Tag: Church

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Confessions of a Church Thief

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It’s absolutely true.

I was perusing the aisles.

I eyed every single one until that one caught my eye. The one I didn’t have.

Before anyone at Victory Baptist Church begins to wonder if it happened at our church, it didn’t. It didn’t even happen at church. It happened on Facebook for cryin’ out loud. I’m so ashamed! Okay maybe that was a bit dramatic… I’m not really ashamed, just embarrassed for my Lord. You see… I was perusing the aisles of another church coveting their membership. It was a certain person that I love and I just thought to myself, “Wow, I wish they’d come to our church.” And then I happened to think about the cost of them coming to our church. They’d have to leave theirs, there would possibly be hurt feelings; I know how it’s been when someone has left our church who I loved. So in affect, I’d be wishing heartache on another congregation of believers. And then the harshest reality of all hit me… if every church in our community did what we were supposed to be doing, evangelizing the area, they’d be no need to wish for what another church had.

Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

William Chadwick’s book Stealing Sheep sums up well when he said “Jesus did not say, ‘Go into all the world and shift the sheep’ He also said a very wise thing when he said modern day churches were less about church growth and a little more about rearranging the ecclesiastical furniture. I almost laughed out loud when I read that, and then I thought, wow… that’s sad and true. Most church growth that we see does not come from seeing new souls saved for the Kingdom of God, but more about disgruntled or unchallenged church members who leave one church for another. Truth?

So what do we do about it? Well for starters, I can stop creeping on Facebook pages and start creeping up the hills and hollers of my community in search of creatures. Creatures? Maybe I should paraphrase that for clarity by saying “Creations.” Those who God created with purpose, who’s not only not fulfilling their potential for the cause of Christ, but are heading to Hell and will never know Him because we were too busy shifting sheep. This thought zinged my heart this morning. What about you?

I’m sending this out as a word of warning today to people in my path. I’m on a super sheep search. (say that three times fast). I’m looking for wild sheep! The ones that have never made it into anyone’s fold. This is my prayer… that God help them cross my path, help me to recognize them and then give me the boldness to ask, “Do you know my friend Jesus?”

No more thievin’. I’m turning over a new leaf.

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Smack Dab in the Middle!

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alpha omega and me

Revelation 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Right smack dab in the middle, that’s where I want to be. Yesterday was another crazy day in life of the Jesus Chick. Early morning rising and then off to a new mission work that’s going on in our community (Eagle Ranch Mission and Revival Training Center). We spent the day with youth who sat outside in the cool of October and soaked up the gospel desiring their part of the middle. I left in the late afternoon to go back to the church to pass out candy and gospel tracks to community children in hopes that I could plant more than a seed of candy corn in their home.

I loved this thought today. God created the beginning and the end, but the middle is ours. God set a plan in action from day one with a designed end in His sight. It’s not ours to know the day or the hour of the end, just that it’s a done deal for which we need to be prepared for. Before I finish this writing the trumpet could sound. There’s an end to this story, but the middle… that’s now. That’s the awesome part!

That’s why I get up early, 4:30 a.m. (ish) sometimes earlier, sometimes later. I don’t want to miss the middle, and for me the middle starts early. That’s why I gave my Saturday to a new mission work, because being in the middle of something that could be life altering for someone is exciting stuff. It’s why Sunday mornings are a treat and I can’t wait to get to the house of the Lord. I’m hoping that in the middle of the message someone there will discover that fountain of the water of life, and I’ll get to watch them take their first drink.

Satan’s lie that serving Jesus is a chore has deprived so many Christians of their piece of the middle. It’s like eating the crust of an apple pie and leaving the gooey delicious cinnamon and sugar filled fruit in the bowl. How crazy is that? But that’s what Christians do when they fail to be in the middle of an active church.

It’s another crazy day in the life of the Jesus Chick. I’m up early, and preparing my heart for the services in the house of the Lord, afterwards I’m taking a group of youth to another service out of town called the Judgment House. I don’t say this to boast “look what I’m doing for Jesus!” I say this because I want you to understand how exciting it is to be in the middle and that you need to take every opportunity to be there.

The middle, it’s the awesome part. The end… woah baby! It’s going to be beyond awesome. Don’t miss out.

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The New Heroes

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In a conference class yesterday the story is told of a young couple, who at the age of 18 decide to marry. Not long afterwards it’s discovered that they’re expecting their first child. And then he loses his job; he can’t make his car payment so he loses their car. He struggles to get a job because transportation is now an issue. But they fight back. They buckle down and make it through. He gets another job and they barely make ends meet, but they make it. It’s the modern day hero. No superman cape flying in the wind. No rescuing the damsel in distress. Just the reality of living and trying to keep food on the table.

