Monday, July 12, 2010
Weekend Review
This week finds me in Carbon Hill, Alabama with Pastor John and Janice Butler. The services yesterday went very well with the altar response being very positive. Many people came forward in each of the services and the Spirit of God ministered to those who opened their hearts to the promises of God. I am truly convinced that God is working in the hearts of many people as we are turning our focus on Christ. As I was praying this morning I was reminded of the need to remain "Christ centered" in my approach to ministry opportunities. Our individual lives need to be Christ centered, our families need to be Christ centered, our local churches need to be Christ centered, and even our church organizations need to be Christ centered. It is so easy to become self-centered and self absorbed in our attitude toward others and even in our attitude toward God. We must allow the Spirit of God to challenge our lives and bring us back to the focus of the heart of God. The heart of God is calling us back to the revelation of the love of God that was displayed on the cross through the death of Christ as well as the daily interactions of Christ with people as He walked this earth. Will we re-connect with this call from God or will we continue to ignore the call from God and continue to follow our own way? I desire to hear the call from God and pursue a life that is truly Christ centered.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Will of God, Conclusion
For the past few posts I have been sharing some thoughts concerning the pursuit of the will of God in our individual lives. Many of us continue to pursue the will of God on a daily basis. I feel that I need to interject this thought; the importance of the "will of God" is not just limited to the "ministry". Each of us need to seek and desire to walk in the daily plan and purpose for our lives.
Here is one of the conclusions that I have reached over the past few days of prayer and introspection; the will of God is attainable. Living in the will of God can be accomplished through the practice of spiritual disciplines and spiritual principles. Here are some of the disciplines and principles that I have been able to identify over the past few days; we must maintain a persistent and consistent pursuit of the development of our relationship with God; we must maintain a willingness to lay aside our will and desires for the plan and purpose of God; we must maintain a heart of submission and surrender to the all-knowing power of God; we must maintain a prayer life that keeps each of us connected to the heart of God which will reveal the loving direction of God even when we don't understand the path that we are traveling; and we must maintain a deep love for God that transcends all of the obstacles, barriers, difficulties, and challenges that we will face as we travel the road of life. Each of you could add your thoughts and ideas to this list but I would encourage you to review these inspirations that God spoke into my heart. Each of us should be examining our heart to make sure that we are making applications of these principles/disciplines to our daily walk with Christ.
There is one more conclusion that I desire to share with you today; each of us must stay focused on Christ as we seek the will of God for our lives. It is so easy to become distracted and subsequently loose our focus on the higher calling that God has for each of us. The enemy will seek to create a spirit of apathy and complacency in each of us which will stymie and hinder our focus. But through the power of Christ we have the authority to resist and defeat the efforts of the enemy. We can be victorious and we can successfully walk in the will of God for our lives. Do not lose hope and do not forsake the principle of tenacity. As I have said on previous occasions; "God will lead if I will take the time and make the effort to follow!"
Here is one of the conclusions that I have reached over the past few days of prayer and introspection; the will of God is attainable. Living in the will of God can be accomplished through the practice of spiritual disciplines and spiritual principles. Here are some of the disciplines and principles that I have been able to identify over the past few days; we must maintain a persistent and consistent pursuit of the development of our relationship with God; we must maintain a willingness to lay aside our will and desires for the plan and purpose of God; we must maintain a heart of submission and surrender to the all-knowing power of God; we must maintain a prayer life that keeps each of us connected to the heart of God which will reveal the loving direction of God even when we don't understand the path that we are traveling; and we must maintain a deep love for God that transcends all of the obstacles, barriers, difficulties, and challenges that we will face as we travel the road of life. Each of you could add your thoughts and ideas to this list but I would encourage you to review these inspirations that God spoke into my heart. Each of us should be examining our heart to make sure that we are making applications of these principles/disciplines to our daily walk with Christ.
