HEAR YE----HEAR YE----HEAR YE!!

 

The ReCovery church on Broad Street is proud to announce that beginning in April we will be serving breakfast @ the church for those in need of a meal.

We will be serving every 2nd and 4th Saturday's from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Our schedule is going to be a little strange, so here goes explaining it.

   #1 - On the Saturday's we do serve breakfast, we will not be having our Saturday night meeting. So on 2nd and 4th Saturday, Breakfast / no night time service.

   #2 - On the Saturday's we aren't serving breakfast, we will have our usual Saturday night meeting @ 7 p.m. 

Hope I didn't muddy the waters with that one.

Breakfast will be served on April 10th and April 24th. 

Also, during this time (April)  we are going to take time off from live streaming our meetings on Saturday night. Be in prayer for us as we move out into the place we believe God is calling us to occupy.

I will be sharing more about what's behind this new venture for us in the coming days. We do ask that you pray for us, that we truly may be His servants in feeding those in need of a meal.

God on you...

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LET HIS PEACE RULE IN YOUR HEART

 I've been in Habakkuk, reading and studying. More reading than studying.Lots of prophetic Scripture about God revealing his plans for the future of Jerusalem.It's hard for me to read about God warning the people time and time again. He sent prophets to speak his word. He sent signs to awaken the people and yet they still held onto their sin. Their disobedience multiplied by their rejecting God and turning to idols and other forms of worship.

Poor ol' Habakkuk is stuck in the middle of this mess. Do you ever wonder whether or not he was tempted to join the crowd? Chapter one begins with Habakkuk asking God a question. Well, it more of Habakkuk crying out to God out of frustration and anger.
"HOW LONG! How long O Lord must I call for help? But you do not listen! Violence! I cry, but you do not come to save." Isn't that part of our problem? We look around at the state of our country, at the state of the world and cry out to God...."What's up with all of this? The bad guys are winning. Hey God! What about us? What about those of us who have chosen to be on your side?"

I think I have to remember that God is still in control of everything even when it looks like he isn't. If you read on in Chapter one at verse 5 God answers Habakkuk's cry.
The Lord replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it."

God tells Habakkuk, quit whining and crying (even though Habakkuk probably had reason to) and realize that a greater work is taking place. God goes on to say that you might not be able to see or discern it at this moment, but keep watching and you will see what I am doing.
I find comfort in that passage.
To know that no matter what is going on in my part of the world, God already knows. God is working a plan that I probably can't see. I think this part falls under faith and trust. My faith to trust God that he knows best and that no matter what happens, he isn't caught off guard. No matter what happens, he still is at work to bring his Kingdom in.

In Chapter two there is an interesting verse where God continues his dialog with Habakkuk.
Verse 3, God says, "But these things I plan won't happen right way. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Be careful what you take into yourself.
Be careful what you watch and listen to.
The news on TV and the Internet is full of fear right now. Don't let that become a part of you.
Fear leads to anxiousness.
Anxiousness leads to doubt.
Doubt leads to making bad decisions.
Why?
Because you are fearful.
Time and time again in Scripture when God would speak to someone or someone would receive an angelic visitation, the first thing spoken was usually "FEAR NOT!"
Find the peace of God for your heart today.
Then walk in it.
Don't let the world or its message rob you of it and know that God's plans are being worked out around you in you this day.
Think on these things.

God on you.......
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WALKING LIKE BAMBI

 

The days are full of stress. Time is spent in trying to figure out how to simply navigate what life throws at you. Job.....family....church....and on and on. You look around, and with tired eyes you see people that look like they have their lives all together while your's seems to be ripping apart at the seams.
Maybe today's posting is for you.

Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.

How incredible is that verse? First off there is the recognition of the source of power/strength needed to function. The Lord God IS (current...today..right now) my strength. He has filled me with His Holy Spirit. Never doubt that the Holy Spirit can and will guide you through whatever life tries to drown you with.

