Month: June 2018

GET TOGETHER- IT’S A TEAM THING!

1Co 12:14-18 For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

This past weekend my son-in love Shaun and two of our grandsons Judah and Micah participated in a Father – Son Basketball Camp at Missouri State University where our son Jake is an Assistant Coach. We all had a great time!

During the camp Head Coach Dana Ford answered questions as we sat in the team meeting room. He also shared some of his coaching philosophy. He told us that in a team sport such as Basketball that it isn’t about the individual, but about the team. He shared that for those that may not buy into the team concept that perhaps they should pursue another sport that is about the individual rather than the team. That made think about how the church is like a team.

Certainly, God loves us individually. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We can now have a personal relationship with Him because of that. However, the Bible also points out that we are saved to serve. We are to be in a loving relationship first with God, but also in a loving relationship with other members of the Body of Christ.

All of us have an important and essential role to play in the Body of Christ. I cannot say of Christians that may be in another part of the Body of Christ that I have no need of you. You can’t either. We may not always serve side by side. We may have different worship styles, but we are one body. We all need each other’s prayers. We all need each other’s love and support.

Within our local congregations we all need one another. For example, I just had to call one of our members to come and check something here at the church that really isn’t in my area of expertise. God has created all of us in some way to contribute to the body. Don’t ever think that what you are doing even if no one see it, but God is not important.

As the Body of Christ, we have an important assignment. We are called to advance the Kingdom of God upon the earth. If you are a hand, ask God to anoint that hand to use for His glory. If you are an eye, or a foot, do the same.

When we have a personal relationship with Christ that does not mean that we have a private relationship with Christ. Jesus said it like this:

Joh 17:20 -23 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” The writer in Hebrews says it like this : Heb 10:24,25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We have no other option, but to be team players. But what a glorious option that is. This team never loses and one day we will see our opponent that is already defeated put away forever: Re 20:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Be a team player! Help recruit others to the team! The benefits are eternal!

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus forgive us for the times that we have not been team players. Today help us through the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling in the Body of Christ. We pray as eyes we will see, as ears we will hear what the Holy Spirit is saying ,and as feet we will go where you have commanded us to go.

In Jesus Name

Amen

For the sake of being modest I won’t share about my performance at the Camp. You can check with the coaching staff. (Lol)

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston

GET TOGETHER-  He Shall Direct Us In All Things

Joh 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (NKJV)

 

When I was about twenty years old I coached a Junior High Football Team. I made many mistakes during those two years.   There is one that stands out to me and that I would learn from.  It happened like this.  One time was when  I changed a play when I yelled the change to a player that I was sending in off the bench.   He was so far out on the field that he could not understand me.   The play that he thought I called sounded like the play that we needed to run, but it wasn’t the one that we needed to run, and we got tackled for a loss at a very crucial time.   It was not the players fault. It was mine.

When we need direction from God we don’t need to be concerned that He is going to tell us what to do at the wrong time. His timing is always perfect.   Although the voice of the Lord is powerful and can reach us at any physical distance we can allow some things to distance ourselves from the Lord that would inhibit us from hearing His voice.

We can let being busy with even good things that inhibit us from spending time with God. We can begin to read the word prayerlessly and it becomes like homework rather than enjoying intimacy with our Heavenly Father. 

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. We don’t have to wonder, or guess what truth is.  He will reveal the Father’s will for us in our congregation, our families, our calling in life, and every other aspect of our lives. He will never misunderstand what the Father is saying.  He will always communicate the right play to run at the right time. 

 He will also tell us what to do in the future. We don’t have to guess, and we don’t have to wonder.  We are reminded of all these things throughout the Scriptures Pr 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will speak to us. This morning as I was praying about a matter after some good quality time with the Lord I heard the small still voice of the Lord tell me what to do concerning this matter. In Joh 10:27 we are told “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (NKJV) He never miscommunicates. He never leads us in a wrong direction.

There were some things that I probably should have thought about as I was trying to change the play that I was sending in by the young man. I should have thought about was he able to hear what I was shouting at the distance that he was from me.  He was also a young player and was probably a little nervous.   Our Heavenly Father knows the perfect way and the perfect time to get His message to us. It is our responsibility to be seeking, listening, and then doing what He says.

 Today He is speaking to those who will listen. Don’t let sin, or fleshly distractions keep you from hearing His voice and obeying His voice. And as I said earlier don’t let the busyness of life hinder you from hearing His voice.  If we don’t let those things interfere we will hear what to do and what not to do. Then we can walk in victory because He knows what is ahead of us. And He has planned a good future for His children Jer 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

 

Let Us Pray

 

Lord Jesus today we pray that You will help us to be good listeners to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.   We know that the Father has the perfect plan for every part of our lives. Root out the junk in us that inhibits us from hearing the small still voice of the Holy Spirit.

