LEARNINGS TO SHARE…

“But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying.  When I see the blood, I will ‘pass over’ you.  This plague of death will not touch you…” – Ex. 12:13

Today and tomorrow and the Daniel Fast is over.  In some ways it seems like it’s been a long road and in some ways it seems like it went by too quick.  I pray that this time has been special to you and in your life and experience and personal spiritual journey with the Lord.  I hope you are closer to Him and He has worked in your life in big ways.  Please let us know how God has worked in your life, what He has told you, how He is directing you.  I am sure it will be a great encouragement to us all.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 10 it tells us that the ceremonies of the Old Testament were shadows of what was to come.  Today’s passage shadows the cross of Christ.  Jesus is our passover lamb.  The blood on the sides of the doors and on the top of the door picture a cross for us.  Over the top is where the crown of thorns was, the side posts is where the hands of Jesus were nailed, the bottom (not in the Exodus text) is where the feet of Jesus were nailed…now, connect the dots so to speak.  what shape is formed?  a cross of course.

Do you think it is by chance that God told them specifically what day to have this passover feast?  Not at all!  It is all part of God’s great plan.  Jesus died at the time of Passover.  He was without sin, picturing the yearling lambs that had to be chosen without spot or blemish.   The Israelites were not saved from doing some religious ceremony.  They were saved b/c they trusted in the blood.  Only as they trusted and stood under the blood so to speak, were they saved.  What a picture for all!

One day the Angel of the Lord will come again and judge all mankind.  If He does not see us standing under the blood of Jesus Christ, trusting in what He has done for us, then, well, let’s just say they won’t be saved.  Only if men and women, boys and girls would trust, not in there ability to perform some religious duty or be religious, but if they would just trust in the blood of Jesus they would be saved.  What about you?  What are you trusting in?  Who are you trusting in?

Jesus is our Passover Lamb!!  What a blessed thought.  I am so grateful!  Such sacrifice demands the offering of my whole life for Him and His Kingdom and to help others get there as well.  I pray that we would all be so grateful!  blessings.

Mike

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ” -Matt 19:29

One of my favorite rides at 6 Flags has always been one of the oldies, the “Scream Machine”.  My favorite part was always right there on the back stretch where it goes up and down like 3 or 4 times really fast only to freak out at the last minute when it looks like you are going to get your head cut off as the cars come under the awning to unload.

But then, I rode it last summer and I suddenly didn’t like it anymore.  It was too fast, too bumpy, in fact, it actually hurt.  Every time we came off one of those hills I thought my head was coming off and my back was breaking.  I just wanted off, please make it stop.  So, I decided I wouldn’t ride it anymore, I know, I know, wimp!  I guess it’s true.

I couldn’t help it but as I read about Pharoah today, “no, I am not going to let your people go”, yes, I will let your people go, just make it stop”, “no, I will not let your people go”, “yes, I will let your people go, just make it stop”.  Time and time again he said this and honestly, I thought of my experience on the roller coaster.  Weird huh?  Oh well, lets work with it…

Do you ever feel wishy-washy and up and down in your spiritual journey at times?  I know I do.  We have had an incredible spiritual journey these past 19 days, and in some ways at times, for me at least, it’s been a little up and down.  There have been some great spiritual moments and lessons, and there have been some challenging temptations to give in to appetite and instead of praying and seeking God, I grumbled and complained.

I don’t want to be wishy- washy do you?  I want to be rock solid on Him.  Totally abandoned, every day, sold out for Him and His Kingdom.  I dont want to give in to my flesh.  I want to be a sell out for God and His Kingdom.  Jesus talked about this today.  He told the guy, “give up everything for my sake.  And if you will do that, I will give you 100x more”.  Wow!  what a trade off for a sell out!  But, I often don’t see the eternal reward b/c I want the temporal thing right now, kind of like Pharoah.

Seek His Kingdom First!!!  As we approach these final days of this fast I want to encourage you to keep on seeking His Kingdom.  Just b/c the fast ends, doesn’t mean we have to end in our pursuit of Him.  Let’s give our lives every day for His Kingdom.  Try thinking at the beginning of the day and even throughout the day, what can I do for God’s Kingdom today?  How can I use my normal work day to build His Kingdom?  How can I be more focused on eternal rewards instead of the temporary rewards that will only come in this life?  It’s really the greatest ride of all!!

