Isaiah55:10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11:so will My word which goes forth from my mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
I have been planting flowers at the church for the past couple of weeks, and we have just gone through a two week hot and dry spell. I have been watering with a garden hose using tap water. The plants have been getting wet, but they were looking kind of weak lately. In the past two days we have been getting rain from heaven, and I have noticed how the new growth has already come and new blossoms are appearing on most of the annuals. I can greatly notice the difference between the refreshment that God supplies versus that which man tries to supply.
Likewise in my own life, I have realized on my own that God's word and the wisdom that you receive from Him is much more able to meet my needs than the philosophy and advice that comes from man. Sometimes humans do give good advice that is useful, but you better lean on Christ before you make your final decision. I have been delivered from many fears I used to have. I am able to speak in public to average sized groups without panicking. I have been able to manage my finances based on scripture passages and the help of Pastor Cliff mentoring in that area. I also am beginning to enjoy that life of abundance that Christ has promised for those who follow Him. He says it we take His yoke upon us that are burdens will become lighter and I have found that to be true. I have come along way in the past couple of years, and I know there is much room for improvements, but I have learned that just as God's water is best for the earth, so His Word and His wisdom and guidance need to have priority in my life over the wisdom of man. He who the Son sets free is free indeed . Praise God for His abundant wisdom.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
I come to the Garden Alone
Hebrews6:9:But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
10: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
11: And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12:so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Today was Memorial Day. I thought our town ceremony started at 10 this morning, but I heard the gun salute at 9:30 in the park, so I sort of missed it this year. I did watch the National program last night on WQLN which was held in Washington D.C. It was very heartwarming as in between songs they shared stories of families with injured war vets and also stories of people who had family members who have been killed in wars.
The rest of the day today, I spent working in the church gardens. I am so thankful to my church family that they allow me to use my gift of landscaping and that they fully trust me to accomplish this huge task. I break it up in phases so it doesn't seem overbearing. I am almost to the final stage now, which is the part I enjoy the most. Arranging where the plants will be placed and what kinds to purchase. I also put the bird feeder and the bird bath out today. There have been several birds investigating, but they still are a little timid to actually eat out of the feeder yet. Last year someone had a cat in the neighborhood who would attack the birds as they came to eat. Last fall that black cat was hit by a car. So he will not be a problem anymore. I also took time to set up the water fountain in front of Pastor Cliff's window. On sunny days he enjoys opening his window and listening to the water as it flows down to each of the ceramic bowls and put that together with the voices of the various birds singing, it is so calming to rest in the beauty of God's creation. This coming Saturday we will be having our first wedding ceremony of the summer, so I am hoping to have the majority of the work finished. When your hobby is landscaping, you will understand that the work is never totally finished, but when you love it and you do it as unto the Lord, it is such a joy to yourself and others. Now I know how a painter feels when he starts out with a blank picture, and he gets to choose what colors and what designs he will use to develop a portrait that only he will know what the final result will be.
One of the things I most enjoy about doing the outside work here, is that I get to minister to people as they stop to talk and share things with me and I get to pray with them, and sometimes they end up coming here. Today I was talking to a friend of mine named Garret who is a Catholic, but he says he really doesn't always enjoy or understand what is going on with the service there. He is taking care of an older man who is the father of his landlord and this older man would like to come to church, but has trouble with stairs, so Garret said they might come next Sunday. As I have been putting much time in getting the church property prepared for the summer it reminded me of this scripture. As I am being diligent and persevering in this work, may I also have the same desire and diligence to accomplish Christ's work which directs us to the hope we have stored up for us later and actually beginning from the time we accepted Christ and that hope is eternal life. Let me not become sluggish, but continue to exercise my faith and help me to stay patient with myself and others, for in due time, I will receive that which was promised, not only for me, but for others who also put their trust in the redeemer
10: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
11: And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
12:so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Today was Memorial Day. I thought our town ceremony started at 10 this morning, but I heard the gun salute at 9:30 in the park, so I sort of missed it this year. I did watch the National program last night on WQLN which was held in Washington D.C. It was very heartwarming as in between songs they shared stories of families with injured war vets and also stories of people who had family members who have been killed in wars.
