New Year's resolutions might be suffering a little bit right now, but there is still the opportunity to turn things around.
Here is an outline for you to use:
"Back to the Basics" - Matthew 28:19-20
1. Remember His Power; vs 18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. . ."
2. Practice His Plan;
GO; make an effort, leave your comfort zone,
TEACH; witness, preach, tell the Good News
BAPTIZE - helping people identify with Jesus Christ openly. . .this is the first step toward victory in your own life as a Christian.
TEACHING. . .Let the cycle continue
3. Rejoice in His Promise; ". . .and lo I am with you. . ."
To Guide
To Guard
To Give, providing for every need
Well maybe that will be a blessing to you. It has been a busy year already. God is blessing, so we expect that the devil will be fighting, too. Pray for one another that the devil doesn't get in and use you as a part of the problem. Each of us has plenty to do to keep us busy with the work of the Lord instead of shooting others who are trying to do the work of the Lord. Keep your muzzle pointed in the right direction brethren!
Praise ye the Lord!!!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
TOO LONG!!
Wow! The school year started, the time started flying, the holidays have come and gone, and I am updating my weekly blog! LOL
I do hope that this will become something that is done each week. The MS Sauvageot clan had a great holiday season. We are thankful for the reminders of God's great blessings to us. He is so good!
The kids upgraded their telephones to Droids, and Mom and I are enjoying the different sounds and abilities that the new phones have. We especially like the rooster crowing sound that wakes Caleb up every morning. :-)
One of our family goals for the year is to get into better shape, lose the excess baggage called FAT, and even run a 10k run in May. Caleb bought the family a Wii Fit for Christmas and all of us have been hitting the training pretty regularly. Our living room doesn't smell like a locker room yet, and we are losing some excess already. Keep us in your prayers as we move along with this. Some of us have farther to go than others.
We have been deer hunting several times this winter, and we have seen many deer. They are so beautiful. . .and I think they are tasty, too. Just a couple of weeks left to get one or two. Had a couple of days of snow that made the woods really pretty!
Our Sunday School class has set a goal for the year to improve our attendance to 20 each week. This is another prayer request: that God would bless our efforts and touch people's hearts as we reach out and try to bring them into the Wildwood family.
It is good to be back in touch with the blog-fans. Keep on praying for us, and pulling for the Cowboys. :-)
I do hope that this will become something that is done each week. The MS Sauvageot clan had a great holiday season. We are thankful for the reminders of God's great blessings to us. He is so good!
The kids upgraded their telephones to Droids, and Mom and I are enjoying the different sounds and abilities that the new phones have. We especially like the rooster crowing sound that wakes Caleb up every morning. :-)
One of our family goals for the year is to get into better shape, lose the excess baggage called FAT, and even run a 10k run in May. Caleb bought the family a Wii Fit for Christmas and all of us have been hitting the training pretty regularly. Our living room doesn't smell like a locker room yet, and we are losing some excess already. Keep us in your prayers as we move along with this. Some of us have farther to go than others.
We have been deer hunting several times this winter, and we have seen many deer. They are so beautiful. . .and I think they are tasty, too. Just a couple of weeks left to get one or two. Had a couple of days of snow that made the woods really pretty!
Our Sunday School class has set a goal for the year to improve our attendance to 20 each week. This is another prayer request: that God would bless our efforts and touch people's hearts as we reach out and try to bring them into the Wildwood family.
It is good to be back in touch with the blog-fans. Keep on praying for us, and pulling for the Cowboys. :-)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
3 For 1
OK. I missed three weeks at least in keeping up this blog. So I will now add three outlines to it and kind of make up for lost time. Time has actually been the shortage it seemed for the past three weeks.
These are messages from Philippians.
Phil. 3:1-14 - "...AND LIVE REJOICING EVERY DAY"
In these dark days before the return of our Lord, we can still live rejoicing every day.
1. FOUND IN HIM. This is the basis for all of our joy. It means that we are saved, "in Him". Ephesians 1 gives us al ist of all of the blessings that we have "in Him", as saved people. 2 Corinthians 5 makes it clear that we can be righteous only through His wonderful work on the cross. In order to have true joy, you must be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.
2. FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. Some people were saved forty years ago, but have not continued to experience fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis. Therefore, there are many Christian people who are not experiencing the joy of their Christian faith. It is sad. Notice what Paul says in this passage about the all-consuming passion of His life, "That I may know him. . ." (v. 10). We will know Him through a daily fellowship with Him in His Word. We will know Him as we experience trials and sufferings in our lives. We will experience His tender care and learn more of what He experienced for us as we walk the dark valleys of life. The true key to fellowship is found in the phrase, "Being made conformable to his death." Only as we learn to die to self and allow His Holy Spirit to guide our lives can we experience His power in our daily lives.
