Romans 8:14:For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.
15:For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we call out, "Abba! Father!"
16:The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
17:and if children, heirs also, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified in Him.
Sunday was a beautiful and warm sunny day. I wondered how I could celebrate Father's Day, since my father passed away when I was only ten years old. I don't remember much about my earthly father, except that he was a hard worker and he provided for the material needs of our family. He spent most of his evenings hanging around with his friends from work and he wouldn't come home until late evening. He did spend Sundays with us and we usually went on picnics, but honestly that is all I can remember.
After I got home from church, I began praying about how I could use the rest of the day. I remembered this verse out of Romans, and it gave me great joy to know that I have another Father and He chose to adopt me and I am now his. I was also reflecting on Him as being the Creator of all things. As I continued to spend time in devotions, I was also thinking about some of the comments some people at church shared with me, because I said I missed that part of being a Godly man,being a father and they encouraged me by saying that I was being a father-like figure to the five children that I have been bringing with me to the Kid's club, and also to church. God does want believers to be fathers to the fatherless. These children do have their own parents, but their parents are not interested in the things concerning God. I have adopted them in a spiritual way, just as God, who is not a respecter of persons has drawn me to follow Him.
I ended up deciding to spend the afternoon going on a hike with my Father who adopted me long ago. I enjoyed sharing with Him the things that His hands have created. I went to Land of Lakes. I was able to see a few turtles, and hear fish jump out of the water as they caught insects. I could hear the different sounds of birds singing to one another. It was neat to hear and see the breezes of the gentle wind as it passed by through the trees. I saw a field of white daisies with the fluttering of hundreds of monarch butterflies as they spread their wings to land from blossom to blossom. I came at just the ideal time of the summer, so I could view the acres of golden and bright pink water lilies floating on the many ponds. You could also smell the sweet aroma of the wild white roses that hide their vines in the tallest branches of the trees. People pass them by all year, and suddenly just at the right season of year they surprise you with their pure white color. I was also able to notice my favorite kind of wild lilies that are over six feet tall. They are red and they look like upside down bells. I usually ride my bike in the summertime, but I have decided to walk this summer, so I could enjoy those tiny glimpses of creation, that you miss as you rush by on a bike. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father and that I could share this special day with Him. All praise goes to Him. I am so glad to be a part of the family of God. I will share more next week. Until then God's grace and peace are with you my brothers and sisters in Christ. Praise Him that you have also been adopted and that you can also shout Abba! Father!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Pouring Yourself out for the Sake of Others
Philippians2:1:Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
2:make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit intent on one purpose.
3:Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4:do not merely look out for your own interests, but also the interest of others.
14:Do all things without grumbling and complaining;
15:so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16:holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain or toil in vain.
17:But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18: You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
In many of the apostle Paul's writings he urges and challenges people to follow after his example. In this passage he is showing us that we should at times be willing to set aside our agenda and interests, so we can pour out ourselves for the sakes of others. He uses Christ dieing on the cross as the example of sacrificing His life for the sake of others. I am also reminded of the verse Pastor Cliff refers us to. I think it is found in Galations. It explains that we should die to ourselves, so we can live for Christ.
