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April 29, 2010
I guess Haggai has got me lately...
This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish... (Hag 2)
This verse has many relative points...
1 - The temple building the former exiled people were instructed to build was underneath the shadow of the memory of the glory of the old temple. But God said that it would be greater - to not let the day of small beginnings discourage.
2 - The Temple refers to what Christ would do in the next few hundred years - the fulfillment of messianic prophecy. The physical temple would be replaced by Christ's sacrifice, making a way that Christ would live in us - we become His temple.
3 - God's Word gives us hope against the discouragement we face when called to do great things out of our reach, while walking in the shadow of what was...
It's not that I want to do great things, or I want to be a big shot, or I want to accomplish enormous feats - I just want to do what I feel God is asking of me - and I want to do it well. But I am at times, sitting in the shadow of others who have done amazing things. Who am I? Why should I?
The answer is because God asks. I am not trying to compete with other Christians - I simply want to be obedient and useful.
My day of small beginnings can be made into something beautiful and great because God is in it.
_______________________________________
April 28, 2010
It's not hard to be motivated to do what God wants, if we absolutely know for sure God wants it and He is with us. That's what happened in Haggai.
The temple of God had been destroyed because of an invading country. The people of God were returning to their own country after years of captivity. God instructed then to rebuild His temple - the place where God is the focal point - not their houses or lives.
The people were distracted and unmotivated, but God comes to them and says, "Get to work for I am with you!"
Is there anything that can't be done when we know that God is with us?
What is God asking you to do?
Do it!
_______________________________________
April 26, 2010
Introduced a new song this past Sunday. Here it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMiGYFuUE3I
_______________________________________
April 22, 2010
Read through Haggai this morning...
Here's what I want you to do, climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You've had ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. (Hag 1)
I remember back to 2004, pastoring in Gainesville, GA. I had been at that church for three years. God spoke to me and asked me to leave. I know a lot of people blame things on God when they themselves want to do stuff - their own ambitions or discomfort leads the way. But I liked pastoring that church. I didn't want to leave.
But after several prayer sessions telling God I didn't want to leave, He said, "Just do it because I asked you to."
How could I say no to that?
The next few years proved to be adventurous, tragic, disheartening, disillusioning - I left God for a while too.
Where I am now - spiritually, not physically - is a place that's worth a lot. I've learned lessons about myself and God.
I have returned to writing music, which I have not done since 2000. And I feel a better since of purpose and value.
Sometimes we gotta do something just because God asks - for His honor, not ours - for His glory, not ours. Sometimes we have to throw our own ambitions out of the window in order for God to have His way.
________________________________________
April 21, 2010
What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Philippians 1)
The bible teaches that God is the One who brings good things to our lives - good and perfect gifts. Those gifts are not purpose-less but purpose-full. What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
You can be sure that whatever it is, it's for Him.
God gives us things, allows us blessings, gives us gifts & talents, makes us creative - for His glory, not ours. So - allow Him to work.
What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
________________________________________
April 19, 2010
It was Pastor Appreciation Sunday yesterday. Great service, much appreciation to Pastor Chad, and we had a lot of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20CDFhux6-w
________________________________________
April 15, 2010
I know there's something I have to do today...
Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. (Job 1)
Great opening line about Job - but the book continues, and you know what happens. But the first two sentences of the book about Job's life are filled with character, hope, integrity, purpose, and an upward movement.
Do our lives say the same? If someone were to write a book about your life, would the first two sentences compare with Job's?
We probably couldn't come close to the tragedy of Job - but we all have our tragic stories and life shaking moments.
However, the reason Job was able to come out on top after what happened to him, was because of the first two sentences of the book that really tell the story of his life.
No matter what difficulty, problem, tragedy, sickness, loss, disease, or torment you face today - you can come out on top of it - and it depends on your relationship with God.
Be honest inside and out. Be a person of your word. Be totally devoted to God. Hate evil with a passion.
________________________________________
April 13, 2010
Words are powerful!