And such was the case in the story of the widow of Zarephath in 1st Kings 17:11-16

And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

She’d all but given up on life and then a man of God stops by and things change. She didn’t win the lottery, she’s not now dining on steak and potatoes; just the meal and oil. Elijah didn’t come with a cape and whisk her off her feet, he came with provision of the Word of God and survival followed.

My new heroes.

I look around my church and I see them. Snotty nosed babies, Momma’s with disheveled clothes from her baby’s constant tugging. A daddy, slightly slumped in his seat, eyes glazed over from too few hours of sleep, and the strain of “just surviving” written all over his face. There’s not a prophet on their porch with an endless supply of meal and oil. Just the mail man with a late payment notice on their car loan. And as the collection plate is passed down the row, the closer it gets the greater the temptation to just leave their tithe out, because a few more groceries would be nice this week, and it’s not much anyway. Surely their tithe won’t break the church bank. But he drops it in, and believes… God’s got this.

They’re my new heroes.

It’s the grandmother who thought she was done raising children, but life began anew. And so did the expenses. It’s the widow who eats peanut butter and toast all week, so she can save for a ham on Sunday to share with her family. It’s the widower who has no financial issues, because there’s no one to buy for. What I’ve come to realize is that it’s not always a prophet that God sends to stretch the meal and oil. I’m not rich, Elijah wasn’t either. He had faith, the widow had faith and together God made heroes… Survivors. Look for them along your path today, they’re plentiful! Perhaps you can help them multiply the meal and oil.

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Make Believe Church

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Non-church Christians is about like a non-medical school physician. They do far more damage than good and no one wants to hear their opinion. I meet them most every day; those who for some reason or another have given up on church or have never gone, and yet if you asked them if today they knew for certain they were going to Heaven when they die, the answer is usually “Of course!” Some are honest and will just flat tell you “No, I don’t know.” I LOVE THOSE PEOPLE. Those people I can work with, they are real. But the “non-practicing Christian scares me. I know… I’m judging again, right? No, I’m reading the Bible.

James 2:19-20 ~Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The devils tremble because they know Jesus. Satan’s not an atheist. Satanists are not atheists because by worshiping Satan they have just confessed the living God who created Lucifer. But let’s get back to the “non-practicing Christian.” I doubt the Satanists are reading my blog post today, but the title very well may have caught the eye of someone who thinks they know they’re okay, and will say they are when ask, but deep within… they tremble. It is you who my heart breaks for today. I love you too. I was you 17 years ago.

In Luke 10:17-20 Jesus had sent out seventy disciples into a world that He knew many would reject. He gave them the rules of engagement, the weapon of warfare, the special powers within and His final advice, “knock the dust off your shoes and move on down the road when they won’t listen.” (paraphrased by me) So the seventy go out and even they are shocked at what power they now possess. They can do as He has done. Woah baby! Who knew? Jesus did.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Jesus responded by saying (again paraphrased by me) “I gave you all those great and mighty gifts, but the greatest gift you have is the knowledge that your name is written down in Heaven.” I know for a fact it was the greatest gift I’ve ever received.  And I know I’ve received it because like the seventy, I have that desire to go into the world and tell them about Jesus, whether or not they accept it. But about that “knocking the dust off my feet.” It’s biblical, and I’ve done it. But when it’s your own soul, it won’t leave the tread in my shoe sole and it sure enough won’t leave the desires of my soul.

I have friends and family who confess they know. But there is no desire to tell others about Jesus, and there is no evidence of faith in their lives on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. And I fear they’ll be left trembling, alone in this world if Jesus returns for His church. Cast into outer darkness, forever separated from those they love.

You may ask “Is church really that important?” Jesus died for it, you tell me.

This is not a scare tactic. This is reality. You wouldn’t go to a make believe doctor if you were sick. Please, don’t go to a make believe church.

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When I Grow Up I want to be a Sonflower

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Ephesians 4:11-15 ~ 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: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

This morning when I was creeping on somebody’s Facebook page that I didn’t even know (a friend of a friend) I found the sunflower picture. My immediate thought was, “Wow, that’s love.” My second thought was a question. “Why isn’t the church in love like that?”

