He Will Listen To You

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will search for Me with all your heart......

Written to a people in captivity.....

Far away from their homeland....
Under the rule of a foreign government...

All because of their rejection of God....

Given opportunity after opportunity to repent and turn back to God, they received the harvest of the rebellion they had planted. Yet even during this time of captivity, God continued to reach out to them, showing them that He had not forgotten or rejected them, even though they had rejected Him.

What does this have to do with today?
Well, it shows me that God is long suffering and patient with us, even when we run from Him. Even when we stand up and thumb our nose at Him, screaming "Leave me alone....I will run my own life...I don't need you."

Too bad that religion has given God such a bad name....
Selfish hearts hijack the things of God to use for their own desires.
Using God's name, people are manipulated and deceived into a form of godliness.

But a form that has no power....
A form that has lost the Cross of Christ and the redemption that comes through His blood.

But for all (especially me) there is that point where the weight and burden of a life lived outside of God's will, falls and crushes the individual.
A point where the reality of God stands over all the broken and dark concepts we thought were true about this God.

All that's left is to cry out to Him!

Cry out for His mercy!

Cry out for His forgiveness!

Cry out for His salvation to take away your sin!

And you know what?
He will listen to you.

You will find Him.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ......
They are a new creation...

Behold! the old things pass away...
The new has come.....

God on you...

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TODAY-----JUST TODAY

 

Matthew 6:35 (The Message Bible)
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 7:13-14
Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life----to God!----is vigorous and requires total attention.

I need to be with people who are intent on chasing after....following this God.
I need to live in the moment...........the here and now.
I need to be aware of right now.
I don't need to let my thoughts run to tomorrow and the day after...and the day after that...and next month...and next year. I have got to stay in the moment.
I don't need to let my mind set up shop in my past.
Drive down my tent pegs surrounded by the dusty, destruction that my choices  brought about.
I need to live in the here and now.

I need to celebrate today, while it is still today.
I need to drink up life today no matter what my situation is.
I need to find gratitude.
I need to turn my eyes, heart, soul, mind to Christ.
Such are the things that will empower me as I simply cooperate with The Holy Spirit at work in me.

This past week has been a week of talking to people who (for whatever reason) have gone back out into the old life. Situations grew too hard to face. Problems multiplied until they seemed insurmountable. Mountains that could not be climbed. The weird part in all of this, because these folks turned to their old ways...old habits....the problems only grew worse. "I think I'll get high!"...."I think I'll get drunk and forget about all of this!"...such actions only added to the problem. It did not make it go away, and it sure didn't help in dealing with whatever they were facing.

I did not have anyone I talked to say, "You know Mike, I think I'll get up and go to a meeting." Not one. If the old way was never the solution, why would you think it would be different now? Such is the deception and blindness that we are sucked into when we turn to "SELF" instead of Jesus. Some who read this may be thinking..."Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..you seem to think this Jesus is the answer to my using." Well.......duh-huh! He is. If you noticed, I didn't say that "church" was the answer. I never said that religion was the answer. The only answer to my life problems is Jesus and the incredible gift of life afforded to me through His death on a cross, and His resurrection from a tomb. This allows me to live in the moment, no matter what my lot or state may be. I want to close with some words of wisdom that were written by a pretty incredible man. His name? Paul.

"I've learned by now to be content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy (content) whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the ONE who makes me who I am."

Find HIM, Jesus, today...
Turn will and live over to His care today....
Live in the moment today....

God on you..
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HE CAME DOWN

 

"When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him."...Mt.8:1

Jesus, upon completing the Sermon on the Mount, came down off of the mountain.He left a place where the view was not bad. The wind was fresh and soothing. The crowds attentive and listening. He left that place.

He came down from the mountain to a place where sick people were. Maybe they couldn't make it up to where Jesus was. Maybe their illness prevented them from traveling. Were their needs any less than those of the multitude who had made the trek? I don't think so, and here is where I love the heart of Christ. He came down from the mountain to meet these others right where they were. He met the leper. Jesus encountered the Roman soldier, away from home in a land he probably didn't want to be in. Living among a people he did not understand, who had strange customs and ways. Yet this guardian of the Roman Empire sought out Jesus because of a servant lying ill at his home. Jesus came to these.

