It is that time of the year once again. It is the annual day of my birthday. I do not feel any different on this day and my routine is the normal by spending most of my day at the church. However, it is a day that is a set aside to celebrate another year. Monica and the girls made me a peach cobbler and Lily insisted on putting all the candles she could in it. There were so many candles Monica could have pulled it out if the oven a little sooner and let all the candles continue to cook the cobbler. For the first time in my life I got a text to say Happy Birthday, a phone call from Isabella with her version of Happy Birthday, and many more from my mom, in-laws, and friends.
Although my birthday is special to me it is not the most important birthday to be celebrated. The day my Lord was born was the most important date to celebrate. For if it was not for his birth, my birthday would remind me that my life would end without any hope of a future. His birth is very important regardless of the debate in America on what is proper when it comes to the Christmas holidays. We Christians know that the season is not about making money but making much of the MASTER!
When I die my birthday celebrations will cease. Yet, in the life of Christ we still celebrate his life after the resurrection. We still keep count an look back at his death because it gives us hope that we Christians will stand with him for eternity. I thank the Lord for another year I can celebrate my birthday but I can I thank him most for his birth and his death.
Therefore I am looking to the author and finisher of all my birthdays!
Preacher
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Prayer Still Works
I am coming to an end of preaching an 8 week Sunday morning series on "God Still Answers Prayer." I personally believe God wants to answer our prayers and especially prayers that bring the glory of God to light here on earth.
After preaching the other night at the local women's prison you can see the desire of many ladies that wants prayers to be answered. So many of them have learned that repeating sin over and over is not worth cost that it brings. Several ladies have a desire to see the Lord help them have the strength to break that chain of wrong decisions. As we pray with these ladies I believe my God can give them the strength to do so and give them wisdom on the right choices in their life.
It shows me that everyone is looking for God to do something in their life. I know I have petitions before the Lord as things I like to see God do in my life, as well as my family, and the church that I Pastor. All prayers also need some feet. I need to make sure that I live in the will of God. For my prayers to be answered then I must be willing to live for the Lord in all aspects of my life and sadly many people want God to be their genie in a bottle. My God is not a genie he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. I sure glad that I have One who knows me and understands me when I pray.
I hope that many have enjoyed the series and realize there are some things we can pray for and God will say yes every time. As I reflect back in my life I am sure glad that he didn't answer some prayers for I know I would not be where I am today. Thank You Lord for giving what you wanted me to have in my life and not what I wanted!
After preaching the other night at the local women's prison you can see the desire of many ladies that wants prayers to be answered. So many of them have learned that repeating sin over and over is not worth cost that it brings. Several ladies have a desire to see the Lord help them have the strength to break that chain of wrong decisions. As we pray with these ladies I believe my God can give them the strength to do so and give them wisdom on the right choices in their life.
It shows me that everyone is looking for God to do something in their life. I know I have petitions before the Lord as things I like to see God do in my life, as well as my family, and the church that I Pastor. All prayers also need some feet. I need to make sure that I live in the will of God. For my prayers to be answered then I must be willing to live for the Lord in all aspects of my life and sadly many people want God to be their genie in a bottle. My God is not a genie he is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. I sure glad that I have One who knows me and understands me when I pray.
I hope that many have enjoyed the series and realize there are some things we can pray for and God will say yes every time. As I reflect back in my life I am sure glad that he didn't answer some prayers for I know I would not be where I am today. Thank You Lord for giving what you wanted me to have in my life and not what I wanted!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Back From Vacation
It is often great to get away and that is what we tried to do. We were able to spend time on the Atlantic Ocean for 8 nights. It was sure a change for all of us. To be able to sleep with the doors open to feel the ocean breeze and to hear the ocean all the time was such a refreshing change. To eat by the ocean, to walk on the shore, and to be a testimony as well. I took a moment to build a sand castle with my daughter but I also took the time to build my own master piece. I piled the sand up and carved out a bible to leave behind as a witness. I watched from the balcony of our room to see people stop and look at it and thank God no one tore it down.
