"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." Psalm 42:5
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:2-3
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Many are no doubt disappointed in the election outcome, some may even be devastated. When I first heard the news I was disappointed, then the Lord reminded me of an *audio message I listened to recently on the spiritual weapon of rejoicing. So today I am rejoicing in the re-election of President Obama. Rejoice that God is still on His throne and in control. Yes, the enemy won... but if you go around in a depressed state just because our guy lost, our spiritual foe is given cause to rejoice thus giving him victory. However, if you rejoice then it may very well provide an opportunity to let your light shine by sharing Christ - especially with those who knew your political stance and were of the opposite party.
Some may attribute the election outcome to not praying hard enough, fasting more, campaigning more, giving more financially, etc... I present to you, that is not the case. The fact that President Obama was re-elected is merely a symptom of the woeful state of our nation on a spiritual level. The root cause is the heart of a people who has not made Jesus Christ Lord of their life. Perhaps the re-election is also a punishment on Christians for not being more active in soul winning. Perhaps if Romney had won Christians would have said 'hooray, our guy won!' and then gone back to sleep until the next election.
I could say more, but I would like to encourage you to obey Scripture by rejoicing in the outcome of this election and to become active in soul winning. Get on fire for Christ!
*The audio message was from an audio series by Otto Koning titled "The Pineapple Story". I highly recommend this audio series.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
If The Women Would Go Home
If the women would go home
A job my brother might have.
If the women would go home
More valiant men could be
Providers for their home
Just as God intended them to be.
If the women would go home
Perhaps an upside down world
Would begin to turn right side up again.
If the women would go home
Homes would be changed
The world would be changed.
We have seen the wretched results of homes abandoned by women
Let us see the results of women embracing the home for Christ.
Women may pray earnestly on the their knees for revival
The answer may surprise you!
If the women would go home
Obedient to God's Word
Perhaps then would start a revival
If only the women would go home!
A job my brother might have.
If the women would go home
More valiant men could be
Providers for their home
Just as God intended them to be.
If the women would go home
Perhaps an upside down world
Would begin to turn right side up again.
If the women would go home
Homes would be changed
The world would be changed.
We have seen the wretched results of homes abandoned by women
Let us see the results of women embracing the home for Christ.
Women may pray earnestly on the their knees for revival
The answer may surprise you!
If the women would go home
Obedient to God's Word
Perhaps then would start a revival
If only the women would go home!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Three Men, Three Roadblocks
"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
Why would Jesus turn away a man who appeared to be willing to follow Him (vv 57-58)? Not only that, but this guy did not even offer an excuse as the other two did. The Lord knew that the man had an ulterior motive. This first man was not following Jesus out of sincerity. At that time Jesus was becoming quite famous. This man was after the "perks" of following someone who is famous - prestige, nice places to stay, and good favor by the multitudes. Jesus was quick to inform the man of His lodging situation. Somehow I think the man changed his mind. He allowed his excuse to be a roadblock that kept him from being effective for God.
The second man was actually commanded to follow Jesus (vv 59-60)! He offered a legitimate reason, a need to take care of his aging father. The Lord knew that perhaps the father was not as bad off as the man may have thought and that there were others available to taker care of the aging man. With this roadblock removed the second man could serve freely and be more effective for Christ.
In the third man we find another volunteer with an excuse (vv 61-62). This time it was not even the greatest of excuses. Someone might even wonder about this guy's sincerity. He was sincere but perhaps he had his priorities a little out of order. The Lord quickly helped him realize that going home would be the roadblock that would hold him back from being effective for Christ.
Whether sincere or not, whether the excuse was legitimate or silly, all three of the the men had one thing in common. Each of them had something in their life that would be a roadblock to prevent them from being effective for Christ. The first man allowed the roadblock to stay. The other two allowed Jesus to remove the roadblock. Like these three men, each of us has something in our lives that can prevent us from being more effective for Christ. The challenge to each of us is to seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal and remove the roadblocks that are keeping us from being more effective for Christ.
58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62
Why would Jesus turn away a man who appeared to be willing to follow Him (vv 57-58)? Not only that, but this guy did not even offer an excuse as the other two did. The Lord knew that the man had an ulterior motive. This first man was not following Jesus out of sincerity. At that time Jesus was becoming quite famous. This man was after the "perks" of following someone who is famous - prestige, nice places to stay, and good favor by the multitudes. Jesus was quick to inform the man of His lodging situation. Somehow I think the man changed his mind. He allowed his excuse to be a roadblock that kept him from being effective for God.
The second man was actually commanded to follow Jesus (vv 59-60)! He offered a legitimate reason, a need to take care of his aging father. The Lord knew that perhaps the father was not as bad off as the man may have thought and that there were others available to taker care of the aging man. With this roadblock removed the second man could serve freely and be more effective for Christ.