It is one thing to not want to follow Jesus up the mountain where he taught. It is entirely different when you can't follow. In these cases Jesus came down to them. Isn't that an incredible thought? That Jesus sought out the sick and afflicted. He searched for those who were demonized and ostracized from society. He brought healing to them. Does that mean I get to simply sit and wait for Jesus to come to me? Heavens no! We move in the strength we have. Like the leper, we too must go and meet Jesus and be completely honest in what we desire for him to do. I think sometimes I try to play games with Jesus in an effort to get him to do what I want. It's almost like a religious "twenty questions." When I should be stating the obvious....Gee! I have leprosy...what do I want? TO HE HEALED!!!!!" Believing in faith that Jesus will reach out and heal me.
Cool beans....
until tomorrow.
God on you....
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IN THE DEEP END OF THE POOL

 

Psalm 139:7:10
I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Always there.....
Always pursuing....
Always loving......
Yet we don't understand that this is God's nature and character.
We sometimes see Him as a terrible ogre, carrying a fist full of lightning bolts to hurl at us when we've been bad.
Or maybe we view God as some doddering old fool, sitting on a huge rock throne up in heaven too bored to care about what goes on in this world. Oh He created it,but He views it as a kind of toy you wind up and leave to run down.
Truth is....
God is always around us.
We are immersed in Him....
We are at the bottom of a pool that has been filled with God's presence.

Take into account our sin....
Our sin nature....
The influence that the devil has in our society...
And our gullibility to swallow his line....
And we've got a pretty skewered view of who God is and what He wants to accomplish in our life.
God is love...
Sin tells me that God is angry and on a tear. He's out to get me. Well, there is some truth to that statement. God is out to get me....get me out of the mess I've created. Get me out of hell, which is my destiny if I don't change.

God is salvation....
Sin tells me that I don't need to be saved. After all, I don't want to turn out like all those other so called "Christians" I see. The root word to salvation is "salvage". To salvage something is to reclaim it and restore it to it's original state. You see, sin is not my original state, or the way God created me to live. God, through the conviction of His Holy Spirit, salvages me off the humanity garbage heap. He cleans me out.....cleans me up and causes my real value to be seen by others. I need to be salvaged!

God is freedom....
Sin tells me that I am the captain of my own ship (Never mind that I've run it aground).
Sin lies to us with the false notion that we are free. In reality we've become slaves to a dark master whose only desire is to see us destroyed, along with everyone else around us. God wants to bring us into the light of real freedom. Freedom isn't me getting to do what I want to do......real freedom is me doing what I ought to do.

God is healing....
Sin tells me to take one more hit....one more line.....fire the pipe up once more...this is all the medicine I need. here again, we've bought into a lie. Our DOC doesn't heal us, or comfort us...it merely clouds our minds so that we fall under the spell of a false reality. One that whispers to us with sweet promises, but only delivers death and misery.

God is mercy....
Sin tells me that it's a dog eat dog world and I can't show mercy to anyone, or receive it from anyone. Really? Then why is it when we get caught, the very first thing we ask for is mercy?
Maybe our need for such is an inborn trait given to us by God. One that can only find deep, true satisfaction when we receive God's mercy.

God is everywhere.
God is calling us...
Why not answer it today?

God on you....
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THE ULTIMATE JOURNEY

To begin a journey with Christ is a mixture of death and life. Such seems to be in contrast to one another. How could these two ever be friends...death and life? Yet this is the heart of surrender to the call of Christ to find life.........real life........abundant life.

We lose our lives....but gain Him.

We die to self and sin....but we are filled with His presence and His power.

We are resurrected, in a sense, to see and interact with this fallen world in a way we never could have ever imagined.

And the beginning, which Christ walked out, took place in a garden one dark night. A night so dark that even the light of the moon could not penetrate. A night so heavy with knowledge of what the coming day held, that Christ whispered these words....."Not my will, but Your's Father".

Should that not be the words that stay on our lips?

Should these words not fill every part of our being?
I say yes....

God on you

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IT'S A "THANK YOU" KIND OF MONDAY

 

I Thessalonians 5:18/ In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Sitting here this morning looking at the verse....I understand the "give thanks" part. No problem there. It is the whole "do this because it is God's will" that I'm trying to wrap my head around. Top it all off with the thought that this is to be my attitude and behavior all the time. 

Funny how it doesn't even mention "feelings" or "emotions". Many are driven by such, and allow their choices to be colored by feelings and emotions. Maybe God is telling us to lift our vision and understanding up a bit. To take our eyes off whatever we may be faced with, and put them squarely on Him. That the will of God has a deeper purpose than what I think it does. It is so much more than me being obedient. it goes to the heart of denying self and embracing where God has me at this moment.

