WHY????
This has to be the most pressing question on our minds lately.
With the death of Pastor Pollack, his son and Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter I have noticed a number of people asking why.
Why did this happen to them?
Where was GOD in this?
What is GOD's plan for this tragedy?
These are questions we will never get an answer for.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
These are just a few verses from the Bible that state GOD is in control. It is natural to ask questions but we must not take the focus off of GOD, we must remember that GOD has a plan for everything. We must not turn our questions into sin.
What do I mean by not turning our questioning GOD into sin?
Read the book of Job and you will understand.
Here was a man that GOD pointed out to Satan for him to test. He killed all of his children, servants, flocks, gave him boils all over his body and left him with a wife that was against him. In everything Job went through he questioned GOD and wanted to know why this was happening but he never sinned against GOD. In the end GOD restored him with the exact same number of son's and daughters and made him even wealthier than before. Job kept his focus on his faith in GOD and not on the trials that Satan was using.
When Mark Wynn died I remember so vividly the sound of his wife screaming "NO" over and over when the doctor told her he didn't survive the surgery. I can see the room I was in and all the furnishings, exactly where people were sitting and feeling like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. My immediate reaction was Why Mark? If I had been with them would it have been me? Should it have been me? If it had been me how would my family survive? Where was GOD? Why didn't he save him? How could GOD take him from his wife, son and unknown to Mark a yet unborn son?
Was I allowing Satan to distract me from GOD's will? Yes...
Satan knows our weaknesses. He knows how to use any and every incident to turn our focus from GOD to the "distraction". We must be careful how we reply to every "distraction" to ensure we are not sinning. That is what Satan wants, to get a little wedge between ourselves and GOD. Once that wedge is in there he will gradually keep spreading this gap wider and wider until we are no longer connected to GOD. We are still Christians and bound for heaven but we lose that personal connection to GOD. When something happens in our lives the only place we need to turn it toward our LORD and SAVIOUR. We must also lean on our fellow christian brothers and sisters.
Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
To this day when I think of Mark it still causes me pain but I know that he has finished his earthly race toward heaven. Each of us will finish this race and it is up to us how we finish. Do you want to finish your race and hear CHRIST tell you "Well done good and faithful servant" or do you want HIM just to let you in the gates of heaven? Think about this because like I said ALL OF US WILL FINISH THE RACE OF EARTHLY LIFE. No human is immune from this. Only JESUS CHRIST was able to defeat death and finish HIS earthly race on HIS terms.
My gracious HEAVENLY FATHER, I pray that each and every person I come into contact with will see your light shine through me. YOU seem to be bringing your flock home and it makes me wonder if you are about to return. Put a fire in our hearts to put aside our worries and selfish desires and to work toward finishing our earthly race in a way that YOUR SON will tell us "Well done good and faithful servant". Thank you for always being there. Thank you for always being in control. Thank you for loving me even though I don't and never will deserve it.
Amen
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pastor Pollack and son found, no survivors.
Pastor Pollack and his son Preston were found in the mountains outside Asheville, NC.
Please pray for his wife and 5 remaining children. Especially the oldest daughter in NC with her grandmother.
Prayer:
Lord we want to lift up the Pollack family and the lives that they came in contact with. Please take Forrest and his son Preston into your arms, we know YOU will love them like the children they are to YOU. GOD open everyone's eyes that we never know when our last day on this earth will be and that we should be growing closer to you each and every day and live each day like it is our last.....AMEN
Please pray for his wife and 5 remaining children. Especially the oldest daughter in NC with her grandmother.
Prayer:
Lord we want to lift up the Pollack family and the lives that they came in contact with. Please take Forrest and his son Preston into your arms, we know YOU will love them like the children they are to YOU. GOD open everyone's eyes that we never know when our last day on this earth will be and that we should be growing closer to you each and every day and live each day like it is our last.....AMEN
Pastor Pollack, 13 yr old son Preston missing
My previous message was from a new source and the Bell Shoals website. But I wanted to share my thoughts on this.
My prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, 5 other children and for Pastor Pollack and Preston's safe return.