 

In Jesus Name

Amen

 

Blessing to all of you! May we all hear His voice and obey His voice. When we do we can get ready for some God things to come our way!

 

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston

 

Today as we were returning home from Springfield Missouri there was a man getting gas right beside us at a station about thirty miles out of Springfield. He had on a T- shirt. On the front it said I have been found. On the back it said “it was right that we should make merry” from Luke 15:32. No matter what you have done there is a Father willing to find you, forgive you, and throw a party to celebrate your return home. Come home today, and let the party begin! “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.  It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Luke 15:31-32 NKJV

GET TOGETHER–   TRUST HIM TO DO IT!

Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (NKJV)

 

 

This verse comes from one of my favorite Psalms that have so many of the promises of God in them.  I am so glad that Jesus paid the price for His children to be able to receive the promises of God. The Apostle Paul said it like this in “ 2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (NKJV)

 

Sometimes God allows challenges to come to our life that only He can take care of for us.  Recently J.J. had challenged me to begin to read the passages about trusting God as we were discussing some situations that were challenging to us.

As I began to read and print off several passages on trusting God this one has really stuck with me in a good way.   As Christians we have all put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. As we progress on this journey there are challenges that will come our way to see if we are willing to trust Him in these various circumstances and situations. This is a big part of growing as a Christian.

 

Did you notice that in the passage from Psalms the first thing that we are to do after we trust the Lord is to do good? That is one reason that the enemy will try to get us to believing that we cannot trust God. He wants to inhibit us from doing good.  Remember The serpent convinced Eve that she could not trust God:

           

 

Ge 3:1-5¶ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'”  Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

 

Think about this it was the Lord’s desire that they trust Him, do good, dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.  Look what happened because of their mistrust of God.

             Today God desires to do good to His children. There will be times that the enemy will try to convince us that we cannot trust God in certain situations and circumstances.  When this happens, we can either be like Eve and suffer the consequences, or we can feed on the faithfulness of God and dwell in the land as He desires for us to do.   Below are some passages on trust.  This week get some time alone with God and begin to declare these passages over your situations and circumstances.  I believe that when you do you are going to walk in a new level of trust and watch God do some things in you, and for you that only God can do.

 

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus we thank You that You are always calling us to a higher level of trust. We praise you that there are things that only can be done by the Father-Son-and Holy Spirit on our behalf. We are going to declare your word over them and watch for God to work in a way that it could only be God that did it and that only God can get the Glory for it.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Ps 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.

Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Ps 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

Ps 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

Ps 115:9 ¶ O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.

Ps 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.

We love you guys thanks for your love and encouragement.

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston

GET TOGETHER– TRUST HIM TO DO IT!

Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (NKJV)

This verse comes from one of my favorite Psalms that have so many of the promises of God in them. I am so glad that Jesus paid the price for His children to be able to receive the promises of God. The Apostle Paul said it like this in “ 2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (NKJV)

Sometimes God allows challenges to come to our life that only He can take care of for us. Recently J.J. had challenged me to begin to read the passages about trusting God as we were discussing some situations that were challenging to us.

As I began to read and print off several passages on trusting God this one has really stuck with me in a good way. As Christians we have all put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. As we progress on this journey there are challenges that will come our way to see if we are willing to trust Him in these various circumstances and situations. This is a big part of growing as a Christian.

Did you notice that in the passage from Psalms the first thing that we are to do after we trust the Lord is to do good? That is one reason that the enemy will try to get us to believing that we cannot trust God. He wants to inhibit us from doing good. Remember The serpent convinced Eve that she could not trust God:

Ge 3:1-5¶ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Think about this it was the Lord’s desire that they trust Him, do good, dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Look what happened because of their mistrust of God.

Today God desires to do good to His children. There will be times that the enemy will try to convince us that we cannot trust God in certain situations and circumstances. When this happens, we can either be like Eve and suffer the consequences, or we can feed on the faithfulness of God and dwell in the land as He desires for us to do. Below are some passages on trust. This week get some time alone with God and begin to declare these passages over your situations and circumstances. I believe that when you do you are going to walk in a new level of trust and watch God do some things in you, and for you that only God can do.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus we thank You that You are always calling us to a higher level of trust. We praise you that there are things that only can be done by the Father-Son-and Holy Spirit on our behalf. We are going to declare your word over them and watch for God to work in a way that it could only be God that did it and that only God can get the Glory for it.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Ps 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.

Ps 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

Ps 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

Ps 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

Ps 115:9 ¶ O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 115:10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.

Ps 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.

Ps 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.

We love you guys thanks for your love and encouragement.

Your Friend/Kinfolk

Preston