Every day is not going to be sunshine, puppy dogs, and ice creme parties. Some day's are going to be dark and overwhelming at times. When life seems to smother you and suck the very breath from your lungs. You may be thinking, "O.k....I've had a few of those, but what do I have to be thankful for in these kind of times?" 

How about the hope that every believer is called to. A hope that says no matter what, we have a place with God....a home, if you will. A home and place unlike anything you could find here in this old world. 

How about being thankful that you have the Holy Spirit living inside you.....not just any spirit, but God's very own Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in every believer. As such, God has given us a helper that will (as the Scripture tells us) guide us into all truth.

How about being thankful for the family of believers that God has united you with. Those true friends who will pray for you and lift you up before God, knowing that you would do the same for them. 

I could go on and on with this "thank you" list. Just know that we serve a God who is greater than any situation or circumstance we face today. So.........give a big shout out to Him with a "THANK YOU LORD!!"

God on you....

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TIME TO LEAVE THE NURSERY AND GO TO BIG CHURCH

 

Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Growing in Christ....
Growing as an individual...
Growing as part of a community of others who are believers.
Growing doesn't isn't always translated as numbers or size....
In this case, growing is best seen in the change of character a person has as God 's Holy Spirit is at work in their life.

Do others we come in contact with see Jesus in us.
Do we talk like Him?
Do we conduct our business like Him?

Do we look more like Jesus? Not so much physically but rather spiritually.

All the more reason that we need to take an inventory of "the inner person" we are, and ask ourselves some pretty hard questions.
"Am I more aware of who I am and all the things that God is wanting to change in me?"
"Am I  learning patience...and admitting that this is something I am not good at?"
"I'm painfully aware that God is calling me to love those I don't really want to love, But I really struggle with this."
Bottom line is that our struggle comes from the need to let God change our defects of character but growing the fruit of His Holy Spirit in us.
The need for character to be changed is the heart of recovery.

So Step Six - "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character" - is stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was. A few of them may be, but with most of them we shall have to be content with patient improvement. The words "entirely ready" underline the fact that we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn. ( Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 65 )

In other words, I want to put myself, along with all my character mess, at the disposal of God so He can work in me. To bring about the needed change for life to continue and grow in Him, without me turning to the things of this world for comfort or a false reality.

The church loves to talk about salvation. Loves to talk about the mercy of God. Loves to expound on God's grace. But when it comes to our lives and our nature, or character, you will hear very little mentioned about God desiring us to go through a change needed to move forward in our recovery. Yet, I think this is the heart of the gospel of Christ.

The book of Hebrews speaks of spiritual immaturity:Chapter 5:12-14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principals of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food (spiritually speaking). For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use (or practice) have their senses exercised to discern both good and bad.

This is the heart of why we gather on Saturday nights. The very idea that God is calling us to grow up before we grow older. To exercise that which has been given freely to us by God in the understanding that we are to take our message to others who are suffering. To bring in the Kingdom of God.

God on you....

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I WAS BORN TO BE A SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (rational) service.

I love this picture...."Get back on the altar".
We are terrible at climbing down off the altar before God completes His work in us. We grow restless. We grow impatient. We forget who really is in control here. After all, Jesus didn't say, "I'll follow you." Did he? No. We are called to follow Him. But our old nature, from time to time, wants to raise its ugly head as if to say, "I'll take it from here God....you go take care of all that mess in the middle East"

In Jerusalem, when an animal was taken to the Temple to be sacrificed, that animal was a means of reaching God. The very aroma of that animal, as it was burned, became a sweet smelling savor to God. It wasn't the act of slaying that animal that brought God's favor, but rather the heart, intent and motive of the one who sacrificed.

The one thing about being a member of the Vineyard that has captured my heart has been the love of worship that is found among the people who are a part of my family. The love of literally climbing up to lay on that altar and give ourselves to God as worship. To honor Him...not for what He has done, but for who He is. To ascribe majesty and glory to Him for His character and nature. For it is from these things, character and nature, that real love was birthed. It was from this love that God chose to leave heaven and come down here to our world. It was from this love that Jesus saw His mission to completion. You see, Jesus climbed up on that altar. He gave Himself once and for all to break the power of sin. He became sin to break the penalty of sin. And He rose from the bonds of death to destroy the presence of sin. And He did if for me....a sinner. One who was hopelessly lost and without power to save myself. He died for me. Jesus is the ultimate living sacrifice. 

