Oh my goodness! I recently took a good long look at the floor underneath our pew at church. If you are a regular church goer then you have your own pew. You know how it is, right? What I found was both startling and disturbing.
I have a family of 5. 1 wife - 3 daughters. There was so much trash under our pew! Just a few of the items were: candy wrappers, cough drop wrappers, Sunday School Paperwork, a chewed fingernail(mine), etc. etc. It was horrendous! It took so long to clean up after service that I missed out on visiting with our friends and church family. I left church kind of frustrated.
Then I started thinking...
Recently my family made up our minds to keep our house clean. Glory to God our house has stayed clean for over 2 months now! Here is the thing, we kept our house clean by making minor adjustments. Minor adjustments is how you keep a house clean. Not by letting stuff pile up and then having 15 "spring cleanings" per month, but by picking one small thing up when it's left out.
It's the same situation under my pew. I will keep it clean by making minor adjustments. I will pick up just that one stray wrapper, then it will stay clean all the time.
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."1Corinthians 6:19-20
My question to you, dear reader, is what is under your pew? What is it that is keeping you away from friends or relatives or Jesus or His gifts that He longs to give you? Is there something piling up under your pew that you are spending all of your time trying to keep picked up?
If you keep your pew clean from gossip, grudges, grieving, hate, etc. then you will have more time in your life to enjoy other things that God has in store for you. If you are spending all of your time on the trash under your pew, your missing out. Minor adjustments is all it takes.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
The footsteps
My dad took me hunting a lot when I was a boy. As we would walk through the woods he would instruct me to, "Step exactly where I'm stepping. DO NOT get out of my steps because I know where I am going. If you don't stay in my footsteps, you might get bitten by a snake or fall in a hole and break your leg..." Good advice.
Well, like I said before, I was a boy and I wandered... When my dad caught me "wandering" out of his footsteps he would ummmm, instruct me again, except this time with "extreme prejudice". Once the pain went away, I realized that, even though it hurt (REALLY BAD) I never once doubted his love for me. It didn't even enter my head. My dad loved me that's why he did what he did. He wanted to teach me to walk the way he walked so I wouldn't get hurt.
Now look at this passage:
Luk 11:37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table.
Luk 11:38 When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.
Luk 11:39 But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.
Luk 11:40 "You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?
Luk 11:41 "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.
Luk 11:42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Luk 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.
Luk 11:44 "Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."
And then in another gospel it's recorded that Jesus told them that, "Mat 23:15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte(convert); and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."
He called the "Church Folks" of that period "Sons of Hell" Wow... Jesus really had a way with words. And from reading this you would think he was condemning these "church folks". That couldn't be further from the truth. He, like my dad, was instructing with "extreme prejudice".
My second favorite scripture is John 3:17, not 16 but 17,"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
He was trying to show the pharisees that they had strayed and that they need to get back in His footsteps. As much as it hurt them, they still needed to hear it. He wasn't condemning! He was teaching.
I know when the Holy Spirit of the Lord scolds me and convicts my spirit of something; it's then that I realize that He loves me enough to want me to succeed. Which is what He wants for all of His children. We just need to stay in His footsteps.
Well, like I said before, I was a boy and I wandered... When my dad caught me "wandering" out of his footsteps he would ummmm, instruct me again, except this time with "extreme prejudice". Once the pain went away, I realized that, even though it hurt (REALLY BAD) I never once doubted his love for me. It didn't even enter my head. My dad loved me that's why he did what he did. He wanted to teach me to walk the way he walked so I wouldn't get hurt.
Now look at this passage:
Luk 11:37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table.
Luk 11:38 When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.
Luk 11:39 But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.
Luk 11:40 "You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?
Luk 11:41 "But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.
Luk 11:42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Luk 11:43 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.
Luk 11:44 "Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."
And then in another gospel it's recorded that Jesus told them that, "Mat 23:15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte(convert); and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."
He called the "Church Folks" of that period "Sons of Hell" Wow... Jesus really had a way with words. And from reading this you would think he was condemning these "church folks". That couldn't be further from the truth. He, like my dad, was instructing with "extreme prejudice".
My second favorite scripture is John 3:17, not 16 but 17,"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
He was trying to show the pharisees that they had strayed and that they need to get back in His footsteps. As much as it hurt them, they still needed to hear it. He wasn't condemning! He was teaching.
I know when the Holy Spirit of the Lord scolds me and convicts my spirit of something; it's then that I realize that He loves me enough to want me to succeed. Which is what He wants for all of His children. We just need to stay in His footsteps.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
So Deeply Hidden...
I heard or read this somewhere yesterday and it has weighed heavily on me ever since. Just meditate on it for a few minutes and let it sink in.
This is the way the quote goes, " If you are a Christian (a true Christian) then you should be so deeply hidden in Christ that to find you, one would have to seek Him first"
Wow! Think about that! If somebody wanted to find you they would have to first seek Jesus just to find you!
