A Special event takes place every year where you are the center of attention. People throw you a party, give you gifts and simply make a big deal over you for one whole day. Of course, I'm talking about your birthday. We all love getting gifts on our birthday. Some of the gifts we received as a child we still have.
Well consider this, in just over two weeks we will be celebrating Jesus' birthday. Will He be the center of attention? Will you make a big deal over Him? What gift have you gotten for Him?
How about giving Him the gift of yourself. Not part of you, or only part of the time, but all of you. That's what Jesus wants for His birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
When God Messes with your Plans
We all know the Christmas story so well. Even the youngest child could tell the story of how an Angel came to Mary announcing that she would be the mother of Jesus. How an angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and help raise the Son of God.
But do you ever stop to think about what Mary and Joseph's plans were. They were about to be married. No doubt they had been making plans about what their life would be like once they were married, but then God messed with their plans.
God didn't ask them what they wanted, He told them what His plans were. God didn't make things easy for them either. Mary had to travel approximately 80 miles from Nazareth to Belthlehem only days before giving birth. God's plans may not have been easy, but they were perfect plans for Mary and Joseph. And in reality, for the whole world as well.
So the next time you think that God is messing with your plans and that things seem difficult in God's plan for your life, remember Mary and Joseph and simply trust that God knows what is best.
But do you ever stop to think about what Mary and Joseph's plans were. They were about to be married. No doubt they had been making plans about what their life would be like once they were married, but then God messed with their plans.
God didn't ask them what they wanted, He told them what His plans were. God didn't make things easy for them either. Mary had to travel approximately 80 miles from Nazareth to Belthlehem only days before giving birth. God's plans may not have been easy, but they were perfect plans for Mary and Joseph. And in reality, for the whole world as well.
So the next time you think that God is messing with your plans and that things seem difficult in God's plan for your life, remember Mary and Joseph and simply trust that God knows what is best.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thanksgiving
Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." (NASB)
How oftern do we give thanks to God and praise His name? Sure we may go through our routine of thanking God for our food, and around thanksgiving time we may evenn make a list of the things God has done in our live during this past year. But do we "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God" as the verse says?
Continually doesn't mean once a year or once a day for that matter. It implies that it is repeated without interruption. David said in Psalms 34:1, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (NASB) He also said in Psalm 119:62, "At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances." (NASB) When was the last time you were up at midnight giving thanks and praising God.
Consider also Psalms 119:164, "Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances." (NASB) Do we stop seven times a day to thank and praise God? Do we even stop once or twice a day?
Make thanksgiving a continual part of your life.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
How oftern do we give thanks to God and praise His name? Sure we may go through our routine of thanking God for our food, and around thanksgiving time we may evenn make a list of the things God has done in our live during this past year. But do we "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God" as the verse says?
Continually doesn't mean once a year or once a day for that matter. It implies that it is repeated without interruption. David said in Psalms 34:1, "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (NASB) He also said in Psalm 119:62, "At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances." (NASB) When was the last time you were up at midnight giving thanks and praising God.
Consider also Psalms 119:164, "Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances." (NASB) Do we stop seven times a day to thank and praise God? Do we even stop once or twice a day?
Make thanksgiving a continual part of your life.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Service With a Smile (part 3)
1 Corinthians 12:14-18 syas, "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (NASB)
Dizzy Dean was one of the greatest--and most colorful--baseball pitchers of all time. He once won 30 games in a season. Dizzy liked to brag about his pitching and make public predictions. In 1934, Dizzy predicted, he and his brother, who was nicknamed “Daffy”, would win 45 games. On September 21, 1934, Dizzy pitched no-hitter for eight innings against the Brooklyn Dodgers, finishing with a three-hit shutout in the first game of a doubleheader, his 27th win of the season. His brother then threw a no-hitter in the 2nd game of the doubleheader, to win his 18th, matching the 45 that Dizzy had predicted. After the game, Dizzy was heard to say to his brother, "if I'd a-known you was gonna throw a no-hitter, I'd a-thrown one too!"
