Happy Anniversary!
It will be. I will spend it with the same lady I have spent the last thirty-four. My life is blessed because Ruth is there.
Someone came up with a whole list of things to give on these days. Silver on 25, gold on 50 so on and so on it goes. Those were suggestions of gifts to give your spouse. I don't know but it sounds like department stores and jewelers came up withe the list to me.
I haven't even looked at the list to see what I should be giving Ruth today. But I do know what the gift to give on number thirty five is. It is thanks.
I am thankful for all that God has done for us in these years. Three great kids and three wonderful grandchildren ( and counting I hope). We have been in ministry for all of these years and I am thankful for that and how God has provided. He has placed many incredible people in our lives that have enriched us beyond our ability to explain it all.
But mostly today I am just thankful for Ruth. What a lady. When I ask myself what did I do to deserve such a blessing as she is, the answer is nothing. God just had mercy on me and sent her into my life. She is the sunshine in the morning and the stars at night. That girl is the light of my life.
I don't really know what to give her on this anniversary, (she wants an Alaskan cruise) but I know exactly what to give God.
Thanks!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
This week I saw my kids and grand kids for a day or so at the camp my son-in-law has responsibility for overseeing. Walking around the grounds it brought back memories of my childhood attending the youth camps in Alabama. They were telling me of the crazy games that they play. I am telling you the emphasis here is on "crazy". It is nuts. We would never have been allowed to play games like those and I think I am happy about that. The facilities and resources that are provided for them are astounding especially when I compare them against what my generation had. I was happy for them and just a little bit jealous there had not been some of these things in my day.
However, in listening to their account of the first week of camp one thing has not changed. Youth Camp remains a place where young people come and genuinely get in touch with God. Their lives are still changed in the atmosphere that is created there. For that, I am truly grateful.
It reminded me that no matter where I am, or what circumstances I find myself in, He never changes. The times may change, the resources may be different, the technology may change the style and look of the presentation, but Jesus does not change. Nor does His power to arrest our hearts and speak a word of comfort or challenge.
When it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the old line is absolutely true. "The more things change the more they stay the same."
Thank God!
However, in listening to their account of the first week of camp one thing has not changed. Youth Camp remains a place where young people come and genuinely get in touch with God. Their lives are still changed in the atmosphere that is created there. For that, I am truly grateful.
It reminded me that no matter where I am, or what circumstances I find myself in, He never changes. The times may change, the resources may be different, the technology may change the style and look of the presentation, but Jesus does not change. Nor does His power to arrest our hearts and speak a word of comfort or challenge.
When it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the old line is absolutely true. "The more things change the more they stay the same."
Thank God!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
It was early but good
This morning the first real thought I had, as soon as I woke up was "my soul longs for the living God". Wow! What a great God I have that is helping me train my mind to that kind of thinking.
My "flesh" longs for me. But my "mind" is being transformed by the power of His word to long for Him.
My "flesh" longs for me. But my "mind" is being transformed by the power of His word to long for Him.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Rejoice
Yesterday I expressed my feelings for great concerns that are in my heart. I feel those things deeply. This morning I am sitting here at my computer and considering those things for which I am thankful. I am not going to try to start listing those on this blog. How could I, they are way to many.
I will list just one. Even doing that is scary because the perspective reaches so far. Friends. I am thankful for friends. I will define friends today as those people whom you can count on when times are good and bad. Some friends you only see during the good times. That's okay, it is good to see them. Some friends quite honestly you only see during tough times and I am not really sure why, but it sure is good to see them then.
Today, here is a shout out to all those people who laugh with you when you're happy and cry with you when you are broken. They comfort you when you are sad and celebrate with you when you succeed. I really love those people.
They are my friends, who are yours?
I will list just one. Even doing that is scary because the perspective reaches so far. Friends. I am thankful for friends. I will define friends today as those people whom you can count on when times are good and bad. Some friends you only see during the good times. That's okay, it is good to see them. Some friends quite honestly you only see during tough times and I am not really sure why, but it sure is good to see them then.
Today, here is a shout out to all those people who laugh with you when you're happy and cry with you when you are broken. They comfort you when you are sad and celebrate with you when you succeed. I really love those people.
They are my friends, who are yours?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday
Today is Monday and thus far it has for me been less than kind. Mostly just the issues of life that tend to get us down at times. However there are a few things that I am battling that are huge to me and I am not in a position to see how they will turn out good without divine intervention. I suppose being in a place where I must depend on God completely is not really a bad place at all.
