Onward and Upward

Serving the Lord with gladness

2009-04-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

I am a people watcher, if there was a degree for human observation I would be working on my doctorate.

You don't have to be a prophet to be able to look at those who pass by and realize their lives, although filled with many things are empty and without divine purpose. Their hope past this life is built on maybes and hope so, and earthly ideas and concepts.

Unfortunately this sad, unfulfilled way of life, tends to creep into the church as well. The Psalmist wrote that we are to serve the Lord with gladness. Now gladness goes deeper than an emotional euphoria, but it does include an outward expressions of an inward feeling. I am a firm believer that if you are saved you need to notify your face. There should be a "look" that identifies you as overcoming child of God,

Scripture tells us that there is righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. That means that regardless of what I face or go through, I can still have peace, joy and live righteously. Serving the Lord does not have to be a drudgery or a list of divine tasks that must be completed to make it to the golden streets. But rather there should be a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in doing the will of God.

As children of God, we must not become captivated by the spirit of this world that judges our success on an earthly on a prosperity scale. The value of your service to the kingdom may never be revealed until you stand before Him. We are to lay up our treasures above.

Paul said there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness - he was saying I have put some things on layaway, my work down here did not bring me riches, but in heaven I am storing up treasures.

Find the blessing in service through the knowledge of obedience to His will.

When you consider service from the perspective of how blessed I am to serve rather than I am serving to be blessed, it tends to change your outlook on service.

Find the joy in service and you will find contentment and a sense of purpose.

In His service,

Revmac

The Altar Of Brokness

2007-11-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

The altar of brokenness beckons, it makes its demands, It looks through the crowd for those with certain qualifications. It seeks for the bowed head, the bended knee, the lowered eyes and the submitted heart.

The altar looks for the broken will, the heart that has been ripped apart exposing its internal workings to the staring world

When these characteristics are found, the person is then laid on an altar of sacrifice and the smell of burning flesh fills the room. The stench is repulsive and sickening, and for many it is more than they can handle. They talk, as they back out of the room, about how it costs too much to serve, how God has no right to ask them to give all.

But for those who remain on the altar, out of the ashes of sacrificed flesh rises a new spirit and a new creation. The old man must remain upon the altar but the new man walks away with purpose and power

The man born out of the ashes of sacrifice, fears nothing, he walks by trust rather than feelings, his eyes see beyond the temporal and carnal. He has no trouble being obedient to the will of God because he is propelled by divinity instead of humanity. No longer is his vision obstructed by carnality, he see into the vast possibilities in God.

Those who pass by him are not struck by his human significance or worldly attraction, what they notice first is the distinct odor of burning flesh. They notice secondly how transparent he has become, it is as if His only purpose to magnify the light that is shining from deep within him.

The altar beckons, those who desire it's power are many those who will pay it's price are few

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(Gal 5:24-26)

When God Turns Away

2007-10-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

What do you do when God hides His face?

Jairus came to Jesus and asked Him to come to his house and heal his daughter. While on the road to Jairus' house, Jesus stopped, and turned away from Jairus, because a woman with an issue of blood had touched the hem of his garment.

Some interesting things to consider:

Jesus had STARTED to do something in Jairus' life, and then stopped.

Has God ever started a good work in you, and then suddenly, nothing is happening? You've announced the good news to all of your friends, "Jesus is on His way to my house, I'm going to get my miracle today, it's already started!"

Then, not only does Jesus stop, He turns his back on Jairus! He literally "hid his face".

The Bible says that Jesus "turned about in the press", and stopped a miracle for Jairus to give someone else a miracle instead. Have you ever been in a situation where God is not answering your prayer, and you have to come to church and listen to a sister or brother across the church give a praise report? And, somewhere deep inside, is there a little resentment? A little jealousy?
It's easy to weep with someone, but hard to rejoice with them.

While Jairus is waiting on Jesus, his daughter dies
Now, at this point, many of us would have completely given up, stomped off in a huff, angry, disillusioned. "How could God do this to me! I trusted Him, I believed Him, I left my daughter's side to come find him because I believed that He was her only hope." But Jairus did not speak a word, but he did show us the correct repsonse when God turns away.

* He waited.