I think I learned that lesson years ago, but it's still taking work to put that lesson into action.
The words of a fool starts fights; do him a favor and gag him. (Pro 18)
You think you could tell a fool to shut his/her mouth? I've been a fool before with a bad mouth and I wish someone would have shut me up - physically.
Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. (Pro 18)
We've got to learn to be more gracious and giving with our words - in public and private. God's been dealing with me about watching my speech in private - and I'm not talking about talking to myself. I mean how I speak about other people when they are not around.
Don't get me wrong - I don't bash and demean - but I'm not necessarily always generous and uplifting. I believe that's a choice and a decision that will increase harmony and my own personal integrity.
I don't want to placate and paint a dirty fence white - but I don't want to let an opportunity to encourage pass me by.
I will speak about you with words that produce good things - You do the same!
________________________________________
April 10, 2010
Don't keep your options open!
That really sounds weird to say. Everyone is told to keep their options open, to have a fallback.
When someone is working to be a professional athlete or professional musician, they're told - have something to fall back on. I think someone even gave me that advice when I went into the ministry at 19. I didn't, by the way.
But don't keep your options open, regarding prayer.
James says this about prayer - Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People "who worry their prayers" are like wind whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
It's all about faith & belief.
When I pray, when I ask God for help, I've got to believe that He alone is going to provide, however that may be. My faith has got to be totally in Him.
Worry gets me no-where. It actually voids my faith.
________________________________________
April 8, 2010
Congenial conversation - what a pleasure! The right word at the right time - beautiful! (Pro 15)
I want to say the right word at the right time. I want to be careful with what comes out of my mouth. I wouldn't call myself a great conversationalist though. If anything, it seems like I try to avoid more conversations than dive into them.
It's easier to type it out than speak it out.
But I do want to say the right things at the right time.
Some have the reputation and the proof that follows, of saying whatever they're thinking. I would surely get in more trouble if I did that.
There's a wisdom learning that has to take place in order to say the right word at the right time. It comes with learning God, His ways, His words, and waiting on His Spirit to lead.
One of the coolest passages in the NT is when Jesus was sending out His disciples to tell others about the kingdom of God. Jesus says, "Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matt 10)
God, may I have the wisdom to wait on You before I speak.
________________________________________
April 7, 2010
Shyness is all in your brain - at least that's what a new study says...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36201866/ns/health-behavior/
In a nutshell it says this - Individuals with this highly sensitive trait prefer to take longer to make decisions, are more conscientious, need more time to themselves in order to reflect, and are more easily bored with small talk
Uh... - I think I have this.
I think I need some more time to myself to think about it...
_______________________________________
April 5, 2010
We had such a great Easter Sunday yesterday.
Great crowd, great message - and the music turned out pretty well. I want to send out a special thank you to the worship band for being so patient with me when I have a hard time communicating and being so willing to try new things.
I also want to thank Pastor Chad for allowing us and encouraging us to do new songs. That's part of the whole "being who we are" thing. Christianity is about being who you are - being real - with your relationship with God and others. I really enjoy the freedom we have at Harvest Temple, to be ourselves - no pretension, no religious church standard - just real-ness.
Here are a few of the songs, click for link...
Everything You Are
Your Love Story
Beautiful
Thanks again!!
________________________________________
April 2, 2010
I've survived April Fools Day! Someone tried to pull a prank on me - I didn't buy it. I didn't pull a prank on anyone, because it is my annual day of prank rest. Today is another day, however.
Reading this morning in 2 Timothy
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk.
Good words for a young pastor like Timothy. Good words for us all.
Don't get so wrapped up in the stuff of life that you forget what you're doing, you forget you're focus. Concentrate on doing the very best you can for God - He will take care of the rest.
Sometimes we feel so inadequate. Sometimes we feel we fall short. But God is able to take our best, mix it with His best, and make something so unbelievably efficient, powerful, long lasting, and good - no matter what you're best may be.
I guess Haggai has got me lately...
