2 Oreo Desserts + 74 Cookies = Anniversary Meeting

This past weekend was my church's Anniversary Meeting.  We invited Elder Gary Harvey from Arkansas to preach to us.  It was an AMAZING weekend.  The Spirit of the Lord was with us, and I felt truly revived by Sunday afternoon.  The preaching was greatly blessed, and the fellowship...well, there are not words to describe it.  My soul is knit with these people, and I love each of them dearly.

Friday night my parents housed at least 10 people, myself included.  We stayed up laughing and talking, and then awoke early Saturday morning to be at the meeting house at 10:00.  The song service was rich, filled with praise to our Savior.  Elder Sam Bryant of Vestavia PBC in Birmingham, AL, preached first, instructing us to "awake, thou that sleepest."  He reminded us that the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  And, he's smart - he doesn't prey on the strong; he'll go after the weak and sleeping sheep.  He shared a story that goes like this:

A young Indian boy, before becoming a Brave, was required to solo climb a cold mountain.  When he finally reached the top, he found a rattlesnake.  The rattlesnake said, "Please, take me down to the bottom of this mountain.  It's cold up here!"  The young Indian boy replied, "You're a rattlesnake.  You'll bite me!"  The snake, in defense, said, "I promise, if you'll take me down this mountain, I will not bite you."  So, the young Indian boy picked up the snake and took him down the mountain.  As soon as he reached the bottom, the rattlesnake snapped, and bit him!  The young boy, in sorrow, cried, "You promised you wouldn't bite me!"  And the snake answered, "You Knew what I was when you picked me up."

Bro. Sam made the point that we often know exactly what troubles await us the moment we pick them up (drugs, porn, etc.), and choose to ignore them.  That is why Peter tells us to "be sober" and "be vigilant".  1 Peter 5:8

Elder Gary Harvey followed Bro. Sam, and preached the remainder of the morning service, as well as the afternoon service.  His subject matter was "Human Suffering".  He said there are a lot of CRAZY ideas in the world, one of them being that "a loving God would not allow all the suffering in this world".  Human suffering is NOT inconsistent with a loving God.  Much suffering is the result of our own sin.  Some suffering is for our own growth and maturity.  He gave at least 5 Biblical examples of this.  I'll give you two: sheep and oxen.  Sheep are dumb.  They like to wander from the fold and are easily led astray.  Guess who God's children are compared to in the Bible?  Yep, sheep.  Sometimes, a shepherd will actually break a stubborn sheep's leg, to keep it from continually wandering from the other sheep.  He does this to protect the sheep from wolves and lions.  (See the parallel?)  One more example...oxen.  An ox is actually just a male calf who was castrated at birth (suffering, no?), and whose sole purpose is to work.  He is trained to work by an older ox, and once he is completely trained, his sole joy is his work.  His natural drive is taken away, that he may fulfill another purpose to the utmost.  God's children are also compared to oxen.  Fascinating, huh?

Saturday night we enjoyed another sweet evening of fellowship with the saints.  And Sunday morning, Bro. Gary preached for us again, this time on the topic, "There is Still Much Land to Be Possessed".

Sermons have been uploaded to our church website: www.zionrestpbc.org.  I encourage each of you to download and listen when you time.  Below are a few pics from the weekend:

Oreo Dessert!  (In-Progress at time of photo) 

74 Chocolate-Chip Cookies (all devoured by Saturday night)

Group shot!

Thoughts from Isaiah

Yesterday I had the opportunity to do some reading in Isaiah.  I'm currently on September 17th in my One Year Bible (KJV), but sadly I'm not a month behind.  To be quite honest, I believe I'm on year 3 trying to work my way through.  Pitiful, I know.  But, maybe this will be the year to finish, and I can begin again next year.

