Just random stuff!
1. Sometimes I wonder how many people are actually reading in FORWARD IN FAITH , reflecting together, and then praying about the same matter! I guess we will know on October 4!
2. A grandchild transforms your face into a smile! I can never think of that sweet Riley without smiling. And with this pic as my background on the computer, I see her often!
3. Christ is the future of our church! It is a constant challenge to keep people reminded that no particular age group is the future of our church! Children aren't - young adults aren't - middle aged folks aren't - senior adults aren't! The new building is not the future of our church - neither are the old ones! Technology is not the future of our church! CHRIST IS THE FUTURE of any church! He alone is head of the church! And He is not nearly so concerned about the FUTURE of the church as He is trying to get us to live TODAY for Him! If anything or anyone is considered the hope of the church other than Christ, then that thing or person(s) is an idol! Get people in love with Jesus, following and obeying Him, and HE will build His church! Ephesians 4:15 - 16 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From
him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work.
4. Absolutely Torn! That is how I feel quite regularly as of late! My Mom and Dad both have mild to serious medical needs! It is so hard to hear about their struggles from nearly 4 hours away! I try to be there all I can, but find that it is so frustrating to seldom be there when an emergency arises. I wish they would come live with me! I wish I could stay more with them! Hence - I am absolutely torn in my heart for them!
5. The Sheriff's Department! I have been blessed beyond measure in just one week of service as Chaplain to the Sheriff's Department! This was such a part of my life in Pearl that brought nothing but joy and saw the Lord work in marvelous ways to touch people in the community and officers in the department with the love of God! I am so thankful to be involved in this.
6. The Need for Christ! We studied the Great White Throne judgment of God the other night in Bible Study! It left such a refocused burden on my heart for people who are without Christ. Only the lost will be in this judgment and it is such a pitiful sight. Revelation 20:12 says .. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
This is what John Phillips said about that verse in his commentary on Revelation!
There is a terrible fellowship there... The dead, small and great, stand before God. Dead souls are united to dead bodies in a fellowship of horror and despair. Little men and paltry women whose lives were filled with pettiness, selfishness, and nasty little sins will be there. Those whose lives amounted to nothing will be there, whose very sins were drab and dowdy, mean, spiteful, peevish, groveling, vulgar, common, and cheap. The great will be there, men who sinned with a high hand, with dash, and courage and flair. Men like Alexander and Napoleon, Hitler and Stalin will be present, men who went in for wickedness on a grand scale with the world for their stage and who died unrepentant at last. Now one and all are arraigned and on their way to be damned; a horrible fellowship congregated together for the first and last time. (Exploring Revelation, Kregel Publishing, John Phillips, pp. 242-43)
7. The Crisis of Belief! That time between the exercise of faith and seeing that faith act fulfilled is not my favorite time! But I suspect it is God's favorite time! Maturity is probably when we and God can glory together in His working during that time!
