Wednesday, August 24, 2016

GOD IS FAITHFUL


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22‭-‬24 NIV
One of the things that drives my heart every day is the mercies of God.  I know I don’t deserve His love or His forgiveness but I am overwhelmed that every day His mercies are new every morning.

God doesn’t or hasn’t given up on me.  He always remains faithful.  That mean that everything He says and does is certain.
He is 100% reliable, 100% of the time. He does not fail, forget, falter, change, or disappoint. He says what He means and means what He says.

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. “Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.” They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties.

Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris. Other parents were standing around crying.

Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble. He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one.

One of the parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?” “Digging for my son,” Samuel answered. The man then said, “You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel set his jaw and kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a firefighter tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble. Samuel looked at him and said, “Won’t you help me?” The firefighter left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins. But, Samuel just kept working. He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. “Help! Help!” Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then he heard a muffled voice, “Papa?”

Samuel began to dig furiously. Finally he could see his son. “Come on out, son!” he said with relief. “No,” Armand said. “Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me.” Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared. Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, “I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!”

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father! Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness. He is true to His character. He is reliable and trustworthy and can be counted on always.
Look at these passages on the faithfulness of God and allow them to go into your spirit this morning…

Exodus 34:6: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Deuteronomy 7:9: “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…”

Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”

Joshua 21:45: “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

Psalm 25:10: “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful.”

And, as Psalm 89:8 reminds us, “O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.”

These verses, when taken together, establish that God’s faithfulness is not some minor or secondary part of His character. To say that God is faithful goes to the very core of who He really is. If He didn’t keep His Word, He wouldn’t be God.
You can trust God to be faithful in your life today.  It may seem that He has been distant and far away but God is here right now and His mercies are new every morning.  He was with you when you went to bed last night and He is with you today and will help you face whatever is before you.






Monday, August 22, 2016

THE OTHER SIDE OF FIRE


For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24 NKJV


There was an old fiery preacher named Peter Cartwright who was known for telling it like it was. He was preaching near Washington D.C. And the people of the church heard that Andrew Jackson was coming to visit them.

So they pulled Cartwright aside and said: "Listen Peter, the President is going to be here on Sunday and we know that sometimes you can get kind of offensive, so would you tone it down. We don't want to upset the President."

So Peter got up in the pulpit the next Sunday and his first three sentences were these:  "I understand that the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson is with us this morning. I have been asked to be guarded in my remarks.  Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent."

The church was appalled, but when worship was over  President Jackson grabbed Cartwright's hand, shook it and said,"Sir,  if I had an army of men like you I could whip the world."

John the Baptizer proclaims "I baptize you with water for repentance,but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

It has been said, That Change is not merely necessary to life, Change is Life.

And a consuming Fire truly brings about change.

in the firefighting community, there is a phrase that is used to express a critical moment in the beginning stage of a fire.

It is when the temperature gets to a certain level to which everything combustible in a room spontaneously bursts into flames, spreading the fire immediately and instantaneously.

This phrase is called the "Flash Point".

It is the point at which everything that can burn will burn.

The scriptures tell us that burning is a good thing when it comes to the kingdom of God.

Jesus said "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49).

Jesus came to send fire… Jesus is a flamethrower!

The writer of Hebrews proclaims: "Our God is a consuming fire!" (Heb. 12:29).

When a home catches on fire, the fire at first is grasping for everything ..... that it can burn.

Most of the material in the house becomes fuel for the fire.

But there comes a point when the fire has affected the overall temperature of the house to the level, That it has brought it to the flash point.  To the point where something powerful is about to happen.

Someone asked Jean Cocteau, the French writer, artist, and film director, what one thing he would take if his house were on fire.

His reply was absolutely astounding. He said, "I would take the Fire."

Now, in one sense, Cocteau's answer seems to be an obvious, .almost practical solution.

If you take the fire from a burning house, then the home will no longer burn.