There is one more conclusion that I desire to share with you today; each of us must stay focused on Christ as we seek the will of God for our lives. It is so easy to become distracted and subsequently loose our focus on the higher calling that God has for each of us. The enemy will seek to create a spirit of apathy and complacency in each of us which will stymie and hinder our focus. But through the power of Christ we have the authority to resist and defeat the efforts of the enemy. We can be victorious and we can successfully walk in the will of God for our lives. Do not lose hope and do not forsake the principle of tenacity. As I have said on previous occasions; "God will lead if I will take the time and make the effort to follow!"
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Will of God, Part 3
As I was sitting in Bible Study last night the Lord once more began to deal with my heart concerning His will and direction for my life. My wife was leading the study and her thoughts centered around our need to "love God with all of our heart." At first glance this principle seems to be a no-brainer for the children of God but in actuality it is the true foundation of our relationship with God. We know that the Word of God teaches us to love God in that manner but in reality it is easier to speak those words than it is to live out those words in our daily walk with Christ. The lesson offered this reminder and this challenge; "Jesus knows the depth of my love for Him and He knows the strength of my commitment." I maybe able to deceive you with my fancy words and my religious actions but Christ truly knows my heart. In the second chapter of Revelation, Christ commends the church for their good deeds and for their good works but He also identifies that something is missing in their lives. They had left or departed from their "first love" experience and relationship with Christ.
Now you may be thinking, what does my love relationship with God have to do with the will of God being accomplished in my life? The connection with these two principles became clear to me as I listened to the Word that was being planted in my heart. I must keep spiritual principles in the right perspective and in the right order. First of all, I can not afford to lose my "love connection with God." I must continue to develop my relationship of love with Christ and not allow my passion and desire for Him to grow cold and indifferent.
The love of Christ provided hope for the conversion of the Apostle Peter even after his failure and betrayal of Christ. I will be unable to fully walk in the will of God until I recognize my need to accept, receive, and walk in the development of my love relationship with God. The will of God is not some cold statement of actions or demands that I receive in the mail or email via the Internet. No, the will of God for my life is based on the marvelous and compassionate love that God has for me and for all of His children. It is when I consistently recognize the precious love of God for me and when I pursue the development of that love relationship with my Lord and Savior will I be able to fully comprehend the will of God for my life. The will of God is an-going revelation of His direction for our lives. Let us commit to loving Him and drawing closer to Him on a daily basis.
Now you may be thinking, what does my love relationship with God have to do with the will of God being accomplished in my life? The connection with these two principles became clear to me as I listened to the Word that was being planted in my heart. I must keep spiritual principles in the right perspective and in the right order. First of all, I can not afford to lose my "love connection with God." I must continue to develop my relationship of love with Christ and not allow my passion and desire for Him to grow cold and indifferent.
The love of Christ provided hope for the conversion of the Apostle Peter even after his failure and betrayal of Christ. I will be unable to fully walk in the will of God until I recognize my need to accept, receive, and walk in the development of my love relationship with God. The will of God is not some cold statement of actions or demands that I receive in the mail or email via the Internet. No, the will of God for my life is based on the marvelous and compassionate love that God has for me and for all of His children. It is when I consistently recognize the precious love of God for me and when I pursue the development of that love relationship with my Lord and Savior will I be able to fully comprehend the will of God for my life. The will of God is an-going revelation of His direction for our lives. Let us commit to loving Him and drawing closer to Him on a daily basis.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Will of God, Part 2
I desire to continue the challenge that I spoke about in yesterday's post. Walking in the "will of God" has become a life long pursuit of this blogger. I felt the urgency of walking in the will of God as a young man who was sensing a call from God on my life. I can remember telling my Pastor, (who was also my father), that I just wanted to "do the will of God." Many of you who read this blog can certainly understand the challenge of that longing or hunger in my heart. Since that day of original surrender to the plan of God I have walked with that burning passion or desire in my heart. I will admit that there have been days in which the pursuit of the will of God seemed more important in my heart that I can even state today. I will admit that there have been days in which I was completely convinced that I was walking in the complete will of God for my life at that moment. I will also admit that there have been days in which I was just doing the best I could to fulfill my responsibilities while I was reaching/seeking for the next step in God's plan for my life. But no matter the circumstances of my situation there was still the desire deep in my spirit to walk in pursuit of God's plan for my life.
