Dear Worshipers,
As Pastor Nathan played and we sang, “I love to tell the story…” my heart soared to hear God’s people declare that simple truth. Then, over the next 30 minutes or so to have our hearts so encouraged at the telling of His story through our guest speakers was quite a blessing. Then, after we prayed for them, we were encouraged to go and continue the telling, as the Psalmist said in 66:16 “let me tell you what he has done for me.”
So how has your telling going? Has it slipped your mind, or been crowded out like mine a time or two? Oh, I did pretty well Sunday afternoon at the Worship Ministries picnic, but I do not think it was long before I was on to other pursuits. The really challenge is letting that pursuit “telling His story” shape all my other ones.
I was thinking of this during staff prayer this morning when one of the Pastors Paul prayed something about being “prone to wander”. Immediately, thought of the text of the old hymn “Come, Thou Fount” which was part of the original inspiration for the naming of this blog. [See early entries] If you do not know it here is a link with the text. "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" David Crowder Band
The line that my mind went to was this. “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” I love Him. I love His story. I love to tell the story. I love discovering everyday my part in it. And yet…I know that my mind-at the rest of me-is prone to wander and engage in other things.
I know you understand what I am talking about, but I did not write to commiserate with you but to encourage you. Think of the first line of the song. “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” Tune my heart. I get out of tune. I need you to tune my heart. I line me up with you again and set me back on track. That is exactly what we need. It’s what our Savior wants to do. Why no ask Him again right now to tune your heart? It really not that hard.
Then, when you start to fell a little out of tune, do it again. It’s a musical way of praying “Fill me Holy Spirit”. It is the same thought. I want to sing Your grace, live for You but I need Your help to do even that.
Jesus, tune my heart to sing Your grace. Your never-ceasing streams of mercy call for this response-loudest praise. But not only loud. In tune. Help me.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Saddle Up Your Horses
Dear Worshipers,
What a powerful illustration Pastor Myron brought to us Sunday morning! Giving over the reins to God. Such a simple picture. Such profound implications. As we were praying as a staff this morning, the Lord developed this image a little more while several of my brothers prayed.
I could see vast open plain, like the ones at the foothills of the Rockies. Behind them in the distance rose the majestic snow capped mountains. Immediately before me was a corral with a bunch of horses and off in the distance was a pack of wild ones.
In my mind the ones in the corral were the ones who had been broken. They had yielded themselves to a rider, would were a saddle, and follow commands. Though they did not always comply quickly to the will of their rider, they knew the benefit of such and actually welcomed that direction.
The horses in the open plain were wild. They escaped the influence of any rider, seemingly going wherever they wished, although they generally followed the herd. They were free to pursue their own will, and at the mercy of the wild.
The corral and the plain, the church and the unchurched. Clean, neat. But not really. As with any analogy there are some shortcomings.
Even in the corral, the churched, are those who though they have been broken, still fight at every turn. This portrays the Christian who has not yet given control over to the Holy Spirit. We have all seen this, and if we will be honest, we have all experienced it personally. I want to encourage each of you reading to keep giving those reins.
It made me think of that theme from last fall, Live the Adventure. The most exciting life available to each of us is living in Christ. That is what we have to share with those out in the plains. Not a life of living in a corral, penned in. But learning to yield, to be disciplined so that we can enjoy all God has for us. If you are thinking that giving the reins over to God is boring, not so. It is the most exciting thing you can ever do!
For those of you thinking I am not up for that kind of excitement, let me assure you there is also no greater peace than that which comes from knowing God has the reins of your life. Do not waste another minute plodding down your worn out trail! Give God the reins and see where He will lead you. It will be wonderful. I guarantee it!
Jesus, I give You the reins of my life. I want You to control me, lead me, guide me. I want to know the thrill of life experiencing Your promises to me. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
What a powerful illustration Pastor Myron brought to us Sunday morning! Giving over the reins to God. Such a simple picture. Such profound implications. As we were praying as a staff this morning, the Lord developed this image a little more while several of my brothers prayed.
I could see vast open plain, like the ones at the foothills of the Rockies. Behind them in the distance rose the majestic snow capped mountains. Immediately before me was a corral with a bunch of horses and off in the distance was a pack of wild ones.
