Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Just thinking some
Today has been a great day. This morning we were so blessed to have Russian Missionary Dimitry with us. This missionary was so powerful with his testimony of God's grace and mercy in his life. It was wonderful to hear how God is moving in our brothers and sisters in Siberia. The passion of Dimitry was incredible. And all of this got me to thinking...
Where is the passion for God in our American brother and sisters? We often talk about revival but we don't ever see it. Yet there are some ministries, missionaries and preachers that are changing nations by God's power and grace. It thrills me to hear them and their reports. However, I want to see God move today in our homeland, in America. We need revival.
Lately God has been leading me to pray for revival in my local chuch. It has been a rallying cry in my heart. Souls are lost, so called christians just come bored out fo their mind to church, apathy reigns and passion and prayer are not active. And we wonder why we do not have revival.
From an evangelistic point of view I can tell you why
* We do not pray enough - most are very lax in their prayer - even ministry people
* We do not know enough of the word - most can't quote basic scripture
* We do not have vision for souls - we talk about it, but talking and vision are two seperate things
* We do not worship God like we need too
* We do not have faith to see the mircales that spark revival
* We do not give until hurts
* We are self oriented not God oriented - In some churches it is all about us
These are just a tidbit of what I think is happening to the American church. For us to become a nation of revial we must be come a church that prays. It is the first step. We must repent and as we repent passion will be restored and revival released.
Just some thoughts, more to come
Until next time.... Keith.
Where is the passion for God in our American brother and sisters? We often talk about revival but we don't ever see it. Yet there are some ministries, missionaries and preachers that are changing nations by God's power and grace. It thrills me to hear them and their reports. However, I want to see God move today in our homeland, in America. We need revival.
Lately God has been leading me to pray for revival in my local chuch. It has been a rallying cry in my heart. Souls are lost, so called christians just come bored out fo their mind to church, apathy reigns and passion and prayer are not active. And we wonder why we do not have revival.
From an evangelistic point of view I can tell you why
* We do not pray enough - most are very lax in their prayer - even ministry people
* We do not know enough of the word - most can't quote basic scripture
* We do not have vision for souls - we talk about it, but talking and vision are two seperate things
* We do not worship God like we need too
* We do not have faith to see the mircales that spark revival
* We do not give until hurts
* We are self oriented not God oriented - In some churches it is all about us
These are just a tidbit of what I think is happening to the American church. For us to become a nation of revial we must be come a church that prays. It is the first step. We must repent and as we repent passion will be restored and revival released.
Just some thoughts, more to come
Until next time.... Keith.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Challenges
We live in a world full of challenges. All of us know that life is full of them. Right now Lynda and I are facing one of those life challenges. I have learned in this past few weeks that God gives us such grace for them. Most challenges come unexpectant. There is never any warning. However when they come so does God's grace. The Lord is so faithful to help us.
So as we meet this challenge with Lynda's injury we meet it prayer, fasting and God's grace. That is how we meet every challenge we ever meet.
Phillipians 4
Until next time....Keith
So as we meet this challenge with Lynda's injury we meet it prayer, fasting and God's grace. That is how we meet every challenge we ever meet.
Phillipians 4
Until next time....Keith
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A devotional by my friend Steve Henry
My friend and fellow church goer Steve Henry writes a daily devotional that is just powerful. Each day is a devotional that blesses me tremedously.
This is today's devotional
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom_8:5-6)
The crucial choice that believers in Christ face day by day is between living by the flesh or living by the Spirit. The difference concerns facing life by our resources and perspectives or by God's. "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." When a Christian deals with life by his flesh, he typically thinks about "what I want out of my life" or "what I can accomplish with my life." Conversely, when a Christian deals with life by the Spirit, he typically thinks about "what GOD wants for my life" or "what GOD can accomplish through my life."
The consequences related to this choice are monumental. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." When a believer allows his mind to be set in a carnal direction, he will be thinking about worldly self-indulgence ("what I can get out of this") or religious self-accomplishment ("what I can do for GOD"). The result of either carnal perspective is "death" (spiritual deadness). On the other hand, when a follower of Jesus sets his mind on heavenly matters, he will be considering issues of humility ("how much I need the Lord") or faith ("how great the Lord is"). The results of such spiritual thoughts are "life and peace" (spiritual vitality and spiritual tranquility).
Another analysis of these two options can be seen in the contrast between the "works of the flesh" and the "fruit of the Spirit." When we put our hope in our own capabilities, our flesh produces deeds such as "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like" (Gal_5:19-21). Contrariwise, when we place our expectations upon the Lord, His Spirit brings forth through us fruit like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal_5:22-23).
Consider this fundamental truth. These "flesh-Spirit" choices are what all of us will face every day of our lives. The persistency of these issues is inherent in the fact that God only offers two options for every issue of life; namely, "live according to the flesh" or "live according to the Spirit."
O Sovereign Lord, I bow to Your wisdom and authority that offers these two choices alone. Lord, I renounce the natural path of my flesh which brings severe, but deserved, consequences. I gladly embrace the supernatural path of Your Spirit, which brings the undeserved results of Your grace at work in me, Amen.
Stephen J. Henry
Until next time.....Keith
This is today's devotional
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom_8:5-6)
The crucial choice that believers in Christ face day by day is between living by the flesh or living by the Spirit. The difference concerns facing life by our resources and perspectives or by God's. "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." When a Christian deals with life by his flesh, he typically thinks about "what I want out of my life" or "what I can accomplish with my life." Conversely, when a Christian deals with life by the Spirit, he typically thinks about "what GOD wants for my life" or "what GOD can accomplish through my life."
The consequences related to this choice are monumental. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." When a believer allows his mind to be set in a carnal direction, he will be thinking about worldly self-indulgence ("what I can get out of this") or religious self-accomplishment ("what I can do for GOD"). The result of either carnal perspective is "death" (spiritual deadness). On the other hand, when a follower of Jesus sets his mind on heavenly matters, he will be considering issues of humility ("how much I need the Lord") or faith ("how great the Lord is"). The results of such spiritual thoughts are "life and peace" (spiritual vitality and spiritual tranquility).
Another analysis of these two options can be seen in the contrast between the "works of the flesh" and the "fruit of the Spirit." When we put our hope in our own capabilities, our flesh produces deeds such as "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like" (Gal_5:19-21). Contrariwise, when we place our expectations upon the Lord, His Spirit brings forth through us fruit like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal_5:22-23).
Consider this fundamental truth. These "flesh-Spirit" choices are what all of us will face every day of our lives. The persistency of these issues is inherent in the fact that God only offers two options for every issue of life; namely, "live according to the flesh" or "live according to the Spirit."
O Sovereign Lord, I bow to Your wisdom and authority that offers these two choices alone. Lord, I renounce the natural path of my flesh which brings severe, but deserved, consequences. I gladly embrace the supernatural path of Your Spirit, which brings the undeserved results of Your grace at work in me, Amen.
Stephen J. Henry
Until next time.....Keith
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Missions
From time to time I take mission trips. The last one I went on was to Paraguay. I thought you all would enjoy this you tube video from Missionary Dan Miller. I am in several of the pictures.
Until next time...Keith
Until next time...Keith
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