God give me the ability to rise above the daily grind. The ability to seek Him first in everything. There is a saying in A.A. that has stuck with me...."God does for me what I could not do for myself." The Habakkuk verse says that God has made my feet like the feet of a mountain deer. I can navigate the high places. I can walk in places that I never could in my own strength and ability.

Lastly...."He makes me walk in high places"... All part of the "Follow Me" call Jesus extends to us. Jesus lifts us up. Life w/ Christ is always an upward movement.

I find that God leads me to this Habakkuk passage periodically to remember that in the darkest of times, He is there to show us the way. Sometime the way out of what we're facing...Sometimes the way through what we're facing. Never doubt the Lord's ability.

God on you.

THE QUESTION REVEALS THE HEART

MALACHI 1:2......."But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'"

Last book of the Old Testament...

Society had devolved to the point that the things of God (sacrifices and other rituals) had become pointless. The people continued to carry them out, but their hearts were far removed from loving God.

In the opening verse God tells them..."I have loved you!"...

The people's reply? When and how have you loved us.

The problem isn't God..

It's the people. They have become so far removed from God, they cannot even recognize His love for them.

I believe that there are a lot of folk's going to meetings, thinking that their presence filling up a seat is all that is required of them.

They go through the motions, but their hearts loved another rather than God. Basically giving a head nod to God's existence, but choosing to follow their own desires and wants. Not a good combination.

I guess the one thing I find so sad, is that these people did not recognize not only that God loved them, but the extent He had gone to demonstrate His love to them. They were so consumed with their own lives that there wasn't any room for God in any part. They had forgotten where they had come from, and who it was that had led them to where they were when Malachi was written. As the big book of A.A. states...(Paraphrase)."we do not wish to close the door on our past, nor do we wish to live there."

Don't let this be the rule in your own heart.

Take a heart check up today and ask yourself..."Do I truly love God? Do I see His love in every area of my own life? Am I merely playing the religious game?"

If there are areas where you have pushed God to the side, then confess them, turn from them and ask Him to show you how to truly love. Food for thought here on this Wednesday morning.

God on you...

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Boring.....Tedious....Step By Step

Numbers 3:36-37

Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the Tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment and the service concerning them, and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords.

Sometimes this new life of recovery is simply us doing the every day things.
But doing them correctly and with the proper attitude.
What attitude?
Why an attitude of gratitude of course.
Just like the men and families that God appointed to carry the tabernacle (the tent and Ark of the Covenant) during their wilderness wanderings, it wasn't all glamour and 10 Commandment moments. A lot of the time it was simply doing the right thing, over and over and over. Set the tabernacle up.........make sure everything is in place according to God's design.....do the daily, monthly and yearly sacrifices according to instructions....take the whole she-bang down, pack it up and move to the next location. It would be really easy to slide over into a place of apathy or even resentment. Thinking to yourself, "Hey...look at the family Jones! They don't have to carry any of this tabernacle stuff! Why don't they have to? Why am I stuck with carrying the tent pegs while others get to carry the Ark? Why don't I get to carry the Ark? I'm as good as they are.

We need to guard ourselves and be grateful and content with what God has given us and the place he has given us to occupy. It is there in the place of his calling that we will receive his blessing and favor if we are faithful. It's more than simply doing what God has called us to do, it also involves the motive and attitude we carry as we do the job.

The apostle Paul writes: Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
What was Paul's secret?
That God can be trusted.
Knowing that there is purpose behind where ever we have been lead to be.
If God called us to carry the tent pegs of the tabernacle, why then we should be the happiest, most content tent-peg-carrying people that ever existed.
No matter what is going on in your life today, fall on the fact and comfort that God can be trusted and that your circumstance has not caught him off guard.

This relationship we now live with Jesus Christ is built on faith, his grace to us and trust.
Did you see how Paul's situations were always changing? Prosperity...or want....full stomach or going hungry...abundance or suffering...no matter what, Paul's faith in God did not waver. This is the kind of life I desire to have. How about you?