But I am convinced he meant it in another way.

As a writer and an artist, he knew that fire was passion and passion is an indispensable ingredient in the creative process.

And if he could have one thing, he would choose fire He would choose Passion every time.

Passion that fire in the belly is the catalyst of every believer.

And the level of Passion for God can be seen through the temperature of the fire.

It is the fire of passion that changes a life, and a passionate life .can absolutely change and affect those we encounter!

It seems to me that the Fire, that passion starts in our individual commitment to Christ - Which in turn affects the family, and in turn, affects all those that we encounter.

Your Passion for God is what calls you to be open to a complete and thorough cleansing.

To be a new creation in Christ Jesus.

If you follow your passion for God, it will take you to a spiritual flash point, and at that point is when you will ignite.

Now, if you desire a watered down gospel, you will fizzle.

But if you seek the same fire that John the Baptist was preaching about, then you must be willing to catch fire - To catch fire and burn.

Are you letting the Holy Spirit consume you to transform you? Does the word of God, does Worship bring you into his presence?  


If not then you need to let God rekindled your first Love and let that fire in your belly begin to consume you.

Or maybe, you are right where the apostles were on that great day of the feast, the day of Pentecost.

There were 120 gathered together that day in the Home of the Mother of the Gospel writer John Mark.

There were many differences between these 120 on that day,but there was one thing that they all had in common.

They had an expectancy.

And the wonderful thing is they did not even know what to expect.  And Personally, I think that is the best that way.

It is such a blessing to see the Holy Spirit at work touching someone unexpectedly.

If you will let God's Word be the Fuel to your passionate Fire,You will soon ignite.

It is not the preacher preaching his best that will set this house of the Lord on fire. It is not the even the music or the musicians doing their best that will set this house of the Lord on Fire.


It is when the people of God let it begin to happen and expect it to happen.

And when you expect something, you will have a passion until it arrives.

Have expectancy in your heart  have your spiritual eyes ready for the all consuming fire of God.

Create an atmosphere in your study, in your worship and in your praise that will make you combustible.

It is about the substance of Your heart.

In a little town there was a small church. One night smoke and flames consumed this little church. People from all over town stood in the streets and watched the church as it burned. 


The local preacher drove up and noticed several people that he had not seen in some time. Walking up to one man he asked "Where have you been, I haven't seen you around here in a long while". The man responded, "That's because I've never seen this church on fire!"

God ignites individuals, which in turn ignites the Churches.

The disciples were set on fire individually, ..... and then there was a church on fire!

What happened on that day? The Scriptures tell us that the disciples , were waiting for the Spirit to come.

They had an expectancy.  They knew that something was going to happen.

They were creating an atmosphere for spontaneous Combustion.

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come; they were all with one accord and in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind  and it filled the whole house where they were.

Don't you yearn to hear that same sound!

There was no quenching the Spirit on that day. They were ready to burn.

And they were not disappointed.

John Wesley was once asked the secret about his ministry.

He said, "I ask God to set me on fire and let people watch me burn."

My prayer for all of us is this: May our hearts be so conditioned and ready that just a small spark would start a forest flame of passion and desire for God.  May God consume you that others will look at you and ask about the fire that is within you.  May God bring on the fire in each of our lives.

Thoughts inspired by J. Jeffrey Smead

Saturday, August 20, 2016

GOD, SEND THE RAIN


Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there  is the sound of abundance of rain.” I Kings 18:41 NKJV


I feel like the prophet Elijah who told his servant to go to the sea and look for a sign of rain.  The servant went not just once but seven times and finally comes back to Elijah and says, “I see a cloud the size of a man’s hand.”


At this present time our community is reeling from the devastation of two huge fires that has burned thousands of acres and approximately 90 plus homes.  We have been in a serious drought and we desperately need rain.


For weeks, even before the fires, God started placing some things on my heart in regards to the need for rain in our physical and in our spiritual lives.


