Confusion and Chaos

 We have read They call good evil, and evil good.  That's not just an old saying from the Bible. It's a modern description of your culture today.

That verse is not just describing the culture around us, but also within the so-called church today. 

It is time we stop going through the motions and talking the talk.  It is time for finding out who God is and who we are and what we have in Him!

Read the Word, pray and converse with Him, continue in community with the other believers and love one another and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit to those around us.

The Apostle Paul wrote to us saying, as you have received Christ, walk in Him, rooted, established built up.  Let's answer that challenge.

It's time to be prayer warriors, that also invest time being a light in the circle the Lord has placed us in.

God is a God of order, not confusion, it is time to say not my will but yours be done!

Love God, Love Others!

May the Holy Spirit speak in this simple writing.

Rooted in community

 During trials, disasters, even everyday life, we discover how much we need others. the one saying says; "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Healthy churches are built by rooted Christians that:

 *Encourage

*Serve

*Forgive

*Bear burdens

*Speak the Truth in Love!

But even the church community gets messy. We read about a farmer that if he is going to have a productive farm business is going to have messy stalls, bulls, goats, horses.  He on the other hand might have spotless stalls, because he has no hay, bulls, goats or horses etc. But he will also have no crops or profits without the animals making a mess.

We can have a spotless church, no broken hearts, no agendas, no tears, but you will not have ministry or community. 

If there is a messy community, you will have a great need and evidence of service and ministry.

If our roots dig deep in Christ, The Word, Prayer...the fruit will soon be seen. The healthy rooted church might be messy but knit together in love.

It's not time to tear apart but be a part!

Check out:

Proverbs 14:4. 

 John 13:34,35.

Acts 2: 42-47

Romans 12,13 .

Let's not just grow up. Let's grow up together!

Deep roots and standing tall

 

We have seen great damage during and after storms. Plants in the front yard washed away, even flowing down the street. Huge trees have been toppled by strong winds, while doing great damage on homes and power lines.

When the trees fall and expose what was underground, plants being washed away indicate a shallow or unhealthy root system. 

When I have seen these exposed roots, many times there are thin stringy type roots. Thin roots obviously make for poor stability, for a tree that looks large and firm.

Even in a sunny climate free environment, there will be no fruit because of the root or no deep roots.

Many people appear to be strong and firm but when the first strong wind of life blows, they topple over, exposing a poor root system and they are washed away by emotion rather than a stable root digging for nourishment and footing.

What are you/we rooted in?  Ideas like education, and family come to mind. Even those in life's hurricane type winds are inadequate to keep us healthy and planted, rooted deep.

We live in a fallen world (have you noticed?). You can go to those early chapters of the book of Genesis and discover the reason for all of damage. 

Check out Psalm 1:

"But his delight is in the Law of the lord,

and in His law, he meditates day and night'

he shall be like a tree

planted by the water, that brings forth it's fruit in it's season.

whose leaf also shall not wither, 

and whatever he does shall prosper."

Let's not be guided by shallow thoughts or rooted in weak emotions. but we can be planted and growing healthy roots of good biblical principles.

Even though the storms of life arrive we can say:

"I shall not be moved!"

What's your power source?

 

They warned us it was coming, but when I could not see out the window and heard the wind, I knew this was the worst weather conditions I had met "face to face."

The power to our neighborhood said; "I've had enough" and moved out. The power moved away from miles and miles away, leaving us in the dark.

We drove from the neighborhood and saw why. There was devastation of nearby woods and trees fallen into yards and into homes. It was enough to make your heart and hope drop.

We had lost power; it was to be out for a number of days. We had wisely bought a generator for the refrigerator etc. from the last storm we had. Gas prices to run the generators made this storm expensive.

But it was beginning to be depressing, it was dark and very warm. I almost forgot what I looked like, looking in the mirror. (that might have been a good thing).

Last night our power was restored. Joy, and hope returned. The porch light returned as well, making all feel safer, because the freaks come out at night.

But... there are some nearby that are still without power. they still have those huge trees down, around and in their houses. Not far away the storms brought major flooding!

They need our prayers, this is not the Caribbean, or someone else, this has now happened to us and our friends, neighbors and relatives. 

May we now have compassion on those around the world that have had storms and lost homes and power (some have never had power). 

My prayers go out on the behalf of those nearby that still are living in the consequences of a storm.

**************************************

Many of us quiet people in a quiet neighborhood, talked and waved more than ever.  I don't believe we'll have a block party. But I can guarantee, we will be talking and waving a lot more. 

A storm often brings a disconnect with power and there is great joy and relief, when the reconnection is made. 

Make the connection with the Lord and others around you, there's great power in it!

To the Uttermost!

 

We have a few viewers; the great thing is that they are from around the world. 

They could consist of missionaries, Christians or seekers, even hackers and spies.  

Either way God's Word or His Biblical principles are being sent and received; the hope is that the seed may land on good soil and grow into a good Word of love, encouragement and salvation!

That we might know and live in the depth, height, width of God's love.  Spreading out to the uttermost.

That's what happen with Jesus giving them the great commission to go local as well as the uttermost, and here we are today, answering the call.

Let's all continue to share the same divine love and comfort we have received to those across the street and around the world.

I will give you rest

 

"What Do These Stones Mean?"

Do you remember the historical writing in the Bible, reporting the Children of Israel crossing the Jordon River on dry ground?  God had told Joshua to have twelve men take stones from the middle and make a monument.  "When your children ask, what do these stones represent? You tell them it's when you crossed over on dry ground because your God pushed it to the side."

I can imagine in my so called mind, many years later after conquering Canaan;  Memorial Day Weekend and the summer vacations at the "Jordan River National Park."   The children would run up to the grandparents or great grandparents, sitting under a shade tree, that had seen or heard about the crossing and ask:  "What do those stones over there mean?"

"They are a monument for us to remember when God dried up that part of the Jordan, and our people walked safely across.  We are here to remember and worship our God!"

I can see an elderly man say:  "Thinking back these stones mean many things to us...."
"Yes sir?"

"These stones mean;  God hears your cries. Like He did, when His people were in slavery."
"These stones mean;  God delivers.  Like he did His people."
"These stones mean; God saves by the Blood.  Like He did His people when they applied the blood."
"These stones mean;  God can trouble those that trouble you. Just as He did, drowning Pharaoh and his army in the sea."
"These stones mean;  God leads you in your wilderness. Like He did our people."
"These stones mean;  God can make a way where there is no way. As He did at the Red Sea and this river."

So now you can remember; God is in control and with God, all things are possible. What do you need today?  deliverance? salvation? trusting God/faith?  Let God meet you where you are. He can move in the miraculous for you, and then He can move in the miraculous through you.  Love God Love Others!