God on you......
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THE ONE

 

Really good service Saturday night at ReCovery Church. Didn't know until after the meeting that the evening had been for one individual. One person who was struggling, and had come to be with us because another had invited them.

They had relapsed and was weighed down by shame and guilt. Afterwards this person spoke to me about how she needed to hear the message that was taught, and to simply be with others who would understand what they were going through.

Got a chance to pray for this person, asking God to release her from the toxic emotions that were stealing her joy. Confession and repentance followed and they left in a much better state than when they arrived...

Never forget that sometimes our services and meetings are for the "ONE" who is searching.

Sometimes we get so caught up in numbers and statistics to validate our church's worth that we loose sight of what is truly important. Did we do the Kingdom work God has called us to? I do not know if we will ever see this person who came Saturday night again or not. But I do trust the simple fact that they received what they needed to move forward with their life. We may never know what impact God had on them, that turned their focus outward so they could reach out to another who might going through the same thing they were experiencing.

Never, never, never, never discount THE ONE that God brought to you or your meeting. Don't be drawn into a numbers game thinking that gives up some sort of divine credentials that you can nail to the wall to show your importance. I guess one thing that stays in the front of my mind and heart at all times is the simple fact that this is Jesus' church. He said He would build it, so maybe I just need to stay out of the way and let Him.

God on you....

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DOING COME FROM "BEING"

 

Isaiah 35:3-6
Strengthen the feeble hands. Steady the weak knees. Say to the fearful of heart, "God will come......He will come to save you.  Open the eyes of the blind. Unstop the ears of the deaf. Cause the lame to leap like a dear. Cause the tongue of the mute to be shout for joy.

Isaiah 61:1-3
Preach the good news to the poor. Bind up the broken-hearted. Bring freedom to the captives. Release the prisoners from darkness. Proclaim this time as God's mercy and favor. Proclaim this time as God's vengeance on and defeat of evil. Comfort all who mourn.

Ezekiel 34:1-4, 11-12
Care for the sheep (the shepherds cared only for themselves) Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Strengthen the weak. Heal the sick. Bind up the injured. Bring back the stray (Backsliders) Search for the lost.

Luke 4:18 (this is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61 - the 'mandate of Messiah')
Preach good news to the poor. Bind up the broken-hearted. proclaim freedom for the prisoners. Bring recovery of sight to the blind. Release the oppressed. Proclaim the year of God's favor.

Matthew 25:35-40
Feed the hungry with food. Give the thirsty something to drink. Invite the strangers in. Clothe the naked. Look after the sick. Visit the prisoners.

The Great Commission Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20 - Mark 16:15-21
Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21, Acts 1:8
G0 - as the Father sent Jesus, even so He has sent you.

PREACH - or proclaim this message of freedom to all creation.

MAKE- disciples of all nations.

BAPTIZE - them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

TEACHING -them to obey all that Jesus commanded.

BE WITNESSES- of Jesus. Where you currently live and then progressively farther out.

DRIVE OUT DEMONS-

SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES-

IF YOU PICK UP SNAKES OR DRINK ANY POISONOUS THING IT WILL NOT HURT YOU.

LAY HANDS - on the sick and they will be healed.

Quite a list isn't it? Does this leave you inspired to pursue the Kingdom of God? Or does it leave you kind of over whelmed? The central thought or idea in these verses is that God truly did so love the world And in this love He has poured out on us, is a call for the Church (People) to remember it's has been birthed to be God's arms, legs, hands, and voice to those who don't yet know Him or have relationship with Him.  God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so God gives His Church to world in love.

We should always remember that the "DOING", stirred by compassion, flows out of "BEING" (our worship and seeking God). It all rests on faith in God that He is who He claims to be and will do what He claims He will do. Faith.....not performance, and a long lists of things to do.