The rest of the day today, I spent working in the church gardens. I am so thankful to my church family that they allow me to use my gift of landscaping and that they fully trust me to accomplish this huge task. I break it up in phases so it doesn't seem overbearing. I am almost to the final stage now, which is the part I enjoy the most. Arranging where the plants will be placed and what kinds to purchase. I also put the bird feeder and the bird bath out today. There have been several birds investigating, but they still are a little timid to actually eat out of the feeder yet. Last year someone had a cat in the neighborhood who would attack the birds as they came to eat. Last fall that black cat was hit by a car. So he will not be a problem anymore. I also took time to set up the water fountain in front of Pastor Cliff's window. On sunny days he enjoys opening his window and listening to the water as it flows down to each of the ceramic bowls and put that together with the voices of the various birds singing, it is so calming to rest in the beauty of God's creation. This coming Saturday we will be having our first wedding ceremony of the summer, so I am hoping to have the majority of the work finished. When your hobby is landscaping, you will understand that the work is never totally finished, but when you love it and you do it as unto the Lord, it is such a joy to yourself and others. Now I know how a painter feels when he starts out with a blank picture, and he gets to choose what colors and what designs he will use to develop a portrait that only he will know what the final result will be.
One of the things I most enjoy about doing the outside work here, is that I get to minister to people as they stop to talk and share things with me and I get to pray with them, and sometimes they end up coming here. Today I was talking to a friend of mine named Garret who is a Catholic, but he says he really doesn't always enjoy or understand what is going on with the service there. He is taking care of an older man who is the father of his landlord and this older man would like to come to church, but has trouble with stairs, so Garret said they might come next Sunday. As I have been putting much time in getting the church property prepared for the summer it reminded me of this scripture. As I am being diligent and persevering in this work, may I also have the same desire and diligence to accomplish Christ's work which directs us to the hope we have stored up for us later and actually beginning from the time we accepted Christ and that hope is eternal life. Let me not become sluggish, but continue to exercise my faith and help me to stay patient with myself and others, for in due time, I will receive that which was promised, not only for me, but for others who also put their trust in the redeemer
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Let Everything that has Breath Praise The Lord
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
This morning I was ministered to by a young child. His name is Sammy. Nobody knows that his worship was touching my heart. His mother gave him a makeup mirror and he began looking into it and began flipping it in his hands. As he began looking at the image in the glass, he realized that it was him he was looking at. As he kept looking at the reflection he began smiling and then it was replaced by joy and giggling. Then he laid the mirror down and began silently clapping and lifted it up again and laughed again. He placed it beside him and began clapping again. It was as if he was praising God for his very existence. I was thinking Godly thoughts about him. What a prescious gift. I wonder what plans and purposes God has for his life. He was fearfully and wonderfully made.
The gospels teach us that we should come to Christ with the simple faith of a child. The 2Corinthians passage teaches us that we are being transformed into the image of Christ from glory to glory. That means to me step by step. As I saw little Sammy looking in his mirror, I was thinking about when I look in the glass mirror at my home. May I see what this young child saw this morning, may I realize that I was made in the image of God and put my faith in knowing that He who began a good work in me will see it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. May I also give praise to God for the very breath He gives me each morning and may I have the same joy Sammy has, just to know that I am in the Father's hands.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
This morning I was ministered to by a young child. His name is Sammy. Nobody knows that his worship was touching my heart. His mother gave him a makeup mirror and he began looking into it and began flipping it in his hands. As he began looking at the image in the glass, he realized that it was him he was looking at. As he kept looking at the reflection he began smiling and then it was replaced by joy and giggling. Then he laid the mirror down and began silently clapping and lifted it up again and laughed again. He placed it beside him and began clapping again. It was as if he was praising God for his very existence. I was thinking Godly thoughts about him. What a prescious gift. I wonder what plans and purposes God has for his life. He was fearfully and wonderfully made.