As we piled many memories up in our time away we understand that even being 91/2 hours away from home we still were meet with problems and sad news. We are so glad to know that no matter how far away from home we may be we have a God that watches over us no matter where we are. We are thankful that he kept an ever so close eye upon us that we were able to travel and return home safely.
By mentioning our return home safely the sad news we received while we were gone was the last breath that one of our good brothers in Christ, Charles Clark. I am happy to report to you that he made home safely!!! There is no doubt that his testimony was sure to all of us on whom he loved and whom he put his trust in. In the last year Brother Charles made great strides in his witnessing for his Lord. Many hospital personal was presented the chance to know the same Lord he knew. What is so great also is to see someone who truly loves the Lord to die with what I call "dying grace" keeping his eyes upon Jesus. Brother Charles who has safely made it home is now waiting for all of us to arrive.
Normally getting back into reality takes a few days. I am glad to say we are back into reality as I got back to fill the pulpit once again. It was a great day at Grace. I was so thankful the day went so well. From the prayer meeting at 8:30 in the morning to the last goodbye Sunday night the sweet fellowship of our brother and sisters and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit made it a great day even though I didn't get a nap.
It's good to be back home!
Preacher
As we piled many memories up in our time away we understand that even being 91/2 hours away from home we still were meet with problems and sad news. We are so glad to know that no matter how far away from home we may be we have a God that watches over us no matter where we are. We are thankful that he kept an ever so close eye upon us that we were able to travel and return home safely.
By mentioning our return home safely the sad news we received while we were gone was the last breath that one of our good brothers in Christ, Charles Clark. I am happy to report to you that he made home safely!!! There is no doubt that his testimony was sure to all of us on whom he loved and whom he put his trust in. In the last year Brother Charles made great strides in his witnessing for his Lord. Many hospital personal was presented the chance to know the same Lord he knew. What is so great also is to see someone who truly loves the Lord to die with what I call "dying grace" keeping his eyes upon Jesus. Brother Charles who has safely made it home is now waiting for all of us to arrive.
Normally getting back into reality takes a few days. I am glad to say we are back into reality as I got back to fill the pulpit once again. It was a great day at Grace. I was so thankful the day went so well. From the prayer meeting at 8:30 in the morning to the last goodbye Sunday night the sweet fellowship of our brother and sisters and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit made it a great day even though I didn't get a nap.
It's good to be back home!
Preacher
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
My First Blog - Being A Testimony
In my first blog I am sure there are many things that I could blog about but I must make this first blog about what I am called to do. I am a born again Christian called to be a testimony to and for our Lord. Being a testimony means a lot of things to a lot of different people. However, when you boil it all down we are to represent our Lord Jesus Christ.
Making a choice to have Jesus in your life is a big decision. Some people as we witness to in our life have very little response to the good news of the gospel. I recall one time I was in the prison going from bed to bed witnessing to them about the Lord. I remember one young man said he didn't need God in his life because he was his own god. I tried to reason within my self why he thought that but the more he talked the more you could tell he didn't want anyone to tell him how to live his life. After moments of him telling me how he was his own god in front of all his friends I simply stated "If you are your own god then you are doing a very poor job for you are here in prison for years to come." Of course if you where there you would begin to hear his "reasoning" why he was there. He was there because he was his own god choosing his own destination that lead him to prison.
There have been others when spoken to about Jesus they have accepted Him as their Saviour noting that He saved them from a destination of hell's prison. They readily accepted Jesus and I have witnessed the lives that have changed because of this great decision. We have seen people accept the Lord in our ministries, outside the church as we knock on doors, and even people in the market place. Throughout my life I have witnessed such people who were more than ready to surrender their lives unto the Lord.