(This Scripture and concept of today's posting come from John Wimber's DOING CHURCH)
God on you...
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HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER WITH RUBBER BANDS

 

Isaiah 5:11-12
Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink. Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts. But they do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation of His hands.

I love the picture above for this mornings posting. It's a symbol of how we try to fix our own lives. We are a broken mess, yet we keep trying to hold the pieces all together. We keep running around in our own strength, applying one more rubber band to the teapot to keep it intact. Never mind that the teapot can no longer hold water for the tea. Never mind that it's a mere "form" of what it was originally created to look like. In our minds, we think that if we can put enough rubber bands on it, no one will notice. We are in need of being healed from our rubber band addiction.

If you have followed this blog for any length of time, then you may have noticed that over the past few months, my postings have been filled with references of revival/ renewal. What do I mean by these words, revival/renewal? I mean a visitation of God's Spirit in our meetings and, more importantly, in our lives.

You may be asking, "Isn't God in every meeting?" To some degree the answer would be yes. But if you look at church history, there were seasons and times where the presence of God seem to be kicked up a notch. The word that was taught seemed to have a greater effect upon all the people. There seemed to be a greater validation of the Word of God through power encounters the people experienced. Some might say that I'm chasing after a feeling or a blessing. That I want God to come and do some "tricks" for us so that people will believe in Him. The answer to such is emphatically "NO!" I am hungry for nothing more than the presence of God.

Church is not going to save us. Sitting in a meeting makes you no more spiritual that sitting in McDonald's makes you a hamburger. We need to be touched and awakened to the reality of who God is and what He desires of us.

In the case of the ReCovery Church on Broad Street, we are a community of believers who understand the death and destruction of addiction. We know all to well what happens if we play at the church thing. People die. More than that, people die in their sin without ever knowing the truth of Jesus and the life He offered to save them out of their darkness. But at this point in time, I have been experiencing an urgency in praying for a visitation by God. I do so knowing full well that such a visitation begins with me. It begins in my own personal life.

I fear that the church has done a huge wrong to people by preaching that "all you need to do is come and be saved." Be saved and attend church and all is well. Maybe throw in some time working in the nursery, singing in the choir, or serving as an usher....but don't worry, you're saved".  What happened to growing in character? What happened to being led by the Spirit? What happened to having a hunger for the presence of God that extends beyond 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday's? Please, don't get me wrong..I'm grateful for everyone who attends church, but there is so much more God wants to do for you than to mark a check off by your name because you sat in a pew for a few hours. We all need an awakening.

Revival/renewal is a time where God will uncover us all. I usually refer to it as a time when God will come into your bedroom and empty out your underwear drawer. By that, I mean that He wants to uncover attitudes, thoughts, behaviors and mindsets that we have allowed into our lives that govern us in spite of the leading of God's Holy Spirit. Bitterness.....jealousy......anger....unforgiveness.....pride.....and the list goes on and on. Do you really thing that God is pleased when we harbor such in our hearts? What about the sexual sin? Oh yeah, the church is eat up with this one. Men secretly harboring porn.......adultery.....men and women having relations outside the covering of marriage. 

Maybe we need to be born again/again! You know the most wonderful part of God coming in Renewal/ Revival? He does so because of the love He has for His creation. It pains Him to see us embrace addiction and the darkness that comes from being separated from Him. Such a time as a visitation from Him, opens our eyes and hearts to the true state we are living in. It awakens us to the truth of how much we need Him. And it turns our attention to the promise that is offered to all.....eternal life in relationship with Him.

If anything I have written this morning stirs your heart....
Then please, join me in praying for a fresh visitation by God.
Pray for Revival/ Renewal....
And be willing to say, "Let it begin with me."