That's exactly where I want to be found. So deeply hidden in Jesus.
This is the way the quote goes, " If you are a Christian (a true Christian) then you should be so deeply hidden in Christ that to find you, one would have to seek Him first"
Wow! Think about that! If somebody wanted to find you they would have to first seek Jesus just to find you!
That's exactly where I want to be found. So deeply hidden in Jesus.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Introduction of Jesus
This is awesome! Every church service I believe needs to be started in this same fashion.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Pastor's Nightmare
This is by far one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard. It makes you wonder how many people you have effected in some way. If you profess to be a christian then you are a minister. If someone sees you as a christian they are looking to you on how to act. Think about it...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Dying Coal
This is a great illustration why we need the fellowship of our church if we truly (I said TRULY) want to stay on fire for Jesus.
Revelation 3:16 says, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
Oh Lord how I pray that I will stay hot.
The Dying Coal
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to services. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace, and waited.
The preacher made himself at home, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.
As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.
The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached for the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in services next Sunday.” (Source Unknown)
A man may go to heaven without health, without wealth, without fame, without a great name, without learning, without earnings, without culture, without beauty, without friends, and without ten thousand other things…but he can never go to heaven without Christ! How can one know Christ without knowing His bride, the church? We desperately need one another to keep the flame burning.
Revelation 3:16 says, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
Oh Lord how I pray that I will stay hot.
The Dying Coal
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, suddenly stopped coming to services. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace, and waited.
The preacher made himself at home, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.
As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and lifeless.
The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached for the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in services next Sunday.” (Source Unknown)
A man may go to heaven without health, without wealth, without fame, without a great name, without learning, without earnings, without culture, without beauty, without friends, and without ten thousand other things…but he can never go to heaven without Christ! How can one know Christ without knowing His bride, the church? We desperately need one another to keep the flame burning.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wow what a powerful message.
This is such a powerful video. Everyone needs to see this and examine themselves in this same light.
Exploding Gas Prices!!!
This is just a thought about gas prices.
I serve a GREAT BIG GOD. This God that I choose to serve was with me and provided for me when gas prices were $1.75 a gallon. I know that this same God will be with me and provide for me when gas prices hit $10.00 per gallon. I can only say this because I trust Him, not myself or my money making abilities, but Him.
Jesus said, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Well, if you have a brain that functions, you can turn on CNN for 5 minutes and see for yourself that we are indeed at the end of the age. And yet, he is still with us. With high gas prices. He is with us. When my wife has to go for a biopsy, He is with us. When things couldn't possibly get any worse, He is still with us. He is Immanuel (God With Us). I love Him for those assurances.
If you don't know Him; open a bible and get to know Him. He isn't with you unless you are with Him with everything you are. Sorry, that's just the way it works. The bible tells me that God doesn't hear the prayer of the unrighteous. "If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear" Psalm 66:18. His word also says, "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."Isaiah 59:2 I know those are pretty hard words, but just because they are hard doesn't make them any less true.
The point is this; if your heart is right then He truly is with you. If your heart isn't right, then ask what king David asked of God in the psalms... "Renew in me a clean heart and a right spirit"
High gas prices or not.
I serve a GREAT BIG GOD. This God that I choose to serve was with me and provided for me when gas prices were $1.75 a gallon. I know that this same God will be with me and provide for me when gas prices hit $10.00 per gallon. I can only say this because I trust Him, not myself or my money making abilities, but Him.
Jesus said, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Well, if you have a brain that functions, you can turn on CNN for 5 minutes and see for yourself that we are indeed at the end of the age. And yet, he is still with us. With high gas prices. He is with us. When my wife has to go for a biopsy, He is with us. When things couldn't possibly get any worse, He is still with us. He is Immanuel (God With Us). I love Him for those assurances.
If you don't know Him; open a bible and get to know Him. He isn't with you unless you are with Him with everything you are. Sorry, that's just the way it works. The bible tells me that God doesn't hear the prayer of the unrighteous. "If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear" Psalm 66:18. His word also says, "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."Isaiah 59:2 I know those are pretty hard words, but just because they are hard doesn't make them any less true.
The point is this; if your heart is right then He truly is with you. If your heart isn't right, then ask what king David asked of God in the psalms... "Renew in me a clean heart and a right spirit"
High gas prices or not.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Colossians 3
Paul really has a some wise words in Colossians 3.
I work with someone who comes in late, leaves early and takes 1 1/2 hour lunches. Then, to top it all off, they surf the internet when they should be working. This person probably gets in about 30 good minutes a day actually doing "work". The force is strong with this one... ***nudge, nudge, wink, wink***
They profess to be a christian. umm yeah. One of my co-workers that I have been trying to be light to sees this and looked at me one day and said, "They are a christian just like you..."