This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish... (Hag 2)
This verse has many relative points...
1 - The temple building the former exiled people were instructed to build was underneath the shadow of the memory of the glory of the old temple. But God said that it would be greater - to not let the day of small beginnings discourage.
2 - The Temple refers to what Christ would do in the next few hundred years - the fulfillment of messianic prophecy. The physical temple would be replaced by Christ's sacrifice, making a way that Christ would live in us - we become His temple.
3 - God's Word gives us hope against the discouragement we face when called to do great things out of our reach, while walking in the shadow of what was...
It's not that I want to do great things, or I want to be a big shot, or I want to accomplish enormous feats - I just want to do what I feel God is asking of me - and I want to do it well. But I am at times, sitting in the shadow of others who have done amazing things. Who am I? Why should I?
The answer is because God asks. I am not trying to compete with other Christians - I simply want to be obedient and useful.
My day of small beginnings can be made into something beautiful and great because God is in it.
_______________________________________
April 28, 2010
It's not hard to be motivated to do what God wants, if we absolutely know for sure God wants it and He is with us. That's what happened in Haggai.
The temple of God had been destroyed because of an invading country. The people of God were returning to their own country after years of captivity. God instructed then to rebuild His temple - the place where God is the focal point - not their houses or lives.
The people were distracted and unmotivated, but God comes to them and says, "Get to work for I am with you!"
Is there anything that can't be done when we know that God is with us?
What is God asking you to do?
Do it!
_______________________________________
April 26, 2010
Introduced a new song this past Sunday. Here it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMiGYFuUE3I
_______________________________________
April 22, 2010
Read through Haggai this morning...
Here's what I want you to do, climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You've had ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. (Hag 1)
I remember back to 2004, pastoring in Gainesville, GA. I had been at that church for three years. God spoke to me and asked me to leave. I know a lot of people blame things on God when they themselves want to do stuff - their own ambitions or discomfort leads the way. But I liked pastoring that church. I didn't want to leave.
But after several prayer sessions telling God I didn't want to leave, He said, "Just do it because I asked you to."
How could I say no to that?
The next few years proved to be adventurous, tragic, disheartening, disillusioning - I left God for a while too.
Where I am now - spiritually, not physically - is a place that's worth a lot. I've learned lessons about myself and God.
I have returned to writing music, which I have not done since 2000. And I feel a better since of purpose and value.
Sometimes we gotta do something just because God asks - for His honor, not ours - for His glory, not ours. Sometimes we have to throw our own ambitions out of the window in order for God to have His way.
________________________________________
April 21, 2010
What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. (Philippians 1)
The bible teaches that God is the One who brings good things to our lives - good and perfect gifts. Those gifts are not purpose-less but purpose-full. What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
You can be sure that whatever it is, it's for Him.
God gives us things, allows us blessings, gives us gifts & talents, makes us creative - for His glory, not ours. So - allow Him to work.
What kind of good thing is happening in your life?
________________________________________
April 19, 2010
It was Pastor Appreciation Sunday yesterday. Great service, much appreciation to Pastor Chad, and we had a lot of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20CDFhux6-w
________________________________________
April 15, 2010
I know there's something I have to do today...
Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. (Job 1)
Great opening line about Job - but the book continues, and you know what happens. But the first two sentences of the book about Job's life are filled with character, hope, integrity, purpose, and an upward movement.
Do our lives say the same? If someone were to write a book about your life, would the first two sentences compare with Job's?
We probably couldn't come close to the tragedy of Job - but we all have our tragic stories and life shaking moments.
However, the reason Job was able to come out on top after what happened to him, was because of the first two sentences of the book that really tell the story of his life.
No matter what difficulty, problem, tragedy, sickness, loss, disease, or torment you face today - you can come out on top of it - and it depends on your relationship with God.
Be honest inside and out. Be a person of your word. Be totally devoted to God. Hate evil with a passion.
________________________________________
April 13, 2010
Words are powerful!