In my mind the ones in the corral were the ones who had been broken. They had yielded themselves to a rider, would were a saddle, and follow commands. Though they did not always comply quickly to the will of their rider, they knew the benefit of such and actually welcomed that direction.
The horses in the open plain were wild. They escaped the influence of any rider, seemingly going wherever they wished, although they generally followed the herd. They were free to pursue their own will, and at the mercy of the wild.
The corral and the plain, the church and the unchurched. Clean, neat. But not really. As with any analogy there are some shortcomings.
Even in the corral, the churched, are those who though they have been broken, still fight at every turn. This portrays the Christian who has not yet given control over to the Holy Spirit. We have all seen this, and if we will be honest, we have all experienced it personally. I want to encourage each of you reading to keep giving those reins.
It made me think of that theme from last fall, Live the Adventure. The most exciting life available to each of us is living in Christ. That is what we have to share with those out in the plains. Not a life of living in a corral, penned in. But learning to yield, to be disciplined so that we can enjoy all God has for us. If you are thinking that giving the reins over to God is boring, not so. It is the most exciting thing you can ever do!
For those of you thinking I am not up for that kind of excitement, let me assure you there is also no greater peace than that which comes from knowing God has the reins of your life. Do not waste another minute plodding down your worn out trail! Give God the reins and see where He will lead you. It will be wonderful. I guarantee it!
Jesus, I give You the reins of my life. I want You to control me, lead me, guide me. I want to know the thrill of life experiencing Your promises to me. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Seeing God at Work
Dear Worshipers,
How is your eyesight? Can you see things clearly? Do you have to hold the newspaper at arms length to read it without your glasses? Fortunately, we do not need to have great eyesight to see God at work. All we need is the faith to acknowledge His activity as such.
I was speaking with a friend this morning. Her little boy has been sick for a while. Really sick. In the hospital sick, a number of different times. He was released last week and headed back to school on Thursday only to have to leave school to go back to the doctor. They said migraines and set mom to get some prescriptions.
While there waiting on them, a man dressed like a hobo came up to them. He placed his hands on her son, which normally would have really freaked her out, but didn’t just then. He said something to the effect of, “Jesus is with you little man. You are going to be fine.” Turning to his mom, the man said “Don’t worry. God is in control.” He looked back at her son and walked away.
By that evening all signs of sickness were gone. When she commented that the medicine had really worked, her son corrected my friend and reminded her of what the man had said. They talked about Hebrews 13:2 and how the man seemed to have been an angel to them. She said it was her best Mother’s Day ever. Her son is still well.
Tears welled up in my eyes as she told me this story. By God’s grace, I see God at work in that situation, as she did. How often is God at around us and we do not recognize it? So I ask the question again…
How’s your eyesight? I am not talking about the Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I am talking about the spiritual eyesight that allows us to see God at work around us and acknowledge it as such. Let me ask a different question.
How do see God at work around you? God is at work around you. That is not the question. The question is can you see it. Pray for the faith to see God at work in your circumstances. He wants to rescue you for sin. He wants you to experience the abundant life. He wants you to now He loves you. Can you see it?
Pray. And then get ready to have your eyes opened.
Jesus, open my eyes that I may see glimpses of your work around me. I was blind, but now I see. I was lost but now I’m found. I was dead, but now I live. And now my lifesong sings. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
How is your eyesight? Can you see things clearly? Do you have to hold the newspaper at arms length to read it without your glasses? Fortunately, we do not need to have great eyesight to see God at work. All we need is the faith to acknowledge His activity as such.
I was speaking with a friend this morning. Her little boy has been sick for a while. Really sick. In the hospital sick, a number of different times. He was released last week and headed back to school on Thursday only to have to leave school to go back to the doctor. They said migraines and set mom to get some prescriptions.
While there waiting on them, a man dressed like a hobo came up to them. He placed his hands on her son, which normally would have really freaked her out, but didn’t just then. He said something to the effect of, “Jesus is with you little man. You are going to be fine.” Turning to his mom, the man said “Don’t worry. God is in control.” He looked back at her son and walked away.