One day Dizzy Dean swaggered into the opposing team’s locker room and told each hitter exactly how he would pitch to him, and then went out and pitched a shutout.
But one day in 1937, Dizzy hurt his big toe--a minor injury, nothing important. After all, it was only a toe, you know? But it was important. He began favoring that toe, which affected his pitching motion, which affected his arm. And by the time he started to consider that toe to be important, and took his injury seriously, his pitching arm was so severely affected that his career was over. Because, you see, the pitching arm cannot say to the big toe, “You’re not important; I don’t need you.”
You are important to the body of Christ. God has designed you for a unique and importand place within the body. Find your passion, find your spiritual gifts, and find your place of service. You are IMPORTANT!
Dizzy Dean was one of the greatest--and most colorful--baseball pitchers of all time. He once won 30 games in a season. Dizzy liked to brag about his pitching and make public predictions. In 1934, Dizzy predicted, he and his brother, who was nicknamed “Daffy”, would win 45 games. On September 21, 1934, Dizzy pitched no-hitter for eight innings against the Brooklyn Dodgers, finishing with a three-hit shutout in the first game of a doubleheader, his 27th win of the season. His brother then threw a no-hitter in the 2nd game of the doubleheader, to win his 18th, matching the 45 that Dizzy had predicted. After the game, Dizzy was heard to say to his brother, "if I'd a-known you was gonna throw a no-hitter, I'd a-thrown one too!"
One day Dizzy Dean swaggered into the opposing team’s locker room and told each hitter exactly how he would pitch to him, and then went out and pitched a shutout.
But one day in 1937, Dizzy hurt his big toe--a minor injury, nothing important. After all, it was only a toe, you know? But it was important. He began favoring that toe, which affected his pitching motion, which affected his arm. And by the time he started to consider that toe to be important, and took his injury seriously, his pitching arm was so severely affected that his career was over. Because, you see, the pitching arm cannot say to the big toe, “You’re not important; I don’t need you.”
You are important to the body of Christ. God has designed you for a unique and importand place within the body. Find your passion, find your spiritual gifts, and find your place of service. You are IMPORTANT!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Service with a Smile (part 2)
1 Chronicles 28:9 - "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts..." (NKJV)
A church was having a fellowship dinner one night. As things were wrapping up, some people were leaving, others were standing around talking, still other people were starting the cleaning up process. The younger children were sitting in a circle tucked away in a corner, talking and laughing.
From the doorway between the fellowship hall and the kitchen, you could hear a mother's voice holler out, "Zach, I want you to pick up all the cups and napkins off the floor." Zach was one of the young boys in the corner. His head popped up, he looked at his mother and back at his friends. "Now!", she stated. Obediently, but reluctantly, he got up and did the bidding of his mother.
Why and how do we serve the Lord? Do we serve Him because we have to? Is it an obligation or a pleasure? Are we serving out of love or duty? Am I, perhaps, doing the things I do out of a sense of guilt - a need to make up for the wrongs I have done? Is it a half-hearted obedience? Or is it with all the passion and enthusiasm I can bring out of a heart full of love and devotion for my God?
God wants us to serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. Service brought on by a desire to show Him just how much I want to obey His calling, not because I have to, but because I want to.
Consider the words of a song by Bill Gaither
I will serve You because I love You,
You have given life to me.
I was nothing until You find me,
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken people,
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for,
You have given life to me.
A church was having a fellowship dinner one night. As things were wrapping up, some people were leaving, others were standing around talking, still other people were starting the cleaning up process. The younger children were sitting in a circle tucked away in a corner, talking and laughing.
From the doorway between the fellowship hall and the kitchen, you could hear a mother's voice holler out, "Zach, I want you to pick up all the cups and napkins off the floor." Zach was one of the young boys in the corner. His head popped up, he looked at his mother and back at his friends. "Now!", she stated. Obediently, but reluctantly, he got up and did the bidding of his mother.