I am still working on the landscaping project here at the church. It is still not completed yet, but yesterday, I made good progress as I finished the round flower bed in front of the parking lot. As I have been working on this project, I have five people who come and speak to me regularly. At first when they would show up, I was becoming quite irritated, thinking to myself, I have all this work to do, and these people are such a nuisance and a bother to me. I sometimes would put my tools away and end up going home and trying another day. In early April I came across this portion of scripture and realized that my hobby could turn into a ministry to these people. As they continued to come, I asked them if they minded if I worked while we talked. I have become friends with them and I have learned some things about them, and ways I could minister to them and some other citizens in the community. One of them mentioned that he enjoys talking to me, because he doesn't have many friends he can talk to, so he usually ends up going to the bar, where he can speak to others ,but he always ends up getting drunk. He hates doing that and he is on a fixed income, and spends most of his money buying beer. He also has a hand that is deformed and he shared with me that last year he went fishing by himself and he fell over a steep bank and fell into French Creek and he almost drowned, because of his deformed hand he had a hard time pulling himself out of the water. He also likes to go hiking, but has trouble finding people who are willing to go with him. Another person who the community thinks and has labeled him as being useless because he is mentally retarded surprised me by letting me go to his house and seeing a large shed he built out of scrap wood and materials that he has collected from leftover materials from projects at contractor sites. He would see someone building something and they would have a pile of unusable wood and he would ask if he could take them. He also put siding and two large doors on the front of it. He also can fix lawn mower engines and repairs things. He is 50 years old now and because of people putting this label on him and the government labeling him, he has spent his life collecting disability. Could you imagine if someone who was a contractor would have poured themselves out for his interest, he could have been useful and had a good paying job. There is also an older couple who used to go to our church that I found out from another person, that they had to give up their drivers license and they may at times want to come to church, but are unable because of transportation needs. I am not sure how they feel about it, but it would be nice if someone was willing to look at their interests and offer them a ride so they can worship with us. It was a sacrifice for me to set aside my agenda, but I realize now that I really didn't have to give it up completely, but that I could reach unbelievers if I could allow them to be a part of what I was doing. I know a lot of lonely citizens in our small town who could be reached with the gospel, if we had people who were willing to give themselves to others and share those gifts and hobbies that you enjoy so much. Gardening, hunting, fishing, hiking, craft projects, etc. I wish there was a way we could connect Christians to be disciples to unreached people groups. I am not sure how to accomplish this. One thing I am thinking about is to get my fishing license, because most of these five friends would go fishing if they had someone to go with. So as for me that would be a good start. You too, I urge you in the same way, do what Paul has taught me, look at others who are lost, look at meeting their interests. Share in the joy.
2:make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit intent on one purpose.
3:Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4:do not merely look out for your own interests, but also the interest of others.
14:Do all things without grumbling and complaining;
15:so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16:holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain or toil in vain.
17:But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18: You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
In many of the apostle Paul's writings he urges and challenges people to follow after his example. In this passage he is showing us that we should at times be willing to set aside our agenda and interests, so we can pour out ourselves for the sakes of others. He uses Christ dieing on the cross as the example of sacrificing His life for the sake of others. I am also reminded of the verse Pastor Cliff refers us to. I think it is found in Galations. It explains that we should die to ourselves, so we can live for Christ.
I am still working on the landscaping project here at the church. It is still not completed yet, but yesterday, I made good progress as I finished the round flower bed in front of the parking lot. As I have been working on this project, I have five people who come and speak to me regularly. At first when they would show up, I was becoming quite irritated, thinking to myself, I have all this work to do, and these people are such a nuisance and a bother to me. I sometimes would put my tools away and end up going home and trying another day. In early April I came across this portion of scripture and realized that my hobby could turn into a ministry to these people. As they continued to come, I asked them if they minded if I worked while we talked. I have become friends with them and I have learned some things about them, and ways I could minister to them and some other citizens in the community. One of them mentioned that he enjoys talking to me, because he doesn't have many friends he can talk to, so he usually ends up going to the bar, where he can speak to others ,but he always ends up getting drunk. He hates doing that and he is on a fixed income, and spends most of his money buying beer. He also has a hand that is deformed and he shared with me that last year he went fishing by himself and he fell over a steep bank and fell into French Creek and he almost drowned, because of his deformed hand he had a hard time pulling himself out of the water. He also likes to go hiking, but has trouble finding people who are willing to go with him. Another person who the community thinks and has labeled him as being useless because he is mentally retarded surprised me by letting me go to his house and seeing a large shed he built out of scrap wood and materials that he has collected from leftover materials from projects at contractor sites. He would see someone building something and they would have a pile of unusable wood and he would ask if he could take them. He also put siding and two large doors on the front of it. He also can fix lawn mower engines and repairs things. He is 50 years old now and because of people putting this label on him and the government labeling him, he has spent his life collecting disability. Could you imagine if someone who was a contractor would have poured themselves out for his interest, he could have been useful and had a good paying job. There is also an older couple who used to go to our church that I found out from another person, that they had to give up their drivers license and they may at times want to come to church, but are unable because of transportation needs. I am not sure how they feel about it, but it would be nice if someone was willing to look at their interests and offer them a ride so they can worship with us. It was a sacrifice for me to set aside my agenda, but I realize now that I really didn't have to give it up completely, but that I could reach unbelievers if I could allow them to be a part of what I was doing. I know a lot of lonely citizens in our small town who could be reached with the gospel, if we had people who were willing to give themselves to others and share those gifts and hobbies that you enjoy so much. Gardening, hunting, fishing, hiking, craft projects, etc. I wish there was a way we could connect Christians to be disciples to unreached people groups. I am not sure how to accomplish this. One thing I am thinking about is to get my fishing license, because most of these five friends would go fishing if they had someone to go with. So as for me that would be a good start. You too, I urge you in the same way, do what Paul has taught me, look at others who are lost, look at meeting their interests. Share in the joy.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Jesus Anointed as High Priest?