That's it, no great revelation, he simply waited. I mean, what else could he do? He'd done all he could, and if Jesus wasn't coming to his house, there was no hurry to return home. All his hopes were wrapped up in the possibility of Jesus healing his daughter. How long has it been since we had no other options? How long since our future has been totally in the hands of the Master? It is time like this that test our faith and reveal the level of our trust in Him

David said, "I will rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him".

* Jairus stayed close to Jesus.

He was so close, that when the servant whispered the sad news in his ear, Jesus heard it.
We are so tempted to draw away from God when His back is turned to us. Everyone is close to God when He's speaking to them, and you can see his face. But when His back is turned, that's when the tempation is the strongest to walk away.

We all know what to do when God is moving, it's when He's standing still that we get thrown for a loop.
But, as Job said, in one translation, "I have matched Him step for step!"
If He zigs, I zig - if He zags, I zag! He may not be speaking to me, He may have his back to me, but I'm holding on to Him for dear life, and not letting go!

* Jairus didn't give up hope, even after his dream died.

That's when most people throw in the towel. As long as the dream is alive, even if it's struggling for breath, there's hope. But, when it dies, that's when most people give up.

But, the Bible says, "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.....but, IF IT DIE, it bringeth forth much fruit!"

If Jesus would have healed Jairus daughter, all the critics may have said, "Well, she was getting better anyway, it was nature." Jairus himself may have attributed her healing to the good care he was giving her.
But, when Jesus raised her from the dead, everyone had to admit that it was God, and God alone who did the miracle!

So, if God turns his back on you, just wait.......stay close........and don't give up hope, even when the dream dies! God has not forgotten you, if He sees every sparrow that falls to the ground, you can be sure that He sees you. Just stand still, keep your cool, maintain your faith and ...wait. Your answer may have been delayed but it has not been destroyed!

Is God Okay With My Plans?

2007-07-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. (Pro 3:5-6 AMP)

Our future well being depends largely on the decisions we make today. We are a world in transition; we change homes, cars, jobs, cities, and spouses as easily as changing clothes. Many of the problems in our lives are the direct result of decision that were not well thought out, not prayed over and are emotionally driven.
In many decisions the cost was not counted, the impact was not measured, and the long-term implications were not considered.

We feel right and justified about our decision, but only time can reveal the end results of our choices.

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Pro 16:1-3 KJV)

An important principle to remember is that, we will reap the results of our decisions, whether good or evil

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:7-8 KJV)

You do not reap always reap immediately, some seeds take years to produce, and when they begin to bring forth it is in a larger quantity than the seed sewn. No one plants an apple seed expecting only one apple to be produced as a result. The hope of the grower is that the single seed that has been planted will eventually produce thousands of apples.

There are some questions we need to ask ourselves about our plans for the future

Have I consulted God about my plans – prayer is our way to communicate with Him. The wisdom to make a Godly decision is not found in our flesh.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jas 1:5 KJV)

Have I consulted Godly counsel – your choice of counsel may affect your decision

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psa 1:1-6 KJV)

What is my motivation

Why am I making this decision?
Why now?

What affect will my decision have on me, my family, my church and my relationship with God?

Is God in the center of my plans or just an afterthought?

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Psa 143:8 KJV)

What has God spoken to me in prayer (silence is not acceptance)
What is my the Spirit of God in me telling me – ignore your flesh for a moment, and focus on what God is speaking to your spirit
If God says no to my plans will I listen?

How to get God involved in your plans

Prayer
Applying Biblical principles to your choices
Seeking Godly counsel
Obedience to the voice of God and the voice of Godly men and women in your life

Allow the Spirit of God to direct you- be open to a change in plans if He so desires. The greatest place to be is in the center of God's will. To be able to know of a certainty that you are where God wants you to be, doing what He wants you to do.

Real peace comes through obedience, and there is assurance that if this is His plan then He is in control. I just have to walk in obedience and faith, trusting not in my own ability but in the perfect plan of an Almighty, Wise God!

If My People Pray

2007-07-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

If My People Pray

If 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.
(2Ch 7:14 KJV)

The means of spiritual change have remained constant throughout the centuries of time. It has always involved a humbling of man in the presence of a holy God. It has always involved a desperate cry from a sincere heart. Pride has become a barrier between God and man. We have become too proud to bow before Him, too high and mighty to humble ourselves in His presence and we have paid dearly for this attitude.