The is a great time of testing for the members of Bell Shoals and people who know the Pollack family. GOD is in control of every situation whether the results are what we want or what GOD has planned.
In the past few years I have lost my Uncle Jay, my best friend and some close friends and know the pain of losing someone. When we become close to someone we open our hearts to become intermingled with each other. You give a piece of your heart to that person and a part of theirs replaces what you gave away. When you lose that person that piece of your heart is torn from you with nothing to replace it until it heals itself over time which of course will leave a scar. That scar on your heart constantly reminds you of them. Over time it gets easier and less painful but it is always there.
We as humans want our friends and family to live forever so we don't have to experience this pain. As Christians we are to rejoice at the passing of another believer because they have crossed the finish line of life and are now in our HEAVENLY FATHER's arms, no more pain, no more suffering, no more sin, but the simple joy of praising GOD for eternity.
In my opinion rejoicing at the loss of someone close is the most difficult thing to do. Our hearts ache so much, past thoughts flood our minds, regrets of not spending more time with that person, not telling that person that we love them, places that we go remind us of them, an aroma will bring a flash of a memory of a time with that person, it goes on and on and on. You feel like you will never get your life back to normal.
When Mark died he was on his motorcycle and whenever we rode I was always in front because I had been riding longer and knew some good roads to ride. The day he died I was too busy working around the house to go with them so Mark was in the front when a person turned in front of him. At the time we all thought he was saved by GOD because his brother in law is a fireman/paramedic and was only 1/2 mile from the scene. Mark made it to the hospital with a severed spleen which was repaired but his aorta was bruised. The spleen surgery went fine and they were going to repair his aorta the next day. Unknown to the Dr's his aorta was so badly damaged that they could not get a stitch to hold and in using 18 liters of blood to try to save him they were unable to. When they took his wife into another room and I heard her scream "NO" I thought I was going to die myself, that part of my heart had just been ripped from my chest. Mark and I used to joke around that we were "Brothers from another Mother". We worked out everyday at the gym, same interests, were going into business together, etc. We pretty much saw each other on a daily basis. I tried to go to the gym but as soon as I sat down to work out I lost it and had to leave. To this day it is still difficult to work out. Even though I am a member of a different gym I just want to get in and get it over so I can get away from that memory.
In one of my previous Blogs I wrote about forgiveness. I had to forgive Mark for leaving, I didn't realize it but through prayer GOD showed me that I had some anger toward him for leaving. I had decided after the anguish I went through losing him it was easier to be mad at him then to continue to hurt.
How many of us have done this? Tried to replace the pain with another emotion.
When you run into someone who is bitter in life do you ever wonder what has happened in their life to make them this way?
When you see someone like this immediately pray for this person. You may be the only person who has ever prayed for them. Ask GOD to be with them and to help them through this difficult time or help them to deal with what has happened to them and to know that GOD is always with us no matter the circumstance.
As I write this I just received a message that Pastor Pollack's plane has been found and we should have an update soon as to whether he and his son are still on this earth or in heaven.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The key word there is "future", with GOD no matter what happens to us on this earth as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour and believe he was raised from the grave and lives we will have an eternal "future" in heaven.
As you read this if you are not saved I would search your heart now. If you question whether you are saved or not I would recommend asking JESUS into your heart.
Say this prayer:
"GOD, I recognize that I have not lived my life for YOU up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need YOU in my life; I want YOU in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST in giving HIS life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, LORD. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my LORD, and my SAVIOR. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow YOU all the days of my life. Those days are in YOUR hands. I ask this in JESUS' precious and holy name. Amen."
If you said this prayer you are now in GOD's family, you are now my brother or sister in CHRIST.
You now have no reason to fear death because life is simply a race to the finish line to be in our SAVIOR's arms for eternity.
My prayer: My GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, if anyone has prayed the above prayer and accepted your SON into their heart I am filled with joy and want to thank YOU for opening their hearts to YOU. As Christians we are your disciples and our job is to lead others to you. Please use me to win as many souls to CHRIST as I can as long as I am on this earth.
YOU are our reason for living and are always in control no matter the situation. The result may not be what we wanted but you have a plan for each and everyone of us, allow us to be used by you for your purpose.
