Gary hits three home runs
After a short hiatus, our main speaker Gary Stembal returned and boy was he in fine preachin` fettle!! We were blessed to receive three messages for the price of one.
If ya can`t lift an ant-ya can`t lift an elephant
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was face to face with his own demise and it was a serious matter. Peter, John and James were with him and he needed their support. He asked them to just stay awake for the hour that Christ needed to talk to His Father. That`s it-just stay awake. The three disciples fell asleep! Three times!!
How often do we fail in the most simple of Christian tasks? To read a verse daily, to pray sincerely, to help a neighbor? Yet, after not doing these easy things we expect to face down the most dire of circumstances with Christian fortitude. What fortitude? We have not armed ourselves with Christ`s protections and yet the spears of satan won`t penetrate? Let us not kid ourselves-small steps before we try and run a marathon!
Jesus reads His own map
In this message from Matthew, Jesus is giving us guidance to solve our serious problems. He does this by actually doing it himself-for His own serious problem.
First he addressed the sorrows, temptations and difficulties of his situation head on. He was facing his own death . This was real and think about it- you have the power to stop it!! Now there is a temptation!! He was a man and this was emotional and not easy.
Next He pleaded his case to God verse 39 "let this cup pass away from me".
Then He turned it over to God also in verse 39 and in 42 "thy will be done"
This is a map showing us how to prevail over sorrows and temptations and luke warmness
1.Face it
2.supplicate
3.accept God`s answer
Jesus hurt
Jesus was a man. He had the same emotions as you and I. When He was face to face with his own death He felt remorse just as we would. This Man was seeing a terrible end and still in his 30`s-a young Man in the prime of life; a lifetime to live .Yet he was asked to give it up. And for who?- a bunch of sinners, most of whom would never even acknowledge his existance?!! For a bunch of incompetents who wouldn`t have the right to crawl at his feet much less receive eternal glory? For mankind? For you and I?
He faced this death, felt the pain and agony and depression, looked satan in the eye and said "Get up, let us be going! see, My betrayer is at hand!"
And for us-He died.
Amen
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
O2/17/2008
Glue
I think Jesus likes the Higher Grounds ministries!! Why else would he bless such a small congregation with so many wonderful and gifted speakers? This week we were excited to hear God speak through Steve Gould.; a gifted orator using that gift to speak about God`s words.
The lesson this week was from Romans chapter 12 starting with verse 9 through verse 21. The verses are a series of admonishments from Jesus some of which are frankly pretty tough. They are a follow up to similer urgings found throughout the New Testament especially in Matthew.
A sampling of some toughies
verse 13- contribute to the needs of God`s people
14- Bless those who persecute you
15 -rejoice with those who rejoice
16-live in harmony with one another
17 -repay noone evil for evil
18-live at peace with everyone
and this really tough one
20-If your enemy is hungary -feed him!!!
There is most likely one or more of these that are difficult for most of us. So hard that they seem impossible to adhere to. The glue that holds all these most challenging of entreaties into a possibility is love. Love is the binder for all of God`s demands. Love is the doorway into a world that is against human nature(sin). With love we can do what seems impossible because we see the situation differently. Matthew 5:44 says love your enemies. If we do indeed love them then we can indeed feed him; you can give your coat to someone suing us(Matthew 5:40) and more and more extremely difficult tasks. Without love, how can we get beyond ourselves as humans? Its this Christian love that is the glue that holds all of Christian teachings together. Romans 12;9 says "Let your love be sincere"
A final comment on Steve`s lesson. Steve warned us that if we left the Coffee Grove intending to try harder that we might fail. I didnt know what he meant but when he indicated that we were to- Let go and let God- I understood. God imparts the feelingof love to us thru the Holy Spirit and we must allow Him to do this for us. Then and perhaps only then can we adhere to very demanding admonishments.
Y`all have a great week and watch the ice!! If we think sidewalks are slippery, think about the slippery slope away from Jesus. Watch your steps and stay on the salted paths of Jesus!
I think Jesus likes the Higher Grounds ministries!! Why else would he bless such a small congregation with so many wonderful and gifted speakers? This week we were excited to hear God speak through Steve Gould.; a gifted orator using that gift to speak about God`s words.
The lesson this week was from Romans chapter 12 starting with verse 9 through verse 21. The verses are a series of admonishments from Jesus some of which are frankly pretty tough. They are a follow up to similer urgings found throughout the New Testament especially in Matthew.
A sampling of some toughies
verse 13- contribute to the needs of God`s people
14- Bless those who persecute you
15 -rejoice with those who rejoice
16-live in harmony with one another
17 -repay noone evil for evil
18-live at peace with everyone
and this really tough one
20-If your enemy is hungary -feed him!!!