Mike

“Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you”? – Matt. 18:33

Just a few years ago I had a conversation with somebody who was a part of our church that was rather unpleasant.   Apparently, I was not measuring up to what they thought I should be and they were disappointed in me.  Well, the things said were hurtful and of course b/c I am such a spiritual giant (yeah right) I allowed those hurts to grow into bitterness.

Time went on and that bitterness began to grow and fester into this nasty ugly oozing resentment.  Basically, I was miserable.  I continued to focus on “my” hurt and unforgiveness settled into my heart and life resulting in this horrible period of my life where my whole outlook was damaged.  Then as a result of a time of fasting and study through David Nassar’s book “A Call to Die”, God convicted me of my unforgiving spirit.  I didn’t repent right away.  I didn’t forgive right away, but God (I love those words) wouldn’t leave me alone.

So, I acted out forgiveness, but I did not forgive like Jesus said to in our reading today, He said, “So shall my heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart“.  After a while of continuing to be miserable b/c I hadn’t truly forgiven, I went to meet with my brother in Christ.  It was a very humbling experience, but so, freeing, confessing is truly cleansing.  Our reading in Proverbs today captures it so well, “His own iniquities will capture the wicked, and he will be held with the cords of his sin.”

Why do I think or any of us think that withholding forgiveness is some sort of offensive strategy against another?  We think we are the ones hurting them, but in reality, and just like our reading today said, it is torture to us.  My sin of unforgiveness would have been my ruin, I was being held with the cords of my sin of holding a grudge.  The issue is not even with the other person, the issue is with me, and maybe you.  So, for mercy’s sake, let go!!

By the way, me and my brother in Christ, all is good, and we are “on mission” together continuing to build God’s Kingdom.  Forgiveness is that sweet spot for restoration to take place and to Honor the Name of our Great God!  For His Name and His Renown!!!

If you have something in your heart that you are holding against another, for mercy’s sake, the mercy by which you have been forgiven, let it go!  You’ll be glad you did!!  Love ya!

Mike

“For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help”. – Ps 22:24 -NLT

Sorry for the late post today gang.  I got busy working on our next message series and then it just hit me, “O snap, I didn’t do the post”, so, my B.  I hope it didn’t mess your schedules up too bad.  5 days left…are you disciplining yourself for spiritual breakthrough?  I hope you don’t give up, we all have come so far…

I think it is interesting how sometimes the various passages in the daily prayer calendar readings and the prayer items just seem to line up.  I know on our end we did not try to coordinate that but for today’s readings and prayer, they kind of go together.  Pretty cool man!

How does it make you feel to know that the Lord is watching you?  Fearful? Worried?  Thankful?  Humbled?  The last one is how I see the Israelites responded when they realized that God had heard their cries to Him from their slavery bondage in Egypt .  In our readings today we see them bowing low and worshipping when they realized that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their affliction.  Man, what a response!  Then in Psalms we see the passion to praise the name of God for who He is in front of others, “for He has not ignored or belittled the sufferings of the needy.  He has not turned His back on them, but has listened to their cries for help”.

What affliction are you experiencing right now?  For me its financial and a lack of faith like I wrote about yesterday and like so many others’ experience, but to be honest, its hard for me to focus on my affliction when I continue to think about the hundreds of thousands of people in Haiti who are sleeping  in the streets, hungry, and fighting each other for food and water and their lives.  Either way though, the Lord HEARS, our cries and their cries.   Just like the Israelites’ experience, at first it may seem like things get worse (remember, Pharoah made it harder on them and they wondered what’s up).  Well, the Lord hears, He knows, He is aware.  And when the time comes for Him to get the most glory, He will move, and it will be awesome!!  So, cry out to God!  He hears and responds.  Praise Him, Worship Him not because of what He will do for you and me, but simply because of who He is!  And as the Psalm writer said…”the afflicted will eat and be satisfied, those who seek Him will praise the Lord”!

Have a blessed day praising our Lord and enjoy Him!!

