A Man With out Fear

A Man With out Fear
"And He said, Certainly I will be with thee" (Exodus 3:12).

Of course, if the LORD sent Moses on an errand, He would not let him go alone. The tremendous risk which it would involve and the great power it would require would render it ridiculous for God to send a poor lone Hebrew to confront the mightiest king in all the world and then leave him to himself. It could not be imagined that a wise God would match poor Moses with Pharaoh and the enormous forces of Egypt. Hence He says, "Certainly I will be with thee," as if it were out of the question that He would send him alone.

In my case, also, the same rule will hold good. If I go upon the LORD's errand with a simple reliance upon His power and a single eye to His glory, it is certain that He will be with me. His sending me binds Him to back me up. Is not this enough? What more can I want? If all the angels and arch- angels were with me. I might fail; but if He is with me, I must succeed. Only let me take care that I act worthily toward this promise. Let me not go timidly, halfheartedly, carelessly, presumptuously. What manner of person ought he to be who has God with him! In such company it behoveth me to play the man and, like Moses, go in unto Pharaoh without fear.

Shoes in Church

shoes in church

I showered and shaved.............. I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat............. In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on eithe r side...... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They're dusty, wor n, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.
The shoe man said................. A quiet 'Amen.'
I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look our best. When walking through that door?
'Well, this certainly isn't it,' I thought, Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended........ And the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud...... Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters.......... His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering........ And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached..... Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out.......... What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me......... To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man... For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow.............. And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer....... I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark.... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie .......... I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes....... But he had a large, wide grin.

'Let me explain,' he said....... Wiping tears from his eyes.
'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''

'I know that my appearance.........'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try..................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here...........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain.............. And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize......... For daring to sit so near

He said, 'When I get here............'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you...'Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man............'Is what is found in his heart.'

The rest, I thought, ................ This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I reall y am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul

You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.

I respect you, and truly cherish you.

Armor of God

Armor Of God

A Denver newspaper recently reported that a 26-year-old man was stabbed to death when he put on a bullet-proof vest and his uncle plunged a knife into his chest to test the body armor. The protective vest failed to withstand the blade of the knife.

We'll each be tested. When Satan's test comes and we don't have the right armor on, we're in danger.

Ephesians 6 lists the proper armor for the Christian, and we're told that we must always be suited up with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God . . . The armor of the Christian is vital if we're going to protect ourselves and fight against the devil's tricks. We get into trouble when we wear the wrong armor, or when we take it off altogether.

God of Mercy ,God of Grace [Poem]

God of Mercy, God of Grace


God of mercy, God of grace,
Show the brightness of Thy face:
Shine upon us, Saviour, shine,
Fill Thy church with light Divine;
And Thy saving health extend,
Unto earth's remotest end.

Let Thy people praise Thee, Lord;
Be by all that live adored;
Let the nations shout and sing,
Glory to their Saviour King;
At Thy feet their tributes pay,
And Thy holy will obey.

Let the people praise Thee, Lord;
Earth shall then her fruits afford;
God to man His blessing give,
Man to God devoted live;
All below, and all above,
One in joy, and light, and love.



Jan bagwell

Don't Worry Be Happy

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:12-13 MSG

Thoughts for Today

Many people are experiencing severe financial loss in the current economic climate. Stock market woes. Investment values plummeting. Retirement funds disappearing. Even without job loss, this downhill slide can be frightening. Coupled with job loss, it can be devastating … but it doesn't have to be.

In today's scripture the apostle Paul tells us that he has experienced both riches and poverty, but that he has reached a point where his joy and his well-being don't depend on the security of his bank account. No matter what he is going through, he knows that Jesus will give him the strength to make it through.

Jesus will do the same for you.

Consider this…

As human beings, we all have a tendency to place our confidence in things we can see or control. Looking at a solid report on our investments or a sizable bank balance on our statement can give us a feeling of security. But in the current economic crisis, we are being reminded all too clearly that these things are not secure, that they can disappear in a moment.

Paul knew where his security was. He knew that no matter what the circumstances, Jesus would be there and would give him the strength needed to make it through.

No matter what your circumstances, remember that Jesus is with you. He will give you the strength you need. As you lean on him, and trust him and obey him, he will make a way.

Prayer

Father, help me remember that even if all my investments fail and my retirement fund collapses, you haven't changed. Thank you that your love for me will never change and that with you I can make it?no matter what. In Jesus' name … Amen and Amen

When God has our hearts

When God Has Our Hearts

In Matthew 6:25-26, Jesus applies all we have covered over the last few days,

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Given the context of the preceding verses, Jesus is telling us that if God is first in our giving, then He indeed has our heart. If He has our hearts, He can guide us and meet our needs, and we have no need to worry about provision for our life.

He feeds the birds. He will take care of you. Do not worry. Obey Him, trust Him, and look to Him for your daily bread.

Matthew 6:33 says,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Compassion for the Lost

Compassion for the Lost
Few days a go we started a series of devotionals I am calling “The Seven Cs of Soul Winning.” Today I want to point you to the second “C”?compassion. In Mark 16:16 Jesus said,

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Now, condemned is a pretty soft word in the English language. I actually like the King James Version, where it says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Condemned or damned, it means eternally separated from God with no opportunity of rescue or retrieval. Forever lost. Think about it!

Do you recall the story Jesus told of the rich man who died? It ought to send a shudder through the heart of even the most brazen sinner.

Jesus tells us that the rich man died and was in torment, in flame. Jesus goes on to say that the rich man lifted up his eyes, and begged for mercy. But no mercy came, even as it says in Revelation 14:11, “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.”

I know it is not a popular subject in the Church to talk about hell, but Jesus talked more about hell than He did about heaven. It is a very real place. If we would consider just for a moment the end of the man or woman who rejects Christ, it ought to cause our hearts to be stirred with compassion.

When was the last time you and I shed a tear over lost humanity? When was the last time you and I were truly broken with the things that break the heart of God?

Our compassion for the lost ought to move us to do all we can to share Christ with them!

Common Ground

Common Ground

The next “C” of “The Seven Cs of Soul Winning” is common ground. We need to endeavor to find common ground with people. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-24, Paul says,

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

In this passage, Paul is talking about the way he ran the method he used to reach people for Christ. Verse 22 in The Living Bible puts it this way, Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.

Paul didn’t run aimlessly. And like Paul, you have to find a point to relate to people so that you can build a bridge over which the gospel can come.

I encourage you today to find a common area of interest, a common ground, to relate to people in order to share Christ with them

Go Fish

Go Fish

I want to talk to you about the number one business of the Church: the business of winning souls. It is what I call “The Seven Cs of Soul Winning.”

The first “C”?commission?is found in Mark 16:15. These are some of the last words Jesus spoke before He ascended into heaven,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Could it be any clearer? Jesus said, “Go.” Dare we say, “No”? He said, “Go.”

That is the opposite of “stay,” isn’t it? G G-O.

God wants you and me to take the Gospel to Others.

You and I need to get out into the world! Jesus was not crucified between two candles on a church altar. He was crucified out in the byways and highways of humanity, and that is where we must take the message.

Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” That is a promise. But you know what? You have to get to the water if you are going to catch fish. You have to get out of the four church walls, out to where hurting humanity is, and engage them with the gospel.

A while back, I went backpacking with my two sons in a very remote area. We found a pristine lake where just about every time we would put a line in the water, we would catch a fish.

We also had this incredible camp. But you know what? If we wanted to catch fish, we had to go down to the water. No one could catch a fish sitting in camp.

A lot of Christians just hang around the camp. They form fishing clubs and talk about how important it is to fish. But they don’t fish.

God wants us to go fish!