3. FORGETTING. Most of us are not too thrilled about being forgetful, but this is where forgetfulness can be a blessing. We must forget the previous way of living. Instead of glorying in our sinful past and shameful practices, let us do some forgetting. Paul was forgetting the religious deadness that had been his life. Paul was forgetting the past hurts inflicted at times by those who should have loved him most, and whom he had served. Paul was forgetting his past successes and not living on faded glories. It is high time that many of us do some forgetting.
4. FOCUSING. Find out your purpose in life: glorifying the Lord! Make this the one "cause" that you live for. "I press toward the mark for the prize." There is a prize that awaits those who live for the glory of God. Look forward to your Heavenly investments and not so much toward your earthly investments. Our materialistic lifestyle has ruined the joy of many Christians. You cannot experience joy if all your living for is your 401K and retirement. Our real retirement is out of this world!
God bless you today!
These are messages from Philippians.
Phil. 3:1-14 - "...AND LIVE REJOICING EVERY DAY"
In these dark days before the return of our Lord, we can still live rejoicing every day.
1. FOUND IN HIM. This is the basis for all of our joy. It means that we are saved, "in Him". Ephesians 1 gives us al ist of all of the blessings that we have "in Him", as saved people. 2 Corinthians 5 makes it clear that we can be righteous only through His wonderful work on the cross. In order to have true joy, you must be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.
2. FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. Some people were saved forty years ago, but have not continued to experience fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis. Therefore, there are many Christian people who are not experiencing the joy of their Christian faith. It is sad. Notice what Paul says in this passage about the all-consuming passion of His life, "That I may know him. . ." (v. 10). We will know Him through a daily fellowship with Him in His Word. We will know Him as we experience trials and sufferings in our lives. We will experience His tender care and learn more of what He experienced for us as we walk the dark valleys of life. The true key to fellowship is found in the phrase, "Being made conformable to his death." Only as we learn to die to self and allow His Holy Spirit to guide our lives can we experience His power in our daily lives.
3. FORGETTING. Most of us are not too thrilled about being forgetful, but this is where forgetfulness can be a blessing. We must forget the previous way of living. Instead of glorying in our sinful past and shameful practices, let us do some forgetting. Paul was forgetting the religious deadness that had been his life. Paul was forgetting the past hurts inflicted at times by those who should have loved him most, and whom he had served. Paul was forgetting his past successes and not living on faded glories. It is high time that many of us do some forgetting.
4. FOCUSING. Find out your purpose in life: glorifying the Lord! Make this the one "cause" that you live for. "I press toward the mark for the prize." There is a prize that awaits those who live for the glory of God. Look forward to your Heavenly investments and not so much toward your earthly investments. Our materialistic lifestyle has ruined the joy of many Christians. You cannot experience joy if all your living for is your 401K and retirement. Our real retirement is out of this world!
God bless you today!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Beautiful Christians
Christianity does not paint a "pie in the sky" and ignore the pains and pressures of our lives. We do not have a promise of a life without trials and tests. Yet, in the midst of these adversities, we discover reasons to rejoice. We have found several already in our study in Philippians. In Philippians 2:25-30, we see yet another reason: WE CAN REJOICE BECAUSE WE HAVE A MERCIFUL GOD.
Reading in Job, we discover that sometimes believers face serious trials. There is a night-time of the soul. Family struggles may be yours. Financial struggles may be mine. All of us will face loss and trials of our faith. Yet, in the book of Job we find in chapter 35 that God gives "songs in the night"! We have a merciful God.
Paul tells about two men God used to be "songs in the night" for him. One was Timothy of whom he says that he was "like-minded" and that he would "naturally care" for the people of Philipi. He was a man after Paul's own heart. This says a lot for Timothy. It is high praise. Timothy relieved the burden from Paul's shoulders. He could be entrusted with the care of this church because of his character. Paul, sitting in jail, could sing (as he was prone to do) because of the faithfulness of Timothy.
The second verse of Paul's song was a man named Epaphroditus. This brother is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians. His name means "blessed by Aphrodite" or "lovely and charming". Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and gambling. Seems like too many in our day worship at the altar of this false god. Epaphroditus displayed real spiritual beauty in his life not because of anything to do with Aphrodite, but because of what Jesus had done in his life. Jesus alone can make our lives beautiful and charming.