I read Isaiah 25:1-28:13.  But, I was particularly struck by 25:4,8-9 and 26:3-4.  They are below:

25:4 - 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 the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

25:8 - He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

25:9 - And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 

26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

26:4 - Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

 The last month has been trying.  I can think of at least 6 funerals that I have attended for friends, and friends of friends.  I have known of several others.  Many others I know are facing difficult circumstances, whether it be illness or something else.  Verses 4 and 8 provide such comfort and encouragement!  Even when we've heard it o're and 'ore, Christ told even John the Baptist's disciples, "go and tell John again."  We're a forgetful people.  We need reminding.  God said HE would be our strength.  HE would be our refuge.  And not only that, but death itself is swallowed up in victory.  Though we often say "So and so lost the fight", truthfully, they won a great victory, for their tears are forever wiped away now, and they are dwelling in joy with Christ their Savior.

Verses 3 and 4 in chapter 26 reiterate the point again.  When we trust in the Lord, He gives us peace.  It's so easy in this world to become distracted, but when we keep our focus on Him, and completely trust Him, He provides peace.  I can think of sweet moments when I have been frazzled, and prayed to the Lord, and before even saying "Amen," I could already feel a sense of peace.  It's one of His many promises to us.  And I'm so thankful.

The Story of Jonah

Crazy Love

Tonight I went to dinner at Nabeel's.  It's almost becoming a weekly tradition.  The food is delicious, and the atmosphere takes you to somewhere else.  Somewhere in the Mediterranean.  I like it, though, because I can simply bring a book or two and read while eating something fantastic.

So, I brought my One Year KJV Bible and the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  I have not followed the "days" at all, so I'm reading somewhere in June.  Before reading, I asked God to reveal whatever I needed in his Word.  And He did.  Of course He did.  I read 1 Kings 19:1-21.  It tells the story of Elijah, who after defeating the prophets of Baal, runs away from Jezebel.  He tells the Lord how hard he has worked and that only he is left among his servants.  And God reveals himself to Elijah in a small voice.  Elijah repeats the same words, and God tells him to go anoint Elisha.  Usually the focus of this story is that God had 7,000 others who had not bowed down to Baal.  But, tonight I focused in on the fact that God sent Elijah to anoint Elisha.  At one of Elijah's weakest moments, God reminds him that he is raising up servants to serve the Lord.  He is not the only one right now, nor will the ministry die with him.  What a comforting thought!

Then, I started the 2nd chapter of my book, Crazy Love.  I can already tell that it is going to be a perfect accompaniment to the Bible Study I started on Tuesday night.  The first chapter was all about re-discovering God.  Realizing just how awesome He is.  If you haven't seen this, you should really take a few minutes to watch the video below:

Pretty amazing, right?  That doesn't even do it justice.

The 2nd chapter, then, is all about death.  That may seem strange, but Chan points you to the fact that the "Movie of Life" is not about you.  It's about God.  He makes this parallel.  If you were an extra in a movie, and only your head was seen for about a second, yet you rented the entire movie theater out so people could see it, they would think you were crazy.  The movie obviously isn't about you.  And so it is with life.  We are here for a fraction of a second, and our entire purpose is to glorify God.  That's what it's all about (not the hokey pokey...sorry, I couldn't resist).  Let us be about our Father's business.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."


"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."


Colossians 3:2,17

Women's History Month

Did you know that March is Women's History Month?  I didn't.  Maybe I did, and it had gotten lost in my brain somewhere.  But, now it knows.  So, what can I offer to honor this month?  A book recommendation, of course.  :-)

Many years ago a dear friend of mine recommended I read 5 books by one of my now-favorite authors, Francine Rivers.  These 5 books comprised the Lineage in Grace series.  Each book tells the story of one of the women listed in the lineage of Christ - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.  First, if you haven't already, go read each of these women's stories in the KJV Bible.  What better way could you kick off Women's History Month than to read about the amazing women in the Bible?  They are a few of several examples for us, for good and bad, after all.  Then, when you are finished, go buy, borrow, etc. these books.  If I remember correctly, they are written from a 1st person perspective, giving you an idea of what it may have been like to have been each of these women - what they might have been thinking, feeling, circumstances, etc.  These are things we should think about each time we read the Bible, but we rarely do.  Put yourself in their shoes.  What would your thoughts have been?  The Bible isn't outdated.  We are just like each of them.  What a wonderful blessing to be able to learn from them.