Mike

“…nothing shall be impossible to you” – Matt. 17:20

Matthew 17 is one of my favorite chapters.  The revelation of Jesus as the Son of God, the emphasis on faith and the provision of the tax in the fish’s mouth, all 3 are powerful passages.  I often wonder that I find myself  identifying with those in the reading today of little faith.  I must admit that of late, I have been experiencing a bit of a crisis of faith.

Man, I want to have BIG faith!  I get so inspired by those who have BIG faith that I want to be like them.  I think of many examples in the Bible of people who trusted so simply and I think, I want to be like them.  Jesus was often impressed by the faith of certain people, but like in today’s passage, He was also frustrated a little I think.  I wonder if He gets frustrated with me and my little faith.  Does He say to me, “How long shall I be with you”?, “how long shall I put up with you”?

Jesus doesnt say BIG faith is the key.  He says a little is good enough, even as much as a mustard seed.  Wow!  does this mean I don’t even have that much?  I think so.  I am so uninspiring.  But this very well might be the issue for my own crisis of faith.  Is my faith in Him or for the inspiration of others?  I soooo want it to be in Him, but if I am honest, I must admit that my faith is often not in Him.  Often, my faith is in my faith!!  Does that make sense?  In other words, instead of my focus being on the person of Jesus, and who He is, my focus is more on me, my abilities, my theology, my obedience, the perceptions of me by others, etc, etc.

Did you notice in the reading today that when Jesus speaks things happen?  He told the demon where to go and it did so, such power, He told the fish to come up to be caught and miraculously it became a first century ATM, such power.  There is a lot going on in your life and mine that causes us to come (like the disciples) whining to Jesus and say, “why couldn’t I do it”, the answer is, simply, trust, believe, have faith, not BIG faith, just as much as a mustard seed.  Trust in ME, He says!  In so doing, “nothing shall be impossible to, who?, YOU”  that’s me and you.

I know the right answer.  To overcome a crisis in Faith, I must trust in Jesus, in Him.  My prayer is that I will trust in Him for the “thing that I cannot do” and for what “I am able to do through Him Who works mightily within me”!  I want to feel that nothing is impossible!  I pray you want the same.  Have a blessed day full of faith!

Mike

“Jesus turned to Peter and said, Get away from me Satan!  You are a dangerous trap to me.  You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” -Matt. 16:23

Obviously, yesterday there was no post because it was our gathering day.  I trust you are remaining faithful with the fasting and prayer calendar requests and readings!!

Have you ever felt like your time is not your time?  Don’t we all look forward to the weekend or our day off to do whatever it is we want to do,  projects around the house, just putting some comfy clothes on and just lounging around being lazy, going somewhere, doing something fun, etc., etc.

But, it seems when we have something in our minds that we want to do or we think we would like to do, we start to look forward to it even if it is just a little bit and then something comes up and we don’t get to do that one thing we wanted to do, and we end up using “our time” for others.  If you are like me, self-centered, that can be upsetting and actually make you ill.

truthfully, “our” time is not “our time”.  Most of us would agree that when it comes to stewardship, money issues, that God owns it all.  Everything belongs to Him, so, why wouldnt we ‘give’ of “our money” to Him?  But, sometimes we don’t think that way about “our” time, when we should because time belongs to God also.  We must be good managers of His time and I am a big proponent of everyone observing a Sabbath, for spiritual reasons though, not selfish reasons!

In our reading today, Jesus told Peter that He was viewing things from an earthly perpective and not a eternal perspective.  If we could all just see that when things ‘come up’ and “get in the way” of what we had in mind of how we were going to spend “our time” as God’s working in our lives, then we might lean into what God is wanting for us or leading us into.

It really is hard to see life from an eternal perspective, but to do so truly is the way we should try to see life.  Today, if I could just see that my schedule is messed up because of something God is trying to do requiring me to miss a meeting, and work from home this morning, by giving my wife the opportunity to do a favor for a neighbor spend time with her and get to know her and initiate a relationship that might develop into a discipling opportunity, then I “wouldn’t be seeing things from a human point of view”.  Wow, I am so much like Peter!

I pray that I can look at things differently today.  I pray that I can see life through eternal lenses.  I pray the same for you.  try today to consider, “how might God be using this to redirect me and accomplish something He is leading me to?”