Why and how do we serve the Lord? Do we serve Him because we have to? Is it an obligation or a pleasure? Are we serving out of love or duty? Am I, perhaps, doing the things I do out of a sense of guilt - a need to make up for the wrongs I have done? Is it a half-hearted obedience? Or is it with all the passion and enthusiasm I can bring out of a heart full of love and devotion for my God?
God wants us to serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. Service brought on by a desire to show Him just how much I want to obey His calling, not because I have to, but because I want to.
Consider the words of a song by Bill Gaither
I will serve You because I love You,
You have given life to me.
I was nothing until You find me,
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken people,
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for,
You have given life to me.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Service with a Smile
2 Corinthians 9:7 …God loves a cheerful giver. (NASB)
You have probably heard this verse many times and more than likely it was in the context of giving money to the church. But I believe it’s a mistake to apply that statement to the giving of money alone.
I believe “God loves a cheerful giver” applies also to those who give their time and effort and expertise in the service of God.
And God LOVES IT when you and I are serving Him and His people with joy and laughter and excitement and fulfillment.
I believe God LOVES IT when we’re having a blast in glorifying Him by serving others! Because He loves cheerful giving!
You have probably heard this verse many times and more than likely it was in the context of giving money to the church. But I believe it’s a mistake to apply that statement to the giving of money alone.
I believe “God loves a cheerful giver” applies also to those who give their time and effort and expertise in the service of God.
And God LOVES IT when you and I are serving Him and His people with joy and laughter and excitement and fulfillment.
I believe God LOVES IT when we’re having a blast in glorifying Him by serving others! Because He loves cheerful giving!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Completely Dependant
With the birth of our third daughter, I am reminded of just how dependant babies are for everthing. If they are hungry, someone has to feed them. If they have a wet diaper, someone needs to change it. If they are cold, someone needs to put a blanket on them. They can do nothing on their own. They are completely dependant on mommy and daddy for everything.
This is also true about our relationship with God. We are completely dependant on Him. The question is do we acknowledge that dependance?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." (NASB)
Trust God....He knows what you need!
This is also true about our relationship with God. We are completely dependant on Him. The question is do we acknowledge that dependance?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." (NASB)
Trust God....He knows what you need!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
All in God's Timing
Isaiah 55:8 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
People have been asking me for a couple weeks now, when our baby was going to be born. Of course I kept telling them, "any day now, just not on a Sunday because I have to preach". But God had other plans. Kirsten Grace was born today at 1:19pm. Of course I was in the hospital with Melissa and my father-in-law preached for me.
Isn't it funny how we have certain plans and God decides to do things differently. Scripture is full of examples where people thought they had things figured out or would have chosen to do things differently, but God always knows what is best.
I'm glad I can trust God even though I don't always understand His ways.
People have been asking me for a couple weeks now, when our baby was going to be born. Of course I kept telling them, "any day now, just not on a Sunday because I have to preach". But God had other plans. Kirsten Grace was born today at 1:19pm. Of course I was in the hospital with Melissa and my father-in-law preached for me.
Isn't it funny how we have certain plans and God decides to do things differently. Scripture is full of examples where people thought they had things figured out or would have chosen to do things differently, but God always knows what is best.
I'm glad I can trust God even though I don't always understand His ways.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Continuous Revival
Several weeks ago I began a preaching series on personal revival. Revival is defined as "the extraordinary movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of God’s people, producing extraordinary results.”
Do we long for that in our lives and in our families? Do we want it to be a continual thing? It should be!
In his book "Continuous Revival", Norman Grubb makes a simple statement describing revival. He says that it is "the roof off and the walls down". In other words, there is nothing between you and God, and nothing between you and anyone else.
We will never know the freedom and refreshing renewal that comes from God unless the roof is off and the walls are down!
Where do you need to begin today?
Do we long for that in our lives and in our families? Do we want it to be a continual thing? It should be!
In his book "Continuous Revival", Norman Grubb makes a simple statement describing revival. He says that it is "the roof off and the walls down". In other words, there is nothing between you and God, and nothing between you and anyone else.
