Monday, September 26, 2011

The Ministry-Bug

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Galatians 2:20, NIV1984

I don’t know what the ministry-bug looks like but I do know what it feels like and I also know there is no cure for it. Oh, there may be times when you are attacked and because of those attacks you briefly think, “I’m-just-not-going-to-do-this-any-longer.”  But inevitably you feel that stirring in your soul and before you know it you’re doing it again. Once again, you are completely engrossed, obsessed, and occupied with spreading the Good News and the love of Jesus with others. You are down on your knees asking God, “Fill me Lord with Your Spirit. Send me where You would have me go. Speak through me; saturate me with Your Being. Allow me to see others as You see them. Teach me to love others as You love them; use all I am for Your kingdom’s cause; let all my passion always be for Your glory. Amen.”
I confess the ministry-bug term is not original with me. My pastor used it last night in his sermon and I thought, “What a great term; I love it; I’ve got to use that!”
The point I’d like to get across to you today is that there is no such thing as the average Christian life. You’re either living a Spirit-filled-life or you aren’t. Going to church on Sunday morning, occasionally reading your Bible and quickly saying your prayers before you fall into bed every night may seem adequate to you but it is not the Spirit-filled life that God seeks for you. It is not the abundant life God has in store for you. There is SO MUCH MORE and it lies outside the walls of your church building.
Our Lord desires to have an intimate-walking-talking relationship with each of us. Open the door to His presence and His power. Be filled with His wisdom, courage, and strength. Become fully dependent upon Him.
When you invite Jesus into your life daily to live His life in you and through you may expect the remarkable. Expect the abundant life. Expect to be bitten by the ministry-bug and expect an exciting adventure and complete joy…even through the trials.
“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”. James 2:24, 26, NIV
God bless you!!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Comfort for God's People

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV1984


I LOVE to read Isaiah 40 and it happened to be a part of my daily Bible readings this morning. I don’t believe I have ever read this chapter without my heart leaping for joy. How can anyone not be completely moved by these words?
Let me quickly remind you of some other familiar passages within Isaiah 40. Verse three was quoted by John the Baptist in the third chapter of Matthew—the voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way of the LORD. Verse 40 is a favored memory verse for teachers—flowers and grass may fail but the word of the LORD stands forever. Verse 11 speaks of our good and loving Shepherd. And backup to verse 10 which speaks of the Sovereign LORD coming in power and His reward being with Him; and there’s much more—read it—stop—read it now!!
Isaiah 40 contains feel-good-comforting-amazing-exciting-stuff for those who know and love the Lord. This chapter serves to remind me that not only is God still in control but also that He always has been and always will be in control...for He is the eternally Sovereign Lord God.
Yesterday I went to the doctor and he told me something I didn’t want to hear and I was upset. I called my husband and then I wanted to call my sister but I knew I’d start crying…and then I stopped! I said, “Kaye is God suddenly no longer in control because you received what you consider bad news?” Certainly not! Suddenly I felt very silly. Yes, confession is good for the soul and communicating in prayer with Almighty God who loves me and forever holds me in His hand is even better.
Enough said. Before I leave you with a closing scripture just let me say—briefly upset yesterday; privileged this morning to discover one of my favorite, comforting passages as a part of my daily Bible readings…God is so good; so loving. He loves us extravagantly and knows us intimately. I know it does get better than this because the Bible tells me so but this is really good too!
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36, NIV1984
May God richly bless you!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

God Bless the Broken Road

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14, NIV1984

Several years ago Marcus Hummon along with Bobby Boyd and Jeff Hanna wrote a song called, "God Blessed the Broken Road". It’s been recorded several times by different artists; the one with which I’m most familiar is by Selah. The song, although written as a romantic one, just as easily pictures a person progressing through life on the straight and narrow walk of faith.

Consideration of the straight and narrow road is familiar but considered less often are the detours, the potholes, the steep hills, the deep valleys one incurs along the way. Many seem to believe that once you make it through the narrow gate onto the road called Straight it is smooth sailing the rest of the way. Nothing could be further from the truth for no one grows to maturity without growing pains.

"I set out on a narrow way many years ago…I got lost a time or two…I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you…"

The process of maturity is not an easy one. We tend to get a lot of bumps and bruises along the way because we make poor choices. But even through that difficult process, the Holy Spirit is always there speaking to us, leading us in the way we should go if we would just recognize and listen to His pleadings. The bumps and bruises happen when we pull so strongly against the lead in order to go our own way. Only in retrospect do we realize we should have listened more carefully to the gentle voice of God, (I Kings 19:12-13) tugging at our heart, mind, and soul.

"I think about the years I spent just passing through; I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you…"

Unfortunately, the process of spiritual maturity can take many years and regret of what we may consider time lost is ridiculous. God works continually shaping us into the person He wants us to be; He is the Potter, we are the clay, (Isaiah 64:8).

"…You just smile and take my hand, you've been there you understand; it's all part of a grander plan that is coming true…"

In James, chapter 1, verses 2-4, we find these words: "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing, (HCSB). My dear friends, God not only blessed the broken road but more importantly He continues to bless it!