I happened upon a sermon by another pastor that described the process for the rain of God to come down.  It is this: 1- Drought 2- Fire and 3- Rain.


Say that with me - Drought. Fire. Rain.


We’ve had drought.  We’ve had fire (and it continues to burn). And I believe with all of my heart that there is a physical and a spiritual rain about to pour on the High Desert.

A few years ago much of the United States went through a severe dry spell. It was so dry that it had become an Internet joke. During that drought someone published this request online: “Please pray for rain: "It’s so dry in Tennessee that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling; the Methodists are using wet-wipes; the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks; and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.”


In the 1930’s severe drought brought what was known as the Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, called the worst natural disaster in recorded history. It lasted a tortuous decade, from 1930 to 1939 and destroyed farms and lives throughout Canada, the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas. Some of the severest dust storms reached the eastern coast and blanketed eastern cities such as Chicago and New York in “black snow”.


The drought began in 1930 and progressed throughout the decade. During 1932 there were an estimated 14 severe dust storms. A year later there were 38 major storms and 100 million acres had been lost. As millions of acres of farmland became useless, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes. It was truly one of our nation’s greatest tragedies.


The Bible speaks of spiritual drought that can cause far greater devastation than “Black Sunday”; a drought of the outpouring of God’s power and blessing.


Just as we are in a season of drought and are desperate for rain, so the church needs to see its desperate need for a fresh rainfall from God.

Often the condition of our hearts is such that we are not aware of our need at the very time it is the greatest! For to have a fresh outpouring of God’s power and blessing we must see and admit that we have a need.

We need rain when we have become spiritual deserts, when worship becomes form without substance, when our secular lives have precedence over our spiritual lives, when we find ourselves losing battles against temptations, we doubt that we will see the outpouring of His Spirit again, and when we have lost the joy we once had in our Christian lives.

Psalm 85:6 “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Hosea 6:3 "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

What we need is a downpour of revival. Revival is that supreme and gracious work of God in which He visits His own people, restoring them and outpouring the fresh rain of the fulness of His blessing.

Revival is always marked by an overwhelming sense of Christ’s presence in the church.

Again, I feel like Elijah by saying, “Go to the sea again and see if there is a sign of rain.”  You might not see the cloud and you might feel like things have become worse.


But mark my words, the rain is coming and it will be both a physical and a spiritual rain that will descend upon the High Desert.


I write this with anticipation.  I write this with eagerness.  I am believing for God for a “double portion” of God’s presence in my life, my church and in this community.

Stand with expectation with me for God to send the rain and a pouring of His spirit into our lives and may it come soon.


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

A Double Portion


II Kings 2:9 NKJV - And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 

I've had a quickening in my spirit the last few days about the phrase "double portion" that is referenced in the Bible a number of times.

I'm not sure for who exactly this is for but I sense that there is some of you who are about to experience a "double portion" of God's blessings in your life and you need to prepare and be ready for when that blessing arrives.

The double portion is Biblical fact. It part of God’s promise to give beyond the normal amount to a select few. 

In Luke 6:38 He says: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." 

The double portion was given to certain men in the scriptures according to God’s promise to His people. 

Isaiah 61:7 -  “Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs."

This is God’s portion to His people in this day. They won’t just have a portion but will have a double of a portion; twice as much, This seems impossible since most Christians have not even received a portion of what God has for them. But He plans to give double even of what He has promised. 

The premiere example of a double portion occurred between Elijah and his servant Elisha. Elijah was going to be taken to heaven without dying and all the prophets knew it. 

Elisha was intent on being with him when this took place and asked for a double portion of Elijah's anointing.

Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 

As they were going along and talking, all of a sudden there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 

Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Notice that Elisha let no time lapse until he exercised the double portion but immediately tool Elijah’s mantle and parted the Jordon.