I am thinking of a man who was cantankerous and obstinate. Children feared him as well as adults. Alcohol enslaved him and his family suffered. Yet, he had a praying wife, and one day God reached down and got a hold of Sam Jones' heart. He got saved! His life was transformed. He was used by God across America for several years as an evangelist preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was different and beautiful because of the Lord Jesus.
Epaphroditus demonstrated the grace of God in his life in three ways. First, his life was balanced. He was no lop-sided Christian as so many are today. There are three basic areas of our Christian lives, and he excelled in all of them. He walked in fellowship with the Lord and other believers as a son of God and a brother. His fellowship was right. Instead of being contrary, he demonstrated what Jesus said would show true discipleship. He loved the brethren. Paul called him "my brother". He loved Epaphroditus and enjoyed his fellowship in the Lord.
Not only was Epaphroditus a man who walked with God and had his fellowship right, he also worked for God. He was a labourer. Paul was definitely a worker, and he found a kindred spirit in Epaphroditus. He was someone who would not only enjoy the carry-in dinner, but would show up for the work day as well.
Epaphroditus demonstrated his good balanced Christianity by being a warrior. He was a fellow-soldier. That means he was right alongside of Paul in the battle. He recognized that the battle was not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. He was not fighting against the man of God, but right in there shoulder to shoulder with him covering his back. It is time that we recognize we are in a battle and that we also lift up the blood-stained banner of the cross! Our victory will not come through carnal, fleshly means. Our success only comes through obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Let us engage the enemy. It is time to take back territory from the enemy by leading souls to the Savior. Epaphroditus was balanced.
He was also BURDENED. In our carefree days before the coming of our Savior it behooves us to not be so "light". We have been fed froth when we need the sincere milk of the Word and the strong meat of the Word. It is time for us to begin to carry the burden that the Lord would have for us. It is time to take up our cross daily. What was this burden that Epaphroditus carried? It was the same one Paul also carried. . .the care of the churches. He was concerned about the people of God. He wanted these brothers and sisters in the Lord to experience the joy of the Lord. I believe he was one of those fellas you wanted to see coming because you knew that he was going to be a blessing. He had a wonderful spirit. His burden to lift up God's people resulted in their joy and rejoicing. Paul told the Philippians to hold him in high honor. We used to sing the old song "Others". Lord, help me live from day to day; In such a self-forgetful way. That even when I kneel to pray; My prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others; that I might live like Thee." It is time for us to get back to this focus.
Finally, Epaphroditus was a beautiful Christian because he was BRAVE. Epaphroditus, as you may remember, was named for the goddess of love, beauty, and gaming. In fact when gamblers would roll their dice, they would say, "Epaphroditus!" instead of "Seven come eleven" or whatever they say. They were asking for their goddess to somehow bless their gambling. Foolish to think that since gambling is like throwing your money out the window, but that is what they did. Epaphroditus, on the other hand, risked his life without thought for his own welfare, in the work of the Lord. He was nearly dead because of his service to the Lord in this fashion. In a day when it is popular in Christian circles to rust out rather than burn out, let's take a page from this servant of God. He was willing to place himself in the front-lines of the battle without thought for his own safety or health. Reason? So that he could live in obedience to the Savior. It did not matter if a situation seemed threatening, if the Lord told him to go. When he received the command, he obeyed in fearless obedience. God mercifully brought him through!
Ask God to make you a beautiful Christian. Balanced, not warped; Burdened with the needs of others; and bravely obeying the Savior wherever He leads.
Reading in Job, we discover that sometimes believers face serious trials. There is a night-time of the soul. Family struggles may be yours. Financial struggles may be mine. All of us will face loss and trials of our faith. Yet, in the book of Job we find in chapter 35 that God gives "songs in the night"! We have a merciful God.
Paul tells about two men God used to be "songs in the night" for him. One was Timothy of whom he says that he was "like-minded" and that he would "naturally care" for the people of Philipi. He was a man after Paul's own heart. This says a lot for Timothy. It is high praise. Timothy relieved the burden from Paul's shoulders. He could be entrusted with the care of this church because of his character. Paul, sitting in jail, could sing (as he was prone to do) because of the faithfulness of Timothy.
The second verse of Paul's song was a man named Epaphroditus. This brother is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians. His name means "blessed by Aphrodite" or "lovely and charming". Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and gambling. Seems like too many in our day worship at the altar of this false god. Epaphroditus displayed real spiritual beauty in his life not because of anything to do with Aphrodite, but because of what Jesus had done in his life. Jesus alone can make our lives beautiful and charming.