GOD please be with Pastor Pollack and his son Preston as we selfishly ask for a miracle in this time of need. Please be with his family as they are waiting on news of their status.
I also lift up my Mom and Dad as they are sick with a virus and my Dad is in the hospital. LORD I ask for healing to get them home as we hope to see them in 3 weeks.
Each day is a gift from you as we don't know when our time will come to be with you. Let us live our lives as though it were our last. AMEN
My prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, 5 other children and for Pastor Pollack and Preston's safe return.
The is a great time of testing for the members of Bell Shoals and people who know the Pollack family. GOD is in control of every situation whether the results are what we want or what GOD has planned.
In the past few years I have lost my Uncle Jay, my best friend and some close friends and know the pain of losing someone. When we become close to someone we open our hearts to become intermingled with each other. You give a piece of your heart to that person and a part of theirs replaces what you gave away. When you lose that person that piece of your heart is torn from you with nothing to replace it until it heals itself over time which of course will leave a scar. That scar on your heart constantly reminds you of them. Over time it gets easier and less painful but it is always there.
We as humans want our friends and family to live forever so we don't have to experience this pain. As Christians we are to rejoice at the passing of another believer because they have crossed the finish line of life and are now in our HEAVENLY FATHER's arms, no more pain, no more suffering, no more sin, but the simple joy of praising GOD for eternity.
In my opinion rejoicing at the loss of someone close is the most difficult thing to do. Our hearts ache so much, past thoughts flood our minds, regrets of not spending more time with that person, not telling that person that we love them, places that we go remind us of them, an aroma will bring a flash of a memory of a time with that person, it goes on and on and on. You feel like you will never get your life back to normal.
When Mark died he was on his motorcycle and whenever we rode I was always in front because I had been riding longer and knew some good roads to ride. The day he died I was too busy working around the house to go with them so Mark was in the front when a person turned in front of him. At the time we all thought he was saved by GOD because his brother in law is a fireman/paramedic and was only 1/2 mile from the scene. Mark made it to the hospital with a severed spleen which was repaired but his aorta was bruised. The spleen surgery went fine and they were going to repair his aorta the next day. Unknown to the Dr's his aorta was so badly damaged that they could not get a stitch to hold and in using 18 liters of blood to try to save him they were unable to. When they took his wife into another room and I heard her scream "NO" I thought I was going to die myself, that part of my heart had just been ripped from my chest. Mark and I used to joke around that we were "Brothers from another Mother". We worked out everyday at the gym, same interests, were going into business together, etc. We pretty much saw each other on a daily basis. I tried to go to the gym but as soon as I sat down to work out I lost it and had to leave. To this day it is still difficult to work out. Even though I am a member of a different gym I just want to get in and get it over so I can get away from that memory.
In one of my previous Blogs I wrote about forgiveness. I had to forgive Mark for leaving, I didn't realize it but through prayer GOD showed me that I had some anger toward him for leaving. I had decided after the anguish I went through losing him it was easier to be mad at him then to continue to hurt.
How many of us have done this? Tried to replace the pain with another emotion.
When you run into someone who is bitter in life do you ever wonder what has happened in their life to make them this way?
When you see someone like this immediately pray for this person. You may be the only person who has ever prayed for them. Ask GOD to be with them and to help them through this difficult time or help them to deal with what has happened to them and to know that GOD is always with us no matter the circumstance.
As I write this I just received a message that Pastor Pollack's plane has been found and we should have an update soon as to whether he and his son are still on this earth or in heaven.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The key word there is "future", with GOD no matter what happens to us on this earth as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour and believe he was raised from the grave and lives we will have an eternal "future" in heaven.
As you read this if you are not saved I would search your heart now. If you question whether you are saved or not I would recommend asking JESUS into your heart.
Say this prayer:
"GOD, I recognize that I have not lived my life for YOU up until now. I have been living for myself and that is wrong. I need YOU in my life; I want YOU in my life. I acknowledge the completed work of YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST in giving HIS life for me on the cross at Calvary, and I long to receive the forgiveness you have made freely available to me through this sacrifice. Come into my life now, LORD. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my LORD, and my SAVIOR. From this day forward, I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow YOU all the days of my life. Those days are in YOUR hands. I ask this in JESUS' precious and holy name. Amen."