Elisha went on to walk in the double portion as we see further in 2 Kings. He purified bad waters, killed some young lads mocking him, deceived the Moabites into thinking water in trenches was blood, gave a woman an unlimited supply of oil to pay her debts, resurrected a boy, purified a poison pot of stew, cured Naaman of leprosy, floated an axe head that had fallen into the water, deceived the entire Aramean army, leading them into a fatal trap, stopped a cannibalistic famine in Israel and many other act too numerous to mention. It is said that after Elisha died and was buried a man who was killed fell on Elisha’s grave and was resurrected. This was all because of the double portion given him by his spiritual Father Elijah.

Hannah was also given a double portion. When the day came that Elkanah, her husband, sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb. Hannah was barren and cried out to the Lord and the Lord heard her cry and she gave birth. However the Lord heard her cries and she gave birth to Samuel who was to be a great prophet in the land of Israel (1 Samuel 1:4-5). 

Job, after his long ordeal with the Lord was given a double portion. In Job 42:10 it says: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” 

The first born of the children of Israel also received a double portion of their Father’s inheritance. Deuteronomy 21:17 Says: “But he [the Father] shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn”. 

The children of Israel I the wilderness also received a double portion of manna on the day before the Sabbath so they did not have to gather it on the Sabbath. Normally the manna did not last until the nest day but on the day before the Sabbath the manna lasted 2 days including the Sabbath. 

Today we too can have a double portion of God’s blessings. The opportunity has never been so great to obtain the double portion and it has never been as necessary as it is in this time of the changing of ages. 

Prepare your heart for more.  Prepare your life for increased blessings of the Lord for it might come when you least expect it.  Walk with a thankful heart for what God has brought you but also walk with an expectation of the increase that God will bless you with in the future.

May God bring a "double portion" to your life and soul as you seek Him!  

Friday, August 5, 2016

THE CRY OF MY HEART


And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 NLT

There is a prayer that I pray often and with much intensity - that I would be a pastor/ shepherd after the heart of God.

I have a lot of years under my belt now as a pastor.  There are moments that I'm really proud of and there are moments that I know that I've failed miserably in regards to this.

It's a day by day growing experience and I hope and pray that I'm getting better and better at what I do.  I want someday to stand before my Lord and Savior and hear His words, "Well done good and faithful servant."

It is my desire that people feel and experience God's love through me at all times.

So... What is a pastor according to God’s heart?

Well, before we try to answer that question, let’s take the time out and define what a pastor is. Well according to the dictionary, pastor is a noun and it is defined as a Christian minister or a priest who is a leader of a congregation. But according to the word of God, a pastor is a shepherd, a under shepherd who leads God’s people, which is the church. The pastor is one who oversees, he leads, he guides, he protects, he teaches, he trains, he counsels, he preaches to, he prays with and for it, and He feeds the church with spiritual food which is the Word of God. 

Yes, the pastor is to feed the church through preaching and teaching the Word of God. But yet a question is still being asked: What is a pastor according to God’s heart? 

Now, the key phrase is pastors according to God’s heart. And it is important to know what is a pastor according to God’s heart because there are a lot of people who call themselves pastors, but they are not pastors according to God’s heart. So the question is, what is a pastor according to God’s heart?

Well, a pastor according to God’s heart is someone who is:

1. Called by God. 

2 Timothy 1:8-8 says, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who saved us, and called us with a an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

2. Chosen by God. 

John 15:16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name; he may give it you.

3. Annointed and Appointed by God. 

Acts 20:28 says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

4. Sent by God. 

Romans 10:13-15 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written , How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.”

5. Given to the church by God. 

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..

7. A man of prayer, not just for himself, but for his family, and for the church.

Matthew 26:41 says to “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”

8. A man who studies the Word of God that he may present Jesus Christ in his preaching and teaching as the central theme of the gospel message, and that his preaching and his teaching will be considered sound doctrine. 

