Having Done All, Stand. Eph 6:13

Bear with me a bit. I really don't know where this is going just yet.
Have you ever been with a group of friends having a really good time, playing cards for instance, and the next time you are together you try to recreate the moment? You know, you're thinking, that was such a good time, I want to have it again. Have you ever noticed how flat the result is? It's never the same.
(Kinda the opposite of your bad memories...you never want that to happen again. If you are like me, you remember those things vividly and live your life trying to avoid anything that could lead to that event. Talk about bondage.)
Is it because we don't know what the next day could bring and we want to stay in the good times? For me, it's probably related to control. I don't need to control a situation myself, as in being in charge, but I need to know that things are on track.
We need to remember that God has a plan. It's been running since time began...

Isa 51:13 And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth...

and He knew the outcome before time began...

Rom 8:28-31 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Most importantly, there's nothing in God's plan that's bad for you.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Maybe where this was going is this...
Face every day and ask God what He wants you to do that day. Serve God and glory in His presence today. He's here with you now. He's not in an event or trapped in a moment of your past, good or bad. He's in your life and He wants to do something great through you. Ask Him what that is.
Jer 33:2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

If you don't know whether God is with you, pray this:
God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins (mean it). I believe you died on a cross and were raised 3 days later to save me from my sins and an eternity in Hell. Jesus, come into my life. Make me new. Be my savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

So, I've been in a rather bad place for a couple of months. As so often happens, I didn't even know how bad it was. Suffice it to say that I am on my way out. The Holy Spirit is leading me through the process. Quite gracious (as we know God is) considering I pushed him away as I was headed off in the flesh. Unintentionally, but nevertheless...

I've caused my share of pain as well. I am so thankful for the brother who so easily forgave me today.

Here's what I know for sure:
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (emphasis mine)

There are still a lot of things rattling around in my head. I am getting a lot of help from the Holy Spirit (lots of conviction that I needed) through Miles McPherson. I'd really like to meet him some day.

I will write what I can here. I don't know how much I should or shouldn't say. I don't want to gossip or disparage anyone even if I don't use names. I'll pray about it. But I think it's important to organize my thoughts, test them against scripture, and just get it out.

See you soon...

The following are the verses I was given this week, either to me by the Holy Spirit or through friends. They are in no particular order.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Isa 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Christianity is described as a walk. (Rom 6:4, 2 Cor 5:7, and many others) Lately it seems like my shoes are wearing out from the effort of maintaining my walk with Christ. 2 things come to mind with respect to this.
1. While the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, their sandals never wore out. (Neh 9:21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.) God sustained them. God will sustain us as well. Remember John 10:29 "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." We are in His hand. He will hold us up.

2. Maybe my shoes are worn because I don't spend enough time on my knees.

I was on line at the grocery store today with two of my boys when the oldest shared his worldview with everyone. They were riding in one of those carts shaped like a car. I had the 5 year old and 3 year old with me and they were jammed in there, but they insisted on riding in it. Well, by the time we hit the checkout, the 3 year old was getting on his brother's nerves...he's real good at that. He was using his older brother's steering wheel. So big brother yells to me, "He's using my steering wheel." To which I sarcastically replied, "Oh, well the world is ending."
"Good, now I can go to Heaven," he says.

I love to think that my boys already have the proper worldview.