New Music

I love music.  My tastes are various.  Lately I've been digging the sounds of a well-played acoustic guitar, violin, and upright bass (think Act of Congress or Nickel Creek).  But, on another day, you may catch me listening to Fleetwood Mac or Jim Croce.  And on others, it's a 90's Christian kind of day with the likes of Audio Adrenaline, Jars of Clay, and DC Talk.  And let's not forget acapella, instrumental, etc.  This list could go on and on.  So, this week, I bought some new music.  I have been wanting these CDs for months, and well, Barnes and Noble was having a VERY good sale.  :-)

She & Him is the work of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.  You may recognize the name of Zooey from the movies - Elf, Failure to Launch, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Her voice is silky smooth, and unlike anything my generation typically hears.  It takes me back to a sound reminiscent of perhaps The Andrew Sisters.  It's a clean album, with beautiful, unique poetry.  It's something you should check out.  :-)

I bought the first Glory Revealed cd a couple years ago.  This collaborative effort, led by Mac Powell of Third Day, puts the Word of God to music.  Verses from all throughout the Bible are sung by these various artists.  It's a great way to worship in your car, in your house, where ever you are.   I love Christian music, but I especially love that this is taken directly from the Bible.  What better things could you listen to?

So check them out.  Let me know what you think!

Snow Day!

I stayed up until midnight last night - no snow.  I awoke at 7:00 am - no snow.  And then, all of a sudden, the beautiful, cold, whiteness, each flake completely unique, began to slowly descend at 10:00 am, right on time.  The office was mostly quiet until that moment, and then the excitement grew and grew.  We could hardly tear ourselves away from the windows.  It was SNOWING!  We had an inch within an hour.  All I wanted to do was run out and play in it.  And, at noon, I did just that.  Our office closed early, and I went to my apartment, stunned by the beautiful winter wonderland that surrounded me.  I saw God all around me, in this white, still, quiet world.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow...Isaiah 1:18. 

 

  

 

 

**I guess with 49 of the 50 United States being covered with snow, we should all start to be really worried about global warming.**

High Places

God setteth the solitary in families... (vs. 6)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (vs. 19)

-From Psalm 68



Ponder that for just a moment. Let it fill you up inside. The Almighty God of the universe doesn't leave us alone. He places us in families. He gives us brothers and sisters. He doesn't want us to wander through this world alone. Our pilgrimage is not to be isolated. We have a family. Families, to be exact. I have families sweetly settled in Jasper, Tuscaloosa, Akron, Birmingham, Orlando, Dallas, all throughout the U.S., the Phillippines, Kenya, Tanzania...EVERYWHERE!

And not only does he bless us with families, but he daily loadeth us with benefits! I cannot begin to comprehend the innumerable blessings the Lord grants me each and every day, from the seen to the unseen.

What a mighty, merciful God we serve and love because he first loved us.

Readings

Hosea 11

(7) And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

(8) How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

(9) I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

In three verses we have both man's complete depravity and God's innumerable mercy. Truly, the whole book of Hosea is about God's people turning their back on Him and worshipping idols. They seek fulfillment in the world, and have forgotten their Maker. God tells His people through Hosea that judgment is coming. But, ah, look at verses 8 and 9! Admah and Zeboim were cities that were destroyed with Sodom and Gomorrah. God says he will not execute the fierceness of His anger. He will not destroy his people, as with Admah, Zeboim, Sodom, and Gomorrah. And why? Because He is God, and not man. What a truly marvellous thought in seven words.

If one time is not enough...

Try FOUR times! If any of you have ever had any doubt that we should be singing praises to God, read this ONE verse:

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises."
Psalm 47:6

I was struck by this verse when I read it today. As my dad is fond of saying, "If the Bible tells us something once, we should pay attention to it." In this case, we're told four times in the same verse to sing praises to God. It's so simple and wonderfully refreshing. In the New Testament we're told to "sing and make melody in our hearts." So, it doesn't even have to be audible. We can sing praises anywhere.

"Praise Him, praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer."