A Call to “Defy the Odds!”

It’s been a few days since I have journaled.  The annual youth retreat was great this year.  2 students accepted Jesus as their personal Savior!!  We spent Thursday night on the campus at Murray State University ministering to the students at the BCM.  God has been faithful and he is heavily in the business of changing lives!!

Here is a challenge that I read last weekend.  I hope is touches you like it did me…God Bless!

“If you put the U.S. up against the Scriptures, we’re in trouble. I think we’re very close to the judgment of God. The problem of America is not the unbelieving world. The problem of America is the people of God. You see, right now there are just as many divorces in the churches as outside the churches. There are just as many abortions inside the churches as outside the churches. There’s only a one percent difference in gambling inside the churches as outside the churches. George Barna did a survey of 152 separate items comparing the lost world and the churches, and he said there is virtually no difference between the two. So we have brokenness in the churches [and] no reconciliation.

How then should we live? This is a long answer to a short question, but it depends on the people of God. . . . it’s God’s people who hold the destiny of America. Don’t fuss at the world. It’s acting just like its nature. We’ve got to be salt and light again. We’ve got to have an observable difference.

So God’s attention right now is on His own people, and if I gave one statement, it would be, “The future of America rests in our hands.”

Dr. Henry Blackaby, “What do You See as the Future for the United States?” speech given at the Billy Graham Training Center, Asheville, N.C., May 22, 1999

What has happened?

 

 Let’s choose to push past our first thoughts about others.  Let’s choose to have compassion and bring people and their needs to Jesus, the Great Physician!!

Stirred Up

 

Mark 4:35-41

 35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

 41They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

We are living in a day and time when the seas are rough, the waves are high and things are tough. 

I usually do not share many personal stories, but I want to share about my afternoon.

I went to the dentist office to have a tooth filled today.  Jenny can tell you that I am not a fan of the dentist office.

As the chair was being lowered, I literally felt sick.  My heart rate increased, I was short of breath and fear almost totally took over my body.

My fear frustrated me.  This 15 minute procedure should not “stir me up” this much.

As I focused on the true source of peace, my heart rate decreased and my breathing patterns became normal again.

Father God is the source of peace.  Jesus displayed this ability to bring peace in the scriptures.  The same man that calmed the sea, calmed my mind and body.

The wind and the waves obey Jesus.  Therefore, the winds and the waves of our world obey Jesus. 

Our storms may be fears, finances, the election, or the stock market.   Have faith, they must bow down to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Are you stirred up?  Talk to your creator.  Ask for his peace.  Understand your fears and talk to Jesus about them.   Let him rebuke the winds and “BE STILL!”  

It Is Well With My Soul…

Relationship

“My ability to communicate is limitless, living and transforming, and it will always be tuned to Papa’s (Father God’s) goodness and love.  And you will hear and see me in the Bible in fresh ways.  Just don’t look for rules and principles; look for RELATIONSHIP–a way of coming to be with us.”  ‘The Shack, by William P Young’

This is part of a very moving conversation between Sarayu, the Holy Spirit, and Mack, the deeply hurt and seeking character in the very moving book, The Shack.

Where do you see RELATIONSHIP in the BIBLE?

Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  

Romans 9:16  “It does not , therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercey.”

John 15:9-14   “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

When I read scriptures looking for RELATIONSHIP and not RULES, I see and feel such healing.  Healing from my past, from the lies of Satan, from my imagination of future outcomes that do not and will not come to pass, and from the perception that I need to accomplish something to experience HIS love.

Jesus urges us to, “Come to Him” in Matthew 11.  What does he desire?   RELATIONSHIP!!!

Where do you see RELATIONSHIP in scriptures?  Share the scripture by commenting or emailing me…

May the Love of Christ and His relationship with you be renewed and fresh today!!

Get a copy of “The Shack” and read it, this picture will bless you once you read the book!

Dependence

“An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.”  Sarah Ban Breathnach

I’ve heard the word transparent used when describing someone’s life.  Can you read someone like an open book? 

What is an authentic life? 

For me, it is a daily dependence.  I’m dependent on that still small voice to direct me.  When I choose not to listen…I screw things up.

When I am able and choose to listen, I worship.

God Bless!!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”   Romans 15:13

The Shephard

Matthew 9:35-38

35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 

“The savior looks with compassion on his people, the people of God.  He could not rest satisfied with the few who had heard his call and followed.”  Bonhoeffer

This scripture is evidence that the harvest is great, but only Jesus in his mercy can see it.

“There were questions but no answers, distress but no relief, anguish of conscience but no deliverance, tears but no consolation, sin but no forgiveness.”  Bonhoeffer

Does this quote sound familiar?   Written in the 1940’s, yet extremely relevant even today.

I watched a video that I have not seen in years.  This song is written by Donnie Sumner.  He wrote this after a very dark time in his life.  He experienced that forgiveness that so many need….he met the Master.

Southern Gospel is not everyone’s favorite style of music, but if you will listen to the words of this powerful song, you may be drying tears from your eyes like me.  I will attach the lyrics after this video.

 

 

“The Night Before Easter”

The night was so different from all the rest
And a silence covers the Earth;
The stars have no glimmer, the moon tries to hide,
For in death lies the man of their birth.

In a room filled with sorrow, a mother cries
For Jesus, her Son now is gone;
Her child sent from heaven was taken away,
Heart broken she feels all alone.

At the feet of his mother a little boy cries
Saying “‘momma’ I don’t understand;”
I remember the look of love in His eyes,
That I saw, by the touch of His hand.

The King of all ages, the Giver of life,
For a moment lies silent and still;
But a power sent from heaven comes breaking the night,
And death must bow to His will.

Then a stone moves, the Earth shakes (and) birds start singing,
The sun shines, the Earth warms (for) new life it’s bringing;
A little boy stops crying, a mother is smiling,
For death could not hold their King

God Bless!!!

Chris

More Bonhoeffer stuff….

Matthew 7:7-12

“7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 9“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Bonhoeffer has many great quotes in the book “Cost of Discipleship.”  This quote is from chapter 18.

“The disciples are taught to pray, and so they learn that the only way to reach others is by praying to God.  Judgement and forgiveness are always in the hands of God.  He closes and the opens.  But the disciples must ask, they must seek and knock, and then God will hear them.  They have to learn that their anxiety and concern for others must drive them to intercession.”

“The promise Christ gives to their prayer is the doughtiest (boldest) weapon in their armoury.”

Do you know someone that needs a touch from the Master?  Pray for him/her..ask, seek, knock…God will hear you!!!

God Bless!!

Quotes

Here are some great quotes that have so much meaning and can impact our perspective on life if we will just let them….

“Any sacrifice that we make in our quest for freedom, will be holy consumed and blessed by God.”   Beth Moore. 

“I am a pencil in the hand of a writing God sending a love letter to the world”  Mother Theresa

“All too frequently, anxiety crushes not only your spirit and your potential, but your ability to take care of your mind and body.”  Jonathan Davidson and Henry Dreher

 

“If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.”  Don Herold

“Don’t treat the disease, treat the patient.”  Unknown

 

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.”  John Lubbock

 

“Discipleship means adherence to Jesus Christ alone, and immediately.”  Bonhoeffer

 

“Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.”  Author Unknown

 

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”  Leo Buscaglia

 

“Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.”  Author Unknown

 

 PLEASE READ THIS ONE AND HEAR THE MESSAGE!

“If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”  Vincent Van Gogh

 

God Bless and have a great week!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take some time and pray this….

  “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation;        he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.   Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.   He alone is my rock and my salvation;  he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.   My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.   Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him,  for God is our refuge.   One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:  that you, O God, are strong,  and that you, O Lord, are loving.  Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.  O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;  my soul thirsts for you,  my body longs for you,  in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary  and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, 
and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;  with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help,  I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  Hear me, Oh God.”

God Bless!!

“I Saw What I Saw”

I have seen some very amazing and very sad sights in the last few years.   The poverty of Alabama village in Mobile, AL.  Destruction from Hurricane Katrina.  Tornado damaged homes in Madisonville and my hometown.  Two homeless men and several lost people in Nashville. 

In all the sadness of these events, I have also found such strength.  I’ve seen people accept and proclaim the name of Jesus in and through these moments in my life.

Such strength…how is is possible in such conditions and devastation?

Father God allows us to read and highlight as we turn the pages of our book, our life and our journey.

How do we find strength?

 Psalm 50:3a says that “God comes and will not be silent.”

Our God will not be silent, even in the loudness and the storms of our life!!!!

I watched a video today that stirred my heart.  It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on some life events in the last few years.  

The most important thing that I learned throughout the day is that I AM BLESSED!!!   I’m blessed with an awesome wife, two precious children, a great family, a wonderful church family, a career, and most importantly, the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!!!

Watch this and reflect on your blessings…..God Bless!

 

 

OUR GOD COMES AND WILL NOT BE SILENT!!!!!

Praise Him!!!!!