If you said this prayer you are now in GOD's family, you are now my brother or sister in CHRIST.
You now have no reason to fear death because life is simply a race to the finish line to be in our SAVIOR's arms for eternity.
My prayer: My GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, if anyone has prayed the above prayer and accepted your SON into their heart I am filled with joy and want to thank YOU for opening their hearts to YOU. As Christians we are your disciples and our job is to lead others to you. Please use me to win as many souls to CHRIST as I can as long as I am on this earth.
YOU are our reason for living and are always in control no matter the situation. The result may not be what we wanted but you have a plan for each and everyone of us, allow us to be used by you for your purpose.
GOD please be with Pastor Pollack and his son Preston as we selfishly ask for a miracle in this time of need. Please be with his family as they are waiting on news of their status.
I also lift up my Mom and Dad as they are sick with a virus and my Dad is in the hospital. LORD I ask for healing to get them home as we hope to see them in 3 weeks.
Each day is a gift from you as we don't know when our time will come to be with you. Let us live our lives as though it were our last. AMEN
Pastor Pollack, son Preston and his small plane are missing.
Bell Shoals Baptist Church minister Forrest Pollock, his son Preston and his small plane are missing, according to the church.
"They're in an intense search, even tonight," the Rev. George Thomasson said Monday night. "Other than that, we don't know. Our real appeal is to the Tampa Bay area to pray for our pastor" and their family.
On the Brandon church's Web site, Thomasson and ministerial staff encourage people to pray.
Pollock flew his plane to North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
"He reached his destination in North Carolina; however, after leaving from there early Monday morning for Texas, we have learned that Pastor has not yet reached his destination at the time of this writing," a message posted late Monday on the Web site states. "Everything humanly possibly is being done to locate Pastor's whereabouts. We are, however, appealing to all of our church family to pray earnestly for God's supernatural intervention. The new Worship Center is open for prayer and will remain so until further notice."
Search teams are examining the area near the Rutherfordton, N.C., airport where Pollock departed about 4:10 a.m. Monday en route to a conference in Texas, according to the site.
Bell Shoals has about 6,000 members, and about 3,000 people attend services each week.
Pollock came to the church with a background in television production.
He became interested in TV production while in high school in Oklahoma, working as a volunteer intern at a TV station. He went on to start his own TV production company and work as a TV reporter and anchor and print reporter "before God called me into ministry," he told The Tampa Tribune in 2007.
After graduating from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1994, Pollock served churches in Fort Worth, Texas, for three years and Baton Rouge, La., for five years before joining Bell Shoals.
"They're in an intense search, even tonight," the Rev. George Thomasson said Monday night. "Other than that, we don't know. Our real appeal is to the Tampa Bay area to pray for our pastor" and their family.
On the Brandon church's Web site, Thomasson and ministerial staff encourage people to pray.
Pollock flew his plane to North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
"He reached his destination in North Carolina; however, after leaving from there early Monday morning for Texas, we have learned that Pastor has not yet reached his destination at the time of this writing," a message posted late Monday on the Web site states. "Everything humanly possibly is being done to locate Pastor's whereabouts. We are, however, appealing to all of our church family to pray earnestly for God's supernatural intervention. The new Worship Center is open for prayer and will remain so until further notice."
Search teams are examining the area near the Rutherfordton, N.C., airport where Pollock departed about 4:10 a.m. Monday en route to a conference in Texas, according to the site.
Bell Shoals has about 6,000 members, and about 3,000 people attend services each week.
Pollock came to the church with a background in television production.
He became interested in TV production while in high school in Oklahoma, working as a volunteer intern at a TV station. He went on to start his own TV production company and work as a TV reporter and anchor and print reporter "before God called me into ministry," he told The Tampa Tribune in 2007.
After graduating from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in 1994, Pollock served churches in Fort Worth, Texas, for three years and Baton Rouge, La., for five years before joining Bell Shoals.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I'm forgiven, I forgive....
