"Awakening"- going offline

Like many churches in the USA, the church we attend is participating in “Awakening”.  Awakening  is a season of prayer, fasting, and personal devotion that takes place each January.  Our church is participating over a 40 day period.  We are encouraged to focus on prayer, devotions, and fasting of some sort that will culminate in special services at the end of February.

The idea of Awakening reminded me of verses where either Jesus or Jesus and His disciples got away by themselves.

Matt 14:22-23

Mark 6:31

Mark 6:46 

Luke 6:12
John 6:15

This is exactly what we need to do, if we are going to experience an “awakening” or refreshing” or whatever you want to call it.  At my job we are currently upgrading some existing customer equipment.  In order to do this, we have to take the customer offline.  The customer has no way to contact the outside world, while this is being done, but once back online, the equipment is upgraded to be able to provide better service.  We need this kind of experience in our spiritual lives as well.  We need to go offline and spend time with God, so are spiritual lives can be upgraded for better service.

What are you doing to have that “awakening, refreshing, or upgrade” in your life?  Is it time for you to go offline from the world and spend some time with God?

New Year - Resolutions?

A new year always brings about resolutions, new hope and dreams.  It is a new beginning, as we put the old year in the past and look forward to new things that await us.  I am not much on resolutions myself, but I do look forward to the new year with anticipation of what is to come.  In my bible reading I came across the verse below.  It got me to thinking, that maybe the new year is not so much about what I resolve to do, but that it is God's appointed time to do something. 

Genesis 21:2 NASB
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.

In this verse, God had an appointed time for Abraham and Sarah.  Could it be that 2012 is an appointed time for you?  Remember that the birth of Isaac was a miracle birth. Not only because of the bareness of Sarah, but the age of both Abraham and Sarah as well.  They had the cards stacked against them.  And even though it was something they both desired, they could not resolve to have a child.  God had appointed the time in which Sarah was to bear a child. 

Could you dare to believe God for the miracle you been looking for?  Is 2012 your appointed time to establish new relationships?  Maybe it is the appointed time for a new career or raise.  Perhaps that new opportunity or open door.  Maybe it is your appointed time for healing to take place, or to experience His favor.  Be sure of this- There are appointed times in your life, throughout your life.  2012 could be that time for you.  I believe it is for me.

Surprise!

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

Acts 3:5   So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

I have preached a few times on this verse, each time encouraging the congregation to come “expecting” to receive something, but for the last few years I have spent more time sitting in the pews, than behind the pulpit.  You could say that I have a whole new perspective of “expecting” something.

If you are like me, you grew up watching Gomer Pyle and hearing him say “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.”  I would suggest that church leadership adopt this “Surprise” saying as well.  I have attended several churches the last few years.  The churches have been of several denominations and all vary in size, but the one thing that sticks out is that they all are predictable.  Each church has their own rehearsed service down.  They know how to have “church.”  There are no surprises, nothing to “expect”, in fact nothing rarely happens. And if something did happen would anyone recognize it as a move of God or just a distraction?

Could it be that this predictability and lack of “surprise” could be a reason why people consider church boring and a factor in declining church attendance?

Surprise me!  When was the last time something exciting happened at church that caused you to want to tell someone else?  At least something good, that is. 

A pastor friend of mine made a change in his church that surprised me.  He changed up the order of their services and had the praise and worship very last.  It caused a stir in the peoples heart to come expecting something other than the norm.

So here is my admonition church leadership… “Surprise me” or should I expect the same old service week after week?

For another view on this subject check out: To the Polished, Predictable Church Surprise Me by Thom Schultz.
http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/156279-to-the-polished-predictable-church-surprise-me.html

BLACK FRIDAY 2011

1Tim 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

 

 

I have been thinking about this “Black Friday” stuff.  You have probably been hearing about it in the news or you may have received the ads in the mail.  If you haven't, you can be sure that Sunday's and Thursday's papers will be chocked full of ads, that we will be taking straight to the recycle bin. Some of the retail stores are in competition to see who can open the earliest in the hopes of getting shoppers out to their store to spend money and possibly charge themselves into debt snatching up all the “bargains.”

 

Some of the stores are opening at early as 9:00 pm on Thanksgiving or at midnight, which means the workers at these stores will have to leave their families at some point on Thanksgiving day to get some sleep so they can leave to go to work at these stores. All so that some “lucky shopper" might get a bargain! Really, is that what life has come to. Is that what we are really thankful for? 

 

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time where we are to be thankful to God for His entire blessing that He has bestowed upon us. A time to be with family and friends as we celebrate the goodness of God.  Anymore families are burdened with trying to have some quality family time and then the world system has added further stress by creating “Black Friday”.

If the stores are doing the consumers such a great service by having these sales, then why don’t they sell the products at the sale price throughout the year?  BECAUSE, it is not about giving the consumer a bargain. It is about the store pursuing the all mighty dollar.  EVEN if that means that the true cost is losing our time with family and being thankful to God.  The only thing the stores are thankful for is that they will be full of shoppers on “Black Friday.”

I know some people will have to work those crazy hours on “Black Friday”  because it may be the only job they have.  I truly feel badly for you.  Those who get up and go shopping that early and fight the crowds, so you can get a bargain are “nuts.”  In recent years, there have been injuries and even deaths attributed to "Black Friday", all to get a special deal.  I have to ask, was it worth losing time with your family on Thanksgiving? 

• In 2008, a 34 year old Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by shoppers who would receive $20 off a PS3.  $20???? 
• In that same Wal-Mart in 2008, a pregnant woman miscarried at 8 months, likely due to the stress of the situation.
• Also in 2008 at a California Toys-R-Us, two fathers got into a fight, both got out guns, they both ended up killing each other in the exchange.  The sad part- both men had brought their families and their children watched their fathers die. 
• Again, at Wal-mart, a woman was trampled while waiting to get $100 off of a laptop.  The woman is now paralyzed, for life, as a result.

As for myself, I choose not to participate in the craziness, I will instead be thankful to God that I have time to spend with my family and friends over some delicious food.

 

 

Source- Ranker.com

My heart is Yours

Matt 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’


As I was reading my bible the other day, I read these verses. It made me think about how many churches and denominations that have rejected the move of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because it did not come the way we expected? Maybe the board disapproved, or leadership did not like what was happening? Maybe the congregation was against what God was doing?

The other question is, can we do that with our lives as well? Do we reject the work of the Holy Spirit, when we refuse to accept what Jesus wants to do in our lives?

I have heard for many years from certain people that they want an old fashion revival, not some of this “new stuff” that is going on today. (Whatever that means?) But as of yet, I have not seen any move of God in their churches. Others talk about the “latter rain” movement and how we need another outpouring, but my question is would we recognize it? I have heard it said that “If the Holy Spirit left the church, 90% of the churches would just keep on going on as usual.”

There is no question that we need a revival, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is let me not criticize what God is doing, but let me recognize the time of visitation and allow God to do with my life whatever He desires.