The altar is not something we go to every Sunday or Wednesday to climb upon so we can become that "living sacrifice" Paul wrote about in Romans 12. The altar is daily before us. It is there in the morning when we first wake up. It is in our workplace and school. The altar is at the grocery store and the Doctor's office. We can't run from it, nor should we wish to. Our lives and what other's see in us, as believers, is defined by our worship. If my life is truly His, then everything I do and say becomes worship unto Him. We can't escape the fact that we are called to live a life of worship to Him in front of the world. 

Matthew 5:16 reads Let your light so shine (or shine in such a way) before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. The daily realization that we become worship unto God, illuminates us with His light. This enables others around us to be touched and awakened from their own spiritual slumber so that they see our good works. See that there is something different about the way we live and do business with the world. Scripture doesn't say, "By their religious tracts you shall know them." It says we are defined and known by our love for God.

I think I'll just stay here on this altar. I feel like praising God some more.
God on you....
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WHEN EVERYTHING BECOMES CLEAR

 

There is a moment that must come to each of us.
It will come at different times and in different places.
It could happen in the middle of New York City...
Or out in the woods by yourself.
it might reveal itself in the blazing light of a noon day sun, orcome to you upon the soft glow of a full moon.

it might fall upon you like lightning bolt or light upon you like a gentle breeze, but the impact is life changing. it is more than a mental thought and is more than a feeling. I hear some people lay claim to this, but their lives show no evidence of it.

"What?" you may be asking.
That incredible moment when everything clears away. Your thoughts cease to ramble and fill your mine and you are left with the unmistakable truth that God is real and you are in need of being saved. I don't believe such moments come by any other way than God's Holy Spirit communicating. It isn't that such communication has labeled you "a sinner".....You just know you are. Because of this sin that drives us, you realize that you are standing outside every thing God stands for.  You are fully aware that you are outside of His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His love. The only thing that connects you to God is His judgment, and you stand condemned through your own actions and rebellious thoughts.  I know that even as I type this, there will be some who will say, "But I'm not a bad person. I've never killed anyone. I haven't even taken drugs or gotten drunk." While this is true, we need to see that we are born into this world with a nature that seeks to rebel against God.Having such a nature doesn't mean we run around screaming Anarchist slogans, thrusting our hands into the air screaming, "Power to the people." We are born with a terrible drive to be independent. This independence seeks to be in control of our lives to the point that we have no need for God. (Until the wheels come off and then we run screaming to Him.)

Living in this state of so-called independence, we are influenced by the ways and customs of our society (which is being directed by the god of this world, Satan). Some people are able to retain a semblance of "right-ness," while others sink lower into the darkness of life outside of God. We find ourselves using drugs and alcohol to alter our perception and to help us to deal with problems and circumstances. The only thing is, we are living a lie. Drugs and alcohol help us to cope with nothing. They only give the illusion that we can escape. The more we use, the more under the control of Satan we place ourselves. We begin to lie. We start to cheat those we love. We use others to get what we want and need. Thus begins the spiral downward that will end in death and destruction. That is why the 12 Steps say that we need a POWER greater than ourselves who can restore us to sanity. In my life, such a Power has a name, and that name is Jesus.

Sin builds a house of cards that eventually will fall.
Salvation is founded upon a rock of stability, Jesus.}
Sin requires you to turn your back and allegiance to God and give your life for the kingdom of darkness.
Salvation is a free gift from God. You don't have to surrender or give up....but you will find that you want to. You will find that turning your will in the direction of God to receive from Him will be the lifeline that will draw you out of this pit of despair.
Sin seeks to remain hidden and desires that you live in secrecy.
Salvation empowers you to be open and transparent, living life in a new way.

Psalm 32:1-2 and 6-7
Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.
Whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the flood waters of judgment. For you are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

Thank God for moments where clarity rules our hearts and our minds.
That moment where You stand, O God, ready to save those who cry out to you.
Save them with an eternal salvation that cannot be destroyed or stolen by anyone or anything.
I can rest in the truth of such knowledge no matter what this day may bring to me.
Can you?

God on you....
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WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

 

I know that times are dark and full of uncertainty. I also know that such breeds seeds of fear and doubt.......of anxiety and it seems as though the very ground you stand on will not hold you. So what are we to do when these things seem to come at us like an unholy tsunami? 

What do we do when it seems as though your job, your very lively hood and means to support a family, is in jeopardy? Where do we turn? Who do we look to? This is not going to be a lengthy posting this morning, but I do want to go to the Word of God for our answer.

Psalm 20

V.1- May the Lord answer you when you are in distress, may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

V.2- May He send you help from the sanctuary, and grant you SUPPORT from Zion.