Today I did one of the hardest things I have ever done, I forgave.
Did you realize that this is a command from GOD? I didn't until recently.
Don't get me wrong I did not just wake up this morning and decide to forgive but it has taken some time for me to realize how holding onto UN-forgiveness is a sin and how it negatively affected me and seperated me from GOD.
I have been in prayer asking the LORD to show me who I need to forgive. I wrote those names down, I also wrote down what they did to me and how it made me feel. I also included myself and GOD. Of all the people I had on my list the most difficult was to forgive myself. Things I had done in the past, the way I had treated people, the way I spoke, the concequences of my actions, the way I could have been a positive influence on people instead of causing them to stumble in their faith or to turn away from GOD by seeing how a "christian" was talking, acting and reacting.
I had to choose to forgive everyone and everything they did, notice I said choose. It's our choice whether we forgive someone or not. Some like to say "forgive and forget", this is impossible. Our memory is so powerful that an innumerable amount of things can be stored but once you choose to forgive you will feel a great weight lifted from you. These poeple and things will not be removed from your memory but they will no longer be a painful memory you are trying to keep from remembering.
Each of the people I listed were a chain by Satan tying me to them. My list started out short but as I prayed the list became longer and longer as GOD brought people to my mind. Things I thought were no big deal I still forgave them. Imagine walking around with 30 or 40 chains dragging behind you. After a while you won't be able to go one any longer, each one is affecting you by it's weight but as you forgive each person a chain is cut, you start to feel the effects as each chain is cut until eventually you have cut every chain and you are finally free.
Maybe a better example would be to take a backpack and fill it with 30-40 rocks. Put the backpack on and start walking around. At first it is no problem but after a while you start to notice the additional weight, after a while it starts to wear you down until finally one year you decide enough is enough. You start taking each rock out one by one and the backpack is lighter and lighter. Finally it's empty. Who can't carry an empty backpack? You would look silly but you could carry it on your back until the day you die.
I read a book "The Most Powerful Prayer On Earth" by Peter Horrobin and would recommend that everyone read this. It will help you to understand the power of forgiveness and the destruction of UN-forgiveness.
Below are scriptures commanding us to forgive.
The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:14-15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18:34-35
34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Mark 11:25
25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Colossians 3:13
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
When I realized that if I don't forgive then GOD won't forgive me it really opened my eyes.
I think the most important forgiveness in the bible is when JESUS said in Luke 23:34"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Can you imagine going through what CHRIST went through during his crucifixion and still forgiving them and asking GOD to forgive them? My forgiving people of what they have done to me in the past is nothing compared to this.
My forgiveness does not stop here, it will be on-going. I am going to take the next 42 days, since I am 42 yrs old, to pray about each year of my life and ask GOD to open my mind to something that may have occurred during that year that I still have not forgiven someone or myself for. I am going to keep a journal so as not to miss anything that GOD has shown me.
My prayer today is:
LORD I ask you to open my mind and spirit to anyone that I have not forgiven or anything I have done that I have not forgiven myself for. I ask that you give me the strength to honestly forgive them and to release that chain from my soul. Even simple things can chain us down so I ask that when something small occurs to me that I forgive myself or that person on the spot. Allow me to be a light for you and to never return to the life I once led. LORD I forgive myself from my past and ask you to forgive me so that there will be nothing between us but love and friendship. Please continue to use me for your glory and guide me in my life. Amen
Did you realize that this is a command from GOD? I didn't until recently.
Don't get me wrong I did not just wake up this morning and decide to forgive but it has taken some time for me to realize how holding onto UN-forgiveness is a sin and how it negatively affected me and seperated me from GOD.
I have been in prayer asking the LORD to show me who I need to forgive. I wrote those names down, I also wrote down what they did to me and how it made me feel. I also included myself and GOD. Of all the people I had on my list the most difficult was to forgive myself. Things I had done in the past, the way I had treated people, the way I spoke, the concequences of my actions, the way I could have been a positive influence on people instead of causing them to stumble in their faith or to turn away from GOD by seeing how a "christian" was talking, acting and reacting.