I pray you have a blessed day… Mike

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer”

– Ps 19: 14

Recently I have had several family members dealing with various health issues as it relates to their hearts.  Not long ago I found myself visiting with one of my family members waiting to have a “heart cath” in a holding area at a hospital known for being one of the best hospitals for cardiology in America.  this was a room probably 20×40 in size and had beds lined up on both sides all the way down.  I am not sure how many patients were in there but I guess it is safe to say probably around 20 or so and as they wheeled patients out for their procedure, they wheeled another one in their place all day long.

I had several thoughts.  One was I wish I was the doctor getting all that insurance money from all those procedures.  (sorry, I wish my first thought was spiritual, but, yes, I am very carnal at times, most of the time actually), anyway, another thought was to tell my daughter who is in college to focus her nursing on cardiology, b/c it seems like that is some good job security these days especially with the American diet and stressful culture,  pretty much guarantees that holding area will always be full, another thought was, God, I hope and pray I never have to come here as a patient (I am dreadfully fearful of heart surgery) and (ok, now the spiritual) that heart caths physically are not that much different than heart caths spiritually.

Jesus said in our reading today, “dont you understand yet?  what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart” And O what darkness lies beneath! Evil things, bad thoughts, murder, sexual sins, stealing, lying, gossip and slander, and all come from our nice clean hearts…annnnhhhhh…WRONG, our dirty, vile, clogged with sin hearts.  Well, I guess I should say “my, dirty, vile, clogged with sin heart”, I can’t speak for you, but I know the things I think about, and I know the profanity that comes from my mouth, (well, from under my breath, b/c God forbid that anyone hear me, the preacher cuss), and even more, and none of it is very God honoring and to be honest, it is quite ugly.  I am pretty sure that I need a heart cath.

Catheterization is in the Bible.  It is the greek word Katheridzo and found in numerous places, one of which is 1 John 1:9, its the word cleanse.  I can be cleansed inside if I go to the hospital of confession.  If I will confess, He will cleanse.  this is why David wrote for us today…

“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from these hidden faults.  Keep your servant from deliberate sins, Don’t let them control me, then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer”

I prayed these verses today.  I really like the “free of guilt” part, don’t you?  I am so thankful He is forgiving and patient with me.  Let these verses be your prayer as well…then enjoy living with a fresh, pumping, guilt free, cleansed heart.  Blessings to you today, enjoy your Saturday, see you tomorrow at Worship.

Mike

“Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go, guard them, for they are the key to life” -Prov. 4:13

I had a very interesting couple of days the first part of this week.  Two days in a row, I found myself stranded because of vehicles.  The first was Monday and it was the most interesting, the second was the next day and it was just ridiculous.  After my vehicle pooped out (Monday) on the side of the road leaving me and 3 middle school guys (we were going to play laser tag with the students) stranded, Tuesday I borrowed a friends truck to pick up some tables, well, try to pick up some tables, and started to smell something burning only to notice the cab was filling up with smoke, and I thought am I on fire?  After I stopped and opened the hood,  I realized the wiring under the hood was melting and I wasn’t going anywhere.

But that was Tuesday, back to Monday…As I stood on the side of the road watching the students pull away leaving me and my broken down car on the road, I thought ok, what do I do now Lord?  Just then, actually, a few minutes before, a car pulls up and a guy jumps out and I am thinking do I know this guy?  well, I didn’t he was just a good samaritan offering to help me out.  To make a long story short, comes out, he owns a shop and has a wrecker in the area and was willing to pick me up and have my car picked up, and he was willing to drop me off in Loganville.  Wow!  who does that anymore?

It was totally against my type a driven personality to trust him but I had the thought that God may have sent him, so, I could do things my way and it will probably cost me Lord knows how much or I could just lean into God’s providential direction, which I did.  I actually got into the car of a total stranger on his word that he would have my car picked up.  But something was telling me to do it, so I did.

We never really know how God is working in and around our lives do we?  I am sure Joseph felt the same when his brothers sold him into slavery.  But years later, he had an “aha” moment and realized the sovereign and providential plan of God, when he told his brothers God had sent him ahead of them to provide for them.  God is sovereign, which means He is in control of the circumstances of our lives, and His providence is the working out of His plan in our daily lives.  He is doing these things all the time and we cannot see them, so we never know how He is working.