Matthew 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper,
7: a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.
8:But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste?
9:For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."
10:But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother this woman? For she has done a good deed to me.
12:For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.
13:"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
Last night we finished our June special event with the team Kid's club. It was a very successful endeavor, as new kids came to be taught how to make bowls out of clay. Our artist was Tom Casper and he has done an excellent job and showed great patience with the young people. I could tell he really enjoyed his time sharing his gift with them. They were all excited at the end of the evening when the old-fashioned ice cream truck rolled into the parking lot playing the old-time music on the special machine. We are planning another special art class in August hopefully using some sort of painting classes.
We are going to have a very busy schedule this summer at the Alliance church. We are beginning to send some of our youth to summer camp starting this weekend and for the next several weeks. Some of those going are new to the church and they are able to go for free. I am very thankful to the board for allowing this to happen, because without their support it would not be possible for them to go. In a couple of weeks, there will be a yard sale and also we are going to have free lunches in the front yard for those who are passing by the church and going to various homes for the annual community yard sales. We had a great time last year with this project. People could not believe that a church would just give out free food and not do it as a fundraiser. We also are scheduling another baptism at the end of June. Then another couple being married in July. These events are all opportunities for Christ to continue transforming lives.
I had an opportunity to teach again last night, and we were using biblical examples of people who became vessels of honor after they were washed by the word of God. One of them was that woman who anointed Jesus' head with the expensive perfume. In the Old Testament, there was a ceremony that was to be performed when a new High Priest began his position in which the person was anointed with oil. It is referenced in Psalm 133:2: Where Aaron was anointed with precious oil that ran down his head and beard and continued to flow down his robe. I haven't thought much about this lady who came to Jesus. It was the very last act of love that Jesus received before He faced His death on the cross. He thought greatly about this act of kindness, for He wanted people to always mention this persons testimony whenever the gospel is preached. It reminds me of the scripture where the disciples were trying to figure out which one of them was the greatest, and Jesus told them "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." She was the last to serve are Savior, and she has become first, for she shall be the one talked about when the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world. After Jesus left the earth, we know that He became the King of Kings, the Prophet and our High Priest. As the High Priest, was this women's sacrifice, to pour out and give up this treasure, an illustration to us that Jesus received His anointing, just as all His predecessors had?
AS I was thinking about her story, I was going back through my life, and wondering about anyone who gave that special touch of caring to me. I might have already shared this, but I will share it again. I was just finishing the first grade in elementary school, and I was walking home and I was very upset, because there was a very great possibility that I was going to fail first grade and I was going to have to repeat it. Why? Because I had not learned to read yet. I was in a class of about 30 students, and if you couldn't understand something, the teacher could not spend extra time with one on one teaching. As I was crossing the bridge over French Creek, there was a young lady who attended the Alliance college, which now has been since turned into a state prison. She began a discussion with me, and she shared with me how she was from the other end of Ohio and she missed being with her family and she had a brother who was my age. She was studying elementary education, so she sort of adopted me and every Saturday she would spend afternoons coming to my home and taking me to the library and tutoring me. In the time of just one summer, I was able to read and also was learning comprehension, but she continued tutoring me for four years. About four years ago, I was able to see her for about a half hour. She was the person who encouraged me also as an adult, to begin writing my thoughts down and sharing it with other people. This week I received a special blessing, because one of the posts, I recently wrote about, affected many family members of a young boy named Sammy,and I want to give all the thanks and praise to Christ, because of that special day long ago when I met that woman on the bridge, who was sent by God for such a time as this.
7: a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.
8:But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste?
9:For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."
10:But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother this woman? For she has done a good deed to me.
12:For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.