V.3- May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.

V.4 - May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans succeed

V.5- May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

V.6- Now I know this: THE LORD GIVES VICTORY TO HIS ANOINTED. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary, with the victorious power of His right hand.

The entire passage I've written comes down to these next verses, and asks a very simple question. "Who Are You Looking To?"

V.7- Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord Our God.

V.8- They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

V.9- Lord, give victory.........Answer us when we call!

So today, don't let the voices that are filling your mind and heart draw you away from the truth.With every ounce of energy and strength you have, set your heart and mind like flint and cry out to God..."I WILL TRUST YOU!"  No matter what your situation may look like....no matter what your circumstances are....stand firm in Christ this day.

Know that God truly does love you, and so do I

God on you.....

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DIVINE WORK OUT-----DIVINE WORK IN

Philippians 2:12-13
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

In the KJV version of Scripture, Paul writes that we are to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling." Been a lot of discussion over that little term "work out our salvation".  Lot of disputes over what Paul really meant by that phrase. Some camps fall under the flag of "I'm saved by grace, I don't need to do anything." Other camps come down hard on the side of "Doing for Christ is the evidence of your salvation".  I kind of find myself in the middle of the whole shebang. I think maybe the word in question, in my mind, is the word "doing".

Doing, to me, implies effort on our part.
Doing implies carrying out a deed or command that had been given to us.
I've said this before, on several occasions......
"We are called human beings..."
"Not human doings."
There is a work that takes place in us when we come to Christ.
The verse in Philippians tells us plainly that God is "Working in each of us".
The Holy Spirit is changing not only our hearts and affections, but also our character. As these changes take place, I find myself wanting to "do"...not doing because I think I'm earning something. 

I truly am a work in progress. Evidence of such a work is seen through my actions and behaviors. I find that I have a hunger to not just read scripture, but to study it. I am aware that I want to talk to my heavenly Father. I don't go to church because I have to...or it is expected of me....
I go to church because I want to!
I love hanging out with God's people that He has placed around me, and has placed me with.

I love praying for others, watching as God comes over them and heals and restores them to a new place in their life. I do such because I want to, not because I have to, thinking I'm earning some kind of celestial points that can be redeemed at my arrival in heaven. 

The last part of the Philippians passage is the kicker for me.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."  How cool is that? God not only gives us the "Want to" but also the "Can do" when we are saved. In other words I am empowered by the Grace of God to carry out His mission here on earth.  

Grace: The empowering presence of God in my life to be who He has created me to be, and to do what He has called me to do." That pretty much sums up Philippians 2:12-13.
You don't have to be churchy...
or religious...
You don't have to be a Bible scholar/theologian.
You just have to fall in love with Jesus.
A love that grows to the point that you don't want or desire anything from your old life..your old way of thinking and doing. You only want what Jesus wants for you.

So let's not complicate this thing. It must work since this Philippians passage is applied to every culture and country. To every ethnic group on the face of this planet.....all have been called into a divine co-op with God's Holy Spirit, and our job is to "Become" the person that pleases God.
How cool is that?

Now, I have a real problem with this whole working out your salvation thing....
Either it's true...
or it is isn't.
Either it's real...
or we've been lied to.
I just happen to fall on the side that we can take the truth to the bank. God spoke it...Paul wrote it....I read it. End of story.
Now  I must be about the business of letting God work in me.
What about you?

God on you....

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Our Church.

Philippians 2:1

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy...
Fulfill my joy be being like minded having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Thinking this morning or how blessed I am.....

That I don't have to go at life alone....

And that our meeting on Saturday night is a group of people bound by the Holy Spirit of God. If you were to take the Holy Spirit out of us, we would not have anything in common. That being the case, we would definitely not hang out together. But isn't that the most amazing part of a relationship with Jesus? He puts this love in your heart that goes beyond self-interest. Goes beyond culture. The common bond among us is that we all have been ransomed from our sin debt by the blood of Jesus. We all have this shared experience of salvation.

Now even though we are bound by this salvation, God continues to grow us, stretch us, and lead us as individuals, and as a corporate group. We take on a common vision of what God wants of us, and we move forward to fulfill His Kingdom plans.

Saturday night would not be possible if not for the people God has brought together....

Anthony, Chris, Mark, Mike....faithful as all get out to be there every Saturday. Not just to be there, but to welcome first-timers. Your actions and love that is demonstrated to others puts people at ease. From that place, the word of God can find a place to grow in those who are with us for the first time. Your love and gratitude for what Jesus has done in your lives is very evident in your giving it away to those who come through out doors on Saturday night.

