"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
We must stay focused on Jesus. It's when we lose our focus that our belief falls away and we follow our own line of thinking. When our focus is off the almighty, our minds wander aimlessly along the path of "what will we do," "how will we make it." If we can just stay focused on Jesus, stay in His word, remember His promises, not waiver off the trail He has forged for us. Listening to, thinking on anything that is not entirely the Truth brings remorse, repercussions, pain.
Even Abraham at times thought he knew better than God and acted on those very thoughts. But his thoughts were not God's thoughts. God knows all. We know very little in comparison.
Worry ... bring anxiety ... which brings separation from the almighty Father.
Satan wants us to worry - then we will do things not pleasing to the Lord.
The future is not ours to know. The present is where we are currently. The past we have come through.
The future is everything past this moment. As the moments go by our future becomes our present and then our past.
Love each moment for the Lord, to the Lord. Plan your moments as to the Lord, to His glory. Do not look this way and that way. Stay tuned to the one who truly cares for us.
"When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (Micah 7:8)
When I pass through the waters of life, the fires that try to consume me, the Lord my God will be with me. He will protect me. I will not be burned, I will not be overwhelmed. He will lead me, guide me over the paths of darkness I see before me. He will make the rough spots even so I will not trip and fall. (paraphrase of Isaiah 43:2)
And even though I pass through the valleys of intense pain and suffering, the fear that attempts to stifle me will not because of my God and Savior who is always with me. (paraphrase of Psalm 23:4)
There is no hope except in you Lord Jesus.
There is no one to trust wholly, completely, except you Lord Jesus.
No one can remove the fears that seek to swallow me. No one, that is, except you Lord Jesus.
"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Psalm 56:3)
I believe in the Lord Jesus. I believe what I say I believe. I have witnessed His power - His mighty hand has been upon me. He will not leave me. He remains steadfast. I must not allow any doubt to get the best of me. Doubt is fear. I have nothing to be afraid of. Jesus is right there beside me, holding my hand and bringing me soothing relief.
Close the gate. ... To all that works against you.
Close the gate to your doubts and fears.
Close the gate and move on. Hand in hand with Jesus walk on.
Close the gate. Forge ahead. Ignore the enemy. Follow Jesus.
Jesus will help me overcome all my fears.
I am no better than any other.
The only difference, perhaps, is that I know I am a sinner. Jesus accepts me anyway. He offers me grace. He brings peace to my soul. When I accept Him and believe in and on Him, I can rest in His fold. Like the sheep gone astray and found.
When we stay true to all He says and obedient to His instruction it reveals our love for Him. He loves us so much he died for us. We love Him so much we stay true and obedient to Him, even unto death.
No amount of pain we suffer will ever be as much as Jesus' pain that He suffered on the cross at Calvary when He took ALL of mankind's sin upon His shoulders, His body, and gave up the ghost and died. Oh but he rose again. What glory.
Every moment I live is one moment closer to being with Jesus
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The servant church
What would happen if someone attended church but never served as a volunteer? That person might grow in knowledge of God's Word, but without serving others, they would likely never understand the power of that knowledge. If everyone attended church but never volunteered, there would be no "first impressions" ministry, children programming, or music. It takes teams of volunteers to make the church effective.
On the other hand, what would happen if someone volunteered during the church services but never participated in worship? That person's heart for helping others might grow, but he or she would likely lose sight of the most important purpose, the vision behind serving. In addition to missing the teaching and the corporate worship, this person would miss hearing the heartbeat of the church. If everyone volunteered but never participated in worship, the church would quickly become unhealthy. We'd lack the encouragement from both the message and from other Jesus followers that we need to take steps in our faith journeys.
The solution is to encourage people to alternate between service and student. We don't want people serving for months and months without attending corporate worship. If they do, they lose the vision and forget why they're serving. They start to serve out of duty rather than joy. That's not healthy for their spiritual growth, and it's not healthy for the church.
People need to experience corporate worship, biblical teaching, and authentic relationships. All of that is encouraged through attending a worship service; however, it takes a team of people not one single person to provide the best experience possible.
For those of you not yet convinced, dictatorship and a one man show is gone so get over it. When the church (not serving God) (the church) surpasses your love for your family and friends, you have missed the whole meaning and reason behind servant-hood and why we serve at our place of worship. Church is for people to learn how to serve a hurting world. If your family is not serving in the church then you are using the church as a stumbling block to your family and also to our new growing generation behind them. This generation will never adhere to that type of mentality. You must erase the idea that you have everyone’s spiritual life figured out, and that it’s your way or the highway. By living and acting this way we are missing the real reason we were put here in the first place. To guide others to Christ through servant-hood. Until your mind is transformed, you will not grow nor will the church you serve become what God put it here to be and that is, to become a city of Refuge. To Love, Guide and Serve the unchurched. If we are doing this then God will do His part and transform them.
On the other hand, what would happen if someone volunteered during the church services but never participated in worship? That person's heart for helping others might grow, but he or she would likely lose sight of the most important purpose, the vision behind serving. In addition to missing the teaching and the corporate worship, this person would miss hearing the heartbeat of the church. If everyone volunteered but never participated in worship, the church would quickly become unhealthy. We'd lack the encouragement from both the message and from other Jesus followers that we need to take steps in our faith journeys.
The solution is to encourage people to alternate between service and student. We don't want people serving for months and months without attending corporate worship. If they do, they lose the vision and forget why they're serving. They start to serve out of duty rather than joy. That's not healthy for their spiritual growth, and it's not healthy for the church.
People need to experience corporate worship, biblical teaching, and authentic relationships. All of that is encouraged through attending a worship service; however, it takes a team of people not one single person to provide the best experience possible.
For those of you not yet convinced, dictatorship and a one man show is gone so get over it. When the church (not serving God) (the church) surpasses your love for your family and friends, you have missed the whole meaning and reason behind servant-hood and why we serve at our place of worship. Church is for people to learn how to serve a hurting world. If your family is not serving in the church then you are using the church as a stumbling block to your family and also to our new growing generation behind them. This generation will never adhere to that type of mentality. You must erase the idea that you have everyone’s spiritual life figured out, and that it’s your way or the highway. By living and acting this way we are missing the real reason we were put here in the first place. To guide others to Christ through servant-hood. Until your mind is transformed, you will not grow nor will the church you serve become what God put it here to be and that is, to become a city of Refuge. To Love, Guide and Serve the unchurched. If we are doing this then God will do His part and transform them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)