"I AM"

Gen 3:13 Moses said to God, "Supposes I go to to the Israelites and say to them "The GOd of your faithers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shal I tell them?" God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM! This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you."

And we all know that Moses tells them "I AM" has sent them and they believe him.

Is that enough for us today. Knowing God as "I AM"? Think about it if you would for a while? God is I AM: Is our provider, our comfort, our strength, our sheild, our ever present help in times of trouble, our father, our guide, our life, and on and on we could go to describe our "I AM"

If it ever comes down to it and you could not tell mention the name of God and you only could describe His name as I AM, would that be enough? Could you lead someone to Christian just by telling them about I AM? Does the Church really know about I AM? If so what are we doing to let other know about I AM? If not why not? Does the world know about I AM? How can we enjoy I AM more and more eachday we live? How can we cherish and worship I AM in assembly and everyday life?

what do you think?
Share your thoughts.

A New Look At Life

After getting out of ICU and the hospital I have a new look at life. I see differenly than before I had GBS.
I take time to tell my wife how much I love and appreciate her and for all that she has done for me and our boys. Every morning, when the boys wake me up, the first thing I do is kiss my wife and then my boys and tell how much I love them.
As I enjoy a cup of coffee, I pray to God, thanking Him for the day, life and ask for his help to get me though another day. I cherish the one on one time with the Father. I spend time feasting on His word, eating it up, it's taste is that taste of breakfast for my soul.
On the second cup of coffee, I ask my wife her plans for the day; I kiss her and if I free time, I spend meditating in the Spirit asking the Holy Spirit to help me and guide me in my sermon preperation. The Holy Spirit guides me and works with me as I plan topics, passages, and life application. I have come to really apprecaite the Holy Spirit more.
I enjoy visiting widows and listening to their life stories and them sharing their faith it is so encouraging to my faith.
On my 3rd cup of coffee I start reading and blogging, posting on blogs (that explains a lot of things :-) ). I am striving to slow down and not take things so personal when it come to my children, and other things in life. I am just trying to enjoy the life that God has given me.
I work at a small congregation of about 35 members so I have come to apprecaite the men who are ready and willing to serve at a moments notice if I am not feeling well or will say prayers, wait on the table, read scripture, teach class, and preach when I'm gone.
I look at night and take in the beautiful creation that God has made and give Him glory as I see all the countless stars in the sky. At night, I tuck my boys in and ask them the question, "You know how much I love you?" They say, "More than the whole wide world."

The Importance of Prayer - A.C.T.S.

Do you find it easy to pray? Well, I would like to share some pointers that may help you in your prayer life.
It is ACTS.
1.Adoration. Start off your prayer life by giving adoration to God. You might mention his power, glory, majesty, holiness, give him honor and praise that he deserves.
2. Confession. Spend time confessing your sins before God. Doing this will help you realize that you need God and that you make mistakes and sin. It will help you in your walk with God as well according to 1 John 1.
3.Thanksgiving. Thank God for all the many blessings that he has blessed your life with both physical and spiritual. God wants to hear us as Christians telling him thank you. Just like a father loves it when a child says thanks you.
4.Supplication. Ask God for what you need in your life. It may be physical or spiritual. Yes, God knows what we need but he wants to hear it from us as his children. So, please ask God who is the provider and the gracious giver.

I have found it beneficial to journal prayers. In journaling prayer you can go back and see what God has done in your life and see the prayers that God has answered.

I want you to understand that God so desperately wants to hear from us and the greatest thing about it is that we can pray to God any time day or night; 24/7. He cares and is always listening. If, you neglect your prayer time with God you will find your self burned out and dry. I have been there and it is no place for an Christian to be but one thing I found that praying to him renewed my soul. I prayed that prayer in ICU and my relationship with God has never been the same.

So, how is your prayer life? Do you pray only when you need something? Do you pray only when problems come? Elders do you go to the hospital and pray for the sick to be healed? As ministers do you take the time to pay as you should? Have you prayed today? How long has it been? My challenge is for us as Christians is let us not forsake our prayer time with God.

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.

Acts Of Random Kindness

I just bought Evan Almighty on DVD and of course loved it. The message that the movie had we as wonderful. How would you change the world? One person at a time. One random act of kindness at a time. Wow. Sounds like Christianity doesn't it? Imagine how the world would change if each one of us as Christians would do one random act of kindness this week. Or not just this week but we looked for the door of opportunity that God opens daily and do it. Show mercy to those who need it. Show God's love to others. Show God's kindness to those in need. My challenge for you is to look for those doors and to be the workman that God has called in advance for you to do. (Eph. 2:10) Let us be motivated by the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Have you had someone show you a random act of kindness? How did effect your life?
Again, my challenge is to look for the open door this week. Would you like to share with us the open door that God has opened for you?

What do you think?
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Unity & Uniformity

I have seen over the past week, sites on which brothers fight over issues that should have been settled years ago.

I believe that the devil loves it when we as Christians fuss, fight, and focus on anything but the lost. God wants us to love one another (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-19). As Christians, we should strive for unity (John 17:20-26; Eph. 4:10-16; Phil. 2:1-4.).

We must understand the Church is made up of different generations, different socio-economic backgrounds and races. We are going to have different tastes in styles of songs we like, opinions, ideas on how to do ministry, outreach, and different gifts or talents that God has given us to use for the advancement of His Kingdom. So, we must understand this-there is a difference between unity and uniformity.

So, my challenge to us as a church is the same as Paul to the church of the Ephesians in 4:2-5 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

So how can we strive for unity? How have we confused uniformity with unity? How can we do our part to understand the difference between unity and uniformity? Is unity possible? Why or why not? What has your church done to strive for unity? What sermons should we preach to help in the cause of unity within the body? How can we get our focus off of the issues that seem so petty compared to the ONE issue-who are lost-those in need of salvation?

What do you think?
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Peace, Perfect Peace

In Eastern religions, people sit and meditate and try to find a calm center. The object is to think about the moment-and that's all. You train your mind to think only of what is at the moment. It's soothing and calm and gives one a sense of peace.

In the modern world, lives are so hectic and fast-paced. Can we, as citizens of the industrialized world, and as Christians, find that calm center? Can we go about our daily lives and maintian the calm? Can we train our minds to think godly thoughts and live in the moment, savoring every peaceful minute? Can we be content with this moment? Can we be in "meditation" while in motion?

Proverbs 14:30 says, "A heart at peace gives life to the body."

Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."

What keeps us from finding the center and living the Christian life when things are hectic? How can we remind ourselves to just be in the moment? Will this help us to live a Christ-centered life?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.