was made and meant to do , because he is a child of God." Phillip Brooks

"It is just as true that sad will be the day when we of the church become contented with the deeds we perform for God. There needs to beat on the door of the heart of each one of us the great desire which the Lord has expressed that His truth be declared quickly to the whole world."
Louis K. Dickson

Passive Christianity is subtle, invasive, and deadly. The best counter agent is to be actively engaged in the Truth, the Life, and the Way.

Prepare to Serve

It seems like I have had too many irons in the fire to post as much as I would like. But video posting is so easy that I really have no excuse. Ahhh, but I don't frequent blogs that consist primarily of video posts. Time consuming.... so, I won't be upset if you don't hang around and view today's video. Without further ado, here is a clip of some Sunday morning preaching delivered by yours truly.

Stay on the Wheel

The Book of Jeremiah is a weighty presentation of prophecy concerning the nation of Israel. As such, it is often overlooked by the casual Bible reader. My intent is not so much to deal with the prophecy, but rather a few simple observations found in Jeremiah 18:1-6.

The Lord commanded Jeremiah to go down to the potter's house. There He would speak to the prophet and use the activities of the potter to illustrate His message. 1) We often need to be in a certain place to comprehend the fullness of what God is speaking to us.

Jeremiah obeyed. 2) Obedience is essential to receiving all that God has for us.

There he found the potter doing what exactly what a potter does. 3) God is a God of order. He speaks within the confines of order and never confusion.

Verse four states that the vessel of clay was marred. It had never left the potter's control, yet it became flawed. 4) One can be right in the Master's hand and still sustain hurt/damage.5) As the vessel is repaired, it may be changed in appearance and/or function/purpose.6) As long as the vessel remains in the potter's hands it will be fashioned as he sees fit. 7) God has control of every situation and the power to shape us in every circumstance.

We may tire of going round and round in circles, but we must stay on the wheel. The pressures of this life may bruise or nick us, but we must remain pliable to the Master's touch. Even the heat of the kiln will serve to strengthen us if we stay as long as the Potter deems necessary.

The Voice of the Stones

I just love the way the Word of God is so much more than an ancient text. Just this past week I was reading the account of David and Goliath found in I Samuel chapter 17. It is a very familiar story and I thought that I knew all about it. Then I realized the message of the
5 stones.

Everyone knows that David used one of them to down Goliath. But has it ever occurred to you the purpose of the other four? Some say that he just randomly picked five stones. Others say that he wanted to have some extra just in case he missed. My husband says it was because David knew Goliath had four brothers.

II Samuel chapter 21:15-22 tells of four of Goliath's relatives that set themselves against King David. Some commentaries say these were brothers of Goliath. Others say they were his sons. Though it wasn't the shepherd's stones that brought them low; it was the stones that prophesied their death. They were killed at the hands of David's servants.

David may not have given much thought to the number of the stones he stashed in his bag, but God did. He wrote all of David's days before they began.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

As you face the giant of today, remember to be armed for his relatives that may counter you tomorrow. Face the battle with confidence knowing God is on your side. Let your battle cry be like that of David; "I come in the name of the Lord!" And one more thing; once you have vanquished the enemy, be sure to lop off his head.

Get Naked: It is Biblical Hebrews 4:13

It is Valentines Day, what did you expect? Really, it is all about our relationship with Jesus. He desires total access to His Bride. Prophetess Charli Pickett put it very plain as she ministered during a women's conference. The theme of the conference was "wilt thou be made whole". She
honed in on how spiritual wholeness will come when we reveal all our flaws to the Lord.

Love Is

1 Corinthians 13 The Amplified Version

1IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
3Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing.

4Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

9For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).
10But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

12For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [e]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [f]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [g]fully and clearly known and understood [[h]by God].

13And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Boards of Salvation

                                  Stay with the ship even when it is torn all to pieces. 

Last week's post came on the heels of a trio of tornadoes. Thank God we have been storm-free since then. Cleanup efforts are well underway. People from nearby states have joined the locals in demolition and repairs. It is a beautiful thing to see a community working together to find housing for those who have been displaced.

Acts 27:14,15 references a similar storm. The King James version refers to it as a tempestuous wind. The NIV refers to it as a wind of hurricane force. Euroclydon was not just a passing storm, it was one that could last for days. In this account, its destructive forces battered Paul's ship for fourteen days.

It was so powerful that the ship's crew had to relinquish control of the helm. Then they brought the lifeboat aboard. Additional precautions were taken to keep the ship together. The sails were lowered in efforts to keep them from being driven into the sandbars. And everything that could be thrown overboard was tossed. They lost all hope of being saved.

Everyone that is, except the Apostle Paul. He had received a message from an angel of God. He explained it to the centurion. Their salvation was dependant upon staying with the ship. The storm worsened. Even when daylight came, they could not discern a shoreline. In a last ditch effort to save themselves they hastened the destruction of the ship.

As the ship broke apart, those that could swim headed for the shore. Others clung to the remnants of the boat and floated to safety. Because they stayed with the ship, even the broken pieces, they survived. Not one life was lost.

The storms of our life may range from little sprinkles to devastating typhoons. It is certain that we will try everything in our power to stay intact as we ride through them. At times we may lose our grip. And there may be times that we will feel hopeless. It is in those times that we must seek the Lord, listen to His voice, obey His commands, and trust that He will keep us safe in His care.