When I walked the isle to be saved at this church it was like a burden was lifted from me. I was just a few months shy of being twelve years old. My cousins Martha Jo, Kathy and I had discussed in length that we were saved and would be walking the isle the next Sunday. I told Momma and Daddy, and they had Bro Noel Harris discuss salvation with me and he agreed I was ready. The invitation started, and right away Martha walked the isle, and I remember being nervous. Then Kathy went. It was me next in line and I moved to the end of the pew. I felt pressure, like something holding me back. After Bro Harris indicated for Kathy to stand by Martha Jo, he raised his arm and said “Are there others?” I stepped into the isle with feet of lead.
I remember thinking, why was that step so hard because the next step I took it was as if Angel wings lifted me and I floated on air right up to Bro. Harris. I made the decision to walk away from a life of sin and each step I took became easier as I walked with God. He lifted me, and the Angels carried me. The decision I made was based on the love my family had for me to see that I was taught about Jesus and could make the decision to accept His free pardon from sin. He loved me enough to inspire me to walk with Him.
I know many of you might not have been young when you were saved and walked the isle. In fact, some older people now think they are too old to walk the isle; “it’s something you do when you are a child”. I promise you, as you look into your heart, you are never too old to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. I also know, for those of you who were saved in later years of your life, you have a lesson to teach, a story to tell that could inspire someone to know it is never too late in life to repent of your sins and be saved.
Everyone did not have the happy family who goes to church together life and had to rise from family adversity to make the decision to follow Christ. Sis. Zula tells me she had to hide her salvation from her Mother, Sis. Laura says she never went to church until she moved to Arkansas and vaguely remembers her Grandmother attending church. Both of these women found it in their hearts to be saved and turn their family destiny in to one of teaching about the Lord.
It is never too late to turn your path in life around and be saved and to change your families walk in life. Jesus welcomes you with open arms. What are you waiting for?
Daddy, Mom, Tracy, Michael & Tina
Daddy, Momma, Tracy, Michael, Tina
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Don't be Fooled!
Colossians 2:8-10 text based on
When I was growing up, a group of young people would stand and look up at the sky, one might point and the others nod in agreement, drawing an innocent person into their crowd to look and see what was worthy of their attention. They might spend seconds to minutes convincing you something was there, when in fact, it was a practical joke and nothing was there at all. They would bust out in laughter as you were labeled foolish by this group and felt foolish because you fell for their joke.
This is a good way to describe some of the religions here on earth today born from people not of God. Oh, they give you a good talk about faith, and they point you in a direction that leads absolutely no where. Foolish people continue to follow and worship this nothing of a religion and the leader who prides himself as being godly.
If we aren’t careful, we as Christians can be fooled into looking for something that isn’t there when we try to add various beliefs to our Christianity that God never intended to be part of our faith. We have all warned our children at some time or another to be careful, don’t believe everything you hear. Some of us continue to warn our kids today even though they are adults. Paul gives us a warning in Colossians 2 verse 8 and it begins with BEWARE. He was warning the Colossians because false teachings were in the area and he wanted them to take heed as they were in danger of being drawn away from the true faith.
We as Christians should understand the wisdom God gives us and recognize these false religions for what they are and warn others to not participate with their antics. Much like you would warn the next person who came along and began looking up to see what the group of youngsters were looking and pointing at. You don’t want someone else to be fooled, so warn them! Don’t be fooled by false teachers, false philosophy and false religion! Our God is good and His word is true!
When I was growing up, a group of young people would stand and look up at the sky, one might point and the others nod in agreement, drawing an innocent person into their crowd to look and see what was worthy of their attention. They might spend seconds to minutes convincing you something was there, when in fact, it was a practical joke and nothing was there at all. They would bust out in laughter as you were labeled foolish by this group and felt foolish because you fell for their joke.
This is a good way to describe some of the religions here on earth today born from people not of God. Oh, they give you a good talk about faith, and they point you in a direction that leads absolutely no where. Foolish people continue to follow and worship this nothing of a religion and the leader who prides himself as being godly.
If we aren’t careful, we as Christians can be fooled into looking for something that isn’t there when we try to add various beliefs to our Christianity that God never intended to be part of our faith. We have all warned our children at some time or another to be careful, don’t believe everything you hear. Some of us continue to warn our kids today even though they are adults. Paul gives us a warning in Colossians 2 verse 8 and it begins with BEWARE. He was warning the Colossians because false teachings were in the area and he wanted them to take heed as they were in danger of being drawn away from the true faith.
We as Christians should understand the wisdom God gives us and recognize these false religions for what they are and warn others to not participate with their antics. Much like you would warn the next person who came along and began looking up to see what the group of youngsters were looking and pointing at. You don’t want someone else to be fooled, so warn them! Don’t be fooled by false teachers, false philosophy and false religion! Our God is good and His word is true!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Lukewarm or Fervent are You Fence Sitting?