That said, I am mad. I am mad that I see so many things in God's kingdom that are not, in my way of thinking the way they should be at all.
I just read an email from a missionary friend asking for prayer for a new pastor in the 10/40 window that was put in jail for his faith. I'm mad about that.
I read another email from an official with our church that is concerned that our missionaries are having a hard time raising their support. I'm mad about that. I got wind of several of our missionaries that are all dealing with cancer. I'm mad about that.
Laura Sebold has cancer that makes me mad, Chris Fought has had a recurrence of a brain tumor I'm mad about that. I'm mad about all the other sickness in God's family that disrupts His people from serving Him. I'm mad!
I'm not mad as hell, but I am mad at hell. I am tired of seeing God's people not receive God's best.
This ministry that I lead has had God's blessing on it for decades, but for some time now there has been a stranglehold on the church. It is financial. It is other things as well, but from my perspective, there is nothing that the church faces right now anymore debilitating than the financial struggle that has endured for years. I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad.
Who am I mad at? I am mad at the enemy, the deceiver, the liar, the devil. He has had his way with too many of God's people, too much of God's business for way too long.
Paul says "we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers" and I believe that. He also says "our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds". There is nothing wrong with being mad. It is a normal emotional response to various stimulus. What is important about anger is how we deal with it and how we choose to handle it.
Here's how I want to handle it. I want to start pulling down strongholds. Enough is enough. Let's become like the widow that pressed in... the blind man by the road who would not be quiet... the woman who would not release the unjust judge until he gave her favorable judgment... the woman outside the house of Israel who would not let Jesus go and told him "even the dogs get the crumbs from the master's table."
Well I don't know about crumbs, I'm too mad for that.
I want to sit down at a banquet in the presence of my enemies.
I want my head to be anointed with oil.
I am ready for my cup to run over.
I'm MAD.
I wonder if I am the only mad person out there. Maybe there a few others who are ready to join me until the strongholds come crashing down.
PULLING THEM DOWN,
Pastor Steve
That said, I am mad. I am mad that I see so many things in God's kingdom that are not, in my way of thinking the way they should be at all.
I just read an email from a missionary friend asking for prayer for a new pastor in the 10/40 window that was put in jail for his faith. I'm mad about that.
I read another email from an official with our church that is concerned that our missionaries are having a hard time raising their support. I'm mad about that. I got wind of several of our missionaries that are all dealing with cancer. I'm mad about that.
Laura Sebold has cancer that makes me mad, Chris Fought has had a recurrence of a brain tumor I'm mad about that. I'm mad about all the other sickness in God's family that disrupts His people from serving Him. I'm mad!
I'm not mad as hell, but I am mad at hell. I am tired of seeing God's people not receive God's best.
This ministry that I lead has had God's blessing on it for decades, but for some time now there has been a stranglehold on the church. It is financial. It is other things as well, but from my perspective, there is nothing that the church faces right now anymore debilitating than the financial struggle that has endured for years. I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad.
Who am I mad at? I am mad at the enemy, the deceiver, the liar, the devil. He has had his way with too many of God's people, too much of God's business for way too long.
Paul says "we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers" and I believe that. He also says "our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds". There is nothing wrong with being mad. It is a normal emotional response to various stimulus. What is important about anger is how we deal with it and how we choose to handle it.
Here's how I want to handle it. I want to start pulling down strongholds. Enough is enough. Let's become like the widow that pressed in... the blind man by the road who would not be quiet... the woman who would not release the unjust judge until he gave her favorable judgment... the woman outside the house of Israel who would not let Jesus go and told him "even the dogs get the crumbs from the master's table."
Well I don't know about crumbs, I'm too mad for that.
I want to sit down at a banquet in the presence of my enemies.
I want my head to be anointed with oil.
I am ready for my cup to run over.
I'm MAD.
I wonder if I am the only mad person out there. Maybe there a few others who are ready to join me until the strongholds come crashing down.
PULLING THEM DOWN,
Pastor Steve
Good Deeds
I Timothy 5:25
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
Well I guess that is not a surprise. What a joy for me when I see people reach out and do random acts of kindness. It just kind of brightens the day. You know I may not be the recipient but it does me just as much good to see someone bless others.