OK. So last night was weird...in a good way.
I went to church to break down my drum kit in preparation for the new carpeting coming this week. There was supposed to be a couple's study there, so I waited until 8:30 or so to go over. As I was walking up the sidewalk, the church looked dark. I saw some cars that I knew, so someone must be there. They were in the back, but the sanctuary lights were off, so you couldn't tell anyone was in the building. Yes, there is a reason I am telling you this stuff.
So, I go into the sanctuary, turn on the lights and start taking my drums apart. A few minutes later, this guy walks into the church. He had no place to stay and he and his wife wouldn't have anywhere til Tuesday. He said he saw the light on and just had to come in and ask for help. I am a cynic, so I was afraid of a scam, but I wasn't discerning anything unusual about him. So, I called the pastor and asked if we could help him. We were able to help him with a couple of nights at the hotel...turns out he had a baby in the van as well. He didn't tell me up front, probably so he didn't sound like he was running a scam trying to get extra sympathy with the baby.
So he goes out to the van to check on his family and wait for pastor to call back with the all good message. When he came back in he told me his van was running out of gas. Cynic takes over and says...is this for real? I don't carry cash as a rule, and tonight was no exception. I can't really help the guy. He understood. I offered him food, which we have in our food pantry, but that he already had. He just ran out of cash. While we're waiting, I ask myself if I should present him with the Gospel. Never ask yourself that question...present the Gospel. It's the Holy Spirit telling you, not you asking yourself. I failed, I chickened out.
So, he leaves for the hotel and I go back to my drums. A few minutes later, I look out the window and there's a van stalled in the street about a half a block up from the church. I'm thinking, this has to be the guy. I finish what I'm doing, while I argue with myself about whether or not I should go out there. I don't want to freak them out. And I would not want to have anyone offer me help because I am proud and this isn't a proud moment. So I project that onto this guy (stupid, since he's already come to me for help) and I finish with my drums. Now I go out and sure enough...it's the guy. Van's dead in the street. Some of the people from the couple's study were out trying to help him, but they didn't have enough gas to start the van. So I go home, get my gas can, weird my wife out by telling her the most cryptic of descriptions of my night so far, fill the can with gas and go back to town where the van had moved about 100 feet. None of my friends are there. Probably figured since the van started that he'd be fine. We put the gas in the tank. This time, I just blurt out "Do you know Jesus as your savior?" He replies, "Oh, we know all about that stuff." "No, I mean, do you know Him, not about him?" "We're fine, really." Well, I can't browbeat him to salvation. But I gave him a bible with some tracts in it to read. I told him, not asked him, to read it. (By the way, I have my friend Doug to thank for this style of witnessing. No preamble, no small talk...just Do you know Jesus?) Now I go wash off all the gas I spilled on myself and go home to tell my wife what happened. And then lay there in bed unable to sleep with all the excitement.

There are no accidents:
1. No one is there on Sunday nights. The couples usually meet on a different week.
2. The sanctuary is dark when no one is in it even if someone's in the building.
3. I had to wait til 8:30 to go deal with my drums so as not to disturb the couples.
4. This guys just saw the light on and had to come in.
5. His van ran out of gas IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH!
6. If we hadn't helped him, he couldn't have run the van to keep the baby warm.
UPDATE (5/18 PM) 7. Carpet was damaged in shipping...no carpet installation this week. I never needed to be there.
This guy is at a low point of his life. He needs the love of Christ. We got to show him that Love. He also needs to know that Jesus loves him and will take care of him. I kinda blew that, but God gave me a second chance (see number 5).

One question: who was this encounter for?

Don't miss what goes on around you. God has a plan, it's written in the stars. Nothing is random or accidental. If you don't believe me, go rent The Star of Bethlehem.
Always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be bold. Pray that He will give you the right words and the boldness to speak them. This guy didn't get saved or recommitted if he's already saved, but a seed was planted.

Lord, please send someone to water that seed. Let your love shine on him and make that seed sprout. I know you bring the increase. Please speak to that man and his family. May they see your light and your love and come to know you as Savior. And give us the boldness to do as you have commanded us...But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

In the blessed name of Jesus, amen.

Why did Jesus call the disciples? Not because He needed them. God can handle delivering the message. And certainly, the 12 flawed men we know as the apostles weren’t always shining examples.

In Mark 1:33 the whole town was at the door after Jesus cast the demon out of the man. He didn’t need the 12 to tell everyone…the news spread and everyone came running.

He calls us to give us the opportunity to draw closer to Him to experience His power and love. And to show us who we are. To see our need for Him.

The food pantry is not the ministry I would have picked for myself. But this week, I got to see the hand of God move to provide food when we needed it and also to have an impact on 150 first graders.

When I think about a food pantry, I don’t see that coming.

Never underestimate the Creator of the universe’s ability to present you with an opportunity to make an impact.

Just be available, and GO!

I hear a lot of people say, "I'll pray about it." Why? If you are talking about a life-changing ministry like missions, ok... I get it. If you are talking about serving at your local church...go. You already prayed about it when you accepted Christ. You said, "I want to follow you, Jesus." Yes, we have to keep our priorities in order and make sure we are taking care of our families, etc. But I really think we stall when it comes to serving. Whether out of fear, anxiety or a desire to have a "cool" ministry.

Is God going to tell you not to serve a need in the church? All other things being equal (you are able and not otherwise committed), I don't think so.

Maybe you don't know what your gifts are or what your ministry is "supposed to be". If you see an opening and have a tug at your heart, try it. Take a look at Mark 1:16-20. Jesus calls the men to follow Him, and they just up and go. James and John left their father behind in the boat. If you lean on Jesus, He’ll always be there for you.