It has cost us a deeper relationship with Jesus; it has decreased our sensitivity to his voice. We have missed the protection of His arms and the confidence that comes through an intimate relationship with Him. Our families have suffered tremendously due to the fact that a prayerless home is a powerless home. The hedge that should have been created through consistent prayer has been broken through and torn down by the enemy of our soul. Worship becomes hollow, praise becomes just noise and preaching becomes powerless to deliver the captive without the depth of relationship that is born through prayer.

We have learned how to replace divine devotion with entertainment and being a living sacrifice with worldly pleasures. We have learned how to create an artificial atmosphere through music and motivational methods, but we stand naked and unarmed before the enemy of our soul. He is unaffected by the clamor and confusion we have created through prayerless church.

We have sought for earthly relevance and have lost our longing for heaven. A lost world does not need a socially relevant church; it needs a spiritually revived church.We must be a church that longs to pray, a body of believers who are dependent on the moving of the Holy Ghost and not the music, motivational musings or antics of Pentecostal cheerleaders.

If we will follow the advice of 2 Chron. 7:14, we can change directions. We must humble ourselves before him, confessing our shortcomings and failures. We must return to heart rending, soul changing, and spirit lifting prayer. Our focus needs to be not on how He can please me but how I can please Him. The depth of our very soul needs to cry out to make contact with Him daily. We must be willing to search our hearts for any wickedness, any spirit of pride or iniquity and then be willing to make the necessary changes in our lives.

The future of the church does not rest in our ability to fit in with the fads and fazes of the world, but on our ability to return to relationship with God that involves a daily communication and a spiritually sensitivity to His voice. The future of the family will be decided by the amount of prayer invested, the depth of a man’s ministry will be controlled by the depth of his prayer life. The level of dedication and consecration of the congregation will decide the Apostolic power available to the assembly. If we will pray heaven will come down and hell will flee, if we will humble ourselves, God will work through us and great and mighty things will be accomplished in these last few hours of time. If My People Will Pray

To God Be The Glory!

2007-06-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to thank God for filling my 6 year old son, David, with the glorious gift of the Holy Ghost! I was privileged to baptize him in Jesus Name on Father's Day. What a great Father's Day present!

I asked him if he understood why he needed to be baptized. He said "so my my sins will be washed away and I won't have to follow the devil's rules"

God is good!

God's Will- A Storm

2007-06-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
(Mat 14:22)

Jesus receives word that John has been beheaded at the whim of a young girl. He tries to sail away to have some time for himself to mourn the loss of his cousin but the multitude follows him on land to the other side.

Jesus looks on them with compassion and lays aside His own hurt and begins to heal them and minister to their needs. Then, after the day has passed and evening has come, He demonstrates His unselfishness and compassion by feeding those who have interrupted His quiet time.

If there is anything we need to learn from Jesus it is how to operate in the ministry of compassion

Jesus begins to make plans to feed the multitude that will involve all of his disciples, it is a time for the disciples to shine, but instead they complain

The disciples fail a critical test in two areas:

Instead of working to meet the needs of a hungry crowd they suggest to Jesus that He send them away. It always easier to send the multitude away than to deal with the problems.
Mar 6:37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? They are arguing with the bread of life, the creator of the soil, the one that causes a seed of wheat to germinate in the ground, to the one who causes to sun to shine and the rain to fall on the wheat to bring it to its fullness. And they have the audacity to argue with His command! Their focus is on their inability, not His all sufficiency

There is a definite need for a storm – the disciples are operating from self serving principles and the people will suffer from their inaction if Jesus does not intervene. Jesus takes the little lunch that has been brought to him, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to the disciples to distribute.

The disciples have now become the servants, the crowd are the guests of honor and the disciples are the kitchen staff!

The bread and fish have been distributed, the people are fed, the disciples are tired and Jesus is planning a storm.

The multitude quickly realize a prophet is in their midst and they began to proclaim Him as king. The crowd begins to push forward to take Him by force to make Him king.

Jesus immediately sends the multitude away and commands the disciples to take the ship to the other side and Jesus again looks for the place of solitude to rest and pray.

Jesus took the disciples out of the midst of a praising multitude right into a storm. The will of God was not the adoring crowd, not the accolades of the throng. His will was a life changing boat ride, alone, in the midst of a storm.

In our human thinking and intellect the fulfillment of the will of God is going to be a public acceptance of who and what we are. The limelight, the sound of clapping hands, the voices lifted, declaring all the good things we have done.