God on you...
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THOUGHTS FROM THE PAST

 From my journal dated Feb. 8, 2006 (Wednesday)

Sometimes I think we spend vast amounts of energy, time and money running around trying to define who God is. This effort is would be the same as trying to explain what water feels like, or what chocolate taste like. God isn't to be defined but lived. We have been called into relationship  with Him, and relationship is to be experienced not studied. It is a hands on, we get dirty, we have doubts-follow Jesus existence. The relationship that has been given to us through our salvation does not rise or fall on the conditions or events that come from the world. We simply trust God at every turn, at every set back--How could we do anything less?
Acts 1:8 -- But you shall receive power of the kind which God has and exerts after the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

The Holy Spirit is not sent to comfort or prosper anyone who has no intention of actively embracing and walking out this life that comes with salvation. We become the extension of the mission of Jesus when He walked the earth. To make disciples. To teach, equip and send out.
We are not called to mass production but rather, work in the area of craftsmanship. Hands on as the Holy Spirit guides us.
God defines us.
We live it.

God on you.........
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DIVINE GLUE ---HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER

 

Faith is a strange word, isn't it? Ten people can look at the word and all ten will probably have a different view of what it really is, and how it is played out in their own lives.

Going back to the Message Bible, I read Hebrews 11:1 this morning. This version of Scripture has one of the best definitions of "faith" I have ever read. "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors; set them above the crowd."

I love this! Faith is THE (not "a) fundamental fact (not opinion) of existence is that our trust (reliance) in God is a foundation (something that is not movable or cannot be shaken by outside influence) .....this foundation covers everything in our life, and as such, it makes life worth living.

Those who are desiring to be free of the dark bondage of addiction must stand at the crossroad of choice and choose who they will follow. Faith calls out for them to follow God. Why? Because He is worthy of our trust. He is worthy to go forth into the unknown of our future. Faith falls upon a person, Jesus....not because of what He can do, but because of the simple fact of who He is.

I do not make light of the struggle that takes place between a past lived in addiction, and a future that requires the exercise of faith. Sometimes the voices of the past seem to overwhelm and destroy any hope of change at all. But don't be fooled...when the dark voice that whispers to you...."You're never going to change, you will always be like this...you are hopeless," don't give into it. Rise up...decide in your heart and in your mind that this Jesus is the only solution to this death known as addiction. Cry out to Him.....don't be silent....cry out...even if all you can get out is "Help me Lord!" do it. Because the simple fact is that you have just exercised your faith. You turned yourself to the One who can save you, will save you. Who will guide you into a new way of living.

God on you...

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FINISHED

 

John 19:30
When Jesus had tasted it (sour wine), he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Found myself kind of hanging around "the cross" this week. Not that I can ever truly escape it. The cross of Christ defines my life. What took place on that cruel instrument of death, opened the door for you and me to have life and relationship with God. Funny thing about the cross......all of humanity stands before it, not by choice but by truth. We all stand on equal footing at the cross. It doesn't matter what your social standing is..rich or poor. Education has no bearing on the message of the cross. The cross either draws you in, or it causes you to want to turn away. Such is power of truth, and the greatest truth one can know is the truth of who they really are. We are a race of beings in need of being saved. We are a humanity in dire need of having the power and penalty of sin ripped out of our very being, and in its place, a filling and overflowing of God's Holy Spirit. We have feasted on the dregs and filth of a sin table, thinking that we are living in fine dining. It's not until you embrace this cross that you realize the bounty and love God has for you.

As a kid, I use to wonder how God could love those who were a part of the crucifixion of Jesus. How could Jesus look down on the Roman soldiers gathered at the foot of where he hung, and say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!"?  How could Jesus not call down ten thousand legions of angels to dispense real justice on the crowd of religious onlookers? 

As an adult, I have a better understanding. Love! The pure diving love not born of this world, and not affected by sin. A love that held Jesus to that cross. It wasn't three nails and ropes that held him.....He could have come down off that cross and walked away. But the mission that he had come to complete called for him to die. Go all the way....see it through no matter what the cost. Anything less would have been failure, and you and I would have been doomed with a debt of sin that we could never repay. 