13:"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
Last night we finished our June special event with the team Kid's club. It was a very successful endeavor, as new kids came to be taught how to make bowls out of clay. Our artist was Tom Casper and he has done an excellent job and showed great patience with the young people. I could tell he really enjoyed his time sharing his gift with them. They were all excited at the end of the evening when the old-fashioned ice cream truck rolled into the parking lot playing the old-time music on the special machine. We are planning another special art class in August hopefully using some sort of painting classes.
We are going to have a very busy schedule this summer at the Alliance church. We are beginning to send some of our youth to summer camp starting this weekend and for the next several weeks. Some of those going are new to the church and they are able to go for free. I am very thankful to the board for allowing this to happen, because without their support it would not be possible for them to go. In a couple of weeks, there will be a yard sale and also we are going to have free lunches in the front yard for those who are passing by the church and going to various homes for the annual community yard sales. We had a great time last year with this project. People could not believe that a church would just give out free food and not do it as a fundraiser. We also are scheduling another baptism at the end of June. Then another couple being married in July. These events are all opportunities for Christ to continue transforming lives.
I had an opportunity to teach again last night, and we were using biblical examples of people who became vessels of honor after they were washed by the word of God. One of them was that woman who anointed Jesus' head with the expensive perfume. In the Old Testament, there was a ceremony that was to be performed when a new High Priest began his position in which the person was anointed with oil. It is referenced in Psalm 133:2: Where Aaron was anointed with precious oil that ran down his head and beard and continued to flow down his robe. I haven't thought much about this lady who came to Jesus. It was the very last act of love that Jesus received before He faced His death on the cross. He thought greatly about this act of kindness, for He wanted people to always mention this persons testimony whenever the gospel is preached. It reminds me of the scripture where the disciples were trying to figure out which one of them was the greatest, and Jesus told them "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." She was the last to serve are Savior, and she has become first, for she shall be the one talked about when the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world. After Jesus left the earth, we know that He became the King of Kings, the Prophet and our High Priest. As the High Priest, was this women's sacrifice, to pour out and give up this treasure, an illustration to us that Jesus received His anointing, just as all His predecessors had?
AS I was thinking about her story, I was going back through my life, and wondering about anyone who gave that special touch of caring to me. I might have already shared this, but I will share it again. I was just finishing the first grade in elementary school, and I was walking home and I was very upset, because there was a very great possibility that I was going to fail first grade and I was going to have to repeat it. Why? Because I had not learned to read yet. I was in a class of about 30 students, and if you couldn't understand something, the teacher could not spend extra time with one on one teaching. As I was crossing the bridge over French Creek, there was a young lady who attended the Alliance college, which now has been since turned into a state prison. She began a discussion with me, and she shared with me how she was from the other end of Ohio and she missed being with her family and she had a brother who was my age. She was studying elementary education, so she sort of adopted me and every Saturday she would spend afternoons coming to my home and taking me to the library and tutoring me. In the time of just one summer, I was able to read and also was learning comprehension, but she continued tutoring me for four years. About four years ago, I was able to see her for about a half hour. She was the person who encouraged me also as an adult, to begin writing my thoughts down and sharing it with other people. This week I received a special blessing, because one of the posts, I recently wrote about, affected many family members of a young boy named Sammy,and I want to give all the thanks and praise to Christ, because of that special day long ago when I met that woman on the bridge, who was sent by God for such a time as this.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Are You Getting Prepared for the Wedding
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26:so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27:that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
2Timothy 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21: therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
We had an exciting week at the Cambridge Springs Alliance Church. On Saturday afternoon we had a wedding and last night we had a special summer art class and Bible lesson on pottery.
On Saturday Nancy Mealey got married to Jeff (sorry, I forgot the last name). It was a very beautiful wedding. About a week before the wedding, I was talking to Cal, Nancy's father. He was telling me about the schedule on the day of the wedding, that the ladies were going to begin getting prepared at 8 A.M. at the church for the wedding which started at 3P.M. Being typical of a man, I was thinking, wow that is a long time for preparation, but I arrived at 2:30 and the room where they were getting ready in was still closed, so they ended up using every minute of the time.
