One of the benefits of being a minister in the same town for over twenty years is seeing generations grow up and begin their own homes. We have celebrated weddings, children being born and then these children growing to love Jesus as well.
My wife and I attended a wonderful wedding on Memorial Day weekend for one of the families we have known for twenty years. The ceremony was spiritual and unique at the same time. The couple exchanged vows on an outside terrace of a hotel in the French Quarter. One of the most unusual sights was hotel guests pressing their faces to the windows to watch the wedding.
Everyone loves a wedding!
The real celebration was at the reception from 7-10 p.m. Lively conversation between friends and families, great food and drink, live music and dancing! Little wonder Jesus did His first miracle at a wedding. When He turned water into wine it was taking something plain, infusing it with His life to make it something that was tasty, fragrant and intoxicating. He did the same thing when He joined these two young people into one.
As I reflected on the how the parents raised the young woman, the words of this song came to mind. It reflects the greatest goal parents can have for their little girls.
Somewhere in the world today
A little girl will go out to play
All dressed up in mama's clothes
At least the way that I suppose it goes
Somewhere in the world tonight
Before she reaches to turn out the light
She'll be prayin' from a tender heart
A simple prayer that's a work of art
Chorus
And I don't even know her name
But I'm prayin' for her just the same
That the Lord will write His name upon her heart
'Cause somewhere in the course of this life
A little boy will need a godly wife
So hold on to Jesus, baby, wherever you are
Somewhere in the world out there
That little girl's learnin' how to care
She's pickin' up her mamas charms
Or maybe, swingin' 'round in her daddy's arms
Somewhere in the world to be
Though the future's not real clear to me
Their's could be a tender love
Grounded in eternal love above lyrics by Wayne Watson
Parents, we have an awesome opportunity…don’t blow it!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Hear the Call?
Mark 1: 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. “
Ever notice sometimes it’s hard to find Jesus when we expect in worship service but he shows up in everyday life when we are not looking for him?
The men He spoke to here were getting ready for another back breaking, soul draining day of fishing. Fishing is fun until it becomes work. Then, Jesus shows up and says follow Him and He will make them into someone that is productive for the Kingdom. He uses an analogy related to their vocation. This is instructive for several reasons.
When we follow Jesus He meet us in our world and gives new purpose to who we are and what we do. He said He will MAKE them in to fishers of men he does not expect to make ourselves into something. He who begins a good work in us will see it through to completion. At those time He calls us out of our comfort zone, He is drawing us to be more dependent on Him. God will never call us to do or be something for Him that He will not equip us for.
These guys knew how to fish. They knew you have to prepare the nets for the catch. They knew you had to go where the fish were. They knew fishing was a team effort to drop and draw the nets alongside their small boats. They knew how to read the weather signs ahead coming storms.
When Jesus calls us to be fishers of men, how does this translate to our new task? We must be prepared to respond when we find hearts needing to hear about Jesus. We have to be ready in the people groups we associate with... family, friends, work place friends, neighbors, sports team friends, etc. we can be responsive to them spiritually without being offending or overly aggressive. The Word says to be prepared at any time to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
It is also a team effort. We re to pray for and encourage other believers to be looking for “troubled hearts and broken dreams” in the lives of others. This is a good place to introduce others to the tender mercy, grace and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
Do you hear His call?
Monday, May 16, 2011
God's Desire for Us
Mark 1: 11 “And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”
Most printed copes of the Gospel of Mark are printed with a gap between verses 11 & 12.
This misleads many of us to believe that when God says he is pleased with us because of relationship, everything in life is going to be smooth. There are TV preachers and even local pastors that preach the message of “health & wealth” coming your way when you get right with God.
NOT!
God will desire and design challenging times in our lives to refine us like gold in the furnace. He wants to burn away anything or anyone we desire more than Him.
You see, God is more committed to our holiness than our happiness. Sounds like fun, huh? Yet, quoting the old TV show, Father knows best. He knows that as we pursue holiness in how we live and worship, joy will follow. He designed us to be vessels that contain and express His life to those around us and bring Him glory in all we are and do.
When difficulty comes into our lives we are to welcome it and see it as a gift from the Father. He is…
…the vinedresser trimming us to be more fruitful
…the Father disciplining those he loves
… the Holy God removing impurities from our lives.
Hebrews 12:10 says it well. “but he (God) disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
He is the loving parent who does not withhold that which is best for us. Why does He want to share his holiness?
Because it is how we are most fulfilled…fruitful. ..faith filled.
SO, next time you find yourself in trials, thank God for who is He is making you become.
Most printed copes of the Gospel of Mark are printed with a gap between verses 11 & 12.
This misleads many of us to believe that when God says he is pleased with us because of relationship, everything in life is going to be smooth. There are TV preachers and even local pastors that preach the message of “health & wealth” coming your way when you get right with God.