NOT LIKE ME!
Paul says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25
If you put yourself out there as a christian then Christ demands nothing less than excellence from you. period. I know that we make mistakes. Lord knows I have made my share, but if you consistantly do the same thing over and over and over again then that's just not a repentant heart, which is what Jesus wants out of his people. The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing day after day and expecting different results. We have to strive to be better. Mistakes we made yesterday must NOT be the mistakes we make today.
If you are a slacker, people are indeed watching. You may be messing up a work that someone is trying to accomplish in someone elses life. If you are not going to act like a christian, then just keep quiet. You are just messing things up for those of us that are actually trying to win souls.
I work with someone who comes in late, leaves early and takes 1 1/2 hour lunches. Then, to top it all off, they surf the internet when they should be working. This person probably gets in about 30 good minutes a day actually doing "work". The force is strong with this one... ***nudge, nudge, wink, wink***
They profess to be a christian. umm yeah. One of my co-workers that I have been trying to be light to sees this and looked at me one day and said, "They are a christian just like you..."
NOT LIKE ME!
Paul says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25
If you put yourself out there as a christian then Christ demands nothing less than excellence from you. period. I know that we make mistakes. Lord knows I have made my share, but if you consistantly do the same thing over and over and over again then that's just not a repentant heart, which is what Jesus wants out of his people. The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing day after day and expecting different results. We have to strive to be better. Mistakes we made yesterday must NOT be the mistakes we make today.
If you are a slacker, people are indeed watching. You may be messing up a work that someone is trying to accomplish in someone elses life. If you are not going to act like a christian, then just keep quiet. You are just messing things up for those of us that are actually trying to win souls.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Ripples
This is a true story about a woman with a problem.
She was 33 years old and just found out she was pregnant. Her youngest daughter had just come down with German Measles. When she went for her first check up the doctor found out about the german measles and advised this woman to abort the baby because the child would either die or would be a vegetable from the exposure to the disease.
Something inside of her, call it a "still small voice", or her conscience, or call it what you will, something about the situation wasn't right. She would not abort this baby. As time drew on she continued going to the doctor and up until the 6th month of the pregnancy, the doctor kept advising her to abort. "The baby is not going to have a life worth living" he would say. She just kept going through the pregnancy, taking her vitamins, taking care of herself, doing all the things a good mother should do.
Well, the time came for the baby to come and once the baby was delivered the doctor was surprised to see this child was perfectly healthy. Not dead. Not a vegetable. This mother from time to time through the years would call this child her miracle baby. Now this child grew and got a family of his own and finally surrendered to the call to preach God's precious word to a lost and dying world, and this man is right now writing this story to you.
You see, the decisions you make today will have consequences forever. No matter how small the decision there will be an effect. It's like the ripples you see when you throw a pebble into a pond. The decisions you make are making ripples in your life and in the lives of others, even if you can't see the ripples right away.
God's word says in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." You see God knows what is best for our lives. He knows better than you or I could ever reason with our feeble little brains. I thank God he knew me before he formed me. I thank God my mother listened to Him and not some doctor. Finally, I thank God for you the reader of this and it's my prayer that you will just learn to listen to that God given thing everyone of us has inside of us when we are met with a decision.
Because that decision, no matter how small, is an important one.
She was 33 years old and just found out she was pregnant. Her youngest daughter had just come down with German Measles. When she went for her first check up the doctor found out about the german measles and advised this woman to abort the baby because the child would either die or would be a vegetable from the exposure to the disease.
Something inside of her, call it a "still small voice", or her conscience, or call it what you will, something about the situation wasn't right. She would not abort this baby. As time drew on she continued going to the doctor and up until the 6th month of the pregnancy, the doctor kept advising her to abort. "The baby is not going to have a life worth living" he would say. She just kept going through the pregnancy, taking her vitamins, taking care of herself, doing all the things a good mother should do.
Well, the time came for the baby to come and once the baby was delivered the doctor was surprised to see this child was perfectly healthy. Not dead. Not a vegetable. This mother from time to time through the years would call this child her miracle baby. Now this child grew and got a family of his own and finally surrendered to the call to preach God's precious word to a lost and dying world, and this man is right now writing this story to you.
You see, the decisions you make today will have consequences forever. No matter how small the decision there will be an effect. It's like the ripples you see when you throw a pebble into a pond. The decisions you make are making ripples in your life and in the lives of others, even if you can't see the ripples right away.
God's word says in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." You see God knows what is best for our lives. He knows better than you or I could ever reason with our feeble little brains. I thank God he knew me before he formed me. I thank God my mother listened to Him and not some doctor. Finally, I thank God for you the reader of this and it's my prayer that you will just learn to listen to that God given thing everyone of us has inside of us when we are met with a decision.
Because that decision, no matter how small, is an important one.
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