Jeremiah, Carrie and Neema Smith.....Your family brings joy and strength to us, as you worship, pray over the meetings. I know it has been hard for you to be away, but even in your absence, I feel your prayers over Saturday night.

Deb and Barry Hooks....Barry, being part of the worship team, adds such a layer to our music. Barry and I have been playing together for 14 years. His heart and love for God is without question. Deb....the ultimate host. Always moving around greeting and talking with people. Making sure that everyone has what they need.

These two, Barry and Deb, are also intercessors...taking prayers for others to God.

Lanny and Debbie Handy.....Lanny is the rock of Saturday night. If ever there was strength that fills a room just by their presence...it is Lanny Handy. He speaks the truth in love. A man of character and integrity. He has fought his battles over the years, and here he is...still standing...still chasing God. Debbie is our resident Worship Leader. She is the one who gave me a place, and guided me in learning how to lead. She has done this to countless others (including my son Chad). To me the thing that defines her as a worshiper, is that it doesn't matter the state of her heart or life, she is going to worship from the place she is currently in. Sometimes that is a joyful place....sometimes a hard place. But she goes before God, and takes us with her.

Wayne Wimpee....Wayne and I have known each other for (WAIT FOR IT)...52 years. We've made a lot of music..some good...some not so good. But like Debbie, he has a heart for worship. Wayne also has a prophetic gift to see and hear what is going on in our meetings. Wayne has a passion for all things Jesus. Not to just collect facts and information about Scripture, but to live it, to read it, to share it.

Todd, LeNola, Cole and Levi Bagley....passionate family who have found a place on Saturday nights. God has also led them to start a 4'o Clock Service on Sunday afternoons @ Gadsden Vineyard Church. Todd and LeNola are both passionate about the Word and Worship. Their sons are growing up under this influence, and you can see glimpses of what is going to be a part of their future lives as adults.

Vicki Bynum....my wife, my counselor, my better half. She is the truest worshiper I know. She will tell you that she doesn't have a very good voice, and I would disagree with that. When she moves to the back of the room to worship, she truly gets lost in Christ. In her words, "When the music starts, and the words start, everything and everyone in the room disappears......all that left is Jesus and me."

I love this woman.

Well there is the whole she-bang! 

The ReCovery Church on Broad Street.

Funny part is......

There is room for a more folks to come and grow with us...

We'd love to see you....

And by the way....all these people I have written about this morning....

They make me a better man...

The encourage me to not give up or quit...

I love you guys

God on you...

mbb

IT IS A BLOODY GOSPEL

 

Hebrews 9:22
.......And without the shedding of blood there is neither release from sin and its guilt nor the remission of the due and merited punishment for sins.

What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Not the blood of animals taken to a temple to pay my debt. But the pure, sinless blood of Almighty God Himself, walking on this planet as one of us. People don't want to believe this. People want the easier, softer way to live this life and the next. But the truth stands above every human wish and desire to change the power and healing capabilities of the blood of Christ.

What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Complete, put together, functioning in the way I was created to. That is the power of the blood of Christ. Psychology can't bring wholeness to me. Medicine can put me back together. Religion can't lift me into the presence of God. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh precious is that flow, that makes me white as snow.
We have got to return to the place where we recognize the value of the blood of Jesus. Freely poured out on a hill outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
A hillside that had known rivers of blood. Many man had walked through the gates of that town, cross strapped to their backs. Many a man had felt the whip of Rome and had taken that journey to Calvary. But only one man carried within Himself the healing for the world. What can stand to challenge the death and resurrection of this man? Nothing and no one. 

No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
There isn't any other source of life. All others pale in comparison. They boast of their capabilities, but their words are empty promises. Trash and litter blown by the wind around the feet of the masses. But the blood and word of Christ delivers every time. 

It is not in vogue to speak of the blood of Christ. It offends people, so we shouldn't make them uncomfortable. Such is the mindset of some who claim to be a part of His body...His church. We need to be offended. We don't need the soft words of a bloodless Christianity. It only feeds our flesh and whisks us away on flowery ideology all the way to hell. I go back to the line from the hymn, "Oh precious is that flow".....the unsurpassed worth and value of that which was shed on my behalf so that I would not be separated from God. Such things as this are beyond my comprehension, but I find a thankfulness that cannot be put into words, for what God has done for humanity.

Thanks for letting me ramble this morning....
Been on my mind...
Been in my heart....

God on you...

mbb