In the third man we find another volunteer with an excuse (vv 61-62). This time it was not even the greatest of excuses. Someone might even wonder about this guy's sincerity. He was sincere but perhaps he had his priorities a little out of order. The Lord quickly helped him realize that going home would be the roadblock that would hold him back from being effective for Christ.
Whether sincere or not, whether the excuse was legitimate or silly, all three of the the men had one thing in common. Each of them had something in their life that would be a roadblock to prevent them from being effective for Christ. The first man allowed the roadblock to stay. The other two allowed Jesus to remove the roadblock. Like these three men, each of us has something in our lives that can prevent us from being more effective for Christ. The challenge to each of us is to seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal and remove the roadblocks that are keeping us from being more effective for Christ.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Foundations Destroyed
"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3
Build them again! But it most certainly is not easy!!
America is in a state of destruction, our foundation has been destroyed and we sat back and watched. Not only that, but we really tore it down with our own hands. We are no longer a Christian nation. We pursue headlong after our own destruction, like sheep that have gone astray. We are doomed unless somebody does something.
But wait.... there's an election coming up! Aha, all the fairygod mother has to do is wave her magic wand and get the right man into office and that will make everything all right again, right? That is what we would like to think. That is how many act... 'if we can only get the right man into office then everything will be all right'. It is a solution, perhaps part of the solution but an incomplete solution. It is also a solution from the wrong perspective.
With the heart of our nation as it is, what would happen if the conservative we want is elected? Oh yes, much rejoicing. Let us say that all the prolife and profamily legislation is passed. What happens at the next election? Maybe our guy wins again. Great! What happens if another die hard liberal is elected to office? What happens to all that legislation we worked so hard to put into law? We can watch and mourn as our hard work is overturned. Then we will wonder 'why?' - everything was going so well.
The problem is 1. we were looking to a man to save us 2. the heart of this people is waxed cold toward God.
Our families are breaking up and falling apart and it is not because the wrong elected official is in office. Electing the right conservative is NOT going to fix that. It is because families and individuals have not made Jesus Christ THE foundation of their lives.
If we expect an elected official to fix our problems we will be devasted, for we are expecting something from a mortal that only God can do. By looking to man instead of God we are commiting idolatry.
As an example, if overnight Roe v. Wade was suddenly overturned, what would happen? There would be riots in the streets and huge protests. People would get hurt. Underground abortions would still happen. Why? The hearts are not turned towards Christ! If Christ is Lord and Master we seek what He wants and He would not murder unborn babies.
What we need is hearts to be turned toward Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is Lord of your life you do what HE wants. Our current society is a do whatever is right in your own eyes society - it has a corrupt view of freedom. It has a do whatever you want as long as it does not stop me from doing what I want attitude.
The reason our nation is in the state that is in, is not because we have the wrong officials in office. They got there because the people wanted them there! It is because people are sinners that do no have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, thus making Him the founation of their lives. If Christ was the foundation the people would have voted differently. To restore America we must repent. We must make Christ the foundation of our life and we must win others to Christ (see Proverbs 11:30 & Luke 19:10).
My intent is not to convince you not to vote. Please DO vote - that is your responsibility to God and your country. But do not go to the polls thinking that electing the 'right' official with the 'right' platform is going to automatically fix everything. That is just the beginning of the battle. The real battle is winning hearts for Christ by soul winning. That is rebuilding the foundation.
Build them again! But it most certainly is not easy!!
America is in a state of destruction, our foundation has been destroyed and we sat back and watched. Not only that, but we really tore it down with our own hands. We are no longer a Christian nation. We pursue headlong after our own destruction, like sheep that have gone astray. We are doomed unless somebody does something.
But wait.... there's an election coming up! Aha, all the fairygod mother has to do is wave her magic wand and get the right man into office and that will make everything all right again, right? That is what we would like to think. That is how many act... 'if we can only get the right man into office then everything will be all right'. It is a solution, perhaps part of the solution but an incomplete solution. It is also a solution from the wrong perspective.
With the heart of our nation as it is, what would happen if the conservative we want is elected? Oh yes, much rejoicing. Let us say that all the prolife and profamily legislation is passed. What happens at the next election? Maybe our guy wins again. Great! What happens if another die hard liberal is elected to office? What happens to all that legislation we worked so hard to put into law? We can watch and mourn as our hard work is overturned. Then we will wonder 'why?' - everything was going so well.
The problem is 1. we were looking to a man to save us 2. the heart of this people is waxed cold toward God.
Our families are breaking up and falling apart and it is not because the wrong elected official is in office. Electing the right conservative is NOT going to fix that. It is because families and individuals have not made Jesus Christ THE foundation of their lives.
If we expect an elected official to fix our problems we will be devasted, for we are expecting something from a mortal that only God can do. By looking to man instead of God we are commiting idolatry.
As an example, if overnight Roe v. Wade was suddenly overturned, what would happen? There would be riots in the streets and huge protests. People would get hurt. Underground abortions would still happen. Why? The hearts are not turned towards Christ! If Christ is Lord and Master we seek what He wants and He would not murder unborn babies.
