Tonight we had GROW, which is a weekly visitation program for our church. Roger and I had made an appointment with a couple that have been visiting our church. The couple have lived in the area about a year. The man has been a pastor of a church in a neighboring state. He resigned that church and the Lord didn't open another pastorate for him.
They have moved to the area to open a ministry to children who are suffering from cancer or have other illnesses. Their ministry is to minister to children through animals.
This couple have four horses, 2 donkeys, 4 dogs, a couple of cats, several goats, and numerous chickens. They plan to have children come to the farm and help feed the animals. The animals are then used as therapy for the children.
It is exciting to visit with a couple who love the Lord and have a plan to minister to children in this way. Everyone is gifted by God in different ways. Our purpose is to allow the gifts that God has given us to minister to others. For this couple it is ministering to children through animals. For others it may not involve children or animals.
This couple has responded to God's call for their lives by being available to what He has for them. We need to be available whenever we sense the call of God on our lives.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Mercy
I have just started reading another book. The book is Max Lucado's newest book entitled, "Every Day Deserves a Chance." This morning I was reading the chapter "Mercy for Shame-Filled Days." Max is writing about the thief on the cross who asked Jesus, "remember me when you enter your kingdom."
Max writes: "What does the thief see now? He sees a son entrust his mother to a friend and honor a friend with his mother. He sees the God who wrote the book on grace. The God who coaxed Adam and Eve out of the bushes, murderous Moses out of the desert. The God who made a place for David, though David made a move on Bathsheba. The God who didn't give up on Elijah, though Elijah gave up on God. This is what the thief sees."
A thought hit me when I read this paragraph - "What a merciful and grace-full God." Yes, He did "write the book on grace." God can use a man who committed murder. He can use a man who commits adultery. Not only is it amazing that God could use Moses and David, but that He has "chosen" to use me.
Why would such a grace-full God choose to use me? What do I have to offer Him? He could have chosen to use anyone, but He chose to use me. I don't have anything to offer Him - but He chooses to use me. God, in His grace, has chosen to work through people that are inadequate, weak, and sinful. But God takes that inadequacy, adds His power, and can use someone like me. That is grace. That is mercy. That is God.
Jesus says in John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." He has chosen to use us to "bear fruit" that will bring Him honor and glory.
Max continues in that same chapter by saying: the thief "hears the official language of Christ: grace. Undeserved. Unexpected. Grace. "Today you will join me in paradise." God offers us grace, simply because He has chosen to. It's His language - the language of grace.
Not only do we need to hear that language of grace, but we also need to learn to speak the language of grace. What would happen to those around us if we learned to speak the language of grace?
Max writes: "What does the thief see now? He sees a son entrust his mother to a friend and honor a friend with his mother. He sees the God who wrote the book on grace. The God who coaxed Adam and Eve out of the bushes, murderous Moses out of the desert. The God who made a place for David, though David made a move on Bathsheba. The God who didn't give up on Elijah, though Elijah gave up on God. This is what the thief sees."
A thought hit me when I read this paragraph - "What a merciful and grace-full God." Yes, He did "write the book on grace." God can use a man who committed murder. He can use a man who commits adultery. Not only is it amazing that God could use Moses and David, but that He has "chosen" to use me.
Why would such a grace-full God choose to use me? What do I have to offer Him? He could have chosen to use anyone, but He chose to use me. I don't have anything to offer Him - but He chooses to use me. God, in His grace, has chosen to work through people that are inadequate, weak, and sinful. But God takes that inadequacy, adds His power, and can use someone like me. That is grace. That is mercy. That is God.
Jesus says in John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." He has chosen to use us to "bear fruit" that will bring Him honor and glory.
Max continues in that same chapter by saying: the thief "hears the official language of Christ: grace. Undeserved. Unexpected. Grace. "Today you will join me in paradise." God offers us grace, simply because He has chosen to. It's His language - the language of grace.