I am thinking of a man who was cantankerous and obstinate. Children feared him as well as adults. Alcohol enslaved him and his family suffered. Yet, he had a praying wife, and one day God reached down and got a hold of Sam Jones' heart. He got saved! His life was transformed. He was used by God across America for several years as an evangelist preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was different and beautiful because of the Lord Jesus.
Epaphroditus demonstrated the grace of God in his life in three ways. First, his life was balanced. He was no lop-sided Christian as so many are today. There are three basic areas of our Christian lives, and he excelled in all of them. He walked in fellowship with the Lord and other believers as a son of God and a brother. His fellowship was right. Instead of being contrary, he demonstrated what Jesus said would show true discipleship. He loved the brethren. Paul called him "my brother". He loved Epaphroditus and enjoyed his fellowship in the Lord.
Not only was Epaphroditus a man who walked with God and had his fellowship right, he also worked for God. He was a labourer. Paul was definitely a worker, and he found a kindred spirit in Epaphroditus. He was someone who would not only enjoy the carry-in dinner, but would show up for the work day as well.
Epaphroditus demonstrated his good balanced Christianity by being a warrior. He was a fellow-soldier. That means he was right alongside of Paul in the battle. He recognized that the battle was not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. He was not fighting against the man of God, but right in there shoulder to shoulder with him covering his back. It is time that we recognize we are in a battle and that we also lift up the blood-stained banner of the cross! Our victory will not come through carnal, fleshly means. Our success only comes through obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Let us engage the enemy. It is time to take back territory from the enemy by leading souls to the Savior. Epaphroditus was balanced.
He was also BURDENED. In our carefree days before the coming of our Savior it behooves us to not be so "light". We have been fed froth when we need the sincere milk of the Word and the strong meat of the Word. It is time for us to begin to carry the burden that the Lord would have for us. It is time to take up our cross daily. What was this burden that Epaphroditus carried? It was the same one Paul also carried. . .the care of the churches. He was concerned about the people of God. He wanted these brothers and sisters in the Lord to experience the joy of the Lord. I believe he was one of those fellas you wanted to see coming because you knew that he was going to be a blessing. He had a wonderful spirit. His burden to lift up God's people resulted in their joy and rejoicing. Paul told the Philippians to hold him in high honor. We used to sing the old song "Others". Lord, help me live from day to day; In such a self-forgetful way. That even when I kneel to pray; My prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others; that I might live like Thee." It is time for us to get back to this focus.
Finally, Epaphroditus was a beautiful Christian because he was BRAVE. Epaphroditus, as you may remember, was named for the goddess of love, beauty, and gaming. In fact when gamblers would roll their dice, they would say, "Epaphroditus!" instead of "Seven come eleven" or whatever they say. They were asking for their goddess to somehow bless their gambling. Foolish to think that since gambling is like throwing your money out the window, but that is what they did. Epaphroditus, on the other hand, risked his life without thought for his own welfare, in the work of the Lord. He was nearly dead because of his service to the Lord in this fashion. In a day when it is popular in Christian circles to rust out rather than burn out, let's take a page from this servant of God. He was willing to place himself in the front-lines of the battle without thought for his own safety or health. Reason? So that he could live in obedience to the Savior. It did not matter if a situation seemed threatening, if the Lord told him to go. When he received the command, he obeyed in fearless obedience. God mercifully brought him through!
Ask God to make you a beautiful Christian. Balanced, not warped; Burdened with the needs of others; and bravely obeying the Savior wherever He leads.
Monday, August 31, 2009
LONG TIME NO SEE
Hi! It has bee too long since I have posted something, and I will try to be more faithful to my Monday ramblings. Yesterday was a good day at Wildwood. The Lord was working. Good preaching in the morning. . .Dr. B. Fish-fry and ice cream lat night, and that makes any kind of preaching acceptable.
Here is an outline. Who knows where it originally comes from. It is not original to me, but it did inspire me.
WHY GOD'S SALVATION IS SO GREAT
1. It is great because of its ABILITY
2. It is great because of its AVAILABILITY
3. It is great because of its RELIABILITY
4. It is great because of its DURABILITY
5. It is great because of its DESIRABILITY
Take it and run with it! May the Lord bless you as you present His great salvation to those who need it. May you never be guilty of neglecting it.
Here is an outline. Who knows where it originally comes from. It is not original to me, but it did inspire me.