The reason I creep is godly (most of the time). I like to see what’s going on in the lives of other Christians and their images generally tell a story a bout what’s important to them. I run across lots of family pictures and plenty of comedy! I occasionally run across some off color image that shouldn’t oughta be there on a Christian’s page (just sayin’) But mostly I run across pictures of people they love. So it has me thinking today, if God took a snapshot of the American Church today what would it look like? The body of believers is so fractured into denominations and then sects within the denomination, then clicks within the sects and Jiminy Cricket, God Himself probably doesn’t have enough film to take as many pictures as necessary because we can’t be included in that group because they don’t believe like us.

In the beginning of the New Testament Church it had already begun; the need for Paul to reign them in. Paul was trying to put the unity back in their communities. He wanted them to know Christ’s ideas (knowledge of the Son of God); he wanted them to un-know man’s ideas (be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men). He wanted them to grow up into a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Perfection doesn’t mean without sin, not until we come to Heaven will we know perfection. But we are made perfect through Christ in the unity of our faith in Him. Contrary to popular belief, when God pulls out His wallet of baby pictures, certain denominations are not on top, but there are some baby pictures. Crying, whimpering, selfish believers that don’t play well with others. Always tattling on the other believers to non-believers, telling them why they shouldn’t join so and so’s church rather than letting them see Jesus and deciding on their own. Paul tells them to grow up. Know what you believe and live it, stop creeping in other peoples churches, it’s messing up your own doctrine. I guess it was the Facebook of the day.

God has given us (in our church) where like believers are, our own preachers and teachers of the gospel for the work of the ministry. It’s time to get to work. That’s what people do when they grow up. They work. And we need to be edifying the body of Christ (that’s each other). I know it’s just an image, but when I look at the sunflowers faces I see the love of the artist that created it. It’s with that love that God created us to love one another. (But speaking the truth in love, may grow up). When I grow up I want to be a Sonflower and love people just like that.

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Depreciated Pastors

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It’s Pastor Appreciation month, and if you have one you should indeed appreciate the fact. I guess it’s more relevant than ever this year as it is the first year since salvation that I’ve not had a Pastor. Those words really hit me hard this morning, because I’m a spoiled brat in the house of God. I don’t know why He chooses to bless us at Victory Baptist Church like He does, but in the absence of a Pastor on staff, God has sent not only one man, but multiple men who are qualified preachers in the site of God. So as a Pastor is sought I cannot say that I know what it’s like to be leaderless because I do not, nor has the Word of God been lack, we’re blessed. But a Pastor is not only a preacher and leader, (in the words of Matthew Henry) they are magistrates and ministers. Their role in the church is worthy of appreciation.

Jeremiah 3:15 says ~  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A Pastor after God’s Own Heart

Samuel said of David that the Lord had sought him because he was a man after His own heart,

1 Samuel 13:14

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

It is God’s heart desire to satisfy the body of Christ. To give each member what it stands in need of. Some need knowledge, some need understanding, and all need a captain. Inspired by God in Psalm 78:72 David wrote of himself as the leader of Israel “So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

A Pastor’s role is not just preaching on Sunday, it’s very much like David’s shepherd days when there would be sheep who stayed nicely in the pen, those who wandered off and the occasional black sheep to be dealt with. There were mild mannered sheep, and bullies. There were ewe’s who didn’t want the shepherd to boss her baby, and there were rams who thought they knew more than the shepherd. The shepherd fed them all. There were bears and lions on the outside that the shepherd defended the flock from; sometimes, they didn’t even know.

To put that metaphor in layman’s terms, there are steadfast members of the church who desire to know God deeper, to them the Pastor feeds knowledge. There are those who stray in and outside the church, to those the Pastor offers guidance and understanding. He is magistrate to those who stir strife inside the church, and minister to those who have struggles in their lives. And on his off hours he’s fighting a literal and spiritual warfare with those on the outside of the church who would desire to rip apart the work he’s doing on the inside.

The world continually depreciates their value, and unfortunately many churches do the same. Please don’t tell me that your Pastor doesn’t need a little lovin’ this Sunday. Give honor where honor is due.

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Elephants and Idiots

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Today is National Elephant Day. A day set aside to honor the mammoth creation of God. These gentle giants have been a favorite of children and adults for years. From Dumbo to Babar they’ve made children’s stories and cartoons come to life. One of my favorite audio books was “Juggling Elephants” a story of a man’s experience with the circus and learning to become the ringmaster of his life. I’ve spent much of my life juggling elephants, which is seldom productive. Which is why I often resort to audio books, because in my multi-tasking way it allows me to do two things at once, usually drive. But this morning my reference to the elephants and idiots, is more about the Elephant in the room, which is a favorite idiom of mine referring to something as plain as the trunk on an elephants face, and yet ignored. Welcome to America. The land of idioms and idiots.