This reminded me of the first scripture passage in Ephesians. My time on earth is my preparation time as I belong to the body of Christ and we are His bride, and He may return before I perish, or He may not, but in the meantime, as I read the scriptures, or here the Word being spoken, I have an anticipation to worship Christ. What will you teach me today. What lessons can I learn that will cause me to become more Christlike as I unite myself to others who are willing to submit themselves to the washing of water, which comes from applying what we have been taught by Jesus. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to guide, lead and teach us new truths, the more we will become united to the cause of Christ, and we will continue to lose our stains and wrinkles and we will become holy and blameless on that day when he returns to receive His bride. Then we will celebrate at the wedding feast with Him, who is our redeemer.
On Tuesday night we had Tom Casper who is a pottery artist help several children and adults make items, mostly bowls that each participant could take home, after the items are fired in a couple of weeks. There were about 30 people who attended. My job was to teach the lesson. God is the potter and we are the clay. A couple of the highlights of the lesson included the story about Jesus healing the blind man when He reached into the ground and grabbed dirt and spit in it and made clay and rubbed it in the blind man's eye. The man was not healed right then, but Jesus told him first he must go to the pool and wash the dirt off His eyes. He believed the words of Jesus and was obedient to that truth and was immediately healed. That is how Christ wants to work in our lives. We hear the Word, but if we do not apply what we heard, we will not receive or be cleansed by what we were taught.
Do you want to be used by the Master? I do! In a large house there are many vessels. Some for honor, and some for dishonor. If we allow ourselves to be cleansed by the Word, we will become Sanctified, and useful, and we will be ready for every good work, which Christ has prepared in advance that we would be able to walk into the purpose He has for us.
So next time you come to church or read your Bible come prepared with an expectation that you would love to be changed this day by what you have learned by the great teacher and continue to get ready for that beautiful day when you and I will see the bridegroom face to face.
26:so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27:that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
2Timothy 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21: therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
We had an exciting week at the Cambridge Springs Alliance Church. On Saturday afternoon we had a wedding and last night we had a special summer art class and Bible lesson on pottery.
On Saturday Nancy Mealey got married to Jeff (sorry, I forgot the last name). It was a very beautiful wedding. About a week before the wedding, I was talking to Cal, Nancy's father. He was telling me about the schedule on the day of the wedding, that the ladies were going to begin getting prepared at 8 A.M. at the church for the wedding which started at 3P.M. Being typical of a man, I was thinking, wow that is a long time for preparation, but I arrived at 2:30 and the room where they were getting ready in was still closed, so they ended up using every minute of the time.
This reminded me of the first scripture passage in Ephesians. My time on earth is my preparation time as I belong to the body of Christ and we are His bride, and He may return before I perish, or He may not, but in the meantime, as I read the scriptures, or here the Word being spoken, I have an anticipation to worship Christ. What will you teach me today. What lessons can I learn that will cause me to become more Christlike as I unite myself to others who are willing to submit themselves to the washing of water, which comes from applying what we have been taught by Jesus. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to guide, lead and teach us new truths, the more we will become united to the cause of Christ, and we will continue to lose our stains and wrinkles and we will become holy and blameless on that day when he returns to receive His bride. Then we will celebrate at the wedding feast with Him, who is our redeemer.
On Tuesday night we had Tom Casper who is a pottery artist help several children and adults make items, mostly bowls that each participant could take home, after the items are fired in a couple of weeks. There were about 30 people who attended. My job was to teach the lesson. God is the potter and we are the clay. A couple of the highlights of the lesson included the story about Jesus healing the blind man when He reached into the ground and grabbed dirt and spit in it and made clay and rubbed it in the blind man's eye. The man was not healed right then, but Jesus told him first he must go to the pool and wash the dirt off His eyes. He believed the words of Jesus and was obedient to that truth and was immediately healed. That is how Christ wants to work in our lives. We hear the Word, but if we do not apply what we heard, we will not receive or be cleansed by what we were taught.
Do you want to be used by the Master? I do! In a large house there are many vessels. Some for honor, and some for dishonor. If we allow ourselves to be cleansed by the Word, we will become Sanctified, and useful, and we will be ready for every good work, which Christ has prepared in advance that we would be able to walk into the purpose He has for us.
So next time you come to church or read your Bible come prepared with an expectation that you would love to be changed this day by what you have learned by the great teacher and continue to get ready for that beautiful day when you and I will see the bridegroom face to face.
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