This morning I sincerely feel that the Lord reminded me of another step in the spiritual equation of walking in the will of God. I believe that I must reach the place in my pursuit of God that the "cause" of His Kingdom and purpose must become greater and more important than my cause. I must be willing to surrender my personal desires and plans to the plans and desires that God has for my life. Let me explain my feelings in these words; "I must be willing to lay aside my selfishness and become willing to commit to a lifestyle that calls me to lay aside my view of my life and recognize God's view of my life." Could this transition reflect the warning that Paul gave us concerning people who would be "lovers of themselves?" I confess that there are times in which I am guilty of loving my own self and my own desires/plans more that I love the plans of God. The plans of God can require me to move beyond my comfort zone. The plans of God can require me to deny my "selfish and carnal" plans for the plans that are according to the destiny that God has set in motion for my future. The plans of God can require me to seek the the counsel of God more than the counsel of well meaning people who think they know what is best for my future. This does not mean that I should not seek counsel from truly spiritual people but it does mean that I must recognize the counsel of God above the counsel of man. The plans of God can require me to spend time in prayer, fasting, fellowship, and communion with the Heavenly Father who loves me more than I can truly comprehend. Let us look for that "cause" that is greater than our cause and when we identify that "cause" let us pursue it with faith and passion.
This morning I sincerely feel that the Lord reminded me of another step in the spiritual equation of walking in the will of God. I believe that I must reach the place in my pursuit of God that the "cause" of His Kingdom and purpose must become greater and more important than my cause. I must be willing to surrender my personal desires and plans to the plans and desires that God has for my life. Let me explain my feelings in these words; "I must be willing to lay aside my selfishness and become willing to commit to a lifestyle that calls me to lay aside my view of my life and recognize God's view of my life." Could this transition reflect the warning that Paul gave us concerning people who would be "lovers of themselves?" I confess that there are times in which I am guilty of loving my own self and my own desires/plans more that I love the plans of God. The plans of God can require me to move beyond my comfort zone. The plans of God can require me to deny my "selfish and carnal" plans for the plans that are according to the destiny that God has set in motion for my future. The plans of God can require me to seek the the counsel of God more than the counsel of well meaning people who think they know what is best for my future. This does not mean that I should not seek counsel from truly spiritual people but it does mean that I must recognize the counsel of God above the counsel of man. The plans of God can require me to spend time in prayer, fasting, fellowship, and communion with the Heavenly Father who loves me more than I can truly comprehend. Let us look for that "cause" that is greater than our cause and when we identify that "cause" let us pursue it with faith and passion.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Will of God
As I was catching up on some reading on Monday I came across some information concerning "the will of God." The term "will of God" is a very common one used among Christians. We often say to God and to our fellow believers that "I desire to live in the will of God for my life." This post can in no way answer all of the questions concerning the the will of God but I will share some thoughts that the Spirit placed in my heart as I was contemplating this great challenge of New Testament Christianity. Being able to live out and practice New Testament Christianity is one of the "convictions" that God has placed on my heart. I am so tired of just learning how to use the right combination of "spiritual words" yet falling short in putting those principles into daily practice into my walk with Christ.
Surrender and obedience is one of the requirements of walking in the will of God. Jesus was the perfect example of walking in the will of God. The will of God took Jesus to the cross where He willingly died for sinful humanity. Isn't it easier to speak of the will of God than it is to practice the will of God? Let us be honest with ourselves and with each other. There are times that the will of God will take us down paths that we had rather avoid. The will of God will often require sacrifice and a willingness to offer our lives in service to God and in service to our fellow human beings. The will of God will require a denial of fleshly desires and a hunger for the Holy Spirit's direction in our heart. The will of God will require us to look to our Heavenly Father for guidance and inspiration as we walk the road of life. The next time you think of the "will of God" being fulfilled in your life link it to the principle of obedience. I can sincerely say that I have a desire to surrender to the will of God but am I truly willing to walk in complete surrender and obedience? My willingness to obey God holds the key to the will of God being fulfilled in my life (at least in my prayerful opinion).