The crowd would not have furthered the disciples walk with God. The last thing they needed was somebody to bolster their ego. Jesus spent a great amount of time trying to keep their feet on the ground and their eyes on the purpose. They needed something to test their faith, something to bring them back into focus about what was really important.

So God prepared a storm................................

Nobody was waving on the shore as they pulled out, no bands were playing, no grand send off, just 12 men, a wooden boat and a prepared storm. The perfect will of God

There are time in our lives, that the only thing that will bring our thought process into line with his, is a storm. When you are fighting for your very existence, it has a way of changing your priorities. I have heard it said, if you want to know what is really important in this life, ask somebody who is about to leave it.

The disciples find themselves in just that predicament – the wind is too strong, the waves are too high, the boat is too small, the sky is too dark and the shore is too far away. They cannot judge their direction, they are simply at the mercy of the storm.

Suddenly, there is a glimpse of a figure walking through the center of the waves. By now it is between 3 and 6 in the morning, the disciples are exhausted, the storm continues unabated and they are questioning everything. Their first response is that what they are seeing is a ghost and they cry out in fear.

Then Jesus speaks, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” They may not recognize him in this form as the sea walker but they do recognize His voice. But Peter needs more confirmation, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”. I am not sure why Peter said what he did. Maybe it was because it was more calm where Jesus was than the environment in the boat, maybe it was a step of faith and simple trust that Jesus would keep him afloat. Or maybe there was a desperation to walk with Jesus, to be close to Him.

Whatever his motive, what occurred next was something he would remember the rest of his life. Peter stepped out of the boat, eyes fastened on Jesus and began walking toward Jesus. Imagine! For the first time being able to walk on water, every step bringing you closer to Jesus. The storm is still raging around him, the wind is still blowing, but the path is clear, the goal is in sight. Jesus is here!

Suddenly the facts attack Peter, “you can't walk on water, you were not designed to interact with this environment this way” Peter for one second looks way from Jesus at at his surroundings and immediately begins to sink. Even though Peter was walking to Jesus the storm was still all around him. The wind continued to blow and the waves were still surging around him. Kind of has a way of affection your faith doesn't it?.

Some of the greatest experiences that you will have in God will occur in the midst of a storm. It will not be in the applause of the crowd, or in the fleeting words of praise or recognition. It will be in the darkest of times, after the greatest of times, after you have climbed the highest mountain and are ascending into the lowest valley.

You will question why God put you here, you will doubt everything you believe in, the storm will seem to be too much, the winds will seem to be too strong. But somewhere in the midst of the storm there will be a revelation, a divine visitation that will change you forever. You need this storm, God has a plan for you and woven into the details of the plan, He placed a storm.

You had gotten a little off course, you had questioned God and complained about his way of doing things. You had said, as the disciples did about the hungry crowd, “send them away”

Don't worry the storm, it will not destroy you, it will instead develop you. You compassion will increase, you faith will be renewed, the storm will not cause you to fear anymore. On the other side you will have a story to tell. You will never look at Jesus the same way again, you will be forever impacted by the storm and the sea walker. Go ahead keep bailing, try the sail one more time, hold on to the rudder. But keep your eyes on the horizon. The maker of the storm is on his way!

The Keepers of the Memorial

2007-05-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
(Jos 4:5-7 KJV)

I find it kind of interesting that the job of passing down the importance of a memorial was not that of the leadership but rather of the parents. The longer I pastor the more I am amazed at the apathy of parents. I have watched husbands and wives allow their children to wear things and to go places that they would personally feel convicted over wearing and doing.

Could it be that we are not passing down the importance of visiting and protecting the memorials that were erected by generations before?

It is like a child taking a Stradivarius out of the case and using the million-dollar instrument to hammer a nail. To him it has no value, and if someone does not explain to him that what he is using for a hammer is a valuable instrumental work of art, he will destroy it without a second thought or any feeling of loss.

It is the job of parents to pass down to their children what is important and what is valuable. This is done through teaching and instructing consistently. Through taking them back to the memorials and the old landmarks and explaining to them why these things are so precious and why they must be defended at all cost.

