Be profitable...

Isn't it funny how God speaks the same words to us over and over to get things across to us? Over the last couple days, I have been reading through scriptures and keep being brought back to this particular passage. Yesterday morning, in Sunday School we spoke about the "comfort zone" we are in in the church setting and then the morning sermon actually began in the early parts of the chapter and the passage was brought to my mind once again. The passage for today comes from Hebrews 13:13-17..."Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (14) For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (16) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

We are called to step out of our comfort zones and reach those who are outside of the safe walls. And, it doesn't say to reach only to those who openly want to hear about it either...it says to bear reproach. We are not bearing reproach for the sake of dealing with pain, but rather for our Lord, who bore the ultimate reproach.

We are also reminded that while we are here, the things are only for a season. We seek a city to come that "continues" or lasts forever. That is why we should set our sights and affections on things above. By our Lord, we should offer up our praise, sacrificially. That means letting go of ourselves and letting everything we have, everything we do, and everything we say honor Him. I can see the marquee sign of a church that stuck in my mind..."Let Go and Let God"...can't put it any simpler than that.

It continues in verse 16 with not forgetting to do good and communicate...that means sharing the testimony of what HE has done...for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Do you consider your good deeds and conversation as a sacrifice? I thought about that. If we aren't giving up something it's not really a sacrifice, is it? If we take the credit, we should be careful. Read Daniel chapter 4...King Nebuchadnezzar was very proud of the kingdom he himself had made with his own hands, after his dreams were told him by Daniel. He thought he was "all that" and had to be brought down a notch or two to come to a realization and give God the glory. It's not any fun having to go through trials and struggles to learn where the glory goes, but sometimes is necessary. If we are giving glory and "sacrificing" receiving the praise, God will be pleased.

And finally, this one can be tough...submit yourselves and obey them that have rule over you. This is another sacrifice we must make. This is not only concerned with work, either. We must keep our avenues of accountability and responsibility in order. We also have people set out to keep "watch" over us in places of authority. They should be able to look at our work and be joyful, not grieving the time together. The final line puts it well..."for that is unprofitable to you". It is unprofitable for us to leave a "bad taste" in people's minds when they think back on us.

So, get out of your comfort zone...do good and share what God has done...submit yourself and obey authority...for it is profitable for you.

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today...

Your Life is Hid in Christ...

I don't know about you, but the last couple weeks my email inbox has been filled with political emails of folks overly concerned about our pending elections. Now, don't get me wrong, we are in a very crucial point of our history, but are we letting our concerns about the election outweigh our concerns for the lost? A lot of Christians I know are only talking about Obama this, McCain that...Palin...Biden...I don't think any of them has a reason to replace our conversation of Christ.

So, as I was looking through scripture today, I came upon the following passage and thought we could cover it today...Colossians 3:1-4..."If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

We, as Christians, are assured be risen with Christ one day and need to keep our minds saturated with things above, rather than things here below. I am not real big into poitics, though I follow the news and major notes online. We are assured to be taken care of...I figure if the missionaries in the far corners of the earth are protected by God's hand, we in America are gonna be okay, too. I know it's not as simple as that...I do have signs in my yard for the ones I'll be voting for, but I am not losing sleep over the market crashing, presidential race, or a plummeting dollar value.

Also, there are things in this world that point to the soon return of Jesus. If you read through the Bible, it tells of the signs of the end times...kinda looks familiar, doesn't it? The signs are there and we must realize that like verse 3 states, to this world we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ. We should all find comfort in knowing the Lord will return, but we need to be ready!

With the signs all around us, we should be working that much harder to reach others...time is short, but the people needing the Truth are many! Yes, when Christ returns we will return with Him to heaven, but think of the person/people you know that don't know Him...does it break your heart???can you feel their pain??? Think of the friends you share a laugh with, do they know Christ??? Share your testimony with them...they need to know.

With all the rumblings and grumblings on Wall Street and Capitol Hill, isn't it great to know that you have a Father in heaven watching over you, who's "got your back" so to speak? Wouldn't your friends like to have that assurance, comfort, and peace? Don't let your foolish pride get in the way of reaching out to people who are searching for hope!

Please let me know if there is a special prayer I can word on your behalf today!

Blog Action Day...Poverty

I received notice that today is "Blog Action Day 2008" and thought I would look for scripture that deals with poverty and the poor. While our family were missionaries to the Sioux Indians in South Dakota, I saw poverty first-hand. It is an ugly thing that is not always caused by laziness. Sometimes, it is caused by any number of things from location, life decisions, etc. We as Christians are called to reach out and help the poor and oppressed. I would like to hear from you today as your feelings about what poverty means to you, what can be done, or a situation of someone you know who lives in poverty.

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." - Proverbs 14:31...This is very simply put...we are not to oppress the poor...we gain nothing from bringing others down...from holding them back...if we are to honor our Lord, we will have mercy on the poor. That doesn't mean saying "I'll pray for you" and going our way, but to reach out and help them where they are.