WHY GOD'S SALVATION IS SO GREAT
1. It is great because of its ABILITY
2. It is great because of its AVAILABILITY
3. It is great because of its RELIABILITY
4. It is great because of its DURABILITY
5. It is great because of its DESIRABILITY
Take it and run with it! May the Lord bless you as you present His great salvation to those who need it. May you never be guilty of neglecting it.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Forgive!
Mark 11:25-26 show us that when we pray, we must not harbor an unforgiving or bitter spirit. It is imperative that we get rid of the "feuding" spirit. Too often our prayers are hindered because we fail to forgive those who have hurt us. Listen to this verse, ". . .even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." This is only the end of the verse, but it is the part that sets the pre-requisites and guidelines for our own forgiveness of others.
How has Christ forgiven us?
1. He forgives us FREELY.
2. He forgives us FULLY.
3. He forgives us FOREVER.
You can fill in the blanks of this skeleton outline. Fleshing it out will thrill your soul.
It is vitally important that we can experience this forgiveness and then pass this kind of forgiveness on to others. One columnist made the comment that what she envied most about Christians was our ability to forgive. Are you holding a grudge? Has a root of bitterness wrapped its tendrils around your heart? Would you be willing to be made willing to let it go? Quit hamstringing your prayers with an unforgiving spirit!
God's best to you!
How has Christ forgiven us?
1. He forgives us FREELY.
2. He forgives us FULLY.
3. He forgives us FOREVER.
You can fill in the blanks of this skeleton outline. Fleshing it out will thrill your soul.
It is vitally important that we can experience this forgiveness and then pass this kind of forgiveness on to others. One columnist made the comment that what she envied most about Christians was our ability to forgive. Are you holding a grudge? Has a root of bitterness wrapped its tendrils around your heart? Would you be willing to be made willing to let it go? Quit hamstringing your prayers with an unforgiving spirit!
God's best to you!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Pray In Faith
The purpose of this week's message is to encourage your faith in God and His Word. Our entire Christian lives are the fruit of faith. We are saved by grace through FAITH. We walk by FAITH and not by sight. Whatever we do must be done in faith, or it is sin. Faith is vital, and faith is extremely important in our praying. When we ask for God's intervention we must come to Him in faith, and we must ask in faith. James says that we must ask in faith nothing wavering. We need strong faith especially in these times of great moral and spiritual weakness.
Paul sailed on a ship bound for Rome, but that ship encountered a storm. For days the crew fought to keep the ship afloat. After many days, all hope was lost. Everyone expected to die in the sea. At this point Paul stood up and made a clear statement, "I believe God." The Lord had stood by him in the night and showed him that all would be well. He simply took God at His Word. Let me echo this statement, "I believe God."
I believe that God will save those who call upon Him in repentance and faith.
I believe God answers prayer.
I believe God brings us through trials and troubles without abandoning us.
I believe Christ's promise to return.
Do you? Faith without works is dead. It is like rowing a boat with one oar. If you believe that Jesus saves those who call upon Him, you will call upon Him and urge others to do so as well. If you believe that God answers prayer, you will pray and keep on praying, and pray at all times. If you believe that God stands beside you in the trials of life, you will not give up hope or despair, but take heart and have peace. If you believe Jesus is coming like He said He would, then you will look up and keep your heart and life pure to be unashamed at His appearance.
God will strengthen our faith as we get into His Word and allow It to get into us. "The just shall live by faith." Will you trust God today?
Paul sailed on a ship bound for Rome, but that ship encountered a storm. For days the crew fought to keep the ship afloat. After many days, all hope was lost. Everyone expected to die in the sea. At this point Paul stood up and made a clear statement, "I believe God." The Lord had stood by him in the night and showed him that all would be well. He simply took God at His Word. Let me echo this statement, "I believe God."
I believe that God will save those who call upon Him in repentance and faith.
I believe God answers prayer.
I believe God brings us through trials and troubles without abandoning us.
I believe Christ's promise to return.
Do you? Faith without works is dead. It is like rowing a boat with one oar. If you believe that Jesus saves those who call upon Him, you will call upon Him and urge others to do so as well. If you believe that God answers prayer, you will pray and keep on praying, and pray at all times. If you believe that God stands beside you in the trials of life, you will not give up hope or despair, but take heart and have peace. If you believe Jesus is coming like He said He would, then you will look up and keep your heart and life pure to be unashamed at His appearance.
God will strengthen our faith as we get into His Word and allow It to get into us. "The just shall live by faith." Will you trust God today?
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