Many parents want to place this responsibility on the back of the public school, the church or the pastor, but the truth is that God has chosen the parents to teach and train their children. He said:

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

(Deu 6:6-7 KJV)

It is not an easy job, journeying to these memorials, many new roads do not take you by these old landmarks, there are no tour guides, no plaques to elaborate on the importance of this monument, no recognition by society as being a place that needs to be remembered. But these old monuments have a story to tell. They tell of God's provision, God's protection and God's power. They convey the importance of remaining faithful to God and the rewards of faithfulness.

Some would like to tear these memorials down, they say we don’t need these anymore, they say, they are outdated and antiquated. But to those who must cross this way they are hope and help to the tired and worn traveler.

It does not take long to tear down a memorial, but once it is torn down it is impossible to rebuild. Nowhere in scripture is there another instance where the Jordan River opens to allow a nation to pass through, no one else ever had the opportunity to gather stones from its midst. There are some things that must be protected at all cost because they cannot be rebuilt or redesigned. There must be a journey made to these memorials with children in hand, there must be a time of teaching about the importance of this memorial and what it stands for and the power it represents. If this does not happen, the memorial will without a doubt be destroyed and never remembered again. Our sacred landmarks are one generation from extinction and only the parents can protect them

A Unified Church

2007-05-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

A Unified Church

I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behavior is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you, With all gentle and quiet behavior, taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love; Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace.
(Eph 4:1-3 BBE)

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them
(Rom. 16:17 KJV)

One of the greatest tactics of the enemy is to divide and separate the body. He understands that he has the greatest opportunity to destroy is if there is division and disunity. Hell gets great pleasure in watching a body of believers devour itself. We must be vigilant and alert to prevent the enemy from sewing seeds of discord in the midst of the church

If the enemy can cause us to doubt who we are and if he can divide and separate the church, then he can defeat us. But if we stand in faith- faith in God, faith in our brothers and sisters and faith in ourselves, anything is possible!

The way we know we are maturing in Him is in our ability to be unified behind a common purpose. When we have learned to focus our individual abilities to ensure that the kingdom of Heaven continues to expand, then we have really begun to find our place in God. The strength of a church is in its unity, a church that has pure motives and Godly goals will be blessed and flourish. A church that allows the enemy to divide and separate becomes weak and powerless. It all hinges on unity.

The spirit of disunity is like an infectious disease that leaves in its wake innocent people who have become infected because of contact with one who is carrying the disease. But the good news is that disunity is curable! It dies through lack of contact with another individual; it requires a listening ear to survive.

There are some things you and I can do to keep our hearts and minds pure:

1. Don’t allow anybody to turn your ear into a garbage can, God created you for better things than that!

2. Heed the plan of God for dealing with gossip – (1Ti 5:19) Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.

3. Follow the plan of God for dealing with disunity: (Rom 16:17) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them

4. Use God’s plan for dealing with offenses (Mat 18:15-17 ) Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Let us search our hearts and turn on the spotlight of God’s Word and make sure that we are not a disunity carrier. The salvation of a city depends on a church working in unity with one purpose and goal and that is to reach for the lost. Together we can make a difference in our neighborhood, in our city, in our state and in our world!

Healing Bruises

2007-05-22T10:13:00.001-07:00

It is amazing to watch the mighty hand of God work in the lives of people. People come to God so messed up, confused and broken. They come with confused ideas of who or what God is and the feeling that they have done too much or gone to far for Jesus to love them. They are afraid of rejection and yet at the same time afraid to stay where they are. So they make their way through the myriad of emotions into His house and into His presence.
The first person they meet at Faith Tabernacle is a person who expresses to them how glad they are that they have come. All of a sudden they began to relax a little because they are welcome here. They don't feel rejection like they thought they would, but rather the open arms of a church welcomes them in.
It is so much easier to receive what someone has to say to you if you feel loved and respected by the person giving instruction. Jesus had a way of dealing with people's problems in a manner that even when He spoke about the wrong in their lives they did not become defensive because He spoke with such compassion and love.
People who have been beaten down do not need to know how low they are but rather where they can go from here. The greatest ministry of a church is a ministry of compassion and reconciliation. The ability of a lost soul to find direction and to be encouraged and supported.
The greatest miracles that Jesus did were not the many physical bodies that He touched, but the inner pain and anguish that He, with nail scarred hands, has healed.
Jesus said he came to set at liberty them that are bruised. Bruises are the inner result of outward trauma. Jesus set us free from the internal pain that sin has brought upon us. He heals the internal hurts, that nobody else can reach

