A blog produced by Rolling Fork Baptist Church designed to help Christians live out their faith in their homes, their work places, their schools, and their communities.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
A REALLY GREAT PRAYER
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:9-12 (ESV)
How many times have we tried to pray about something but felt God wasn't letting us past the fact that we had some unconfessed sin in our hearts? You may be saying something like, "But God, that's not why I am praying." God's Word is very clear that until we get things right with Him, our prayer lives are hindered. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalms 66:18 (ESV)
So how do we get things right with God?
1. ASK GOD TO FORGIVE ALL OF YOUR SINS AND NAME THEM SPECIFICALLY. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. When my boys were school, I would not have wanted one of them to come into the house and say 'Dad, I got into trouble today at school... see you after while!". I would have stopped them and asked 'EXACTLY what did you do?". God already knows what we have done but He wants us to confess it to Him and not try to cover it up with the old "God, please forgive me of all of sins (whatever they are)".
2. ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU A FRESH START BY REPLACING THE DESIRES THAT GOT YOU INTO TROUBLE. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. If we try to change our habits without changing the desire to do such things, we will always struggle and be upset with ourselves. A clean heart and a right spirit is the only way to see a real change take place that will last.
3. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU STAY CLOSE TO HIM. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit does so many things and yet so many of us don't realize how much we need His presence in our lives. The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting us and drawing us to Jesus, He helps us understand God's Word, He comforts and guides us, and so much more. I can't make it without Him in my life, can you?
4. ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU REAL JOY AND STRENGTH TO HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PRESENT SITUATIONS. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. People of all cultures are still trying to find joy in the things that the world offers but they will always come up empty. You will never find true joy apart from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 (ESV)
I hope and pray that you start this New Year with a clean slate, a focused mind, and a committed heart for God this coming year. God bless you!
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:9-12 (ESV)
How many times have we tried to pray about something but felt God wasn't letting us past the fact that we had some unconfessed sin in our hearts? You may be saying something like, "But God, that's not why I am praying." God's Word is very clear that until we get things right with Him, our prayer lives are hindered. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalms 66:18 (ESV)
So how do we get things right with God?
1. ASK GOD TO FORGIVE ALL OF YOUR SINS AND NAME THEM SPECIFICALLY. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. When my boys were school, I would not have wanted one of them to come into the house and say 'Dad, I got into trouble today at school... see you after while!". I would have stopped them and asked 'EXACTLY what did you do?". God already knows what we have done but He wants us to confess it to Him and not try to cover it up with the old "God, please forgive me of all of sins (whatever they are)".
2. ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU A FRESH START BY REPLACING THE DESIRES THAT GOT YOU INTO TROUBLE. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. If we try to change our habits without changing the desire to do such things, we will always struggle and be upset with ourselves. A clean heart and a right spirit is the only way to see a real change take place that will last.
3. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU STAY CLOSE TO HIM. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit does so many things and yet so many of us don't realize how much we need His presence in our lives. The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting us and drawing us to Jesus, He helps us understand God's Word, He comforts and guides us, and so much more. I can't make it without Him in my life, can you?
4. ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU REAL JOY AND STRENGTH TO HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PRESENT SITUATIONS. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. People of all cultures are still trying to find joy in the things that the world offers but they will always come up empty. You will never find true joy apart from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 (ESV)
I hope and pray that you start this New Year with a clean slate, a focused mind, and a committed heart for God this coming year. God bless you!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?
25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. Prov 4:25-27 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
It's that time again... another year is almost over. [I am not ignoring the fact that one of the greatest holidays is about happen... Christmas is just 9 days away. 'If there wasn't any Christmas, there would be no Easter.'] Another year to look back and ask all of those questions like 'How did I do at ____________?', 'Was this a good year or not?', etc. But after reading today's Bible verses, I am really dealing with this question "What direction is my last 12 months pointing to? As a Christian? As a pastor? As a husband? As a father? As an influence on those around me each week?"