2 Timothy 2:15 say, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman neededeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”

9. A man who patterns his life after the life of Jesus Christ so he may be example of Jesus Christ before his congregation. 

1 Peter 5:1-3 says, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; Feed the flock of God; which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

10. A man who rules and leads well, not just in the church house, but also in his own house.

I Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

11. A man who loves God and who loves God’s people. 

I Peter 1:22 says, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto the feigned love of the brethern, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

12. A man who cares for people. 
A man who is patient with people. 
A man who is kind and gentle with people. 
A man who is humble. 
A man who is unselfish. 
A man who is peaceable. 
A man who has the joy of the Lord as his strength. 
A man who loves praising and worshipping God and leading his people to worship God. 
A man who is willing and loves to serve God. 
A man who loves working with the youth as well as the senior citizens. 
A man who loves ministering to singles, as well as the married couples. 
A man who ministers to those in prisons as well as those in the hospitals. 
A man who believes in doing the right thing and being holy. 
A man who is courageous and strong in the Lord. 
A man who will stand up for righteousness, and speak out against sin. 
A man who is honest and truthful. 
A man who doesn’t sleep with every woman in town, or steal money from the church. 
A man with a vision from the Lord. 

Proverbs 29:18 says, Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he thay keepeth the law, happy is he.”

13. Last but not least, a man who is born again. 

John 3:3 says, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” To be born again, you must be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Last but not least, it must be understood that a pastor according to God’s heart is not a perfect pastor. 

King David was a man who was after God’s heart, but he was not perfect. But yet God used him mightily to be one of the most powerful kings of Israel, and God used him to write most of the Book of Psalms that we have in out bibles today. 

And likewise pastors who are according to God’s heart are not perfect, but God uses them anyway. 

That is why as church we should pray for our pastors, support our pastors, honor our pastors, love our pastors, take care of our pastors, obey our pastors so they can do the job that they have been called to do without the unnecessary trouble, and to do the job as a pastor with joy and not with grief.

Thanks to Charles McCall for this outline.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME!



The Lord  is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV

I have held onto this scripture many times in my life.  I have used it in the good times and I have held onto it during the difficult and hard times.

One of God’s faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, "While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God." Allen Gardiner.

GOD IS GOOD!

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (Steadfast love and goodness) toward them that fear him Psalms 103:7

Have you ever stopped and counted the multitude of blessings you have in your life?  Your freedom, your salvation, your health, your church, etc.

I am often overwhelmed with God's goodness and mercy over my life. I look back and thank God every day of all that He has done for me and how He has sustained me through thick and thin.

Satan tries to cripple our witness and productivity in the work of God by attempting to get us to doubt God’s goodness.

We cannot allow the enemies lies and intimidation take us away from the fact that GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME.

GOD IS OUR STRONGHOLD IN TIME OF TROUBLE.

A little boy is telling his grandma how "everything" in his life is going wrong. He’s telling his grandma about his problems with school, family and friends, etc. 

Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does. "Here, have some cooking oil," grandma offers. "Yuck" says the boy. "How about a couple raw eggs?" Grandma asks him.

"That’s gross, Grandma!" he says. "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Grandma, those things are all yucky!" the boy says. To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all these things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. 

Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But as we trust in Him despite the circumstances, Eventually, together all things will make something wonderful!"

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Hebrews 13:5 which tells us that God will never leave us or forsake us.

Every day this world around us changes. Sometimes for the good. Sometimes for the bad. But we serve an unchanging God that loves us and embraces us in all times. Jeremiah 31:3

GOD IS A GOD THAT KNOWS US.

He knows our every weakness and He still loves us. He knows our every strength and wants to use us.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME! 

Do you agree?

Monday, August 1, 2016

HOW GOD PREPARES US FOR MINISTRY


But now, O Lord , You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 NKJV

One of the things that I enjoy watching is the art of a potter with a lump of clay - how he pushes and shapes that meaningless lump into something of great value and beauty.