Battered, Beaten, But Not Abandoned

2007-05-22T10:09:00.001-07:00

2Co 4:8 Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in; things are hard for us, but we see a way out of them; 2Co 4:9 We are cruelly attacked, but not without hope; we are made low, but we are not without help; BBE

Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. KJV

I find that the greatest attack in the minds of many people is the heavy weight of unworthiness. The idea that we will never accomplish anything in life because of who we are and who we are not. The difference between condemnation and conviction is this: Conviction shines a light on what we have done wrong, but lovingly draws us toward the one who can make us right. Condemnation, on the other hand, shines a light on our wrong and pushes us away from the only one who can help us. Adam and Eve compounded their sin when instead of running to Him and asking for forgiveness they ran from God. You need to know that regardless of what wrong we may have committed God will not abandon us. The writer of the Psalms states that His mercy is a far as the east is from the west. That means that it has no end and no beginning. I have watched as people made the journey back to God fearful and afraid that He would not accept them. But not once have I seen God withhold His touch from a sinner crying out to him and expressing to Him their need of His touch on their life. You may be broken but you have not been abandoned by God! Call out to Him

Exercise For The Soul

2007-05-22T10:08:00.001-07:00

As I sit at my desk, putting off tasks that were due yesterday, my mind begins to wander. (It has the bad habit of doing that, and then I have to go look for it!)
As Cardiac nurse, I have the joy of watching people recover from what was a near death experience. Many of the patients have the "zipper" down the center of their chest post- bypass surgery. I have noticed something about these who have come through this surgery, they have a different outlook on life. One told me this morning that he is going to go ahead and retire earlier than originally planned, he said there were more important things in life than working that extra year.
Humans have this feeling of invincibleness and when we learn that the very structure of our human being is under attack we feel violated and a little angry. But for most of us, it takes sickness to cause us to began to change our behaviors. We change our behaviours to prevent further problems and to counteract the effects that disease has brought upon us.
I cannot help but see the similarities to our spiritual condition. My pastor in Ky said, "it is crisis that brings us to Christ".
We treat our spiritual health much like our physical, we ignore it until it begins to cry out from the attacks it is enduring. Just as in the physical, we put off seeing someone who can help, we deny we have problems, we try to "doctor" ourselves, but the end result is that our condition worsens.
Finally we come to the realization that if I do not get help I am going to die and we began the search for someone who can cure this spiritual illness. We look for the quick cure all, the shortcut back to immediate good spiritual health but it does not exist. The has to be the application of some principles to start us down the road of spiritual recovery. We have to be willing to listen to someone who can helps us and follow their advice. How many times have I seen people come back to the doctor angry because a medicine did not work only to find out they only took it once or twice. There is no quick fix for the spirit. We have to exercise spiritually: read the Word of God, pray, and seek Godly counsel, these are the prescription for a healthy spirit.
Just as in the natural when you cease to exercise you lose the benefits, it is true of the spirit man as well. To stay healthy we have to keep exercising the soul.

Bob

2007-05-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

I am sitting at my desk between patient appointments looking out the window at the beautiful sunshine and one little white cloud lazily floating along. I have been watching for Bob to appear on the bricks outside my window. He usually comes out when the sun is shining. Who is Bob you ask? Bob is a red throated lizard who is, I think, looking for a mate. He comes to the edge of my window and expands his neck to try to attract attention. So far he does not seem to have been successful in his quest. Poor Bob!
They say that we are going to get some pretty severe storms tomorrow, amazing how quick the weather can change! I was thinking how the weather is much like life, everything is perfect and all of a sudden a storm arises, that brings darkness and rain. How quickly life can go from sunny to stormy, all it takes is one phone call, one doctor's report, one letter in the mail box, one visit with the boss and everything changes.
Since we know we cannot change the development of a storm in our life , we have to prepare for how we are going to face the storm. I think God sometimes sends storms into our life just to see how we will react.
The disciples on the Sea of Galilee learned first hand what it is like to face the onslaught of an unexpected storm. The only one on board who knew that a storm was approaching was Jesus and he brought a pillow along for the ride! As God manifested in the flesh I have no doubt He could have stop the storm from ever becoming a reality, but there was a lesson that the disciple needed to learn that could only be taught in a storm.
They were about to learn the importance of not just having the Creator on board but the necessity of also having his attention. I can see Jesus laying back on the pillow with one eye about half open watching them try to battle the storm alone. There is no way He could have been actually sleeping when the boat is nearly full of water. He was just watching and waiting for them to call upon Him. Amazing how long it took the disciples to realize they needed help!
What about you, how are you going to react to the storms, did you know that Jesus is on board? All you have to do is call on His name.
By the way, Bob still has not appeared, maybe he has found a mate!