So when Jesus cried out, "IT IS FINISHED!"...
IT wasn't his life he was speaking of, although his life ended shortly thereafter.
It was an exclamation point placed on the mission he'd been given by his heavenly Father.
John 3:16
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."

That message still remains...
The words of Jesus....."It is finished"...is why I burn with a fire to let others know that they no longer have to live under the curse of sin/addiction. Why? Because whatever power that holds you in the darkness has been broken. It is finished.
You no longer have to bow you knee to the bottle, needle or pill. Why? Because there is no longer a force stronger than what took place on the cross with Jesus' death. When those old voices come to your thoughts, and seek to pull you back into the death-darkness...remind them that whatever power they may think they have has been defeated once and for all time..."IT IS FINISHED!"

So maybe......
Just maybe, when Jesus cried out those three words from the cross..."it is finished".. It was a declaration of more than the end of his life and the work he had been given to see through to the end. Maybe it was more than the declaration about sin and it's power. Maybe....just maybe it was the eternal exclamation point, driven down into a world that rejected him and his message. A message that sin no longer ruled this planet and this humanity. A message that declared that the Kingdom of God was now firmly entrenched and there would be no longer "Business as usual" under the dictates of the devil and his minions. Now is the day of our salvation. Now is the time of our own "death and resurrection" from the power of sin.......the penalty of sin.....and the presence of sin.
Now is that don't set you on fire....
Your wood is wet.

God on you...
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THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE

 

On this day....this valentine's day, when love is declared through flowers, cards, balloons and stuffed animals, don't forget the ultimate valentine. The cross of Christ.

A place where love.....real love....love beyond human understanding....was demonstrated to us (as scripture reads) while we were yet sinners. Flowers fade...balloons go flat....candy is eaten....and yes,even the cross has rotted and vanished from this earth. But the love that drove a man to stretch out upon this cross is alive and well here in 2021.

His act of giving himself opened the way for us to receive salvation and a restored relationship with God Himself. I don't have to tell you that "GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD".....that He forged this plan so we could join with Him as His creation.

On this day where couples declare their love for each other, may we never forget that Christ is the ultimate valentine.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

May you find and embrace this divine valentine today...

God on you...

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SATURDAY MUSING

 I try real hard not to feast or feed on the stream of news and opinions that seem to come like an endless flood, seeking to shape and change what I believe and the way I view the events of our time.

You see, I don't really get to have an opinion, and the funny part is that God doesn't even have an opinion either. God has truth. God is truth. You can take whatever color "spiritual" crayon you want to color it, but underneath your attempts, there is still a God who is truth. Being that is his very nature and character, then what comes from Him is also truth. Truth is greater than opinion. Truth is not open to compromise. Truth is concerned with whether you think it is fair or not.

What has amazed me (and really I shouldn't be amazed) is how bold and quick people are to stand up and talk of unity, coming together as a nation, and seeking the betterment of this time and age. But why would i trust such, when it is very obvious they have cast aside the truth of God to embrace their own version of it.

To stand and speak God's truth and God's word is now looked upon as being an extremist.......a radical......someone who stirs up everyone and everything around them. Well, truth be known, I have no power to stir anyone or anything. That would fall upon the Holy Spirit. Funny how the Spirit can move on people and some are drawn to Him in repentance and confession, while others are stirred to anger and hatred. Why this should surprise us at all I do not know.

Couple of verses have kind of planted themselves down deep in me. Can't explain it, but it is more than a thought or idea.....it is all down in my heart and doesn't seek to be going away any time soon.

II Timothy 3:5 / Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people TURN AWAY.

Now this verse actually follows a list of character traits that we are told will be evident in the last days. Are we in a time and period as the last days? John Wimber would say..."I don't  know, but I do know we are last-er than we've ever been."  Those character traits include Lovers of self, lovers of money, blasphemers, unholy, despisers of good. 
This is what happens when a people turn from God by rejecting Him and His will, looking to themselves to navigate life. But by rejecting God, whatever truth they have latched on to, becomes law to them. This is a dangerous precedent for any society that rules by this manner. The rule of self...