I had to choose to forgive everyone and everything they did, notice I said choose. It's our choice whether we forgive someone or not. Some like to say "forgive and forget", this is impossible. Our memory is so powerful that an innumerable amount of things can be stored but once you choose to forgive you will feel a great weight lifted from you. These poeple and things will not be removed from your memory but they will no longer be a painful memory you are trying to keep from remembering.
Each of the people I listed were a chain by Satan tying me to them. My list started out short but as I prayed the list became longer and longer as GOD brought people to my mind. Things I thought were no big deal I still forgave them. Imagine walking around with 30 or 40 chains dragging behind you. After a while you won't be able to go one any longer, each one is affecting you by it's weight but as you forgive each person a chain is cut, you start to feel the effects as each chain is cut until eventually you have cut every chain and you are finally free.
Maybe a better example would be to take a backpack and fill it with 30-40 rocks. Put the backpack on and start walking around. At first it is no problem but after a while you start to notice the additional weight, after a while it starts to wear you down until finally one year you decide enough is enough. You start taking each rock out one by one and the backpack is lighter and lighter. Finally it's empty. Who can't carry an empty backpack? You would look silly but you could carry it on your back until the day you die.
I read a book "The Most Powerful Prayer On Earth" by Peter Horrobin and would recommend that everyone read this. It will help you to understand the power of forgiveness and the destruction of UN-forgiveness.
Below are scriptures commanding us to forgive.
The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:14-15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18:34-35
34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Mark 11:25
25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Colossians 3:13
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
When I realized that if I don't forgive then GOD won't forgive me it really opened my eyes.
I think the most important forgiveness in the bible is when JESUS said in Luke 23:34"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Can you imagine going through what CHRIST went through during his crucifixion and still forgiving them and asking GOD to forgive them? My forgiving people of what they have done to me in the past is nothing compared to this.
My forgiveness does not stop here, it will be on-going. I am going to take the next 42 days, since I am 42 yrs old, to pray about each year of my life and ask GOD to open my mind to something that may have occurred during that year that I still have not forgiven someone or myself for. I am going to keep a journal so as not to miss anything that GOD has shown me.
My prayer today is:
LORD I ask you to open my mind and spirit to anyone that I have not forgiven or anything I have done that I have not forgiven myself for. I ask that you give me the strength to honestly forgive them and to release that chain from my soul. Even simple things can chain us down so I ask that when something small occurs to me that I forgive myself or that person on the spot. Allow me to be a light for you and to never return to the life I once led. LORD I forgive myself from my past and ask you to forgive me so that there will be nothing between us but love and friendship. Please continue to use me for your glory and guide me in my life. Amen
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What's that you said?
This past week I was in Boston, MA to finally meet some new co-workers. Four of us are remote engineers who live in different parts of the country and have worked together for quite some time so it was also nice to see familiar faces again.
Once we all got together some people would talk quite "worldly" which makes me uncomfortable. What I mean by "worldly" is cussing. One co-worker, more than the others, added some "worldly" words into almost every sentence. Each cuss word would make me cringe a little more each time but when this person said something about his church I almost fell out of my chair. All I could do was pray for this person and the people around us that this would not cause anyone to turn from GOD because of his example.
I began to wonder how many Christians act this same way?
Do I have a behaviour that could cause others to turn away from GOD or cause another christian to struggle with their faith?
We as Christians are held to a higher standard. Every action we take is being watched.
Do you have a christian symbol on the back of your car? Are you driving in a manner that is pleasing to GOD or are you speeding, cutting people off in traffic, running red lights, taking someones parking space, parking where you know you shouldn't or using inappropriate hand gestures? Think about this for a minute. I know is sounds silly but what kind of example are you demonstrating for those around you?
I was about to put something on my truck when my wife reminded me that everyone behind you will see this. I had to think about this before I stuck this on my truck. It's Florida and from my observations there technically aren't many rules of the road. Florida's 55mph = 70-80mph, turn signal levers are removed from vehicles when they enter the state or the turn signal lever is locked in the right or left turn position, right turn from the left lane and left turn from the right lane also seem to be acceptable. Stopping in the middle of a busy road because you missed your turn and turning your signal on and waiting for traffic to go around you so you can back up to make your turn, must not be another place in the road to turn around. When a little rain starts to fall emergency flashers come on and cars doing this fill all the lanes next to one another and they all slow way down and block the road.