Go Tell Peter

2007-05-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Go Tell Peter

Simon Peter- A fisherman, a strong burly man. A man of strong opinion, and quicker to act than to listen. More than once his actions as well as his quick speech has gotten him into trouble. He is quick to speak his mind but sometimes he has not thought out what he should say before speaking.

He was brought up to continue his father's business as a fisherman on the lake of Galilee. He and his brother Andrew were partners with Zebedee's sons, John and James, who had "hired servants," which implies a high social status and culture. Peter lived first at Bethesda, then in Capernaum, in a house either his own or his mother-in-law's, large enough to receive Christ and his fellow apostles and some of the multitude who thronged about Him. In his statement, "leaving all to follow Christ," he implies he made a large sacrifice.

His first introduction to Jesus is in Matt 4:18-20
18 And 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. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Peter made a decision that day to follow Jesus that changed the rest of his life.
Peter was present at many of the great miracles that Jesus performed and was a recipient of at least three. The filling of his boat with fish after they had not been able to catch any, the healing of Peter's mother in law and finding the coin in the mouth of a fish that they needed to pay taxes.

He became one of the inner circle that Jesus would take with Him when He needed to get away. He was on the Mount of Transfiguration, at the raising of Jarius daughter, and the garden of Gethsemane. He was the only disciple to walk on water with Jesus.

Peter had the great ability to say the right thing at the right time.
John 6:67-69 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matt 16:13-17 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

He also had the knack for saying and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time
Jesus had to rebuke him and called him Satan when he tried to stop Jesus from talking about His eminent death
He was abrupt in his question to Jesus about who had touched Him.
He did not want Jesus to wash his feet.

He developed a devotion to Jesus and a fierce loyalty to Him.
In the Garden of Gethesemene he drew out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priests servant.
There is closeness between Peter and Jesus and a clear indication of how much Jesus cared about Peter.

Peter was dedicated to Jesus
He was willing to fight for Him
He said he was willing to die for Him

But something happened in the life of Peter that turned his world upside down.
His friend, teacher, leader, instructor, was taken to court and falsely accused, those who should have been defending him were the ones bringing charges against Him.

Peter waits for the sign that Jesus is going to reveal himself as the conquering Messiah, but it never occurs. Peter watches him beaten, spit upon, he watches them strip him of His clothes, he watches as they mock Him and call Him King of the Jews. Peter feels the inevitable slipping up on him. They are going to kill Him and he is not going to do anything about it. He is not going to call angels from heaven.

In that moment Peter loses his faith, everything he has trusted in falls apart and with it goes his bravery and his promise that he would never deny his Lord. He becomes afraid to even let a servant girl know that he was associated with Jesus and does everything in his power to disassociate himself from Jesus. Mathew records the sordid details

Matt 26:69-27:1 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Everything is lost, Peter has denied his Lord when He needed him most

The guilt and condemnation that must have overwhelmed him the feeling of total hopelessness that invaded Peter's heart must have been immense.

What do you do when you have denied what you know to be right? How do you go back and undo what has been done?

But while Peter is dealing with the guilt of having denied Jesus, what He does not know is that Jesus knew he would fail during this time and He has already forgiven him.
What Peter thought was Jesus greatest defeat was actually His greatest victory. Because now mercy had been released and there is forgiveness for sins.

As Jesus prepared to leave the tomb, He pulled on of the angels to the side and said "I want to give you some instructions, when the women come to anoint my body and find me gone instruct them to tell my disciples that I am risen. Oh, one more thing, tell them to tell Peter as well".

What Jesus was doing in singling Peter out was to make sure that he got the message that everything was all right. Jesus could not have said it louder if he had been screaming. "Peter I have forgiven you!"

Never again did Peter deny Jesus in fact He became one of the most outspoken preachers of his day. History says that when they decided to crucify Peter he asked to be hung upside down because he was not worthy to die as his savior did.

No matter what you have done or how much you feel you have denied Jesus, He is still calling, saying let them know that I am alive and I love them.