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Monday, September 17, 2012
take one for the Kingdom
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
This is not a sermon about "I feel good" and other crap like that.
Jeremiah 17
New International Version (NIV)
7 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him.
8 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
whose confidence is in Him.
8 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
I have seen lately several people that struggle with self esteem. This is definately an epidemic in America between young and old alike. Maybe that's why the "I feel good" sermons are so popular right now. I'm so sick of hearing that stuff. I searched "self esteem" in my handy bible app on one of the newer translations and guess what? Not in there. Feel good was in there though, refering to intoxication. So it makes me wonder, where are the feel good preachers getting their material?
The above verse talks about confidence. Confidence in God. Self esteem is important. You know that. Wanna boost your self esteem? Stop listening to the "ooooh I feel good today" crap, get right in the middle of God's will, have confidence in the Lord, and you will be like that tree planted by water.
Friday, September 7, 2012
sold
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed. 28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.
Genesis 37
There is no other way to say it, I had a bad week. Bad news, stressful confrontations with people, and other circumstances out of my control was the story. My week, however bad, compares nothing to Joseph.
Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and narrowly escaped death. His brothers decided to sell him into slavery. The traders then took him to another country where he was sold again, as a slave.
It hurts badly when someone you love "sells" you. I know this pain personally friends. I've been sold before, more than once. Are you ready for the good news? I've been bought by the blood of Christ! He bought me out of slavery and took me to His house.
Who have you sold that you need to buy back?
Genesis 37
There is no other way to say it, I had a bad week. Bad news, stressful confrontations with people, and other circumstances out of my control was the story. My week, however bad, compares nothing to Joseph.
Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and narrowly escaped death. His brothers decided to sell him into slavery. The traders then took him to another country where he was sold again, as a slave.
It hurts badly when someone you love "sells" you. I know this pain personally friends. I've been sold before, more than once. Are you ready for the good news? I've been bought by the blood of Christ! He bought me out of slavery and took me to His house.
Who have you sold that you need to buy back?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
dearth (the drought)
53 ¶And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of adearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and asold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41
For those of you that have been under a rock this year, the Midwest has seen the worst drought in 80 years. Crop production has been low, river channels are closed, and food prices going up. This will have a ripple affect on the global economy.
Imagine Joseph for a minute. In his day, the bible says there was 7 years of drought. Drought all over the face of the earth. In those days drought equalled famine. Could our modern world survive such a terrible natural disaster?
The only thing I know for sure is that only God could save you from that kind of devistation. I am not prepared for anything like that and neither are you. My friend, total reliance on God is the only answer to that question. Who do you rely on?
Monday, August 27, 2012
its been awhile
Mark 4:29
New International Version (NIV)
29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
So, it's been awhile, I've truly missed you. One of my many excuses is the harvest. When I talk to my customers about harvest the since of urgency is high. The window of opportunity is small to get the crop out of the field. There is too much risk to leave the bounty even a day longer. The phone call goes something like this: "Scotty, can you send someone out here in the next few minutes to get my combine going?"
Jesus has urgency in his voice during this parable. Do you know why? It's time for harvest of His people. It's time for you to tell that person the combine is coming. That person is a valuable crop and there is too much risk to leave them in the field even a day longer.
So, it's been awhile, I've truly missed you. One of my many excuses is the harvest. When I talk to my customers about harvest the since of urgency is high. The window of opportunity is small to get the crop out of the field. There is too much risk to leave the bounty even a day longer. The phone call goes something like this: "Scotty, can you send someone out here in the next few minutes to get my combine going?"
Jesus has urgency in his voice during this parable. Do you know why? It's time for harvest of His people. It's time for you to tell that person the combine is coming. That person is a valuable crop and there is too much risk to leave them in the field even a day longer.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17
It's not often that I quote a bible verse 2 days in a row, then hear it preached in the sermon Sunday. Somebody tryin to tell me something or what? When I was young I always wanted a sibling. I always swore that my children would never be "onlys" too. Since that time i have learned that the bible is always right on. I seldom see brothers or sisters that are close but I see friends that will give anything for each other. Friends call each other all the time, go to dinner, sometimes live together, and always share their burdens. Frindships don't collapse when there is a death in the family, they grow stronger. Many sibling relationships end when the matriarch or patriarch of the family passes which is sad. As for me... I have been so blessed with many solid friendships. Friends from all walks of life that will stand by me no matter what. Many are reading this article. To you my friend... I love you and appreciate you. I will stand by you as you have for me. Now, who do you need to tell?
It's not often that I quote a bible verse 2 days in a row, then hear it preached in the sermon Sunday. Somebody tryin to tell me something or what? When I was young I always wanted a sibling. I always swore that my children would never be "onlys" too. Since that time i have learned that the bible is always right on. I seldom see brothers or sisters that are close but I see friends that will give anything for each other. Friends call each other all the time, go to dinner, sometimes live together, and always share their burdens. Frindships don't collapse when there is a death in the family, they grow stronger. Many sibling relationships end when the matriarch or patriarch of the family passes which is sad. As for me... I have been so blessed with many solid friendships. Friends from all walks of life that will stand by me no matter what. Many are reading this article. To you my friend... I love you and appreciate you. I will stand by you as you have for me. Now, who do you need to tell?
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
wither
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21
We often hear about "faith the size of a mustard seed." But, what about this passage on faith? There are several good lessons here:
1) Jesus went to the tree to harvest its fruit. The fruit wasn't there. So he cursed the tree and it died instantly. Sound familiar? He's going to to the same thing when he returns to earth in the end times. Remember though, it's not a tree he will look for fruit on it's you and me. Will you wither?
2) Faith and do not doubt? Really? I can tell the mountain to get up and be thrown into the sea??
Yes. Today I saw amazing footage of a tornado in the Dallas area. The funnel cloud was picking up tractor trailers and tossing them around like leaves in the wind. I cannot wrap my simple mind around moving a moutain? Or can I? Jesus said it and it's true! The bible gives several examples of ordinary people doing extrordinary things with God's power. It may not be a moutain literally in your life but remember God's power and love are infinate, and both are available to you.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21
We often hear about "faith the size of a mustard seed." But, what about this passage on faith? There are several good lessons here:
1) Jesus went to the tree to harvest its fruit. The fruit wasn't there. So he cursed the tree and it died instantly. Sound familiar? He's going to to the same thing when he returns to earth in the end times. Remember though, it's not a tree he will look for fruit on it's you and me. Will you wither?
2) Faith and do not doubt? Really? I can tell the mountain to get up and be thrown into the sea??
Yes. Today I saw amazing footage of a tornado in the Dallas area. The funnel cloud was picking up tractor trailers and tossing them around like leaves in the wind. I cannot wrap my simple mind around moving a moutain? Or can I? Jesus said it and it's true! The bible gives several examples of ordinary people doing extrordinary things with God's power. It may not be a moutain literally in your life but remember God's power and love are infinate, and both are available to you.
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