I think this is an important question for all of us to ask ourselves, not only at the end of the year, but every day. If the Lord allows me to still be here this time next year, will I see progress and improvement in my life? Will I just go through the motions and rituals of life? Will I see my life going the wrong direction as far as priorities, character, and love are concerned? What about five years down the road? Ten?
Look at these verses again...
25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. Prov 4:25-27 (AMP)
Powerful! Let me quickly walk you through these verses and see how you can apply God's wisdom to your life as well.
1. STAY FOCUSED. 25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. I heard a saying years ago that said "Keep the main thing the main thing." and that is so true. We need to stay focused on what really matters and not sweat the small stuff as much as we do. My wife is constantly and lovingly telling me that I let stuff bother me way too easily. [Lord, please help me with that.]
2. STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK. 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. In addition to staying focused on what really matters, understand where you are supposed to be going and take the necessary steps to get you there. You can't get there if you don't know where 'there' is. Got it? [Lord, please help me with that one too.]
3. STAY CLOSE TO JESUS. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. You will tempted at times to step off the path to the right or to the left, but don't do it. You will never have true joy, true peace, true strength, or true satifaction unless you stay close to Jesus. The world can't give it to you, sex can't give it to you, alcohol can't give it to you, drugs can't give it to you, money can't give it you, possessions can't give it to you, (do I need to go any farther?)... only Jesus can give you all that. He said in John 10:10 that He came so that you and I could have an abundant life. A real life. [Lord, I need this one just as much as the first two.]
Pray with me, please... Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all of the bad decisions we have made this past year. Please forgive us for all of the wrong actions that we have done and give us a fresh slate today as we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. May this not be a passing thought, but a true way of life for each one of us. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. Prov 4:25-27 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
It's that time again... another year is almost over. [I am not ignoring the fact that one of the greatest holidays is about happen... Christmas is just 9 days away. 'If there wasn't any Christmas, there would be no Easter.'] Another year to look back and ask all of those questions like 'How did I do at ____________?', 'Was this a good year or not?', etc. But after reading today's Bible verses, I am really dealing with this question "What direction is my last 12 months pointing to? As a Christian? As a pastor? As a husband? As a father? As an influence on those around me each week?"
I think this is an important question for all of us to ask ourselves, not only at the end of the year, but every day. If the Lord allows me to still be here this time next year, will I see progress and improvement in my life? Will I just go through the motions and rituals of life? Will I see my life going the wrong direction as far as priorities, character, and love are concerned? What about five years down the road? Ten?
Look at these verses again...
25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. Prov 4:25-27 (AMP)
Powerful! Let me quickly walk you through these verses and see how you can apply God's wisdom to your life as well.
1. STAY FOCUSED. 25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. I heard a saying years ago that said "Keep the main thing the main thing." and that is so true. We need to stay focused on what really matters and not sweat the small stuff as much as we do. My wife is constantly and lovingly telling me that I let stuff bother me way too easily. [Lord, please help me with that.]
2. STAY ON THE RIGHT TRACK. 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. In addition to staying focused on what really matters, understand where you are supposed to be going and take the necessary steps to get you there. You can't get there if you don't know where 'there' is. Got it? [Lord, please help me with that one too.]
3. STAY CLOSE TO JESUS. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil. You will tempted at times to step off the path to the right or to the left, but don't do it. You will never have true joy, true peace, true strength, or true satifaction unless you stay close to Jesus. The world can't give it to you, sex can't give it to you, alcohol can't give it to you, drugs can't give it to you, money can't give it you, possessions can't give it to you, (do I need to go any farther?)... only Jesus can give you all that. He said in John 10:10 that He came so that you and I could have an abundant life. A real life. [Lord, I need this one just as much as the first two.]
Pray with me, please... Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all of the bad decisions we have made this past year. Please forgive us for all of the wrong actions that we have done and give us a fresh slate today as we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. May this not be a passing thought, but a true way of life for each one of us. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
VIDEO- 'Mary's Reality Check'
What does the angel's announcement to Mary have to do with the stressful situations that you and I go through? Watch these videos and find out...
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