Surrender and obedience is one of the requirements of walking in the will of God. Jesus was the perfect example of walking in the will of God. The will of God took Jesus to the cross where He willingly died for sinful humanity. Isn't it easier to speak of the will of God than it is to practice the will of God? Let us be honest with ourselves and with each other. There are times that the will of God will take us down paths that we had rather avoid. The will of God will often require sacrifice and a willingness to offer our lives in service to God and in service to our fellow human beings. The will of God will require a denial of fleshly desires and a hunger for the Holy Spirit's direction in our heart. The will of God will require us to look to our Heavenly Father for guidance and inspiration as we walk the road of life. The next time you think of the "will of God" being fulfilled in your life link it to the principle of obedience. I can sincerely say that I have a desire to surrender to the will of God but am I truly willing to walk in complete surrender and obedience? My willingness to obey God holds the key to the will of God being fulfilled in my life (at least in my prayerful opinion).
Monday, July 5, 2010
Weekend Review
This is a weekend in which America reflects on the gift of freedom that we are able to enjoy. I trust and pray that each one of us recognize and understand that that our freedom is not free. We need to remember that many men and women have paid and continue to pay the ultimate price for our freedom. Freedom is not cheap and the men and women who defend our freedom should be admired and respected. We have been mired in an on-going battle against terrorism; only God fully knows the full length and depth of this war but we can rest assured that many brave AMERICANS are putting themselves in harms way on a daily basis so that I could sit at this computer and share my thoughts with you. Don't you think that these brave men and women deserve our respect and they deserve our prayers? What if the sound of our prayers would make as much noise as the sound of the fire works that we heard last night? Can you fathom the depth of the revival that would sweep across our nation if we seriously pursued the presence of God in our daily lives? I refuse to give up on the fact that God will hear us when we pray; we just need people who will take the time and make the effort to call out to God for His mercy and love to sweep over our nation.
Sunday morning found me in Radcliff, KY at New River Ministries. The presence of the Lord was in the service as we reflected on the songs of our nation as well as the songs of the people of God. During worship we sang patriotic songs as well as recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag of America. There is still a stirring in our hearts as we lift our voices in thankfulness for this great nation. We must continue to tell the stories of sacrifice, honesty, family values, patriotism and many other values of America to the youth and children of this generation. The sermon called on us to turn our attention to one of the symbols of our Christian freedom; the cross on which Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity. As Christians we look to an empty cross, we look to an empty grave; but we see Heaven which is full of the glory of God. The glory of God releases the ministering presence of God which in turn touches our lives and the needs that we encounter on a daily basis. I encourage you to reflect on your spiritual freedom and to walk in that freedom regardless of the attacks and strategies of the enemy that you are facing today.
Personal note: Friday was a "one day vacation" with the children and grandchildren. We had a great time and it was a blessing to be able to spend the time with my family. Family is so important and we need to cherish our family members and appreciate the contribution that they make to our happiness. Family makes the adventure of life more enjoyable; take time to appreciate your family today.
Sunday morning found me in Radcliff, KY at New River Ministries. The presence of the Lord was in the service as we reflected on the songs of our nation as well as the songs of the people of God. During worship we sang patriotic songs as well as recited the pledge of allegiance to the flag of America. There is still a stirring in our hearts as we lift our voices in thankfulness for this great nation. We must continue to tell the stories of sacrifice, honesty, family values, patriotism and many other values of America to the youth and children of this generation. The sermon called on us to turn our attention to one of the symbols of our Christian freedom; the cross on which Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity. As Christians we look to an empty cross, we look to an empty grave; but we see Heaven which is full of the glory of God. The glory of God releases the ministering presence of God which in turn touches our lives and the needs that we encounter on a daily basis. I encourage you to reflect on your spiritual freedom and to walk in that freedom regardless of the attacks and strategies of the enemy that you are facing today.