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:" - Deuteronomy 15:7...Once again, we are instructed to help out those in need...don't harden your heart...don't shut your hand from them either...reach out with love one to another...like it states don't withhold from thy poor brother.

"If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury." - Exodus 22:25...Don't give out of what you will get in return. Give of the kindness of your heart. Usury in Webster's dictionary is defined as "interest". Don't expect payment with interest...if you know they are unable to re-pay, why would you also expect payment with interest? Why do we only give when we think the opportunity for re-payment exists? That's not showing true love, is it? Realize when I point a finger, I have more pointing back at me...

And, for my final verse, I came across..."Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." - Proverbs 28:6...Would you rather be poor and have a close relationship with the Lord? Or would you rather have riches below, that will wither and waste away?

Be mindful of your charity and outreach today...not only to those who can do something for you financially...give and it shall be given unto you...don't give expecting in return, there is no glory in that...

May we reach the lost, hungry, and impoverished every day...Please let me know if there is a special prayer I can word on your behalf today...

And Keep Thy Word...

This morning as I have been doing some reading around the blogosphere, I am troubled by a few things. I realize as "worship leaders", we are to be working to produce the best possible product to lead, but are we putting the focus on the right things? I have read how several are worried about keeping guitarists, pianists, drummers, and vocalists happy. That is not what worship is about, though...it's about giving our best to Him, regardless if we hear our voice loud enough, there's feedback, etc. Don't get me wrong, I am as picky as the next guy, but we can't allow technical issues to take the focus off who we are singing, playing, or drumming to.

My scripture passage today comes from Psalm 119:17-22..."Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. (18) Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (19) I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. (20) My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. (21) Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. (22) Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies."

Here, David is praying for God to provide abundantly for him, that he may abide while keeping the Word of God in his life. He is also asking that God open his eyes, that he would see the great things of the law. We no longer are under the law in the same respect as the Old Testament, but should still glory in the statutes set before us for Christian life.

One of our deacons here is always reminding me about the next verse's words...we are not of this earth...don't let things here get to you! I will next skip over a bit to verse 21 where the proud are rebuked and cursed for getting their own selves in the way of the commandments. This is a hard one to keep our minds upon. When a person is put on a pedestal, after a while they seem to think they deserve it, if they don't have the right perspective. I speak from being there personally. My prayer each day is that I am mindful that I must decrease and He must increase (John 3:30).

Finally, in verse 22, if we keep our eyes focused can ask God to remove the trials and contempt we face for we have kept His testimonies. This is not to say that everything will be great all the time and trials will never come, but that God will remove those feelings from our hearts.

Let's pray that we may focus our eyes upon the Lord in our times of praise and worship. Like the words from "The Heart of Worship" state so eloquently..."it's all about You...it's all about You, Jesus..."

Let me know if I can word a special prayer on your behalf today...

Your work shall be revealed by fire...

I know many of you have been hearing about the Block Party we had this past Saturday. i am going to be using some of what happened there as illustration of today's passage which comes from 1 Corinthians 3:13-15..."Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Our works will be seen as it is...revealed by fire. True testing of our thoughts and intents. If they are built upon self, it shall burn like wood, hay, and stubble and nothing will be left to show. If works are built upon the Lord and His teachings, there shall be a reward. As it states here, our works being consumed doesn't alienate us from the Father, but it does keep us from gaining crowns and rewards.

The Block Party from this past Saturday was a definite symbol of a work based upon the Lord. It was a time of giving of ourselves for others. We saw an estimate of 1200 people in the three hours we were open. We fed around 900 hot plate lunches. We were also able to send nearly 300 bags of groceries home with families. One thing I found amazing was that when we ran out of bagged groceries, we didn't just say "sorry, we're out", but took people's names and phone numbers, so we can make up a bag for them this week.

It took all of us working together to accomplish a great work for the Lord. We will get together again later this week to bag another 63 bags of groceries that will be given out. That's a testament to our church's love and care for the community we serve in.

Another awesome sight was the youth standing with folks in the food line and sharing testimonies and the Word of God to others that they didn't know. Our prayer table was packed the entire time, as well. So many hurting people are living around us these days. In the 3 short hours, we had nearly 100 people stop and ask for prayer for hurting loved ones, salvation, and life's troubles. Too many times, we are afraid we will offend by asking people if we can pray for them, but it's obvious they are looking for someone to reach out and care.

This is not a post to collectively pat ourselves on the back, but rather a statement that people are searching for genuine love and care. If we are willing to reach out to them where they need it, they will open up to what we can offer them through the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that this will be a boost to your Spirit today...the fire is burning in many of our hearts here at Emmanuel.

The work has just begun...the Block Party is an outreach, but it's not where the outreach ends, but rather where it begins. Now, we must visit, call, and show the love of Christ to those who so desperately need it.

Join with us and look for an opportunity to share with those that are searching...right around you. They aren't hiding...look in their eyes...you can see it...and if you are doing the works...for God's glory...crowns and rewards will be yours to lay at the feet of the Lord...

Let me know if there is a special prayer I can word on your behalf today...