It is by God’s immutable grace that America still exists. Our nation as a whole is ran in absolute ignorance as they spend billions of dollars on wars (not our own) and on political factions (which unfortunately are our own) and the American public sits by and chooses to ignore it as if it will magically be all better someday. We pay people for their inept running of our nations and treat them like rock stars when they come into our community and hold no one in Washington accountable for the actions, be they democrat or republican. Why?

Revelation 18:4-5 ~ And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

It’s Sunday morning. My skirt and blouse are hung on the door waiting to be donned and my hair and makeup waiting to be strategically placed to make look like a princess and my heart is on that place that I call home, Heaven. And I hear out of Heaven this morning as I write, “Your nation needs to come out from among them,” and I don’t know how to make them understand, other than to use this very small platform as it is and tell my friends, it has to start somewhere. We can continue to ignore it, and wait for Jesus to return or we can lift our petitions to Heaven, and tell God we’re ready to take America back to the foundation of its roots and then head out the door to church.

Church? Really. I hear it being said. What can the church do? Take a lesson from the elephants. The size and strength of healthy adult elephants leavens tem less susceptible to a predating lion. They’re more apt to be harmed by a human. Their calves are vulnerable to the lion, but the larger cows heard the calves into the center of the herd for protection. Can you see the application that can be made to the church today? A healthy church is much less susceptible to the predator Satan, they’re more apt to be harmed by the people with them, especially a new baby Christian. We need to join together, and make sure our leadership is going in the direction we want. We need to protect the young Christian, and children in our congregations from what the world says is “normal.” We need to stand together as a Christian nation.

I’m not a “let’s all hold hands and get along Christian.” There are too many false religions that are taking people to Hell for me to link hands with everyone and the Bible clearly says to “Come out from among them.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. Revelation 18:4 said it again. But I believe there’s a big remnant that could be called up this morning to make a difference.

For some reason we look at our general congregation size and view that as the church. But look at the statistics.

ATTENDANCE

# OF CHURCHES

WEEKLY WORSHIPERS

PERCENT

7-99

177,000

9 million

59%

100-499

105,000

25 million

35%

500-999

12,000

9 million

4%

1,000-1,999

6,000

8 million

2%

2,000-9,999

1,170

4 million

.4%

10,000-plus

40

.7 million

.01%

TOTALS

approx. 300,000

approx. 56 million

100%

Facts from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

Fifty-six million people in churches across America (and yes I understand that they are not all biblically correct) but even so, 56 million and we allow the American leadership to tell us that we cannot make a difference. Hello? Does anyone else see that as ludicrous besides me?

I fully believe that America’s sins have reached Heaven. I believe God is going to get fed up with us and our lackluster attitude towards serious faith. But I believe we can make a difference. I pray you’ll head to your church this morning and think about the idiom and call your congregation to come out from among the idiots. We never belonged there.

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It’s Game Day!

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Acts 17:26-27 ~ And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

The chatter on Facebook and other social media sites yesterday was abuzz with Football comments, Manchester City vs Liverpool tickets, cheers and pics of fans sporting the colors and logos to the tune of millions of dollars in revenue for the teams. Postgame comments of the losing team fans left one wondering if they actually owned stock in the company. I guess technically they do with all the team merchandise they’ve bought. And then there’s Sunday. This is my game day! I’m every bit as excited about what is going transpire in a few hours on my home court as the fanatical collegiate sports nuts were yesterday. I’ve got my game face on! And my day will be spent without regret, foul language or poor sportsmanship. Go Team Jesus!

While there is but one Church, one body in Christ, there are many members of that body. And although some wear their denomination like a team jersey and feel that they have exclusive rights to the clubhouse God will disprove that theory one day when they’re shocked to discover who their neighbor in Heaven is. But while we live down here on earth we each have our perspective bounds of habitation. Those places of appointment that God has given us to serve in. For me it’s Victory Baptist Church in Grantsville, West Virginia; that’s home field. The place that I feel happy!

Why is it, perhaps you can explain it to me; that the same people who are screaming bloody murder for their home team yesterday can’t give a shout out to the Lord today, or (you’ll have to forgive me) can’t even get out of bed to go to their own home field? Why is it that people will spend hundreds of dollars on home team paraphernalia but feel it’s a burden to contribute to the ministry? I know, I’m likely preaching to the choir if you’re reading this, but I feel we all have something to learn from fanatical living.