There is most likely one or more of these that are difficult for most of us. So hard that they seem impossible to adhere to. The glue that holds all these most challenging of entreaties into a possibility is love. Love is the binder for all of God`s demands. Love is the doorway into a world that is against human nature(sin). With love we can do what seems impossible because we see the situation differently. Matthew 5:44 says love your enemies. If we do indeed love them then we can indeed feed him; you can give your coat to someone suing us(Matthew 5:40) and more and more extremely difficult tasks. Without love, how can we get beyond ourselves as humans? Its this Christian love that is the glue that holds all of Christian teachings together. Romans 12;9 says "Let your love be sincere"
A final comment on Steve`s lesson. Steve warned us that if we left the Coffee Grove intending to try harder that we might fail. I didnt know what he meant but when he indicated that we were to- Let go and let God- I understood. God imparts the feelingof love to us thru the Holy Spirit and we must allow Him to do this for us. Then and perhaps only then can we adhere to very demanding admonishments.
Y`all have a great week and watch the ice!! If we think sidewalks are slippery, think about the slippery slope away from Jesus. Watch your steps and stay on the salted paths of Jesus!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
2/10/2008
How soon we forget
This week we were again blessed with a really gifted speaker-Dr. Terry Thomas professer from Geneva College. Dr. Thomas` presentation was insightful yet also humerous. Too often we treat Old Testament scripture as heavy and almost mournful so it was fun to hear it presented in a fun way.
God`s voice this week spoke to us from Numbers chapter 11.( I was sore tempted to do a bankruptcy opt- Thank you Lord for sparing me from myself ). 8>)
" And the people grumbled and deplored their hardships" Numbers 11:1. These people lived thousands of years ago yet how true would this be today? God provides and we grumble. Dr. Thomas mentions that we are Americans so indeed have more than the vast majority of Earth`s peoples, yet we grumble. God provided the complainers with more than they could possibly eat( in this case Quails). Then He smote them(Numbers 11:33). Is this analogous to present day wealth? Will we too be punished for asking for too much?
How soon we forget.
God has given us a great gift in that we are able to forget past traumas and difficulties. In this way we are able to face the future without burdun. The downside is that we also forget how bad things were before the Grace of Jesus. We are given wonderful things thru conversion, yet we forget the "before". We start to ask for wants rather than needs. God certainly can and will provide for those wants( especially if ya ask for a gazillion quails) but there can be a penalty. We become tempted to value the new gifts and then to take them for granted and then we forget what they are indeed gifts. God at any moment can and will take them away for the true and only needed gift is His Son and lest we forget - without HIM we have nothing!!
Dr. Thomas said " God does not wow us with power but woos us with love". Its this love that gives us a life of gold. The rest is just trappings soon to rust. Enjoy God`s bounty but never forget gratitude for we are incredibly blessed with far more things than we need. If one feels that he/she is not getting their fair share- read Numbers 11 and beware!
Y`all have a great week and adopt an attitude of graditude.
This week we were again blessed with a really gifted speaker-Dr. Terry Thomas professer from Geneva College. Dr. Thomas` presentation was insightful yet also humerous. Too often we treat Old Testament scripture as heavy and almost mournful so it was fun to hear it presented in a fun way.
God`s voice this week spoke to us from Numbers chapter 11.( I was sore tempted to do a bankruptcy opt- Thank you Lord for sparing me from myself ). 8>)
" And the people grumbled and deplored their hardships" Numbers 11:1. These people lived thousands of years ago yet how true would this be today? God provides and we grumble. Dr. Thomas mentions that we are Americans so indeed have more than the vast majority of Earth`s peoples, yet we grumble. God provided the complainers with more than they could possibly eat( in this case Quails). Then He smote them(Numbers 11:33). Is this analogous to present day wealth? Will we too be punished for asking for too much?
How soon we forget.
God has given us a great gift in that we are able to forget past traumas and difficulties. In this way we are able to face the future without burdun. The downside is that we also forget how bad things were before the Grace of Jesus. We are given wonderful things thru conversion, yet we forget the "before". We start to ask for wants rather than needs. God certainly can and will provide for those wants( especially if ya ask for a gazillion quails) but there can be a penalty. We become tempted to value the new gifts and then to take them for granted and then we forget what they are indeed gifts. God at any moment can and will take them away for the true and only needed gift is His Son and lest we forget - without HIM we have nothing!!
Dr. Thomas said " God does not wow us with power but woos us with love". Its this love that gives us a life of gold. The rest is just trappings soon to rust. Enjoy God`s bounty but never forget gratitude for we are incredibly blessed with far more things than we need. If one feels that he/she is not getting their fair share- read Numbers 11 and beware!
Y`all have a great week and adopt an attitude of graditude.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
2/3/2008
In Mont We Trust?
