Monday, September 29, 2008
COOKOUT!!
This Saturday at our home, we will host a two-class combined fellowship. Mitch's class and ours will join together for this activity. Bring something to grill. Bring one other dish, too. I think that is what Brenda has told some folks. Also, bring a friend or a family of friends. Plans are to start the grill at 5:00 PM. We won't start to eat until around 6:00 or so. Mitch works until around this time, and Spence will be working late, too. We would love to have a huge crowd. Call me if you have any questions about this. SEE YA HERE!!
"The Lord Stood With Me"
What a comfort to know that when people fail, God will not. When people forsake, God does not. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:16-17 "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. . .Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me. . .". Demas had forsaken Paul. Alexander had done some kind of harmful and hurtful work. On top of that, others disappointed Paul when he stood to give an answer for the faith. Sometimes similar things happen in our own lives. While we are standing for the Lord, we do not receive the support from the people we had counted on to "be there", or who had promised to stick by us.
The good news we must remember is that the Lord stands with us. He gives strength when we are weak. He gives help in the tests and trials as well as a way of escape in the temptations. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," Psalm 46:1 says. He stands with us to strengthen us. What is your area of weakness? Isaiah 25:4 says, "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 we are weak, we can be strong because He stands with us.
I just got back from a hospital visit. A young man, named Justin (22) has cancer of a very malignant type. Pray for him. He was getting a chemo port put in this morning. I was encouraged though because on the door of his room was this verse, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Justin will find, as he trusts in the Lord, that God will stand by him during this trial. It made all of my present trial seem very small to tell you the truth. So, instead of griping about the problems and other people, let's rejoice in the fact that when people fail, the Lord Himself stands with those who stand for Him. He stnad ready to help those who stand in need. He gives us strength when we are weak. His supply will not fail and His faithfulness is new every morning. Rejoice!
The good news we must remember is that the Lord stands with us. He gives strength when we are weak. He gives help in the tests and trials as well as a way of escape in the temptations. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," Psalm 46:1 says. He stands with us to strengthen us. What is your area of weakness? Isaiah 25:4 says, "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 we are weak, we can be strong because He stands with us.
I just got back from a hospital visit. A young man, named Justin (22) has cancer of a very malignant type. Pray for him. He was getting a chemo port put in this morning. I was encouraged though because on the door of his room was this verse, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Justin will find, as he trusts in the Lord, that God will stand by him during this trial. It made all of my present trial seem very small to tell you the truth. So, instead of griping about the problems and other people, let's rejoice in the fact that when people fail, the Lord Himself stands with those who stand for Him. He stnad ready to help those who stand in need. He gives us strength when we are weak. His supply will not fail and His faithfulness is new every morning. Rejoice!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
What We Find at Calvary
"And sitting down they watched him there," Matthew's Gospel records. But what did these people see? Some thought - a failure. Others - a victory. What do we find at Calvary? Three observations: God's Powerful Sovereignty, God's Perfect Holiness, and God's Passionate Love.
No matter what the devil did, he could not stop the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. He could try to detour the plan as in the days of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. No success. He could try to defile the plan as he did when tempting Jesus in the wilderness. No success. He could seek to destroy the Savior as he did when Herod ordered the deaths of the innocents in Bethlehem. God's plans will not be thwarted by the devil or anybody else. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. When you look at Calvary, remember this.
God's holiness is perfect. No other sacrifice would satisfy the holiness of God! The blood of bulls and goats could do nothing to take away sins, they simply pointed to the coming perfect sacrifice, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus satisfies the Father according to Isaiah 53. "He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied." As good as a person can be, they can never be good enough to satisfy God's demands. God calls for perfection. God calls for holiness on our part. In doing so, He levels the playing field because none are righteous, no not one. People who are religious need the Savior just as do those who are heathens. Jesus is that perfect sacrifice for sin, once for all. God's holiness is both revealed and satisfied at Calvary.
At Calvary, we see a powerful sovereignty of God, the perfect holiness of God, and finally we see the Passionate Love of God. Never forget it: GOD LOVES YOU. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. When you are tempted to wonder if anybody really cares about you, look again at Calvary! It is there that God's love shines brightest. You can have no doubt of His love, when you see all that He endured for you. "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.
Every day, take a tour past the cross. Read again the Gospel accounts. Read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53. Meditate in Hebrews chapters 9 and 10. What a wonderful Savior we have!!
No matter what the devil did, he could not stop the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. He could try to detour the plan as in the days of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. No success. He could try to defile the plan as he did when tempting Jesus in the wilderness. No success. He could seek to destroy the Savior as he did when Herod ordered the deaths of the innocents in Bethlehem. God's plans will not be thwarted by the devil or anybody else. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. When you look at Calvary, remember this.
God's holiness is perfect. No other sacrifice would satisfy the holiness of God! The blood of bulls and goats could do nothing to take away sins, they simply pointed to the coming perfect sacrifice, Jesus, the Lamb of God. Jesus satisfies the Father according to Isaiah 53. "He shall see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied." As good as a person can be, they can never be good enough to satisfy God's demands. God calls for perfection. God calls for holiness on our part. In doing so, He levels the playing field because none are righteous, no not one. People who are religious need the Savior just as do those who are heathens. Jesus is that perfect sacrifice for sin, once for all. God's holiness is both revealed and satisfied at Calvary.