The gospels teach us that we should come to Christ with the simple faith of a child. The 2Corinthians passage teaches us that we are being transformed into the image of Christ from glory to glory. That means to me step by step. As I saw little Sammy looking in his mirror, I was thinking about when I look in the glass mirror at my home. May I see what this young child saw this morning, may I realize that I was made in the image of God and put my faith in knowing that He who began a good work in me will see it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. May I also give praise to God for the very breath He gives me each morning and may I have the same joy Sammy has, just to know that I am in the Father's hands.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Safety of a Handmade Basket
Exodus2:1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.
2:The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.
3:But when she could hide him no longer, she made for him a basket out of bulrushes and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
Sunday was mother's day. Happy belated Mother's Day greetings to all you moms out there. On Sunday evening I was watching a Christian minister who gave a really good message about Moses' mother. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you and how that message relates to parents today.
The story of course started out that Pharaoh ordered that all male babies of Jewish descent were to be thrown into the Nile river and the reason was to annihilate the Jewish race, because they were slaves to the Egyptians and the Egyptians were afraid that if they kept growing in number the Jews would turn against them and make war with them. The best part of the story is that Moses' mom was not going to agree with this idea, so she found a way to hide her son for three months. A lot of other mothers allowed the midwives to take their sons and throw them in the Nile River to die. The teacher was saying that a lot of Egyptians worshipped the crocodile and treated them like they were gods. So of course if you were throwing babies into the Nile, you were making sacrifices to the gods.
His mom made the basket of protection out of weaved bulrushes which is also the plant that they make papyrus out of which is used to make scrolls for writing on and it grows on the edges of the Nile in the shallow parts. Somehow his mother knew that their was some kind of chemical or other trait that was in that plant that the crocodiles would not come near anything made by that plant. Then she painted the outside of the basket with tar and pitch. She then placed Moses in the reeds along the waters edge until Pharaoh's daughter noticed him and she saw to it that he was raised by his own mother for a few years. As he grew up he became the one God had chosen to lead the people into the promised land.
In the past month we have had many children dedicated to God by their parents, and it has been a blessing to watch these parents surrender their children to the will of God.
The application of this story about Moses applies to our local church body today. Just as Moses' mom didn't allow her child to be sacrificed to the gods of the Nile, neither should we give into the idea that we have to surrender to the idea that the children in our church will be handed to the gods or the idols of the culture of today: drugs, alcohol, sexuality, peer pressure, etc. It is the responsibility of Christian parents today to weave a basket of protection for your children and build it out of the truths found in the word of God. Raise them in the admonition of the Lord. Train a child in the way he should go and when he grows older he will not depart from it. I am praying for those who dedicated their children to the Lord that they will be committed to training these precious gifts of God in the truth. The rest of us who stood as a witness that we will commit to our promise to teach, encourage, show them the truths in God's Word and that we will treat them as being valuable members of the church today. As Pastor cliff taught us Sunday they are not the church of tomorrow, but they are part of the church today along with us. As we minister to these young people the church is like Moses' mom when she put the tar and pitch on the outside of the basket. I believe that if we all do our part, these children will grow up to be followers of Christ. The word promises that I know the plans and purposes I have for you to give you hope and a future. Praise God for His many examples of how He worked in the lives of people in the Bible so we could have assurance and hope for us.
We have seen several people who grew up being trained here by their parents and teachers who have become missionaries and some pastors and others involved in various ministries, so let us continue to disciple one another and grow in unity so the gospel of Jesus our Lord and Savior will continue to spread here in our communities and to all the nations.
2:The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.
3:But when she could hide him no longer, she made for him a basket out of bulrushes and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.
Sunday was mother's day. Happy belated Mother's Day greetings to all you moms out there. On Sunday evening I was watching a Christian minister who gave a really good message about Moses' mother. I wanted to share some of the highlights with you and how that message relates to parents today.
The story of course started out that Pharaoh ordered that all male babies of Jewish descent were to be thrown into the Nile river and the reason was to annihilate the Jewish race, because they were slaves to the Egyptians and the Egyptians were afraid that if they kept growing in number the Jews would turn against them and make war with them. The best part of the story is that Moses' mom was not going to agree with this idea, so she found a way to hide her son for three months. A lot of other mothers allowed the midwives to take their sons and throw them in the Nile River to die. The teacher was saying that a lot of Egyptians worshipped the crocodile and treated them like they were gods. So of course if you were throwing babies into the Nile, you were making sacrifices to the gods.