My wife and I have accumulated some very beautiful and useful pieces over the years that are showcased in our house.

It is interesting: Pottery is the number one most popular find of Archaeologists who study the Ancient World. They have found the remains of potter’s shops that date back to 12000 BC.

I have been able to see some of the ancient pottery and it is breathtaking to think that I was looking at something thousands of years old.

In Ancient times - the day begins early as the potter leaves the house early in the morning with bags in hand to go out into the fields to gather the clay.

Here are 6 Observations from a Potters House that relate to our relationship with God.

1. He Put His Thoughts On You

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

When He looked on you and thought of you, He could not use you as you were. You were lumpy, rocky, stiff-necked, you had hard spots in you. You did not have consistency. So He took you down and:

2.  He Put His Eyes on You

He began to look at you without seeing you for what you are, but for what He knows you can be!

Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 

3. He Put His Feet On You

Clay in its natural state was seldom fit for use. Several stages of preparation were usually necessary. 

The clay must be softened before it can be fashioned.

The clay was mixed with water and sifted to remove any stones or foreign objects that did not need to be there. There were several settling basins where the sifting took place, each basin with smaller holes than the one before. 

This was the process of refining the clay in order to make the very best vessel.

Once refined, the potter would place the clay on a clean floor and begin walking on it, back and forth, over and over until all the air pockets were removed.

Once the right consistency is obtained, He will pick you up off the floor and place you on the potter’s wheel. There He will:

4. He Will Put His Hands On You

While you’re on the wheel, He will begin molding you. This involves applying pressure in certain areas that He needs to change. You may not like these pressures, but understand, He is the one making the vessel, and He knows what is best for you!!

He will form you into the vessel that He desires to make.

Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 

Once His hands have formed you into the beautiful vessel you are still worthless and without function until He puts you in the fire.

There were two ways of doing this: In the old days they would “Sun Dry” the vessels. 

However, they had limitations, they could only store dry goods, because liquids would break them down. 

They would then "kiln burn" the vessel to harden it even more.

A fine vessel that will harden and hold liquids and maintain its shape had to be exposed to a minimum temperature of 500 degrees.

The beauty of properly fire clay is that it will not breakdown and disintegrate, even if buried for thousands of years. Metal or wood would have long since disappeared. 

Fire Time was also very crucial; it had to stay in the fire long enough for the chemical process in the clay to start working.

Once removed from the fire the vessel must be scoured and scrubbed to remove any lingering signs of air bubbles that surfaced in the fire. The nicks and bumps had to be smoothed out. 

Once the smoothing process has been accomplished, you are now ready to be painted, glazed. These words and synonymous with the word anointed. 

A vessel that has not been glazed could only be used once, because of bacteria and fungi being able to hide in its pours. However, when a glazed vessel is washed with soap and water you can use it over and over again, because the bugs have no place to hide.

5. He Will Put His Anointing On You 

This is the painting and glazing of the vessel. This is what makes the vessel attractive

6. Finally He Will Put His Name On You

Every good artist puts his name on his work.  

I have some beautiful pottery that sits on my desk.  If you lift it up you will notice the name of the artist who created it.

Rev. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 

The quality must go in, before the name goes on.

In the process of the clay our Master has made some beautiful vessels. Taking the time to think about us, look upon us, sift us, walk on us, knead us, place His hand upon us, lead us through the fire, glaze us with His anointing, and finally place His Name on us.

What wonderful vessels have been made for the glory of God!

On the other hand there are stubborn vessels that won’t accept the hand of the potter, and the pressure applied by Him.  The potter will keep working with these vessels and eventually will discard them in the potters field because they are not shapable or moldable for the use the potter desires for them.

I pray that today you would allow your lump of clay to become moldable and pliable for God's hands to shape you for your call and destiny.  If you have rebellion in your heart - I pray that God would soften you and that you would be shaped into the man or woman God has intended for you to be.