I wonder how many times I have missed his providential plan b/c of my own stubborn, driven, “I’ll fix it mentality”.  If I could just learn to wait.  Wait patiently on the Lord.  Trust in Him and His Word.  “Take hold of His instruction, guard it, don’t let it go, they are the keys to life.”

And, by the way, the guy was a Christ follower and he was leaning into God’s providential plan for him too.  It was one of those divine appointments.  Have a great Friday, keep your eyes open for God’s sovereign and providential working in and around your life, whatever you are going through right now, good or bad, be assured God is working out His plan…you never know…

Mike

I hope all of you are staying consistent in your spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer.  God is working in you.  Don’t give up.  As we approach the weekend it’s easy to think I will just slack off and get back on track on Monday.  It is sometimes in these type of times that God works in the most profound ways.   Don’t give up or give in!!  Today’s devo is by Hal Wilson, our college community group leader.  He wrote last week also, and writes again today.  ‘Listen’ in to what he says…

Today’s readings continue to drive home an important truth to me: God’s way is perfect so why not listen?  In Psalm 18:30 it says “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (NKJV).  Why then is it such a struggle to submit to God?  Do I think I can do better than “perfect” and “proven?”  If someone offered me a “perfect and proven” way to fix my golf slice, become more handy around the house, be a better husband, etc. I think I would be interested.  Of course in today’s cynical society I’d want to know who came up with this so-called “perfect and proven plan that will shield me”…oh…God did.

So why do I often find myself getting caught up in what “I” think is best or what “I” think I should do?  For example, looking back “I” thought it might be too hard with my schedule and all my various other excuses to commit to the full Daniel Fast every day.  I know we don’t have to be legalistic, but I wonder if I truly sought God’s will or did I do what “I” thought was best?

Proverbs 4:7-10 in our readings for today basically says to me that if we listen and submit to God’s will that we will become wise and will be rewarded with understanding, honor, and grace.  I pray that we all continue to seek God’s will (Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”), trust in God’s plan (Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”), and follow it no matter what excuse or obstacle my small mind may find (John 2:26: Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me).

Happy listening.

Hal Wilson

Well, we are almost halfway through these 21 days of fasting everybody.  I hope you are experiencing incredible things.  By now, your bodies have gone through some radical changes and cleansings.  This time is sometimes the hardest b/c of all the poisions and toxins in our bodies.  There is something purifying about the discipline of fasting, not just for soul and mind, but also for our temples, the body.

I want to encourage you to persevere.  As we approach the last half of this time of fasting, my experience has taught me, that the most clear direction comes from the Lord during this time.  Remain disciplined.  God will show up in a big way as some people say (I struggle sometimes with that statement, God will show up, b/c He is Omnipresent, right, but as a figure of speach I think we all get the point).  God will do great and mighty things in our lives and through our lives if we are willing to remain focussed and not get off track.  “Stay full of Holy Spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh”, Galatians says, even those desires of the flesh to EAT!!  Hang in there!

When you and I are full of Holy Spirit, do you think we can see Him?  Do you think others can see Him?  In today’s reading in Genesis, the presence of God’s Spirit upon Joseph was clear and obvious.  In verse 38, Pharoah said, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the Spirit of God”.  God’s presence was obvious in Joseph.  So much that God exalted Him to second in command in Egypt.  Other Scriptures tell us that “those who humble themselves will be exalted but those who exalt themselves will be brought low”. The presence of God’s Spirit in our lives should be obvious.  In fact, we are told in Galatians 5 that His filling will produce attributes in you and me that look like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  The opposite is true as well.  The lack of God’s presence in our lives will look like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, anger, fighting, arguing, lack of unity, jealousy, envy, drinking & partying.

A pagan king (Pharoah) recognized the Spirit of God.  I believe this was because of the striking difference he saw in Joseph compared to others.  Holy Spirit made Joseph humble and wise.  Those two attributes go together by the way.  Joseph stood out because of the presence of God in his life.  Do you stand out?  Make sure when you get ready to go out, whether to work, or anywhere, that you not only focus on the externals of your temple but more importantly the internals of your temple.  Let God be seen!!

Love you all, praying for you too.

Mike