Not only do we need to hear that language of grace, but we also need to learn to speak the language of grace. What would happen to those around us if we learned to speak the language of grace?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Intimacy
Sometimes it takes me a while to get the picture. I'm not naive, but a little slow or thick headed. I think God is trying to tell me something, but I'm a little slow understanding or maybe just stubborn. (Maybe both)
That is what I have been feeling in past couple of days. I have been reading Dr. Stowell's book "Radical Reliance." The author is trying to help the reader grasp the length that God goes to have an intimate relationship with his children. He uses Revelation 3 and other passages to drive home his point.
With that as a background you will understand what I mean when I tell you what I have been studying this past couple of days. It started this week as I prepared for the Adult Sunday School lesson. The lesson for this Sunday was from John 14. What a great chapter! Jesus tells His disciples (and us) theses words: "where I am there you may be." God wants intimacy with us even beyond our time on this earth as we will spend eternity with Him.
The Adult Sunday School lesson for next Sunday is a lesson from John 15. Another great chapter. I spent a few hours studying the lesson yesterday.
Jesus says, "If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing."
It became obvious to me that God wanted me to learn this lesson of intimacy with the King. He wants me to "remain in Him." When will we learn that "apart from Me (God) you can do nothing?" God wants me (and all of us) to realize how much He loves us and wants to have an intimate relationship with Him.
That is what I have been feeling in past couple of days. I have been reading Dr. Stowell's book "Radical Reliance." The author is trying to help the reader grasp the length that God goes to have an intimate relationship with his children. He uses Revelation 3 and other passages to drive home his point.
With that as a background you will understand what I mean when I tell you what I have been studying this past couple of days. It started this week as I prepared for the Adult Sunday School lesson. The lesson for this Sunday was from John 14. What a great chapter! Jesus tells His disciples (and us) theses words: "where I am there you may be." God wants intimacy with us even beyond our time on this earth as we will spend eternity with Him.
The Adult Sunday School lesson for next Sunday is a lesson from John 15. Another great chapter. I spent a few hours studying the lesson yesterday.
Jesus says, "If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing."
It became obvious to me that God wanted me to learn this lesson of intimacy with the King. He wants me to "remain in Him." When will we learn that "apart from Me (God) you can do nothing?" God wants me (and all of us) to realize how much He loves us and wants to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Indescribable
While listening to Chris Tomlin's song "Indescribable" today I was once again struck by a phrase. On the Passion CD Chris sings the song live and he repeats a phrase over and over again. The phrase says, "You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same. You are an amazing God." I was immediately struck by the awesome, unchanging, unconditional, 'indescribable' love of God.
Being a parent I know something about unconditional love. My (I should say "our") children could do almost (notice that I said "almost") anything and I would still love them. That is different from the way that God loves me - His love is unconditional. Also, I would give my children almost anything they need - if I could afford it. That is different from the way God loves me - His resources are limitless.
That reminds me of another Tomlin song. "How can I keep from singing Your praise. How could I ever say enough, how amazing is Your love. How can I keep from shouting Your name. I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing." Tomlin (and Redman) say what I want to say, but in a much better way. When you realize that you are "loved by the King" that truly makes your "heart want to sing."
To what extent would you go to show your love to someone? God went to the extreme - "God demonstrates His love to us in this. While we were still sinners (enemies) Christ died for us." That is some kind of love. It is in Tomlin's words "indescribable," "amazing," "unchanging," and "unconditional." This week as we celebrate Easter - contemplate how much you are loved.
Being a parent I know something about unconditional love. My (I should say "our") children could do almost (notice that I said "almost") anything and I would still love them. That is different from the way that God loves me - His love is unconditional. Also, I would give my children almost anything they need - if I could afford it. That is different from the way God loves me - His resources are limitless.
That reminds me of another Tomlin song. "How can I keep from singing Your praise. How could I ever say enough, how amazing is Your love. How can I keep from shouting Your name. I know I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart want to sing." Tomlin (and Redman) say what I want to say, but in a much better way. When you realize that you are "loved by the King" that truly makes your "heart want to sing."
To what extent would you go to show your love to someone? God went to the extreme - "God demonstrates His love to us in this. While we were still sinners (enemies) Christ died for us." That is some kind of love. It is in Tomlin's words "indescribable," "amazing," "unchanging," and "unconditional." This week as we celebrate Easter - contemplate how much you are loved.
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