We will never know the freedom and refreshing renewal that comes from God unless the roof is off and the walls are down!
Where do you need to begin today?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Obedience
Our obedience to God is an opportunity for His glory to be displayed in our lives.
Has God asked you to do something that is difficult or doesn't seem to make sense? Then consider this statement: God's glory is best seen against the backdrop of impossibilities that only God can resolve.
One thing is sure, God is always clear with His Children. Any lack of clarity is related to our unwillingness or inability to hear, not His inability to communicate.
So what is it that God is asking you to do today? If He is calling for a step of obedience, it is a sure indication that He is about to display His glory in your life. What an opportunity!
Has God asked you to do something that is difficult or doesn't seem to make sense? Then consider this statement: God's glory is best seen against the backdrop of impossibilities that only God can resolve.
One thing is sure, God is always clear with His Children. Any lack of clarity is related to our unwillingness or inability to hear, not His inability to communicate.
So what is it that God is asking you to do today? If He is calling for a step of obedience, it is a sure indication that He is about to display His glory in your life. What an opportunity!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Success
While I was driving the other day, I saw a license plate that read "$ucce$$". That got me thinking, how do we measure success?
The owner of that car seemed to measure success by how much money he had. Others measure success by how many possessions they have or how far they have climbed the "corporate ladder". Still others measure success by how many friends they have or the kind of relationships they have with friends and family.
But how does God want us to measure success? I believe success can be measured in three ways: 1) FAITH in God, 2) FAITHFULNESS to God, 3) FOCUSED on God's plan for your life.
Joshua 1:8 says, This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (NASB)
So the question is, Does God consider you to be successful?
The owner of that car seemed to measure success by how much money he had. Others measure success by how many possessions they have or how far they have climbed the "corporate ladder". Still others measure success by how many friends they have or the kind of relationships they have with friends and family.
But how does God want us to measure success? I believe success can be measured in three ways: 1) FAITH in God, 2) FAITHFULNESS to God, 3) FOCUSED on God's plan for your life.
Joshua 1:8 says, This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (NASB)
So the question is, Does God consider you to be successful?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Friend of God
I was thinking about a Phillips, Craig, and Dean song called, "Friend of God". Read the Lyrics below:
How amazing it is that God considers me His friend!
Who am I that You are mindful of me?
That you hear me When I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How You love me
It's amazing
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
In John 15:14-15 Jesus says, "You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."How amazing it is that God considers me His friend!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Ambassadors for Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us..." (NASB)
Did you know that as a believer you are an ambassador of Christ? Just what is an ambassador? The dictionary defines an ambassador as an authorized representative or messenger. As a believer I am God's authorized representative and messenger. So do I give an accurate picture of who God is and what He is like?
Consider teh following Challenge: Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will come to know God because they know you.
Did you know that as a believer you are an ambassador of Christ? Just what is an ambassador? The dictionary defines an ambassador as an authorized representative or messenger. As a believer I am God's authorized representative and messenger. So do I give an accurate picture of who God is and what He is like?
Consider teh following Challenge: Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God, will come to know God because they know you.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
You are God's Masterpiece
Did you know that you are God's masterpiece? Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB)
That word "workmanship" means masterpiece. I don't know about you, but I don't always feel like a masterpiece. But I do know that God is always working on me making me what He wants me to be.
Are we willing for God to chip away everything from our lives that doesn't fit with His plan?
You ARE God's MASTERPIECE!
Click on the link below to see the video God's Masterpiece
That word "workmanship" means masterpiece. I don't know about you, but I don't always feel like a masterpiece. But I do know that God is always working on me making me what He wants me to be.
Are we willing for God to chip away everything from our lives that doesn't fit with His plan?
You ARE God's MASTERPIECE!
Click on the link below to see the video God's Masterpiece
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Joy is a person, not a place
How often do we think, "If I could just have more, if I could just get to a certain place in my life, then I will have joy." David says in Psalm 16 that the Lord is the portion of his inheritance, the Lord is his satisfaction. He says that he has set the Lord continually before him and that as a result his heart is glad.