Oh yeah, by the way, having a form of godliness means that such people may appear to be upright and moral, but their morality is probably ankle deep at best.  To me, such people have 2 belief systems (or view of how to live life). They have one that is public...it looks good, and places them as being of high moral character. The other belief system is the one they live when they are out of the public view. The one that stands totally against God and races to embrace the dark desires of their flesh. So you have one belief system that they talk and one that they walk...and the two never meet. To me, if you claim to be a true believer and follower of Jesus......you have only one belief system...and God is at the center of all your decisions on how to face life daily.

In Philippians 3:18 we read, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ENEMIES OF THE CROSS of Christ." Did you notice something in that verse? It didn't say they were enemies of Jesus....just His cross. In other words, they don't really mind a powerless Jesus, one that they can create in their image. Just don't let the REAL-DEAL Jesus get loose.

So why write this post?

Not real sure except to declare my allegiance to God and His kingdom. Realizing that I sure do need Him a lot more than He needs me. Without Him...Without the salvation Christ has drawn me...Without the influence and leading of the Holy Spirit, I would be defined by these two verses I shared in this post. God forbid I should ever turn away from Him. Let me leave you with one last verse that pretty much sums up what we see in our country.

"Because, although they "knew" God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.....Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools".

Thanks for letting me share....

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TAKING THE RIGHT PATH

 

Scripture and A.A. both use the term "Path". In A.A. we are told that "rarely have we seen anyone fail who has thoroughly followed our path. When it speaks of path, it is referring to the disciplines of the Twelve Steps. The direction you must turn to after your salvation (Step # 1-3).

In the Bible we read in Psalm 119:105 where the Word of God (The Bible) is a light to our path. In other words, we receive the ability to make sound decisions that are not driven by our old sin/nature,

Psalm 25:4-5 gives us a good picture of how this "path" choosing works. First off, it begins with me humbling myself before God. Psalm passage reads: "SHOW me Your ways, O Lord." Make clear in my mind and heart exactly how you want me to live today. "TEACH me Your paths"......If God is teaching, what's my part? Learning! Taking to heart what I am hearing, reading, and seeing. Lastly, Psalm 25 reads....LEAD me in Your truth. I have first been shown the right decisions I am to make in my daily life. He then instructs me as to the right direction I am to take....and then I apply through my decision what God has told me to do.

Why should I approach my daily life in this manner? The very last part of Psalm 25:5 reads: "For You are the God of my salvation....On You I wait all the day." My wife has a saying that has followed me a number of years. IF there are decisions to be made, Vicki says, "If He ain't talking.........I ain't walking." In other words, she is not going to launch out making decisions and taking life directions if she hasn't heard from God which way to go. I think that might be wisdom there. Don't you?

God on you....
mbb

THE POWER OF A MEMORY

 God's creation is amazing....O.k. understatement there. God's creation is mind boggling at times. Such a simple thing happened to me last night that totally caught me off guard. I was driving from the church to home, taking my usual route. I like driving down Broad Street all the way to I-59. As I topped the overpass where the Steel Plant use to be, a song came on my radio.

Yep. I'm an old guy and I still like my radio local, so I usually have it set to WGAD because it is an oldies station. Being an "oldie" myself, I like what comes out of that radio. Anywho, I digress. Suddenly my car was filled with the sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival and "Who'll Stop The Rain". Now I've heard that song more times than I could count. I have played as a member of a cover band back in the early 1970's. But tonight was different.