In fact it makes me want to help as well.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
Well I guess that is not a surprise. What a joy for me when I see people reach out and do random acts of kindness. It just kind of brightens the day. You know I may not be the recipient but it does me just as much good to see someone bless others.
In fact it makes me want to help as well.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Praying in the Dark
SOAP for June 28
S 2 Chronicles 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us. 10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
O The context of the scripture is one where Jehoshaphat is completely overwhelmed with a circumstance which he has no power or control over.
The prayer that he prays is one of confidence in God, but frustration over what has happened.
There is a statement that suggest he has no plan, no idea what to do next because of the severity of the obstacles. They are completely outside of his ability to do anything about them. Jehoshaphat says that these events do not line up with what God's stated direction and promise are for His people.
This last statement of his prayer says that in his frustration and fear and lack of understanding of why this happened his eyes are on the Lord.
A When I find myself in situations that are not in line with what God has promised and the direction He has lead, my job is to completely turn my attention to Him.
There are times when we are to use the gifts God has given to us.
Times to do the things that we have gotten good at with the help of the Lord.
There are times that our skills and God's provision are His solution to our problems.
However sometimes the leader is to just lead people to the presence of God and cast our cares upon him.
Jehoshaphat told God who He was and confessed that he, Jehoshaphat, was not. He built up his faith by recounting the acts of God and rehearsing His promises to His people.
This is a pattern of the people of God in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
"Acts 4:24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
I am in good company to follow this pattern.
P "O LORD, the God who is in heaven.
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations including this church that I pastor.
Power and might are in your hand, and you have displayed that power in our past time and again.
O our God, you placed this church in this community and raised it up under the leadership of those previous to me. They have lived and worked here and built the foundations for the ministry that has been established for your Name.
But now here are circumstances, opportunities and obstacles that we have no power to deal with. Many of our challenges and opportunities involve financial resources that are completely outside of our ability to produce them.
O our God, will you not invade our circumstances as you have so many times before. For we have no power to face this vast challenge.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. May they remain there.
I declare my complete dependence on you today.
S 2 Chronicles 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us. 10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
O The context of the scripture is one where Jehoshaphat is completely overwhelmed with a circumstance which he has no power or control over.
The prayer that he prays is one of confidence in God, but frustration over what has happened.
There is a statement that suggest he has no plan, no idea what to do next because of the severity of the obstacles. They are completely outside of his ability to do anything about them. Jehoshaphat says that these events do not line up with what God's stated direction and promise are for His people.
This last statement of his prayer says that in his frustration and fear and lack of understanding of why this happened his eyes are on the Lord.
A When I find myself in situations that are not in line with what God has promised and the direction He has lead, my job is to completely turn my attention to Him.
There are times when we are to use the gifts God has given to us.
Times to do the things that we have gotten good at with the help of the Lord.
There are times that our skills and God's provision are His solution to our problems.
However sometimes the leader is to just lead people to the presence of God and cast our cares upon him.
Jehoshaphat told God who He was and confessed that he, Jehoshaphat, was not. He built up his faith by recounting the acts of God and rehearsing His promises to His people.
This is a pattern of the people of God in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
"Acts 4:24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
I am in good company to follow this pattern.
P "O LORD, the God who is in heaven.
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations including this church that I pastor.
Power and might are in your hand, and you have displayed that power in our past time and again.
O our God, you placed this church in this community and raised it up under the leadership of those previous to me. They have lived and worked here and built the foundations for the ministry that has been established for your Name.
But now here are circumstances, opportunities and obstacles that we have no power to deal with. Many of our challenges and opportunities involve financial resources that are completely outside of our ability to produce them.
O our God, will you not invade our circumstances as you have so many times before. For we have no power to face this vast challenge.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. May they remain there.
I declare my complete dependence on you today.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Facebook and the Bible
I opened a facebook account yesterday. I knew what facebook was, I mean I knew that it was a social networking sight, but I really didn't understand the power behind it's reach. Because of the information stored there and the software that connects people based on the information entered into the program, in a matter of minutes I had people contacting me from all around America. I was connecting to people that I had not heard from in years. Because of the ability to put a picture on the sight, I was flooded with memories of relationships that had not been active for such a long time.
Various ones would respond with kind and welcoming words to the facebook network. It was really just kind of cool. In my bible reading this morning from II Kings 4 and 5 I was connected to Elisha and the Shunamite woman. I was connected again to the woman with the pots and the oil. I reconnected with Namaan and the faith of his servant girl who sent him to Elisha. Something happened there similar to the facebook experience. My faith was strengthened, my courage was bolstered. There was an increase in my trust in God for all things in my life.