At Calvary, we see a powerful sovereignty of God, the perfect holiness of God, and finally we see the Passionate Love of God. Never forget it: GOD LOVES YOU. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. When you are tempted to wonder if anybody really cares about you, look again at Calvary! It is there that God's love shines brightest. You can have no doubt of His love, when you see all that He endured for you. "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.
Every day, take a tour past the cross. Read again the Gospel accounts. Read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53. Meditate in Hebrews chapters 9 and 10. What a wonderful Savior we have!!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Confession
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Transparency, honesty, openness these are what God is asking. For those who want to be cleansed, these are not an option. They are a requirement. Notice that there is nothing to be said about whether or not God is right in His evaluation of our condition or our action. He is always right. It is our part to agree with Him, and in that open, honest assessment, we will find forgiveness.
Too often we rationalize instead of agree. Or we shift the blame to our parents or great-grandparents, or cousins once removed, or David Letterman, or whoever. There are times when we flatly disagree with God's Word and God's standards. It does not change the fact: we can be forgiven if, and only if, we are willing to get on God's terms. Oh, the relief! What a wonder to be forgiven by the One Who will be our Judge. "Blessed is the man. . ." Psalm 32:1 says. Are you among the blessed who have been forgiven? If not, you can be. You can be when you confess your sins to Him.
Transparency, honesty, openness these are what God is asking. For those who want to be cleansed, these are not an option. They are a requirement. Notice that there is nothing to be said about whether or not God is right in His evaluation of our condition or our action. He is always right. It is our part to agree with Him, and in that open, honest assessment, we will find forgiveness.
Too often we rationalize instead of agree. Or we shift the blame to our parents or great-grandparents, or cousins once removed, or David Letterman, or whoever. There are times when we flatly disagree with God's Word and God's standards. It does not change the fact: we can be forgiven if, and only if, we are willing to get on God's terms. Oh, the relief! What a wonder to be forgiven by the One Who will be our Judge. "Blessed is the man. . ." Psalm 32:1 says. Are you among the blessed who have been forgiven? If not, you can be. You can be when you confess your sins to Him.
Monday, September 1, 2008
"There is not a man. . ."
The Chaldean wise men were trying to get out of a bad situation. Their king demanded not only an interpretation of his dream, but also that they be able to tell them the dream that he had forgotten! Tall order. While they were trying to weasel their way out of the tight spot, they make a statement that is very true. "There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter:. . ."
They had it right. There are certain things that men cannot do. No man can save his own soul. No man can earn his way into Heaven. No man can please God without faith. No man can be saved unless he will call upon the name of the Lord. There are so many things. The good news is this: God does not require of you what you canot do. In fact, God provides for you what you cannot do. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works least any man should boast."
Daniel's response reflects his vibrant faith. "The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king: BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN that revealeth secrets. . ." Thank God! "There is a God in Heaven!!" Do you have this assurance today? Is He real to you? He can be. If you will turn, by faith, from your sin and your self unto the Lord who has done, and can do what no man can do, HE WILL SAVE YOU. If you have already tusted Him, He will hear and answer your prayers. The best witness that we have as believers in Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him is that we get our prayers answered. I hope that you are in touch with the living God Who knows all about you and still loves you.
Have a blessed day getting to know Him better.
Brother Mike
They had it right. There are certain things that men cannot do. No man can save his own soul. No man can earn his way into Heaven. No man can please God without faith. No man can be saved unless he will call upon the name of the Lord. There are so many things. The good news is this: God does not require of you what you canot do. In fact, God provides for you what you cannot do. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works least any man should boast."
Daniel's response reflects his vibrant faith. "The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king: BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN that revealeth secrets. . ." Thank God! "There is a God in Heaven!!" Do you have this assurance today? Is He real to you? He can be. If you will turn, by faith, from your sin and your self unto the Lord who has done, and can do what no man can do, HE WILL SAVE YOU. If you have already tusted Him, He will hear and answer your prayers. The best witness that we have as believers in Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him is that we get our prayers answered. I hope that you are in touch with the living God Who knows all about you and still loves you.
Have a blessed day getting to know Him better.
Brother Mike
Heritage Academy 08-09!
We are under way here in Tupelo, MS!! It is exciting to see students who have goals and also the determination and character to reach those goals. Well, we are working on all of that. All of our new students this year are distance learning students whose paretns are in full-time Christian work. We asked for five more students, but did not specify that they should be resident students. God gave us the students! Praise the Lord. There is still room for a few more who are resident students. Add that to your list, please, prayer warriors.
Cari is working on a blog page for Heritage Academy. Check it out at heritageheartbeat@blogspot.com. You will like it. There are links from there to other sites of interest. Soon there will be an up-dated webpage for the school, too. The blog may be more interesting, but there will be some vital information and calendar stuff on the website.
I will also be using this blog for our weekly devotional. Stay tuned!
I love ya'll! Stay in touch with the Lord and with us!
Brother Mike
Cari is working on a blog page for Heritage Academy. Check it out at heritageheartbeat@blogspot.com. You will like it. There are links from there to other sites of interest. Soon there will be an up-dated webpage for the school, too. The blog may be more interesting, but there will be some vital information and calendar stuff on the website.
I will also be using this blog for our weekly devotional. Stay tuned!
I love ya'll! Stay in touch with the Lord and with us!
Brother Mike
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