Personal note: Friday was a "one day vacation" with the children and grandchildren. We had a great time and it was a blessing to be able to spend the time with my family. Family is so important and we need to cherish our family members and appreciate the contribution that they make to our happiness. Family makes the adventure of life more enjoyable; take time to appreciate your family today.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thankfulness
The service last night in Sylvania, Ohio reminded me once more of the need to be truly thankful for all that God has done and is doing in my life. We use the words "thankful, grateful, and appreciative" on a daily basis in our conversations. But do I truly say those words to God from a heart that is sincerely responding to the blessings and provision that God is making in my life on a daily basis? The Worship Leader last night shared a portion of her personal testimony and she alluded to the thankfulness and appreciation that she felt in her heart toward God concerning needs that He had met in her life as well as the life of her family. She then challenged those of us in the service to fully reflect on the goodness of God that is extended to us on a daily basis. I can not afford to wait for the "big things" from God before I express my appreciation and worship. I must discipline myself to reflect on and recognize the daily provision and protection that God sends my way consistently. Do not misunderstand me, I am thankful for the "big things" that God has provided and they have been great in number throughout my life. But I am learning to recognize the daily "hand of God" that is stretched over my life and today I take a moment to celebrate His daily goodness.
I am truly thankful for the ministering presence of the Spirit that we felt on a nightly basis in the revival meeting in Sylvania. I was both blessed and amazed as the Spirit of God and the Word of God spoke directly to people during the altar meetings. Each service found people receiving the strength and purpose of God into their lives. The countenance of people began to change during the course of the meeting as they were able to walk in the strength of the love of God and realize that God was providing for their victory over the strategies of the enemy. Even now I can sense the encouragement of God as I am sharing these reflections. God is a good God and He is truly worthy of our praise and adoration. We were able to witness the life changing power of God as people surrendered their life to Christ and received the gift of salvation. I truly believe that God desires for the spirit of thankfulness to be re-kindled in our lives as we once again recognize the goodness of God in the midst of our struggles.
I am truly thankful for another safe trip home from Sylvania; I left after service and made my way back to Louisville. I have written these words before but I felt that I needed to testify of the protection and goodness of God. Each of us need to take the time to lift our voices in praise to God for all that He is doing in our lives. The world is cursing God but the church needs to be praising God. I refuse to take the blessings of God for granted anymore. I refuse to stay silent any more. I am going to praise the Lord God Almighty for who He is and what He is doing in my life. I challenge you to take the time to express to God your sincere appreciation today.
Tell somebody about the goodness of God and watch their lives be influenced by the words of your testimony!
I am truly thankful for the ministering presence of the Spirit that we felt on a nightly basis in the revival meeting in Sylvania. I was both blessed and amazed as the Spirit of God and the Word of God spoke directly to people during the altar meetings. Each service found people receiving the strength and purpose of God into their lives. The countenance of people began to change during the course of the meeting as they were able to walk in the strength of the love of God and realize that God was providing for their victory over the strategies of the enemy. Even now I can sense the encouragement of God as I am sharing these reflections. God is a good God and He is truly worthy of our praise and adoration. We were able to witness the life changing power of God as people surrendered their life to Christ and received the gift of salvation. I truly believe that God desires for the spirit of thankfulness to be re-kindled in our lives as we once again recognize the goodness of God in the midst of our struggles.
I am truly thankful for another safe trip home from Sylvania; I left after service and made my way back to Louisville. I have written these words before but I felt that I needed to testify of the protection and goodness of God. Each of us need to take the time to lift our voices in praise to God for all that He is doing in our lives. The world is cursing God but the church needs to be praising God. I refuse to take the blessings of God for granted anymore. I refuse to stay silent any more. I am going to praise the Lord God Almighty for who He is and what He is doing in my life. I challenge you to take the time to express to God your sincere appreciation today.
Tell somebody about the goodness of God and watch their lives be influenced by the words of your testimony!
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