At the end of the Psalm, in verse 11 David says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
How about you? Where is your joy found? True, satisfying joy is found in the person of Jesus Christ!
At the end of the Psalm, in verse 11 David says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
How about you? Where is your joy found? True, satisfying joy is found in the person of Jesus Christ!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Joy
James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trial, knowing the that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
According to these verses, we can have joy in the midst of suffering when we focus on the end result.
James is not saying that need to be joyfull about the suffering, but we can have joy when we focus on what is to come. God is making us perfect and complete and we will lack nothing.
In High School I ran track. During practice we would often run 4 or 5 miles. Somewhere around mile 2 or 3 I would start to think, "Is is worth it?", but I would always keep going. I knew that any pain I might experience during practice would payoff when it came to the race. I needed to keep my eye on the goal.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the source of our joy.
Do you have joy? Are you experiencing that deep abiding joy that comes only from God? Or are you allowing your circumstances to dictate your feelings?
According to these verses, we can have joy in the midst of suffering when we focus on the end result.
James is not saying that need to be joyfull about the suffering, but we can have joy when we focus on what is to come. God is making us perfect and complete and we will lack nothing.
In High School I ran track. During practice we would often run 4 or 5 miles. Somewhere around mile 2 or 3 I would start to think, "Is is worth it?", but I would always keep going. I knew that any pain I might experience during practice would payoff when it came to the race. I needed to keep my eye on the goal.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the source of our joy.
Do you have joy? Are you experiencing that deep abiding joy that comes only from God? Or are you allowing your circumstances to dictate your feelings?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Honesty
Isn't it true that everybody lies? This doesn't make it right, but we do it. Sometimes it's big, carfully fabricated lies. Sometimes it what some call little "white lies". Sometimes it's by our silence, we try to hide the truth. And sometimes it's by our actions, we do things to give a better impresion than is really true.
The greatest deception, however, is not being honest before God. We often seek to cover our sin so that we feel like we're in better condition spiritually than we really are. If we are to experience God in revival, we must begin with getting honest before God about ourselves, our sin, and our need.
Take a look at David's life. Here is a man who had been honest, but then chose a path of deception about his sin. Later as David "comes clean" we hear from him the incredible blessings of honesty and transparency.
Read Psalm 32 to see what blessings are in store for the person who will get honest with God about their sin and their need.
The greatest deception, however, is not being honest before God. We often seek to cover our sin so that we feel like we're in better condition spiritually than we really are. If we are to experience God in revival, we must begin with getting honest before God about ourselves, our sin, and our need.
Take a look at David's life. Here is a man who had been honest, but then chose a path of deception about his sin. Later as David "comes clean" we hear from him the incredible blessings of honesty and transparency.
Read Psalm 32 to see what blessings are in store for the person who will get honest with God about their sin and their need.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
God's Plan is Always Good
Have you ever had "one of those days" (or weeks) where you just have to ask the question, "God, why is this happening to me?" only to discover, at the end of the day, this was for your good? I just did!
Three weeks ago, while out to lunch, I discovered my van wouldn't start. I did everything I could think of to get it started, but nothing happend. So I got a ride back to the office and later that day went back to check on my van. I got in, tunred the key and it started right up. So I drove it to the machanic to see if he could figure out what happened.
He kept the van for a week and the problem never happened. So I pick up my van thinking all is well. Four days later I had the same problem, it wouldn't start, only this time the "check engine light" came on as well. This time I waited about 30 minutes and then tried to start the van. It started.
I took it back to the machanic and told him that it happend again and asked if he could figure out what was going on. He kept the van for three days, but the problem never happened for him and he didn't believe the problem with the "check engine light" was related.
He recommended I take it to the dealer, thinking they may have seen this problem before and could fix it. So I took it to the dealer to have them run a test as to why the "check engine light" came on. They did and they told me what it would take to fix that problem. In the process of fixing that problem, a screw from one of the "butterfly valves" came loose and fell inside the piston.