I think I learned that lesson years ago, but it's still taking work to put that lesson into action.
The words of a fool starts fights; do him a favor and gag him. (Pro 18)
You think you could tell a fool to shut his/her mouth? I've been a fool before with a bad mouth and I wish someone would have shut me up - physically.
Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. (Pro 18)
We've got to learn to be more gracious and giving with our words - in public and private. God's been dealing with me about watching my speech in private - and I'm not talking about talking to myself. I mean how I speak about other people when they are not around.
Don't get me wrong - I don't bash and demean - but I'm not necessarily always generous and uplifting. I believe that's a choice and a decision that will increase harmony and my own personal integrity.
I don't want to placate and paint a dirty fence white - but I don't want to let an opportunity to encourage pass me by.
I will speak about you with words that produce good things - You do the same!
________________________________________
April 10, 2010
Don't keep your options open!
That really sounds weird to say. Everyone is told to keep their options open, to have a fallback.
When someone is working to be a professional athlete or professional musician, they're told - have something to fall back on. I think someone even gave me that advice when I went into the ministry at 19. I didn't, by the way.
But don't keep your options open, regarding prayer.
James says this about prayer - Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People "who worry their prayers" are like wind whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
It's all about faith & belief.
When I pray, when I ask God for help, I've got to believe that He alone is going to provide, however that may be. My faith has got to be totally in Him.
Worry gets me no-where. It actually voids my faith.
________________________________________
April 8, 2010
Congenial conversation - what a pleasure! The right word at the right time - beautiful! (Pro 15)
I want to say the right word at the right time. I want to be careful with what comes out of my mouth. I wouldn't call myself a great conversationalist though. If anything, it seems like I try to avoid more conversations than dive into them.
It's easier to type it out than speak it out.
But I do want to say the right things at the right time.
Some have the reputation and the proof that follows, of saying whatever they're thinking. I would surely get in more trouble if I did that.
There's a wisdom learning that has to take place in order to say the right word at the right time. It comes with learning God, His ways, His words, and waiting on His Spirit to lead.
One of the coolest passages in the NT is when Jesus was sending out His disciples to tell others about the kingdom of God. Jesus says, "Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matt 10)
God, may I have the wisdom to wait on You before I speak.
________________________________________
April 7, 2010
Shyness is all in your brain - at least that's what a new study says...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36201866/ns/health-behavior/
In a nutshell it says this - Individuals with this highly sensitive trait prefer to take longer to make decisions, are more conscientious, need more time to themselves in order to reflect, and are more easily bored with small talk
Uh... - I think I have this.
I think I need some more time to myself to think about it...
_______________________________________
April 5, 2010
We had such a great Easter Sunday yesterday.
Great crowd, great message - and the music turned out pretty well. I want to send out a special thank you to the worship band for being so patient with me when I have a hard time communicating and being so willing to try new things.
I also want to thank Pastor Chad for allowing us and encouraging us to do new songs. That's part of the whole "being who we are" thing. Christianity is about being who you are - being real - with your relationship with God and others. I really enjoy the freedom we have at Harvest Temple, to be ourselves - no pretension, no religious church standard - just real-ness.
Here are a few of the songs, click for link...
Everything You Are
Your Love Story
Beautiful
Thanks again!!
________________________________________
April 2, 2010
I've survived April Fools Day! Someone tried to pull a prank on me - I didn't buy it. I didn't pull a prank on anyone, because it is my annual day of prank rest. Today is another day, however.
Reading this morning in 2 Timothy
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk.
Good words for a young pastor like Timothy. Good words for us all.
Don't get so wrapped up in the stuff of life that you forget what you're doing, you forget you're focus. Concentrate on doing the very best you can for God - He will take care of the rest.
Sometimes we feel so inadequate. Sometimes we feel we fall short. But God is able to take our best, mix it with His best, and make something so unbelievably efficient, powerful, long lasting, and good - no matter what you're best may be.
horton's who, inc. 2010
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