Given June 4, 2008

Who do you belong to? Who would describe you as, “My people”? Well, there are lots of people and groups who would say that. First of all, God says that we were bought and paid for with a price. 1 Corinthians 7:23 So we belong to God whether we accept it or not.

We are also the people of our country and our president. He might say, “You’re my people.” In the same way, we “belong” to our state’s Governor, county governing body, or city mayor. They might say, “You’re my people.” We also belong to our parents, our spouse, our pastor, or our boss. They might all say, “You are mine or part of my people.”

But as we look at this list, most of them can change. At some point they might say, “You’re not mine.” Only two of them cannot change, God and your parents. You may reject your parents or they may reject you but the fact remains, you are still theirs. However, God is constant, He is true. “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5“. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:8“.  You can reject Him but He will never reject you.  He’s always there, an “ever present help in time of trouble. Psalm 46:1“.

Think of all the people and groups who you “belong” to.  Who do you spend your time catering to?  Who gets most of your allegiance?  Will they be around next month, will they be there for you?  Think about it.

Given March 2, 2006

We hear often about how God speaks to His people. He speaks through His Word, through other people, in our spirit, and some say they’ve actually heard the audible voice of God, (Moses was one of these). But have you ever heard of God speaking to anyone through a slamming door? Well, lemme tell you about it.

Last year, I was struggling with some decisions and didn’t know whether or not to pursue, what I thought, was an opportunity. I was soon to retire from public education and had two or three options for post-retirement work. I’d been promoting myself for one of those opportunities but just didn’t feel right about it. You know how it is.

The Bible says God will open and close doors, “…I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it. Listen to what I say. Revelation 3:7 CEV”. As I was going to work this morning and walking through the door of my building, I just blurted out to God, “God, if you don’t want me to pursue that job, just shut the door!”

Well, just as the words left my mouth, I heard the heavy metal door I had just walked through, slam shut behind me! Oh man, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I said, “Ok God, I get the message.” God had just spoken to me through a slamming door!

And you know it was, of course, the right decision. I stopped pursuing that avenue and felt at peace about it. But God spoke to my spirit later that if He wanted me to have that job, I’d have it. But I wasn’t to mess things up by trying to do it myself. Great advice.

Given January 22, 2007
Living the Christian life is a rewarding thing. God is so good and He loves us so much, we can’t even begin to imagine what it could be like, ” Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20“. Notice that I said what it could be like. Most Christians aren’t experiencing the life they could be or working for the Kingdom of God in the power that’s available. Why is that?

I think it has something to do with the “lite” form of Christianity. Most Christians have heard the plan of salvation, said “yes”, accepted the benefits, but are uninformed as to the hard parts; the parts that take daily work and sacrifice. “…having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:5“.

If we want to be the best we can be in God, we must be willing to pay the full price for it, not the bargain price! Too many churches are offering the lite version of the Gospel, the one that tickles the ears of the congregation but does not urge them to change. To be fully used by God, we must count the cost and step up and say, “Here I am God, use me. Your will not mine.” “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28“. It doesn’t take much just to be on the team but it takes a lot to get in the game and make a difference.