You may be chuckling as you read this but these are things we witness on a daily basis, it's scary to drive down here. LORD are these tests???
Every action and word we speak is being scrutinized by someone. It may be the cashier at the grocery store, could be a co-worker you have been trying to win to the LORD. Our actions and words are especially scrutinized by our children. Children are sponges and will absorb everything we say and do, how we treat people, how we treat each other in our home, what we watch on TV, music we listen to at home and in the car, our body language and our excuses to get out of things we don't really want to do.
In the bible there are 140 references to the tongue.
The book of James has six references to this subject. Below I have highlighted in red what the consequences of not controlling the tongue are.
James 1:26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
James 3:1[ Taming the Tongue ] Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers,
because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
James 3:6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by
hell.
James 3:8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. v10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
As you can see there are serious consequences to not controlling our tongue especially if you are in a leadership role. Do you want your religion to be worthless or your body to be corrupt? I sure don't and I pray that you don't either.
My prayer today:
HEAVENLY FATHER, I pray that you will help each and every one of us to control our tongues and our actions as we realize that everything we do and say is being scrutinized by someone. Please give us the strength and knowledge to control our actions and speech with each and every person we come into contact with. Thank you for the gift of speech and the power it has to spread YOUR word.
Please keep us safe as we drive in Florida.
Amen
Once we all got together some people would talk quite "worldly" which makes me uncomfortable. What I mean by "worldly" is cussing. One co-worker, more than the others, added some "worldly" words into almost every sentence. Each cuss word would make me cringe a little more each time but when this person said something about his church I almost fell out of my chair. All I could do was pray for this person and the people around us that this would not cause anyone to turn from GOD because of his example.
I began to wonder how many Christians act this same way?
Do I have a behaviour that could cause others to turn away from GOD or cause another christian to struggle with their faith?
We as Christians are held to a higher standard. Every action we take is being watched.
Do you have a christian symbol on the back of your car? Are you driving in a manner that is pleasing to GOD or are you speeding, cutting people off in traffic, running red lights, taking someones parking space, parking where you know you shouldn't or using inappropriate hand gestures? Think about this for a minute. I know is sounds silly but what kind of example are you demonstrating for those around you?
I was about to put something on my truck when my wife reminded me that everyone behind you will see this. I had to think about this before I stuck this on my truck. It's Florida and from my observations there technically aren't many rules of the road. Florida's 55mph = 70-80mph, turn signal levers are removed from vehicles when they enter the state or the turn signal lever is locked in the right or left turn position, right turn from the left lane and left turn from the right lane also seem to be acceptable. Stopping in the middle of a busy road because you missed your turn and turning your signal on and waiting for traffic to go around you so you can back up to make your turn, must not be another place in the road to turn around. When a little rain starts to fall emergency flashers come on and cars doing this fill all the lanes next to one another and they all slow way down and block the road.
You may be chuckling as you read this but these are things we witness on a daily basis, it's scary to drive down here. LORD are these tests???
Every action and word we speak is being scrutinized by someone. It may be the cashier at the grocery store, could be a co-worker you have been trying to win to the LORD. Our actions and words are especially scrutinized by our children. Children are sponges and will absorb everything we say and do, how we treat people, how we treat each other in our home, what we watch on TV, music we listen to at home and in the car, our body language and our excuses to get out of things we don't really want to do.
In the bible there are 140 references to the tongue.
The book of James has six references to this subject. Below I have highlighted in red what the consequences of not controlling the tongue are.
James 1:26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
James 3:1[ Taming the Tongue ] Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers,
because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
James 3:5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
James 3:6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by
hell.
James 3:8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. v10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
As you can see there are serious consequences to not controlling our tongue especially if you are in a leadership role. Do you want your religion to be worthless or your body to be corrupt? I sure don't and I pray that you don't either.
