The other day Josh and I were driving through town when we came to the intersection of 28th and Oak street.  There were some modifications to the stop sign that a vandal had made.  The words Don’t and Believin’ were added to the sign to make it read, “Don’t Stop Believin”.  I don’t know if they were referencing the old Journey song or if they were making a spiritual statement.  I hope it was the Journey song because it is not good to make spiritual statements while doing illegal actions.

I snapped this picture and went away, not only with the Journey song in my head but also a challenge in my heart.  When things get tough, don’t stop believin. 

Someone suggested to me that we should write scripture verses on the floor of the sanctuary before the new carpet was laid.  I forgot about that until last night about 9:30pm.  I began to think of what I could write on the floor that could Scriptures we could stand on at RFA.  This morning, I came in a little early to write some verses that I pray often for our church body.

 

Did you know your life is valuable to God?

God chose you and created you for a special purpose, for this time and this season. He has chosen you for marvelous things. He has set you apart to be a vessel of honor for His use. Many people really do not believe this. We look at other people that God is using and think God could never use me that way. The distinct difference between you and them is one word, SURRENDER.

This morning I sat listening to the song I Surrender All and thought about all of the many people who do not truly surrender their lives to God. God has a plan for every Christian. In fact, you have a special gifting that He is waiting to use, but you have to surrender. The prophets of old were told that they would be used to go to the children of Israel, however, if they didn’t surrender, they wouldn’t have fulfilled God’s plan.

God told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)

Jeremiah was in God’s mind a long time before Jeremiah was even a thought. Jeremiah thought of all the reasons why he couldn’t do this work for God. He said, "I cannot speak for I am a youth." Jeremiah then says. "…the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth." All Jeremiah had to do was surrender. You are special to God. He is awaiting your step of faith to declare that you will do whatever He has planned for you. You may not know specifically what God wants. Maybe you do, but the key is that you have to surrender, and then you can be used.

Pray with me, "Dear heavenly Father, I surrender my all to you. I lay down my will, my life, and my dreams and ask you to use me for whatever you want. I give you all of me. Show me your ways and your purpose for me. I will do it. Equip me and empower me to do your work. In Jesus name, Amen."

The other night Sonya, Hannah and I were out for a walk when it started to rain.  Normally, in moments like that, we run in and duck for cover, but Monday was different.  Instead of staying in, Sonya suggested that Hannah and I should go out and play in the rain.  What a great idea!  Hannah and I went outside and got soaked. 

It made me wonder, “why is it when we are kids that we love to play in the rain and when we get old we don’t like to get wet?”  I think it is good to sometimes get kid-like again.  Most people need a good dance in the rain!

PLAYING IN THE RAIN

Why must we grow up and lose our zest for life
Why do we lose our joy amidst all the strife?

I watch you with awe and witness your joy
The cares of this life you always seem to avoid

In your imaginary world you spin tales of wonder
Your mind races and your energy is like no other

We dance in the rain and I hear your gleeful laugh
You play in the mud and want to go to bed without a bath

Oh, how I wish my life was so care-free
Resting in Jesus, letting Him carry me

How soon I forget, how to be young again
To live my life, not looking back at where I’ve been

Another day comes and goes with much that is mundane
But you and I will dance together, once again in the rain

For it is those days that I escape into your world of peace
But for these few moments, it is you that rescues me

Saving me from the trap of living business as usual
You let me in to your wonderful care-free world

Thank you little child for reminding me of me
Or at least the me, that I used to be.