By that evening all signs of sickness were gone. When she commented that the medicine had really worked, her son corrected my friend and reminded her of what the man had said. They talked about Hebrews 13:2 and how the man seemed to have been an angel to them. She said it was her best Mother’s Day ever. Her son is still well.
Tears welled up in my eyes as she told me this story. By God’s grace, I see God at work in that situation, as she did. How often is God at around us and we do not recognize it? So I ask the question again…
How’s your eyesight? I am not talking about the Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I am talking about the spiritual eyesight that allows us to see God at work around us and acknowledge it as such. Let me ask a different question.
How do see God at work around you? God is at work around you. That is not the question. The question is can you see it. Pray for the faith to see God at work in your circumstances. He wants to rescue you for sin. He wants you to experience the abundant life. He wants you to now He loves you. Can you see it?
Pray. And then get ready to have your eyes opened.
Jesus, open my eyes that I may see glimpses of your work around me. I was blind, but now I see. I was lost but now I’m found. I was dead, but now I live. And now my lifesong sings. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Positive Eternal Difference
Dear Worshipers,
Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing. Have you let those words sink in since Sunday. They are pretty heavy, and I want to encourage you to spend some time allowing them to settle slowly to the bottom of your soul because this is a core value that must be a part of the foundation of your thinking if you are to be used by God.
Does this mean we can not brush our teeth with the Holy Spirit? No. Go to work, school, the grocery store? Of course not. Teach, preach and baptize? No, we can even attempt these “spiritual” things in our own strength. That is not what NOTHING means.
It is not implying that we can actually do nothing without the Holy Spirit. But we all knew that already because each of us has done far too many things without His leading. Instead, it is stating that we can not make a positive eternal difference without Him.
And that is what God wants to make through us.
It’s also wants God wants to do in us.
He wants to change us until we realize that we must be totally dependent on Him. Far too often we operate in our own strength, follow our own ideas, dream up our own creations, attack challenges with our own determination instead of waiting on God, praying, and then allowing all of our resources to be empowered by Him. I know you know what I’m talking about.
So how do we do that? Focus on the little things. Start small. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you each morning before your feet hit the floor, and then keep asking Him to fill you as you go through the day. He will reveal Himself to you and give you what you need at every turn in the road. Keep it real. Keep it practical.
Remember Pastor Myron’s challenge about looking for unexpected, financial blessings as a way to meet the need for Val Downs? As of this morning he had already received three emails from people who are stoked about sharing since they have seen God provide in an unexpected way already. God is at work in our midst! He wants to work in and through YOU! Ready? Let’s go.
Jesus, I want You to make a positive eternal difference in me today, so that You make one through me as well. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. As I see you at work I will join you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
Dear Worshipers,
Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish nothing. Have you let those words sink in since Sunday. They are pretty heavy, and I want to encourage you to spend some time allowing them to settle slowly to the bottom of your soul because this is a core value that must be a part of the foundation of your thinking if you are to be used by God.
Does this mean we can not brush our teeth with the Holy Spirit? No. Go to work, school, the grocery store? Of course not. Teach, preach and baptize? No, we can even attempt these “spiritual” things in our own strength. That is not what NOTHING means.
It is not implying that we can actually do nothing without the Holy Spirit. But we all knew that already because each of us has done far too many things without His leading. Instead, it is stating that we can not make a positive eternal difference without Him.
And that is what God wants to make through us.
It’s also wants God wants to do in us.
He wants to change us until we realize that we must be totally dependent on Him. Far too often we operate in our own strength, follow our own ideas, dream up our own creations, attack challenges with our own determination instead of waiting on God, praying, and then allowing all of our resources to be empowered by Him. I know you know what I’m talking about.
So how do we do that? Focus on the little things. Start small. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you each morning before your feet hit the floor, and then keep asking Him to fill you as you go through the day. He will reveal Himself to you and give you what you need at every turn in the road. Keep it real. Keep it practical.
Remember Pastor Myron’s challenge about looking for unexpected, financial blessings as a way to meet the need for Val Downs? As of this morning he had already received three emails from people who are stoked about sharing since they have seen God provide in an unexpected way already. God is at work in our midst! He wants to work in and through YOU! Ready? Let’s go.
Jesus, I want You to make a positive eternal difference in me today, so that You make one through me as well. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. As I see you at work I will join you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
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