It was great on facebook to renew old acquaintances. Time and circumstances and honestly just not working hard at it has removed me from active involvement with those friends. God help me not to let that happen with those friends from the Word. Help me to stay fresh and maintain my relationships with Elisha and the Shunamite and Gehazi. I don't want to be removed from the faith of the little servant girl.
I am going to work at maintaining theses personal relationships through facebook and other tools, I am going to stay in the Word and God's presence so that those other relationships are strong.
Various ones would respond with kind and welcoming words to the facebook network. It was really just kind of cool. In my bible reading this morning from II Kings 4 and 5 I was connected to Elisha and the Shunamite woman. I was connected again to the woman with the pots and the oil. I reconnected with Namaan and the faith of his servant girl who sent him to Elisha. Something happened there similar to the facebook experience. My faith was strengthened, my courage was bolstered. There was an increase in my trust in God for all things in my life.
It was great on facebook to renew old acquaintances. Time and circumstances and honestly just not working hard at it has removed me from active involvement with those friends. God help me not to let that happen with those friends from the Word. Help me to stay fresh and maintain my relationships with Elisha and the Shunamite and Gehazi. I don't want to be removed from the faith of the little servant girl.
I am going to work at maintaining theses personal relationships through facebook and other tools, I am going to stay in the Word and God's presence so that those other relationships are strong.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
What's Up With Demas
Here is my SOAP for this morning. Philemon was a part of my regular reading and I remembered the passage from 2 Timothy concerning Demas. It is important to remember the cares of this world can be mesmerizing even to "the very elect" the scripture says.
Scripture
Philemon 1:24
Observations
It is obvious to me that something happened in the life of Demas. In Philemon he is Paul's fellow worker. In 2 Timothy he has forsaken the work and walked away. There was a desire for the world or the things of the world that enticed him and he did not overcome their lure. What a sad thing to be in God's service and have your eyes blinded by things.
Application
I must always be on my guard concerning the desires of my heart. It is imperative that I keep my heart supple before the Holy Spirit and not allow arrogance to rise up in me. I must realize that even those who are called to God's service and have their lives completely submerged in His work can be deceived when they do not keep their minds stayed on Him.
Prayer
Lord I do not want my life to be an afterthought in your kingdom. Help me not to get my eyes on the things of this world. Lord I do not want to be drawn away by serving the creation rather than the creator. Fill me today with your Spirit. Let me walk in your wisdom and understanding. I want my mind to be filled with your beauty and my feet to walk in your guidance. Let my heart be overwhelmed with the knowledge of God. Help me to always distinguish your ways from mine.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Scripture
Philemon 1:24
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
2 Timothy 4:10
Observations
It is obvious to me that something happened in the life of Demas. In Philemon he is Paul's fellow worker. In 2 Timothy he has forsaken the work and walked away. There was a desire for the world or the things of the world that enticed him and he did not overcome their lure. What a sad thing to be in God's service and have your eyes blinded by things.
Application
I must always be on my guard concerning the desires of my heart. It is imperative that I keep my heart supple before the Holy Spirit and not allow arrogance to rise up in me. I must realize that even those who are called to God's service and have their lives completely submerged in His work can be deceived when they do not keep their minds stayed on Him.
Prayer
Lord I do not want my life to be an afterthought in your kingdom. Help me not to get my eyes on the things of this world. Lord I do not want to be drawn away by serving the creation rather than the creator. Fill me today with your Spirit. Let me walk in your wisdom and understanding. I want my mind to be filled with your beauty and my feet to walk in your guidance. Let my heart be overwhelmed with the knowledge of God. Help me to always distinguish your ways from mine.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Called By God
SOAP June 18, 2008
Called By God
S 1 Timothy 1
Called By God
S 1 Timothy 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
O I am a servant of Jesus Christ called by him and placed in this place by His discretion.
God's desire and will is to extend His grace, mercy and peace to me.
A My job is to walk, talk, think and behave like a servant of Christ. His demeanor is one of confidence in His father, so must mine be.
My job is to cooperate with the Spirit of God who called me and placed me in this assignment and be an instrument of HIS. So it is my responsibility as much as is possible for me to show His grace to others, always operate in mercy and be a peace maker.
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