-Danny Cheney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of Sundays ago, I referenced a great sermon by S.M. Lockridge, “That’s My King!”  I’ve had a lot of requests for the video of this sermon, but I also thought I would share the transcript.  Here it is:

The Bible says my King is a seven-way King:
He’s the King of the Jews – that’s a racial King.
He’s the King of Israel – that’s a national King.
He’s the King of Righteousness.
He’s the King of the Ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of Glory.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
That’s my King.
Well, I wonder do you know Him.
David said, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork."
My King is a sovereign King – no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No farseeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply.
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.
He’s enduringly strong.
He’s entirely sincere.
He’s eternally steadfast.
He’s immortally graceful.
He’s imperially powerful.
He’s impartially merciful.
Do you know Him?
He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Saviour.
He’s the centrepiece of civilisation.
He stands in the solitude of himself.
He’s august and He’s unique.
He’s unparalleled, He’s unprecedented.
He is the loftiest idea in literature.
He’s the highest personality in philosophy.
He is the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He is the core and the necessity for spiritual religion.
He’s the miracle of the age, He’s… yes He is.
He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
He’s the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Saviour.
I wonder if you know him today?
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathises and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captive.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent.
And He beautifies the meek.
I wonder if you know Him? Well, my King—
He is the key, He’s the key to knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway of glory.
Do you know Him?
Well, His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His life is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous and
His yoke is easy and
His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you.
But He’s indes… Wooah, yeaaah! yeaahh,
He’s indescribable – yes He is ! He’s God.
He’s, He’s indescribable, yes, He’s indescribable.
He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible.
He’s irresistible.
Well, you can’t get Him out of your mind,
You get Him off of your hand,
You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him.
Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t handle Him and
the grave couldn’t hold Him. Yeah !
THAT’S MY KING !
THAT’S MY KING ! YEAH !
And Thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever
and ever and ever.
How long is that ?
And ever and ever.
And when you get through all the forevers, then
Amen !
GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY ! AMEN ! AMEN !

Here is yesterday’s message:

Is Your Life a Life of Regrets?

At the end of every day do you reflect on the whirlwind of time that you have just been through and WISHED you would have lived that day differently?  We have a tendency to regret doing some things and regret not doing other things.

The interesting thing about life is we only have one try to live it to the fullest.  Our life will pass by quickly and at the end of it what would we have done differently?  How do you use your time?  Is it for important things or just things that you THINK are important?  Paul told the Ephesian believers to, "redeem the time for the days are evil" and this is a word for us to day.  Redeeming the time is to take the most of every opportunity to do something that lasts.

Many will say that they have no time to pray but they have time to clean the house everyday and do all the clothes but fail to spend time with the Master.  Please ladies don’t stop cleaning the house, however, don’t neglect your prayer life either.  At the end of life I will guarantee that you will not say, "I wish I would have cleaned the House more."  You will look back and say, "You know I wish I would have spent more time with Jesus."  There are many areas that we use our time while not making time to pray and study God’s Word.

Friends, while our children are still at home we must take every opportunity to spend time with them and fashion them into men and women of God.  In today’s society, we are raising kids and at the same time, we are trying to be successful in the business world.  We have only one chance to raise these kids.  Would you rather be successful on your job or successful at parenting?  You can have both but you have to balance your time between work and home.  No one ever gets to their death bed and looks back and says, "I wish I would have spent more time at the office."

Life is meant to be a balance.  Live life to the fullest and make sure that you spend more time on the most important things in life.  To live with no regrets means you will do several things:

1.  Live a life of Righteousness – Don’t live with the regrets of failing God
     through sin.

2.  Spend time with God in Prayer and The Word – This is key to having an
     abundant life.  Spending time with Him in this life is a practice run for
     eternity.

3.  Spend time alone with your spouse – The key to a great marriage is building
     oneness now so that when the kids are gone you have a great relationship
     alone.

4.  Spend quality time with your children – Not time watching TV but time
      where you do something they enjoy.  They will never forget the times that
      you spent with them, even when you were tired and worn out.  This will
      help you to develop them in to men and woman of God.

5.  Serve God and His Kingdom – When it comes time to receive rewards in
     Heaven it will be too late to do it over.  Find something to do for God and
     do it as best you can.

These are things you can do that will help you live with no regrets.  Life is too short to blow it.  Take these things to heart and enjoy life.  You won’t regret it.