Beth Mattocks was our teacher this week. She used her husband Mont to do an illustration of full trust in God. Unrehearsed it was so much fun!! Beth`s point was that often we put trust in God but always have a fall back plan. She then showed that by fully leaning on Mont( who for this purpose played the roll of Our Diety!!) how much trust we needed to have. Mont`s lack of sureness as to what Beth wanted him to do added to the fun but I think also illustrated the risk we entail if we do indeed substitute anything or anyone for God!!
Colossians 2:9-10 provided the main base for the message presented by Beth. This verse expresses the rather remarkable fact that if we are "in" Christ that we are filled with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit and that we reach full spiritual awareness as a result. And HE(Christ) is the head of all rule and authority of every angelic principality and power!! Thus, WE(with Christ within us) also assume this power. Egads!!! Can make one a bit heady eh?
Is this serious? Do we possess this power? Well, yes. If we accept the total fullness of Christ than who or what can stand against us? Its a no lose proposition. We are promised eternal life so even if our lives are taken from us-what of it? We still win but too cool is also the promise that our current lives are going to be great also!! We must seek God`s purpose in life, which will always be some form of service to Christ, and fullfillment will follow. Fullfillment leads to happiness and once we accept this happiness than who can come against us? Love and joy in Christ and its resulting emotions lead us to ultimate happiness. Not only will we know that what we are doing in our own lives is right but we can clearly see others and appreciate their gifts but also not take umbrage at their failures. Accepting ourselves and others- well doesn`t this eliminate a whole buncha problems?? This gives us the mentioned power to conquer all.Amen!
Galatians 5:1 says that Christ has set us free. Once we discern our true purpose in life as it relates to Christ then we can focus on it. We are relieved of the burden of indecision. Then the piece de la resistance is found in Ephesians 3:17 -19. Using the Amplified Bible I must quote
"May Christ through your faith dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints of God the experience of that love. That you may really come to know through experience the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge;that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God and may have the richest measure of the devine prescence and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!" Amen!!
Its this "love" that is the true power and as soon as we fully understand that love we inherit the Kingdom of God.
Special prayers this week for Gary Stembal and his family as they take the long walk with Gary`s father towards God`s Glory. While we know God has the power to cure anything He also has prepared a room. If this room is now to be occupied by Carl then let us rejoice in it ,even while we console those left behind.Please dear Jesus be with Gary as he sorts through his feelings and give him the joy he has earned by doing your bidding. Amen.
Y`all have a great week as you bask in the fullness of God. What He offers is incredible and its ours for the taking.
Beth Mattocks was our teacher this week. She used her husband Mont to do an illustration of full trust in God. Unrehearsed it was so much fun!! Beth`s point was that often we put trust in God but always have a fall back plan. She then showed that by fully leaning on Mont( who for this purpose played the roll of Our Diety!!) how much trust we needed to have. Mont`s lack of sureness as to what Beth wanted him to do added to the fun but I think also illustrated the risk we entail if we do indeed substitute anything or anyone for God!!
Colossians 2:9-10 provided the main base for the message presented by Beth. This verse expresses the rather remarkable fact that if we are "in" Christ that we are filled with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit and that we reach full spiritual awareness as a result. And HE(Christ) is the head of all rule and authority of every angelic principality and power!! Thus, WE(with Christ within us) also assume this power. Egads!!! Can make one a bit heady eh?
Is this serious? Do we possess this power? Well, yes. If we accept the total fullness of Christ than who or what can stand against us? Its a no lose proposition. We are promised eternal life so even if our lives are taken from us-what of it? We still win but too cool is also the promise that our current lives are going to be great also!! We must seek God`s purpose in life, which will always be some form of service to Christ, and fullfillment will follow. Fullfillment leads to happiness and once we accept this happiness than who can come against us? Love and joy in Christ and its resulting emotions lead us to ultimate happiness. Not only will we know that what we are doing in our own lives is right but we can clearly see others and appreciate their gifts but also not take umbrage at their failures. Accepting ourselves and others- well doesn`t this eliminate a whole buncha problems?? This gives us the mentioned power to conquer all.Amen!
Galatians 5:1 says that Christ has set us free. Once we discern our true purpose in life as it relates to Christ then we can focus on it. We are relieved of the burden of indecision. Then the piece de la resistance is found in Ephesians 3:17 -19. Using the Amplified Bible I must quote
"May Christ through your faith dwell in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints of God the experience of that love. That you may really come to know through experience the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge;that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God and may have the richest measure of the devine prescence and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!" Amen!!
Its this "love" that is the true power and as soon as we fully understand that love we inherit the Kingdom of God.
Special prayers this week for Gary Stembal and his family as they take the long walk with Gary`s father towards God`s Glory. While we know God has the power to cure anything He also has prepared a room. If this room is now to be occupied by Carl then let us rejoice in it ,even while we console those left behind.Please dear Jesus be with Gary as he sorts through his feelings and give him the joy he has earned by doing your bidding. Amen.
Y`all have a great week as you bask in the fullness of God. What He offers is incredible and its ours for the taking.
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