My prayer today:
HEAVENLY FATHER, I pray that you will help each and every one of us to control our tongues and our actions as we realize that everything we do and say is being scrutinized by someone. Please give us the strength and knowledge to control our actions and speech with each and every person we come into contact with. Thank you for the gift of speech and the power it has to spread YOUR word.
Please keep us safe as we drive in Florida.
Amen
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Why do we fear death?
These past few weeks I have been studying the book of Daniel. Most people know the story of Daniel but there were three other men with him Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
These four Jewish men were chosen by Ashpenaz, chief of the court of King Nebuchadnezzar because they were without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of Babylonia. Daniel 1:3,4
These four men were quite remarkable and their FAITH was even more remarkable. Their FAITH was so strong that no matter what rules were created by the king if it went against what GOD wanted they did not obey. According to Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
We are to submit to those above us in authority and obey their rules but we are not to follow rules that go against GOD's word and commandments. This is exactly what these four men did, they had been taken into captivity and had obeyed their rulers until a law was made that went against GOD's commands. In Daniel 3 King Nebuchadnezzar built an image of gold 90 feet high and 9 feet wide that everyone was to bow down to and worship everytime they heard all types of music. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Look at the amount of FAITH they had, read Daniel 3:17,18 again. These men state that GOD will either save them from it or will rescue them. Imagine being faced with that decision, either do what this person say's or you will be cast into a fiery furnace. You know that GOD will either save you from the fire or you will die and be taken into heaven, which is our ultimate goal.
Daniel was also put in the same predicament in Daniel 6:6,7 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.
Daniel knew the rules and consequences of disobeidence but he continued to bow down toward Jerusalem three times a day to pray to GOD. He knew GOD would take care of him either by saving him from the lion's or by taking him into heaven. GOD had more plans for Daneil so HE kept Daniels safe that day. HE not only spared Daniels life but the people who framed Daniel were killed. Daniel had no fear of death.
Do you ever wonder why we fear death?
Maybe we don't fear death itself but we don't want to cause our family and friends pain.
Maybe we fear of the way we will die, the odds of us dying quietly in our beds are pretty slim.
With FAITH in our salvation through CHRIST JESUS we should not fear death but look forward to it.
No more pain or sickness only peace, joy, rejoicing and singing forever and ever.
My prayer today is that I will have FAITH in my salvation and eternal life that is so strong that I will fear nothing.
These four Jewish men were chosen by Ashpenaz, chief of the court of King Nebuchadnezzar because they were without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of Babylonia. Daniel 1:3,4
These four men were quite remarkable and their FAITH was even more remarkable. Their FAITH was so strong that no matter what rules were created by the king if it went against what GOD wanted they did not obey. According to Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
We are to submit to those above us in authority and obey their rules but we are not to follow rules that go against GOD's word and commandments. This is exactly what these four men did, they had been taken into captivity and had obeyed their rulers until a law was made that went against GOD's commands. In Daniel 3 King Nebuchadnezzar built an image of gold 90 feet high and 9 feet wide that everyone was to bow down to and worship everytime they heard all types of music. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Look at the amount of FAITH they had, read Daniel 3:17,18 again. These men state that GOD will either save them from it or will rescue them. Imagine being faced with that decision, either do what this person say's or you will be cast into a fiery furnace. You know that GOD will either save you from the fire or you will die and be taken into heaven, which is our ultimate goal.
Daniel was also put in the same predicament in Daniel 6:6,7 So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! 7 The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den.
Daniel knew the rules and consequences of disobeidence but he continued to bow down toward Jerusalem three times a day to pray to GOD. He knew GOD would take care of him either by saving him from the lion's or by taking him into heaven. GOD had more plans for Daneil so HE kept Daniels safe that day. HE not only spared Daniels life but the people who framed Daniel were killed. Daniel had no fear of death.
Do you ever wonder why we fear death?
Maybe we don't fear death itself but we don't want to cause our family and friends pain.
Maybe we fear of the way we will die, the odds of us dying quietly in our beds are pretty slim.
With FAITH in our salvation through CHRIST JESUS we should not fear death but look forward to it.
No more pain or sickness only peace, joy, rejoicing and singing forever and ever.
My prayer today is that I will have FAITH in my salvation and eternal life that is so strong that I will fear nothing.
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