While studying for this week’s bulletin story, I ran across a interesting topic discussing the Bible times and our consideration that those times were of greater faith and Christianity than what we have here today. It referenced Revelation 3:15-16. John the Apostle writes, Jesus saying to the church of Laodicea, “I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Jesus tells the church of Laodicea this because they had lost their fervency for Him as their Savior. The world had crept in around them and they began to do some fence sitting.
Fence sitting? You mean like, not choosing sides, not stating what you believe in? Trying to stay in the middle and not make waves? Jesus called a church lukewarm because they allowed themselves to get to that point He could not tolerate them anymore. He couldn’t let them go on being called a church of His so He states clearly that He was going to spew them out for their lukewarmness.
Surely that speaks of today’s current society not from years ago in the Bible? The cares of the world, the desires of the flesh, the needs and the pressures of family, and the demands of society entice many to sit on the fence and not make a stance. It is obvious as it was back then, that we are in a time of compromise as well. The nature of man has not changed much over the years has it? Lukewarmness is all around us. Perhaps you see it in yourself, your children or co-workers who claim to be Christian. Maybe your spouse isn’t living up to the standard of God’s word, or maybe, it is you.
The real question here is not what others are doing for Christ, but instead what am I doing? What am I willing to do for my Savior? Am I lukewarm? Am I fence sitting? Am I stagnant in my faith? We are all called to carry our cross for Christ and to pick up where the previous generation of faithful Christians left off. We are to be fervent for Him.
Fence sitting? You mean like, not choosing sides, not stating what you believe in? Trying to stay in the middle and not make waves? Jesus called a church lukewarm because they allowed themselves to get to that point He could not tolerate them anymore. He couldn’t let them go on being called a church of His so He states clearly that He was going to spew them out for their lukewarmness.
Surely that speaks of today’s current society not from years ago in the Bible? The cares of the world, the desires of the flesh, the needs and the pressures of family, and the demands of society entice many to sit on the fence and not make a stance. It is obvious as it was back then, that we are in a time of compromise as well. The nature of man has not changed much over the years has it? Lukewarmness is all around us. Perhaps you see it in yourself, your children or co-workers who claim to be Christian. Maybe your spouse isn’t living up to the standard of God’s word, or maybe, it is you.
The real question here is not what others are doing for Christ, but instead what am I doing? What am I willing to do for my Savior? Am I lukewarm? Am I fence sitting? Am I stagnant in my faith? We are all called to carry our cross for Christ and to pick up where the previous generation of faithful Christians left off. We are to be fervent for Him.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Gestures of Love
Did you ever get the look from your Mother in church? More than likely it was during the preaching service and you were either, talking, swinging your legs to and fro or kicking the pew in front of you. Maybe you grabbed the song book or just kept wiggling around in your seat. The look settled you down immediately because it promised you were heading into a danger zone.
Perhaps you were sitting in front of Bro. Joe T Wilson and laughed out loud when he stuck his lower teeth out at you! Or you yelled at your brother for taking a color from you. If the preacher was yelling, why couldn’t you yell too? You never saw it coming! The pinch grabbed you by surprise on that soft spot at the back of your arm just above your elbow, or the side of your leg, maybe even an ear. Whatever was within reach, if you got the pinch, you had really messed up and the “look” told you so.
The snatch, grab and tuck, only occurs when the look and the pinch don’t work. For instance, during one of Bro. Conrad Glover’s long prayers you yelled AMEN four times before your mother could clamp her hand over your mouth, throw you under her arm, fly down that isle and take you outside. Professional football players have got nothing on your Mother when it comes to moves.
I often wondered if my Mother stood at the mirror and practiced the look until she perfected it. Did she warm her fingers up before the pinch? How many times did she have to practice grabbing me, pulling me up and over a pew and throwing me under her arm without knocking down a single person? Surely they must have training classes for perfecting such moves!
As I grew up I came to understand you naturally inherit those skills from your Mother. I knew how the pinch felt, therefore I decided I would not use that on my kids unless absolutely necessary. Many a times though I would snap my fingers and point at my children giving them the “look”. I watched as they recognized the trouble that was brewing.
God knows us, yet He loves us. Mothers are gifted with these talents from God and He expects her to use them as often as necessary and He blesses her for it. Somehow, years later, the memory lingers but the pain of the pinch has faded and love takes its place.
Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Proverbs 6:20
Perhaps you were sitting in front of Bro. Joe T Wilson and laughed out loud when he stuck his lower teeth out at you! Or you yelled at your brother for taking a color from you. If the preacher was yelling, why couldn’t you yell too? You never saw it coming! The pinch grabbed you by surprise on that soft spot at the back of your arm just above your elbow, or the side of your leg, maybe even an ear. Whatever was within reach, if you got the pinch, you had really messed up and the “look” told you so.
