Closer

Closer 

  If some of you have ever read my introduction to the email portion of the blog you know that this originally all started out as a Bible study at Denny’s at midnight with me and two other people.  Then it came down to just Marion and I.  The online part has been going on for 6 years now.  There’s been a goal and a prayer of mine that God will use it to draw the reader closer to himself and that what I share will be about glorifying God.  I’ve had some say that was too serious.  I’ve even had people ask to be removed from the blog.   Never been given a reason why.  Not always easy to deal with when it happens.  It is designed for the busy person and I don’t know who all even bothers to read it.  I simply know we’re on a journey and God is at work.  I know his word does not go forth without accomplishing his purpose.  I pray for the readers.  I simply share what God brings me to and trust him to do the rest.  

I was reminded this week while reading Peace: Five Minutes with Jesus by Shelia Walsh that the times when you don’t think you need to read the Bible is exactly the time you do.  It’s easy to get caught up in things and not do so.  That’s a warning sign.  Like DC Talk said “Warning signs are like flares in the night.”  See in good or bad times God wants us to be in his word he wants to talk to us and draw us closer.  Paul said it best.  

Colossians 1:9-14

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every good kind of fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy always thanking the Father.  He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people who live in the light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”  

God wants his best for you.  Paul wanted God’s best for his churches and I want the best for those reading the blog.  To be closer to God is the best thing for any of us.  

Numbers 6:24-26  "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance on you, and give you peace."

Wishes by Out of the Grey

Deeper by Parachute Band

Deep calling deep by Margaret Becker

Take me in by Kutless 

In the light by DC Talk

In the Kingdom by Whitecross 

Light of your face by Misty Edwards 

When life gets broken by Sandi Patty and Heather Payne

I See You by Michael W. Smith

Spiritual vitamins

Spiritual vitamins 

  Had a friend Chris, once describe the blog as being a weekly dose of spiritual vitamins and I want to give you a few for your week.  I want to show you some things God does for his people.  

Psalm 68:5-6 “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy.  God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.”  

I want you to think on that for a bit. Father to the fatherless.  God can show you love that your earthly father may not have shown you.  He puts the lonely in families see when you become involved at your local church people begin to pray for you and care for you.  If you give me half a minute I can come up with about five people who would pray for Marion and I if I simply ask.  A prisoner can still be in jail but can be set free by God’s love.  Don’t believe me think about your sinful state before becoming a Christian because you were in a prison of sin with no hope.  

Do you want to draw closer to God here’s some help with that.  

Psalm 69:32-33 “The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.  For the Lord hears the cry of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.  

There’s your hope God hears you and cares.  

Glory to the king by Darlene Zschech and Hillsong

What love really means by JJ Heller

Father I never had by Joel Engle

Facts are facts by Steven Curtis Chapman 

Nothing to hide by Geoff Moore and the Distance

Resurrecting by Elevation Worship

Still here

Still here

Recently Pastor Micah said during a sermon that Philippians is the book of joy.  So I’ve been slowly working through it because hope is associated with Joy and this blog deals heavily with hope.  There’s a section in chapter one that has to me been preached on a lot but I feel there’s a perspective that is often missed.  That perspective is “why are we still here”.  See as Christians we long to go home to Heaven and be with the Lord and that’s not a bad thing.  Before we read the passage I want you to consider the Apostle Paul’s situation.  He’s in jail.  But he continues to write and encourage the churches.  Most of us won’t write anything on a regular basis unless we’re writers.  But here’s a man in chains having every reason to be complaining but instead he’s using the time to encourage.  He brings a sort of paradox in Philippians 1:20-24.  

“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past.  And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.  For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better.  But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ.  So I really don’t know which is better.  I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.  But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.”  

Most preaching I have heard on this talked a lot about wanting to be at home with God in Heaven and that’s a great thing don’t get me wrong.  But I want you to approach for a moment with Paul’s perspective.  Jail isn’t a great place to be for any one.  Maybe that’s not where you are but your situation is grim or bleak.  Maybe you’re just having a bad day.  Maybe you want to be home in Heaven and I don’t blame you one bit.  But you’re still on earth.  So look at it this way.  God has you still here, you’re not dead yet.  One word: Opportunity!  The Westminster shorter Catechism asks students a question.  Q.  What is the chief end of man?  A.  Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.  See Paul if he were still here on earth God wasn’t done with him so he continued to encourage others.  God still has you here so I bring these questions to you.  Are you drawing closer to God in the meantime and are you pushing people closer to God?  Are you glorifying God in your mortal body?  If not.  What are you waiting for?  Paul and every hero of the faith in the Bible have laid down the gauntlet as it were.  God’s Word is in the Bible and the question is what are you going to do.  Living for Christ is not easy.  Never has been never will be.  Are you leveraging your time and talents God has given you to change the mission field around you?  

Behind the scenes note.  I usually start work on the blog on Mondays when it's slow at my job.  I thought I had the blog all ready to post and today is Saturday.  Then I was working out and listening to my mp3 player when I heard a song that was very new to me.  See sometimes I go to Half Price Books and I personally prefer music sung by a female artist.  Well I had bought this cd by this female trio called Carried Away and I heard one of their songs and paid attention to the lyrics.  I want to show you the reason why I originally bought the cd.  In the liner notes is the groups mission statement.  "We desire to encourage this generation to want more than a mundane life, but rather seek and intimate relationship with God; one that seeks purity and holiness and to realize the temporal things the world offers are nothing in comparison to capturing the heart of God.  We want to challenge ourselves and others to come to the point where, without compromise, we can truly say to Him `I want you'"  That's why I bought the cd and I remember the day we got it I read that to Marion and said "I want to listen to this because of what that says."  

Crucified with Christ by Phillips Craig and Dean 

More than Gold by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

Heart’s Cry by Steven Curtis Chapman 

Draw me close by the Katinas 

True believers by Phil Keaggy   The guitar work will blow you away.

Smile by Carried Away

When all is said and done by Geoff Moore and the Distance  This is the song I long to have played at my funeral.

The Plan

The Plan

Diets, businesses, Wars, cooking, fighting they all tend to require a plan.  If you grew up around the 1980’s like I did you quickly became aware of this one line spoken by Hannibal Smith on the tv show The A-Team.  “I love it when a plan comes together!”  Even WWE Star Brian Kendrick refers to himself as “The Man with a Plan.”  See there are good and bad plans but I want King David to show you one of the best plans ever.  

Psalm 62:5-8

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.  

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.  

My victory and honor come from God alone.  

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.  

O, my people, trust in Him at all times.  

Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”

Refuge, Rock, salvation, hope, fortress, victory and honor, a place to pour out your heart.  If you’re one of those people who weighs out the pros and cons of a plan before implementing it well there are no cons to this plan.  It’s all for your benefit.  We all need this.  

Pour out your love by Cheri Keaggy

God and God alone by Steve Green 

Lift my life up by Unspoken

My life is in your hands by Kathy Troccoli 

Rock of Ages/ I stand Amazed by Guy Penrod

Through it all by Sandi Patty