With the opening guitar hook, in my mind I was at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. I could see the radio that I had bought at the PX so I could listen to local stations on the weekend. I'm sitting on my bunk, it was a Sunday morning and this song was playing. As I continued driving to home, a big smile broke out and the memories were sweet. Well, as sweet as memories could be if you were in AIT after having gone through basic. Tied to this song were glimpses in my mind of guys who were in my platoon. Gary Burttram, Daryl Blanton, Ronald and Donald Jones...on an on the faces came to me. Of course the faces were from 1970 not 2021. 

Now why would I write about this? Because of the power of music to stir us to remember. The ability of a song to take us to a time or place we may not have thought about or even considered in a long time. Going back to God and His creation that I mentioned at the start of this post. How amazing is it that God created us to have memories....good and bad. To bask in the good ones, and learn from the bad ones. I am firmly convinced that when we come to Christ and surrender will and life, He takes the pain away from the bad memories. Those which, in the past, would fill us with guilt and shame. It would be nice if He simply removed the bad memories, but He doesn't. But what He does do is frame them in such a way that when they do come to us, the pain, guilt and shame are not as evident. He reminds us that we are forgiven. Why should I hang on to the junk of my bad memories if God isn't going to remember them? 

So the next time you in a gathering of people who have come together to worship God, let the songs direct your memory to all the good God has done to you, for you, and through you. Let the words and the tune take you back to your first love. Remember God! Remember what it felt like when He saved you. Remember those times where you were faced with situations and He came to comfort you and walk you through them. Let the memories come~

God on you...

mbb

LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE STORM

 

"Out in the eye of the storm, the friends of God suffer no permanent harm.."     Mark Heard.

Seems to be a belief among people that God is a kind of "good fairy" that will not let harm come to HIS people. While I do believe that God is a protecting God, and one who cares and loves deeply for those who live for Him, I believe that for us who walk this planet, life happens.

Over the past year we have lost friends and family to Covid-19.. Cancer comes knocking and claims lives....
Divorce becomes the solution that creates division between a married couple....
Addiction takes people away before it's their time....
But when you proclaim your allegiance to the One True Living God..You can lose your head. You can have your business closed and be run out of town. You can be hauled into court and even jailed. Somehow we forget about the verse that says it "rains on the just and unjust...and the sun shines on the righteous and the unrighteous." 

IF you want Scripture to see that pain and suffering is a part of life especially when you are a follower of Jesus, all you have to do is turn to Hebrews 11:35-38 - "But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground."

I realize that what was written in the Hebrews passage is kind of extreme,but when you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, the ante goes up. We become enemies of this world. But such does not give us liberty to cover our heads and disappear from society. The one part of the Mark Heard song, "Eye of the Storm", that I dearly love is where he sings..."The friends of God suffer no permanent harm." Emphasis on the word "Permanent".  There is nothing in this world that can separate me from the love of God. Everything that can happen to me, no matter how bad, is only temporary. I will die eventually. I will find out the truth of what I have staked my very life on. I will stand before the one who died for me, and I will worship Him like it's nobodies business. The things and events of this world will fade away in His presence, and I will live in the Glory of God for ever. Why, I can't even wrap my brain around that one. But I know that I know, way down deep inside me that it is a truth born from the heart of God who sent His Son to die in my place. A Son who paid a price for my sin that I could never repay.

I don't want this mornings posting to depressing or gloomy. The truth is, I want us all to dig our heels in a little deeper and say, "We're not turning back, no matter what happens." So here is what I rest in this morning. That no matter how dark and spiritually oppressive our society becomes...God is in control. No matter what I may face as a believer and follower of Jesus..God has me in the palm of His hand. No matter what happens to me, it is but a momentary light affliction that will pass away. 

So today, I will focus on Jesus, not on this world.
I will listen for His voice, and not the world's message.
I will seek His face, and not the world's agenda.
I will rejoice in my salvation, and not the destruction that is ongoing in this world.
I will tell my story..a story of hope, and not be a spreader of fear and depression.
Today, I will follow in His Steps, and not walk the broad way to destruction that the world is following.
He is a good God!

God on you...
mbb