His mom made the basket of protection out of weaved bulrushes which is also the plant that they make papyrus out of which is used to make scrolls for writing on and it grows on the edges of the Nile in the shallow parts. Somehow his mother knew that their was some kind of chemical or other trait that was in that plant that the crocodiles would not come near anything made by that plant. Then she painted the outside of the basket with tar and pitch. She then placed Moses in the reeds along the waters edge until Pharaoh's daughter noticed him and she saw to it that he was raised by his own mother for a few years. As he grew up he became the one God had chosen to lead the people into the promised land.
In the past month we have had many children dedicated to God by their parents, and it has been a blessing to watch these parents surrender their children to the will of God.
The application of this story about Moses applies to our local church body today. Just as Moses' mom didn't allow her child to be sacrificed to the gods of the Nile, neither should we give into the idea that we have to surrender to the idea that the children in our church will be handed to the gods or the idols of the culture of today: drugs, alcohol, sexuality, peer pressure, etc. It is the responsibility of Christian parents today to weave a basket of protection for your children and build it out of the truths found in the word of God. Raise them in the admonition of the Lord. Train a child in the way he should go and when he grows older he will not depart from it. I am praying for those who dedicated their children to the Lord that they will be committed to training these precious gifts of God in the truth. The rest of us who stood as a witness that we will commit to our promise to teach, encourage, show them the truths in God's Word and that we will treat them as being valuable members of the church today. As Pastor cliff taught us Sunday they are not the church of tomorrow, but they are part of the church today along with us. As we minister to these young people the church is like Moses' mom when she put the tar and pitch on the outside of the basket. I believe that if we all do our part, these children will grow up to be followers of Christ. The word promises that I know the plans and purposes I have for you to give you hope and a future. Praise God for His many examples of how He worked in the lives of people in the Bible so we could have assurance and hope for us.
We have seen several people who grew up being trained here by their parents and teachers who have become missionaries and some pastors and others involved in various ministries, so let us continue to disciple one another and grow in unity so the gospel of Jesus our Lord and Savior will continue to spread here in our communities and to all the nations.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Who is Willing to Stand in the Gap?
Ezekiel 22:30 I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
A couple of weeks ago I shared a burden I had to minister to the young people who live in my neighborhood and how I have joined with some other people from my local church to start a kids club, which has for the most part been successful, and we have reached out to several new families. Praise the Lord for the progress we are making.
The burden for lost young people is continuing to grow in me. A couple of days ago, I saw some young teens who I know and they were smoking cigarettes and they were acting a little on the high side, like they may have been drunk. It caused my heart to sink a little, but I still greeted them with the regular short conversation you have when you see friends on the street.
When our family was growing up there were 7 siblings and we came from a poor family who were unchurched while we were young. It was the church I am now going to that had several older folks who went out and reached out to unchurched families and they extended unconditional love to us despite our status. They wanted to show us how much Jesus loved us. Through this love my sister Wanda and I accepted Christ as our Savior and my sister became a missionary to Papau, New Guinea and now she is serving as a missionary in Sanford, Florida. Because of the churches love, later my mother who has gone to be with the Lord accepted Christ, and also two aunts, Grace and Dorothy. Recently, my brother Wayne accepted Christ a couple years ago. He is struggling a little in his faith walk, but right now he is returning to church, so I praise the Lord for that. My point is that because others were led by Christ to start reaching outside the church six relatives which includes me have followed Christ. It only happened because someone stood in the gap for us. They new that if it wasn't them that was willing to share the gospel, who would.