I was told that 4 of the 6 valves were loose and that this could have happend while I was driving, but thank God it didn't. I am told that if it had it would have locked up the motor while I was driving and of course that would have been very bad news.
They were able to get everything fixed and I now have my van back three weeks later, but no one is sure why my van wouldn't start before.
I believe God was looking out for me and causing me to have to take my van in to have this other part fixed, so that I would not have the major problems I could have had.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
If we go back one verse and read verse 10 we see that the plans God had for Israel would not be fulfilled for 70 years. Sometimes God takes us through a valley before bringing us up on the mountain top.
What is God doing in your life right now? Never forget that God's plans are always good!
Three weeks ago, while out to lunch, I discovered my van wouldn't start. I did everything I could think of to get it started, but nothing happend. So I got a ride back to the office and later that day went back to check on my van. I got in, tunred the key and it started right up. So I drove it to the machanic to see if he could figure out what happened.
He kept the van for a week and the problem never happened. So I pick up my van thinking all is well. Four days later I had the same problem, it wouldn't start, only this time the "check engine light" came on as well. This time I waited about 30 minutes and then tried to start the van. It started.
I took it back to the machanic and told him that it happend again and asked if he could figure out what was going on. He kept the van for three days, but the problem never happened for him and he didn't believe the problem with the "check engine light" was related.
He recommended I take it to the dealer, thinking they may have seen this problem before and could fix it. So I took it to the dealer to have them run a test as to why the "check engine light" came on. They did and they told me what it would take to fix that problem. In the process of fixing that problem, a screw from one of the "butterfly valves" came loose and fell inside the piston.
I was told that 4 of the 6 valves were loose and that this could have happend while I was driving, but thank God it didn't. I am told that if it had it would have locked up the motor while I was driving and of course that would have been very bad news.
They were able to get everything fixed and I now have my van back three weeks later, but no one is sure why my van wouldn't start before.
I believe God was looking out for me and causing me to have to take my van in to have this other part fixed, so that I would not have the major problems I could have had.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
If we go back one verse and read verse 10 we see that the plans God had for Israel would not be fulfilled for 70 years. Sometimes God takes us through a valley before bringing us up on the mountain top.
What is God doing in your life right now? Never forget that God's plans are always good!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Preparing For Revival
I believe God is ready to send revival, but are we ready to receive revival.
As I was preparing for my sermon this week I came across this article by Martin Dupree. In it he asks some thought provoking questions.
Click on the link below to read this article, and ask yourself, "Am I prepared for personal revival?"
http://www.digitaldevotion.org/Portals/65/Blog/Files/6/49/Preparing%20for%20Personal%20Revival.PDF
As I was preparing for my sermon this week I came across this article by Martin Dupree. In it he asks some thought provoking questions.
Click on the link below to read this article, and ask yourself, "Am I prepared for personal revival?"
http://www.digitaldevotion.org/Portals/65/Blog/Files/6/49/Preparing%20for%20Personal%20Revival.PDF
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Why Revival
Revival is defined as "The extraordinary movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of God's people, producing extraordinary results."
In Psalm 85, the psalmist cries out to God to bring revival. Do we long to experience a greater manifestation of God's presence in our lives? Do we desire to bring greater glory to God?
In Sunday's sermon we will answer the the question, "Why is revival so important?"
Thought for the week:
Jerimiah 29:13 says,"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me will all your heart"
Seek God with all your heart and allow His Spirit to fill you!
Hear Last Week's Sermon:
http://www.faithallianceofdurham.org/sermons/08-09-09.mp3
In Psalm 85, the psalmist cries out to God to bring revival. Do we long to experience a greater manifestation of God's presence in our lives? Do we desire to bring greater glory to God?
In Sunday's sermon we will answer the the question, "Why is revival so important?"
Thought for the week:
Jerimiah 29:13 says,"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me will all your heart"
Seek God with all your heart and allow His Spirit to fill you!
Hear Last Week's Sermon:
http://www.faithallianceofdurham.org/sermons/08-09-09.mp3
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