If your place of worship does not have you in that happy place this morning you are either in the wrong place or your heart’s not in the game. When the preacher gets up in the pulpit this morning you should be cheering him on, (we should have prayed him in). He’s got the play book! Every word that comes out of his mouth has the potential to win the game for you if you’ll take it and run with it. Our game doesn’t end at noon either, it’s just starting when the church bell rings. It was the preacher’s game from eleven to noon (Or whatever your perspective services run). But now it’s time for you to hit the field. The great thing about Team Jesus is everyone has the opportunity to play, God’s got no favorites! That alone ought to put a shout on you. You don’t need any equipment other than the Word of God, and it’s better than a set of football pads, it’s a shield of armor and two edge sword. Our cheerleaders are a host of angels in Heaven that would likely deafen us if we could hear their shouts of joy! And the trophy you’re after … eternal life for that soul outside the stadium who’s in the game without a coach or protection from the opposing team. They don’t stand a chance if someone doesn’t defend them.

So… it’s game day, are you ready?

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A Trip to the Station

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Isaiah 22:13-19 ~  And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house. And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.

 Stations in Life

I will confess to you that over my lifetime there have been countless stations that pride factored in. I loved the title, I did not always love the job. When I left my job with the courts, I left because I was absolutely miserable. When I received the job it was a blessing and an appointment from a Circuit Judge, a job of prestige of sorts; but with it came heartache and sorrow of families, personal information about the lives of people in my community and day by day it tore at my heart. Coupled with the politics of the place I was not a happy camper. Station meant nothing at that point, I just wanted out.

This was not the case with Shebna. His position had gone to his head and he began to think himself so important that, while his city lie in ruin around him, he had built, or engraved for himself, a house in stone that Isaiah referred to as his own sepulcher. Nice huh? A house that looked like a grave plot; my spine just shivered. Mainly because I’ve witnessed much of the same in society today when they build huge houses of enormous cost and then fill it with misery and death. But God sends Isaiah with a message in verse 19 that says “I will drive thee from thy station.”

I don’t know at what point God’s going to get there with the American political faction but He will. I don’t know if I’ll get to see it, but it will come to pass, because God detests prideful acts where people live with total disregard for others. I don’t think God’s going to take care of it on the political realm only, but on the spiritual as well. For too long church leaders have set in their stations of life enjoying the prestige that the role carries while their communities lie in shambles. Wicked television evangelist squander every dollar they can from their fans with total disregard for the hardship it caused, proclaiming that it was for God’s glory when in reality it fueled their jet. I’m not lumping them all in the same category. There are some good television ministries, we have some awesome leaders in our churches, we have a “few” decent political allies. It must only be a few, else they’d be more done in Washington.

My point of this blog is this. We need to be more aware of our surroundings. Those within and without. I speak very personally now. I waste so much. I could do so much more with what I’ve been given. I don’t live in a mansion, or drive a Cadillac, but I’ve got some poor priorities. Today for myself I just want to examine my “station” in life lest God sends me a messenger…

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Stay In It!

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stay in it!

Ezra 6:16 ~ And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.

For four years the children of Israel had labored on the temple in Jerusalem. On this day the house was finished. God had commanded it, the elders and others had labored side by side, heathen kings encouraged it, everyone was about it and the house was built. Hallelujah, what a day! Let’s dedicate this house!

Scroll forward to today… who’s building it now? There are no heathen leaders encouraging church in America, but rather encouraging the embracement of pagan religions.

I don’t speak of a physical building, church buildings across the country are a dime a dozen. And hundreds of them, if not thousands sit empty and in shambles. But we know now that the temple where God dwells is within us.

I Corinthians 6:19

 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Are you building it?

I myself sometimes feel like the children of captivity in the land of the free. Freedom of expression we’ve discovered is only free to those who want to hear nothing of Christ. You can pray and build in the name of Buddha, Allah, or a purple cow in the middle of a cornfield and no one cares, just don’t mention the name of Jesus. So how do we build this temple when we are troubled on every side at the very mention of our Lord, media caters to filth and the demons of the flesh are but a mouse click away?

II Corinthians 4:8-10 ~ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Stay on the right side. Don’t cave in to what the world says is acceptable, it’s distressing. When the children of Israel built the temple they used only the best. In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid… (Ezra 6:3a)

Lay strong the foundation of your life which is:

  • The Word of God, stay in it!

2 Timothy 3:16 ~  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

  • The House of God, stay in it!

Hebrews 10:25 ~ Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

  • Prayer, stay in it!

Philippians 4:6 ~ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We seldom have the world encouraging us to build the temple of God within ourselves. If anything they tear it down brick by brick. But if we stick together and encourage one another in the faith we can celebrate every day. I hope today finds you in the house of God that preaches the Word Loud and Strong! Stay in it!