Recently, I was listening to a message on the Christian radio station of a missionary in India and he had a dream about an island full of thousands of people and there was no bridge to reach them so he dreamed how he could reach them and as he got closer to the island he saw a dark spot getting clearer and the closer he got the clearer it was becoming. He got real close and in his dream he saw that the bridge was children holding hands and it stretched to the island. He began ministering to the children in the city he was sent to. He had no luck previously reaching adults. But because of the love he showed to the children and the things he taught them, the parents and relatives started coming to the church. A couple of weeks ago during team kids children's club, we watched a missionary presentation of a man and woman who were not married, but they worked together as missionaries in maybe Baton Rouge, Louisiana? They ministered to youth. Some of the things they did with the youth was sporting events, tutoring, and the man had a large house and allowed eight of them to live with him. They also supported these young ones with material needs such as food and clothing. It was such a cool thing to watch, after I have been thinking about what can I do. I am still not sure what I should do about reaching out outside the walls of the church, but I know if I do nothing, then these teens will continue to be drawn into relationships that repeat painful family cycles of hurt. All I know right now is that I am willing to stand in the gap for Jesus, and also that I am ready to proclaim to Jesus, here I am Lord, send me. I also know that if the Lord continues to lead me into this direction that He will supply my needs according to His glorious riches.
In June an artist in our church is going to demonstrate to the Team Kids how to create a peice of pottery. His name is Tom. While he is working on that, I have been invited to share a teaching on the potter and the clay out of the Word of God. I will continue to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit step by step and put my faith and trust in Him. I am trusting that the community of Cambridge Springs will be radically changed spiritually as the body of Christ unites itself in the cause of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus.
Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
A couple of weeks ago I shared a burden I had to minister to the young people who live in my neighborhood and how I have joined with some other people from my local church to start a kids club, which has for the most part been successful, and we have reached out to several new families. Praise the Lord for the progress we are making.
The burden for lost young people is continuing to grow in me. A couple of days ago, I saw some young teens who I know and they were smoking cigarettes and they were acting a little on the high side, like they may have been drunk. It caused my heart to sink a little, but I still greeted them with the regular short conversation you have when you see friends on the street.
When our family was growing up there were 7 siblings and we came from a poor family who were unchurched while we were young. It was the church I am now going to that had several older folks who went out and reached out to unchurched families and they extended unconditional love to us despite our status. They wanted to show us how much Jesus loved us. Through this love my sister Wanda and I accepted Christ as our Savior and my sister became a missionary to Papau, New Guinea and now she is serving as a missionary in Sanford, Florida. Because of the churches love, later my mother who has gone to be with the Lord accepted Christ, and also two aunts, Grace and Dorothy. Recently, my brother Wayne accepted Christ a couple years ago. He is struggling a little in his faith walk, but right now he is returning to church, so I praise the Lord for that. My point is that because others were led by Christ to start reaching outside the church six relatives which includes me have followed Christ. It only happened because someone stood in the gap for us. They new that if it wasn't them that was willing to share the gospel, who would.
Recently, I was listening to a message on the Christian radio station of a missionary in India and he had a dream about an island full of thousands of people and there was no bridge to reach them so he dreamed how he could reach them and as he got closer to the island he saw a dark spot getting clearer and the closer he got the clearer it was becoming. He got real close and in his dream he saw that the bridge was children holding hands and it stretched to the island. He began ministering to the children in the city he was sent to. He had no luck previously reaching adults. But because of the love he showed to the children and the things he taught them, the parents and relatives started coming to the church. A couple of weeks ago during team kids children's club, we watched a missionary presentation of a man and woman who were not married, but they worked together as missionaries in maybe Baton Rouge, Louisiana? They ministered to youth. Some of the things they did with the youth was sporting events, tutoring, and the man had a large house and allowed eight of them to live with him. They also supported these young ones with material needs such as food and clothing. It was such a cool thing to watch, after I have been thinking about what can I do. I am still not sure what I should do about reaching out outside the walls of the church, but I know if I do nothing, then these teens will continue to be drawn into relationships that repeat painful family cycles of hurt. All I know right now is that I am willing to stand in the gap for Jesus, and also that I am ready to proclaim to Jesus, here I am Lord, send me. I also know that if the Lord continues to lead me into this direction that He will supply my needs according to His glorious riches.
In June an artist in our church is going to demonstrate to the Team Kids how to create a peice of pottery. His name is Tom. While he is working on that, I have been invited to share a teaching on the potter and the clay out of the Word of God. I will continue to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit step by step and put my faith and trust in Him. I am trusting that the community of Cambridge Springs will be radically changed spiritually as the body of Christ unites itself in the cause of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus.
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