Monday's Musings

Ann and I attended a small group meeting recently and in this meeting one of the ladies of the church was asked to lead the time of discussion. This format has an individual within the group share their inspiration and then the meeting is opened for questions and discussions. I asked Sis. Reenie for permission to share her inspirational thoughts that she shared that evening. I am sharing her presentation today. 

Against all odds, the Pilgrims set sail in August of 1620 for the New World.  The seven weeks they spent in the rolling, stinking ship and 102 of them in a space the size of a volleyball court- was just the beginning.  Winter was upon them soon after they arrived and these "strangers in a strange land", weakened by the months at sea, began to die.  By the time it was over, forty-seven of them-nearly half their number- had died.  Subsequent years brought more hardships and challenges, but they kept their faith, and were used by God to lay the foundation of a mighty nation.  They never knew what an impact they had.

Against all odds, the American patriots declared their independence from the most powerful nation in the world.  After eight long years of war, and entirely by the grace of God; they won that independence.  So the founding and securing of this nation was birthed on the backs of the men and women of this country who sought God for His Divine Intervention, at times and with circumstances that were absolutely impossible to reconcile. "But God...."

Our Founding Fathers endured their struggles- and many, many more- for the sake of the vision God had given them of a country that would be free.  But through the years, the comforts & pleasures of peace and prosperity weakened the vision and the relationship each subsequent generation had with God. We see the results in our society every day. It looks impossible to turn this nation around now.  "But God..." 

Remember, the Church was the instrument God used in the 1700's to ignite the Great Awakening that laid a foundation of faith just prior to the Revolutionary War.  I believe He desires to use the Church to turn this nation back to Him now.  I also believe He can use us, the "older" Christians, to fan the flames.  But first we must rid ourselves of every encumbrance of bad habits, dead traditions and pounds of accumulated complacency.  We must recognize that if we refuse to undertake this task, America as we know it will probably be lost forever.  The time is now. 

The task is before us, and the mandate God gave to Paul on the Damascus Road is the same one we need to take to heart now, namely Acts 26: 16 & 18: "I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you." To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." 

I firmly believe that God is calling the "church" to fulfill our responsibilities in this day and time. We must "...lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) (Emphasis Added) I also firmly believe that our family, our friends, our church family, our communities, our state and our nation is depending on us to make the right decisions. Will I (we) choose to make the correct decision or will I choose to remain satisfied and contented with my present spiritual condition? (Pastor Mike)

Tuesday's Thoughts

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (NKJV) 

Proverbs 16:25, “Before every man there lies a wide and pleasant road he thinks is right, but it ends in death.” (TLB)

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.” (AMP)

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” (NLT)

I feel led to share the passages of scripture that I shared this past Sunday at New River. I am very concerned with the spiritual direction of our nation but I am also very concerned with the spiritual direction of what we may reference as the “church” in America. There are many religious ideas that are being presented as the “way” to God. The word “God” is often used in our nation but we are at the point we have to ask this question, “Which god are you referencing?”

I desire for the “way” that I am traveling to be the “right way” that leads me to the presence of the True and Living God!! This is not the day or the time to be on a road of life that “seems right” or one that I “think is right.” I cannot travel a road of life that “appears right” to me or to someone else. I must take heed and discern the various voices that desire to move me away from the “way” that pleases God.

I believe in the Word of God. I believe in the promises of God that are declared in the Word of God. I believe in the God that is revealed in the Word of God. I believe that the “way to God” will take me to Calvary where I will discover the cross where Jesus was crucified. Jesus shed His blood that I might experience freedom as well as deliverance from the sins that “so easily ensnare” my life or your life.

We live in a world that desires for the “flesh” (human desires and human understanding) to direct our path. God desires for the “Holy Spirit” to direct our path. We have to answer this question correctly; “Will I choose to follow my own way or will I make the correct decision to follow God’s way?”

Monday's Musings

I did not fully realize that it has been almost two months since I have shared with you. I have been active on Twitter as well as Facebook over the past two months but not on the blog. The thoughts that I share are written as a recorded declaration of those principles that I sense the Spirit depositing in my spirit. I truly believe that God is speaking to my individual journey first of all and I also believe that a portion of what He speaks to me should be shared via this media platform. Always remember that what I share WITH YOU has already CHALLENGED ME before I share them for public consumption. 

I would like share the thoughts that I wrote on my FB page as well as the FB page for the church that I serve as Pastor. I am convinced that God is at work in the hearts and lives of His children. We must be willing to "let go" of what is hindering us and be willing to "fully surrender" our life to Him. I am seeking to take both of those afore mentioned commitments in my own life.

Once again I am celebrating the presence of God that was VERY EVIDENT in yesterday’s service. I sensed the carry over throughout yesterday and sensed His refreshing presence in my prayer and devotional time this morning. But the following question still needs to be answered. “How will I choose to respond to the presence of God?

These words written by Boyd Bailey challenged my spirit. Would you take a moment and listen for God to speak to your heart?

“What does it mean for the light of the Lord's face to shine upon us? (Psalm 4:6) One element is the warmth of His love that melts our cold heart. When immersed too long in a cynical culture, we grow jaded and unable or unwilling to find any good in a bad situation or any future potential in a person hard to love. But the Lord's light of love reminds us of how undone we are without His grace and forgiveness. We back into a dark cave of cynicism unless the light of His love leads us out into the openness of a caring community. His loving light leads us and instructs us to love like He loves.

As the old hymn says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face, and the cares of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of wonderful grace".

Will we take the time to “Turn our eyes upon Jesus” or will we choose to remain cynical and disconnected from the full revelation of God’s life-changing love?