NOT!
God will desire and design challenging times in our lives to refine us like gold in the furnace. He wants to burn away anything or anyone we desire more than Him.
You see, God is more committed to our holiness than our happiness. Sounds like fun, huh? Yet, quoting the old TV show, Father knows best. He knows that as we pursue holiness in how we live and worship, joy will follow. He designed us to be vessels that contain and express His life to those around us and bring Him glory in all we are and do.
When difficulty comes into our lives we are to welcome it and see it as a gift from the Father. He is…
…the vinedresser trimming us to be more fruitful
…the Father disciplining those he loves
… the Holy God removing impurities from our lives.
Hebrews 12:10 says it well. “but he (God) disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
He is the loving parent who does not withhold that which is best for us. Why does He want to share his holiness?
Because it is how we are most fulfilled…fruitful. ..faith filled.
SO, next time you find yourself in trials, thank God for who is He is making you become.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Firemen Saying Thanks
We were surprised twice last week with visits from the fire department. Nothing was the matter it’s them wanting to say “Thanks.”
On Wednesday, May 4th, the funeral procession for a fallen firefighter went right in front of our school. The children here went down for their naps early and got up early so we could pay our respects. We had 40 children from ages 1-4 lined up inside the fence and some were holding flags as the procession went by.
We were not even sure they would be spotted. We were wrong.
The next day one of the fire stations called to see if they could come by to tell the kids they were touched. The children got to climb all over the truck and get their pictures taken. It was pretty exciting!
The next, day, 2 trucks pulled p to say thanks as well. More climbing and photo ops.
When I spoke to the fire chief to thank him for the men coming by, he was thankful to us. He said the children were spotted by the fence that day and it caused a lump in the throats of all the firemen. One group of firemen down from Georgia was so affected the chief said it “Blubberized them!”
We thank God for being on the route of the procession and being able to teach our children to take a public stand to honor our first responders.
On Wednesday, May 4th, the funeral procession for a fallen firefighter went right in front of our school. The children here went down for their naps early and got up early so we could pay our respects. We had 40 children from ages 1-4 lined up inside the fence and some were holding flags as the procession went by.
We were not even sure they would be spotted. We were wrong.
The next day one of the fire stations called to see if they could come by to tell the kids they were touched. The children got to climb all over the truck and get their pictures taken. It was pretty exciting!
The next, day, 2 trucks pulled p to say thanks as well. More climbing and photo ops.
When I spoke to the fire chief to thank him for the men coming by, he was thankful to us. He said the children were spotted by the fence that day and it caused a lump in the throats of all the firemen. One group of firemen down from Georgia was so affected the chief said it “Blubberized them!”
We thank God for being on the route of the procession and being able to teach our children to take a public stand to honor our first responders.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
The King’s Speech
I saw the Oscar winning movie The King’s Speech the other day. It is great movie except for one bit of language, but well worth watching to understand a little more of British culture. It also gives insight to something we in America can hardly fathom. That being the ways royals are treated by commoners.
The speech coach was not allowed to speak unless spoken to, had to back out of rooms and never turn his back on the royal presence and always address royalty with their title as their first name. “King this, Prince that.”
No wonder we went to war with them!
What struck me is something the king said. Basically the king said he did not know how to talk with a commoner because he did not know any. Talk about out of touch! I am so glad that can never be said of my King, Jesus Christ.
He created us commoners. To fully communicate with us, He became one of us. Philippians 2 says “5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Jesus came to earth and became the lowest common denominator in humanity so he could reach all of us. He did not come as a royal ruler, though He is the King of hearts. He came as a bondservant. What is a bondservant? One definition is, “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. On its basic level a bondservant is simply following your master to complete disregard of your own will, emotions, and desires.”
Jesus came not for his will but to follow the will of God with no regard for his own gain or reputation. If we were to follow this mindset we would have less disappointment and disillusionment.
Give it a try.
.
The speech coach was not allowed to speak unless spoken to, had to back out of rooms and never turn his back on the royal presence and always address royalty with their title as their first name. “King this, Prince that.”
No wonder we went to war with them!
What struck me is something the king said. Basically the king said he did not know how to talk with a commoner because he did not know any. Talk about out of touch! I am so glad that can never be said of my King, Jesus Christ.
He created us commoners. To fully communicate with us, He became one of us. Philippians 2 says “5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Jesus came to earth and became the lowest common denominator in humanity so he could reach all of us. He did not come as a royal ruler, though He is the King of hearts. He came as a bondservant. What is a bondservant? One definition is, “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. On its basic level a bondservant is simply following your master to complete disregard of your own will, emotions, and desires.”
Jesus came not for his will but to follow the will of God with no regard for his own gain or reputation. If we were to follow this mindset we would have less disappointment and disillusionment.
Give it a try.
.
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