Saturday, January 29, 2011

Comfort in the Time of Fear

Fear has a way of taking hold of your heart in spite of your best efforts to ignore it. Even those of you who KNOW perfectly well that your God is there for you find yourself shaken by fear at times. I thought I had put fear behind me but recently it reared its UGLY head again. I remembered where I go in times of anxiety and fear and the Lord did not let me down. Here is my favorite verse. I always find comfort in these words.

Psalm 27

 1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
 5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
 6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
 7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
 8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
 9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
 10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
 11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
 12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
 13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
 14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

How Much Do You Love Me?

John 21: 15-17


15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
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Jesus looked at Simon Peter with a question. Do you love me more than these? Peter was determined that his love was enough. Jesus gave Peter a command to show his love by serving others. This question is still valid today. How much are you willing to serve and show your love. Does your love have limits? Will you love Him if you lose your house, family, land, or other valuable. God wants to know, but you need to know, too. 

Monday, January 24, 2011

Will You Dance For It?


Habakkuk 3: 17-19

17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
 18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
 19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Brother JJ Bourne recently asked a question of our church... Will You Dance For It? 
This was very puzzling and most of us did not understand what he meant to ask. I have pondered this question for months trying to understand what the Bishop meant us to know. I believe I have found the answer in Habakkuk. Can you dance with joy before the Lord when everything in your life is in chaos? Can you worship the Lord with all your heart when your heart is broken? How much do you love the Lord? Does your love for the Lord cover the loss of family, friends, money, houses, land? Can you worship when everything seems to be gone? 

Matthew 10: 37-39

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Blesses Be the Name of the Lord

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