Yet, there are those we meet that we are not sure because they were not sure where they would spend eternity. I remember a man I meet when I was asked to have a part in his son's funeral. His name was Dusty Rhodes. For many you may have never heard of his name but in the sports world he was kind of an icon for some of his achievements. After the funeral he told me he wanted to come and talk to me about what I said during the funeral. It was evident it weighed heavy upon him and he was not ready to talk about then. He told me he was coming through the area soon as wanted to stop by.
While I waited on him to call me one day I decided to buy one of his baseball cards. I purchased the Dusty Rhodes card from someone when he played for the New York Giants. This man was born just miles from the us in Deatsville, Alabama. He once hit 2 home runs in the 1954 World Series to beat the Indians but his achievements where over shadowed by the great outfield catch of Willie Mays. He became known as a pinch hitter who was capable of one hit to turn his team to go ahead. With all his achievements in the sports world he was a man that seemed to be searching for something.
It wasn't long ago that I received word that Mr Rhodes died in June. Sorry to say I never got to meet him again to talk more about Jesus. I have a card that I wanted him to sign, a picture of the team from the 1954, but I have no assurance where he his spending eternity. I am reminded of two verses: 2 Corinthians 6:2 ".... now is the accepted time;behold, now is the day of salvation." Secondly I am reminded of what King Agrippa said to Paul in Acts 26:28 ".... Almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
I am sure glad my eternity has been settled. All the worlds achievements well never measure up to the voice of our Lord saying "Well done my Son."
Pastor
Making a choice to have Jesus in your life is a big decision. Some people as we witness to in our life have very little response to the good news of the gospel. I recall one time I was in the prison going from bed to bed witnessing to them about the Lord. I remember one young man said he didn't need God in his life because he was his own god. I tried to reason within my self why he thought that but the more he talked the more you could tell he didn't want anyone to tell him how to live his life. After moments of him telling me how he was his own god in front of all his friends I simply stated "If you are your own god then you are doing a very poor job for you are here in prison for years to come." Of course if you where there you would begin to hear his "reasoning" why he was there. He was there because he was his own god choosing his own destination that lead him to prison.
There have been others when spoken to about Jesus they have accepted Him as their Saviour noting that He saved them from a destination of hell's prison. They readily accepted Jesus and I have witnessed the lives that have changed because of this great decision. We have seen people accept the Lord in our ministries, outside the church as we knock on doors, and even people in the market place. Throughout my life I have witnessed such people who were more than ready to surrender their lives unto the Lord.
Yet, there are those we meet that we are not sure because they were not sure where they would spend eternity. I remember a man I meet when I was asked to have a part in his son's funeral. His name was Dusty Rhodes. For many you may have never heard of his name but in the sports world he was kind of an icon for some of his achievements. After the funeral he told me he wanted to come and talk to me about what I said during the funeral. It was evident it weighed heavy upon him and he was not ready to talk about then. He told me he was coming through the area soon as wanted to stop by.
While I waited on him to call me one day I decided to buy one of his baseball cards. I purchased the Dusty Rhodes card from someone when he played for the New York Giants. This man was born just miles from the us in Deatsville, Alabama. He once hit 2 home runs in the 1954 World Series to beat the Indians but his achievements where over shadowed by the great outfield catch of Willie Mays. He became known as a pinch hitter who was capable of one hit to turn his team to go ahead. With all his achievements in the sports world he was a man that seemed to be searching for something.
It wasn't long ago that I received word that Mr Rhodes died in June. Sorry to say I never got to meet him again to talk more about Jesus. I have a card that I wanted him to sign, a picture of the team from the 1954, but I have no assurance where he his spending eternity. I am reminded of two verses: 2 Corinthians 6:2 ".... now is the accepted time;behold, now is the day of salvation." Secondly I am reminded of what King Agrippa said to Paul in Acts 26:28 ".... Almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
I am sure glad my eternity has been settled. All the worlds achievements well never measure up to the voice of our Lord saying "Well done my Son."
Pastor
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