What we need is hearts to be turned toward Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is Lord of your life you do what HE wants. Our current society is a do whatever is right in your own eyes society - it has a corrupt view of freedom. It has a do whatever you want as long as it does not stop me from doing what I want attitude.
The reason our nation is in the state that is in, is not because we have the wrong officials in office. They got there because the people wanted them there! It is because people are sinners that do no have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, thus making Him the founation of their lives. If Christ was the foundation the people would have voted differently. To restore America we must repent. We must make Christ the foundation of our life and we must win others to Christ (see Proverbs 11:30 & Luke 19:10).
My intent is not to convince you not to vote. Please DO vote - that is your responsibility to God and your country. But do not go to the polls thinking that electing the 'right' official with the 'right' platform is going to automatically fix everything. That is just the beginning of the battle. The real battle is winning hearts for Christ by soul winning. That is rebuilding the foundation.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Loving the Lord by Crystal
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all they strength: this is the first commandment." Mark 12:30
Imagine it is your wedding day and you have planned an outdoor wedding out in the beautiful countryside of your parent's home. This is the day that you have waited and dreamed about your whole entire life.
One major problem: rain. What would be your attitude & response?
Recently I attended the wedding of some very dear friends. The above scenario actually happened. As a guest I wondered what was going to happen. Would the wedding be moved elsewhere? If so, where? Or would we wait until it stopped raining? Later I found out that someone had suggested a pavilion at a nearby park that would only cost $20, the father of the bride responded in faith: "I think everything is going to turn out all right". He, the bride, the groom, and their families were all willing to wait on the Lord. They did not wait with a grumbling attitude. Instead, they waited in full trust that the Lord was in control of the situation and would do what was best. Groom & bride both waited with the right attitude and God was glorified. This was a demonstration of their love for the Lord and it was beautiful to behold.
After standing under umbrellas for a time fellowshipping with the other guests my family decided to dry some seats off and sit down while continuing the use of the umbrellas. Eventually I noticed a patch of blue sky off in the distance, "was it headed this way?" It was! Shortly thereafter, the rain slowed and then stopped. The sun began to shine and it turned into the most gorgeous day. The wedding began a little over an hour after the set time. With joy and trust in the Lord the groom stated to the guests, "We thought the wedding was going to start at noon, but I guess the Lord had other plans".
It was a very God glorifying day. I found it to be a faith building experience to see a godly couple who both loved the Lord so much that even after waiting a long time for marriage; they loved the Lord enough to knowthat HE was in control in spite of the fowl weather. It was actually a wedding that was so focused on the Lord that I felt it prepare us for Sunday worship the following day.
Part of loving the Lord is being willing to wait on Him and for His perfect timing. This goes very much against our fleshly desires to have everything instantly at our disposal. When we do not get what we want or things do not happen the way we think they should it is easy to let ungodly attitudes take over our demeanor. It is inconvenient to wait, but it is such a demonstration of our love for Jesus, to overcome our own desires and desire what the Lord wants.
What would have happened if the groom or bride had displayed wrong attitudes? Anyone would understand and sympathize with a disappointed groom/bride over the fowl weather. The fowl weather was a "test". It was as if the Lord was saying, "Are you going to keep your focus on Me? Do you trust My timing?" They could have allowed the rain to cast a shadow on the wedding. But that would have been failing the "test". It would also have taken glory away from the Lord. Instead, they displayed a trust in the Lord by right attitudes, and God got the glory.
Now back to the question at the beginnig of this article. What would have been your attitude & response? What is your attitude when things "go wrong"? Do you have a wrong attitude? Do you take glory away from the Lord? Or do you use unpleasant circumstances in life as a way to bring glory to God? This is one of the greatest ways to show your love for the Lord. When you respond with a right attitude, you bring glory to God. A wrong attitude takes away glory. Loving the Lord is making sure HE gets all the glory.
"I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another,
neither My praise to graven images." Isaiah 42:8
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Movie "180"
Here is a link to thought provoking film that will only take 33 minutes of your time. Some scenes may be disturbing to some so viewer discretion is advised.
http://www.180movie.com/
http://www.180movie.com/
Friday, May 6, 2011
Walk for Life! by Crystal
Please consider sponsoring me to Walk for Life. It is a fundraiser for CareNet, a local pro-life ministry. Their direct link is: http://http://www.friendsofcarenetnn.org/
Donations can be made online: http://http://www.ministrysync.com/event/website/?m=685214
Jeremiah & Mom (with Shelley, of course!) are also planning to walk and taking pledges. They don't have a website yet, hopefully that will be coming soon. I will post their direct links as soon as they are available.
Thank your time and consideration!
Donations can be made online: http://http://www.ministrysync.com/event/website/?m=685214
Jeremiah & Mom (with Shelley, of course!) are also planning to walk and taking pledges. They don't have a website yet, hopefully that will be coming soon. I will post their direct links as soon as they are available.
Thank your time and consideration!
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