The snatch, grab and tuck, only occurs when the look and the pinch don’t work. For instance, during one of Bro. Conrad Glover’s long prayers you yelled AMEN four times before your mother could clamp her hand over your mouth, throw you under her arm, fly down that isle and take you outside. Professional football players have got nothing on your Mother when it comes to moves.
I often wondered if my Mother stood at the mirror and practiced the look until she perfected it. Did she warm her fingers up before the pinch? How many times did she have to practice grabbing me, pulling me up and over a pew and throwing me under her arm without knocking down a single person? Surely they must have training classes for perfecting such moves!
As I grew up I came to understand you naturally inherit those skills from your Mother. I knew how the pinch felt, therefore I decided I would not use that on my kids unless absolutely necessary. Many a times though I would snap my fingers and point at my children giving them the “look”. I watched as they recognized the trouble that was brewing.
God knows us, yet He loves us. Mothers are gifted with these talents from God and He expects her to use them as often as necessary and He blesses her for it. Somehow, years later, the memory lingers but the pain of the pinch has faded and love takes its place.
Keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Proverbs 6:20
Life Lessons
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalm 91:11
I have often said, if I have a guardian angel, I am sure by now it has two broken wings, is in a wheel chair and being treated for post traumatic stress syndrome and telling God….she’s alive and that’s good.
The things we put ourselves through in life! If my friend was going to jump off a bridge, would I do it too? No! Well, first of all, I’m scared of heights-you won’t get me near the edge; second that’s dangerous! As my angel breathes a sigh of relief, I turn around and spend money on frivolous things instead of paying a debt I owe. I make bad choices and my angel is shaking her head in despair.
This is what happens when we make the choices instead of following God as we are instructed. I have made many wrong turns in life, and there was a time I felt God’s plan for me was to struggle. But, I began to look at each of my struggles as life lessons and learned from them. With God, I turned a life of turmoil into blessings and I saw God work through me to reach others. I often wonder if my guardian angel will ever forgive me. I thank God every day that He loves us enough to have patience with us and desires to guide our troubled lives, even when we get on the wrong path in life.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
OUR BEST
“Hear ye, the Master’s call, give me thy best” So how does your worship stack up? Does it reflect an enthusiastic delight in God? Is your singing, praising and praying, listening and attending to the preaching of the Word of God where it should be? What about your attendance and involvement in the church’s worship and ministries, does it measure up or is it substandard?
A story comes to mind I once read, where during a soloist’s number at church, a young grandson tugged on his grandmother’s sleeve and whispered, "She can’t sing very well, can she?" Knowing the woman had a deep love for the Lord, the grandmother said, "She sings from her heart. That’s what makes it good." He nodded thoughtfully. Several days later as he and his grandmother were singing along with the car radio, he stopped and said, "Granny, you sing from your heart, don’t you?"
Is your heart giving it’s best? God does not expect perfection from us. What He does expect is our best. “For, be it great or small, that is His test. Do then the best you can, not for reward, not for the praise of man, but for the Lord."
Colossians 3:23 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily (with enthusiasm), as to the Lord, and not unto men"
A story comes to mind I once read, where during a soloist’s number at church, a young grandson tugged on his grandmother’s sleeve and whispered, "She can’t sing very well, can she?" Knowing the woman had a deep love for the Lord, the grandmother said, "She sings from her heart. That’s what makes it good." He nodded thoughtfully. Several days later as he and his grandmother were singing along with the car radio, he stopped and said, "Granny, you sing from your heart, don’t you?"
Is your heart giving it’s best? God does not expect perfection from us. What He does expect is our best. “For, be it great or small, that is His test. Do then the best you can, not for reward, not for the praise of man, but for the Lord."
Colossians 3:23 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily (with enthusiasm), as to the Lord, and not unto men"
Friday, January 27, 2012
ARE YOU A HONKER OR HELPER?
I read a story last week about a woman whose car stalled in traffic. The gentlemen in the car behind her expressed his impatience by honking his horn every few seconds. Frustrated that her car wouldn’t start and at his insistent honking, she stepped from her car and walked back to his. Sticking her face right into his open window she said, “My car won’t start, as you can see. I wonder if you will go see if you can start it, and I will sit here in your car and honk your horn for you!”
In 1 Corinthians 10:10 we are warned honking just for the sake of honking is not only unhelpful but also unholy and spiritually very unhealthy. We are told not to complain as some did in the Old Testament — "some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer." No talent is required to sit behind a stalled car (or a stalled church) and honk. What the church desperately needs is not more honkers but more helpers.
Get real now — are you helping the church, or just honking?
In 1 Corinthians 10:10 we are warned honking just for the sake of honking is not only unhelpful but also unholy and spiritually very unhealthy. We are told not to complain as some did in the Old Testament — "some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer." No talent is required to sit behind a stalled car (or a stalled church) and honk. What the church desperately needs is not more honkers but more helpers.
Get real now — are you helping the church, or just honking?
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