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.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
"WHAT GETS WET AS IT DRIES?"
Last night, our son, Blake, asked us a riddle. "What gets wet as it dries?" Rhonda and I didn't guess the answer so he gave it to us... "a TOWEL". We laughed because it was a good riddle but this morning after my prayer time in my office, I thought about the connection between that towel and our church family (no, I am not asking you to figure out this riddle.). When you use a towel, you want one that is dry and clean. As you use the towel, the moisture is removed from you by the towel. And once the towel has done it's job, you feel better, right? (I know what you thinking right now... you are thinking "so what does that have to do with your church family?")
You wanted the towel because you were needing something to remove something (water in this case) from your body. If the towel was already wet, it would not dry you and if the towel was dirty, it would get you dirty as well.
Maybe there is something in your life, not "just on your body", that needs to be removed. If you have a church family, they can help share that burden with you. In fact, just as the towel did it's job by taking the water off your body, the church family does it's 'job' by taking some of the burden off you. If the church family wasn't ready to do it's job (like a dry towel), it couldn't help you either. And if the church family wasn't spiritually minded (clean), they couldn't and wouldn't help you. I like what my wife just told me. She says a towel can wrap around you to warm you up. And can a church family.
That's why it is so important that we pray for each other continually. That's why we should ask "how can I pray for you today?". God does not want to us to try and carry our own burdens without giving them to Him. Our church family helps us take those burdens off of our backs and lay them at the feet of Jesus. So, my friend, how can I pray for you?
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (ESV)
You wanted the towel because you were needing something to remove something (water in this case) from your body. If the towel was already wet, it would not dry you and if the towel was dirty, it would get you dirty as well.
Maybe there is something in your life, not "just on your body", that needs to be removed. If you have a church family, they can help share that burden with you. In fact, just as the towel did it's job by taking the water off your body, the church family does it's 'job' by taking some of the burden off you. If the church family wasn't ready to do it's job (like a dry towel), it couldn't help you either. And if the church family wasn't spiritually minded (clean), they couldn't and wouldn't help you. I like what my wife just told me. She says a towel can wrap around you to warm you up. And can a church family.
That's why it is so important that we pray for each other continually. That's why we should ask "how can I pray for you today?". God does not want to us to try and carry our own burdens without giving them to Him. Our church family helps us take those burdens off of our backs and lay them at the feet of Jesus. So, my friend, how can I pray for you?
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 (ESV)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
WOULD YOU PRAY FOR US?
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:2-6 (ESV)
These verses really grabbed my attention this week. I know I have read them many times before but not like this time. As a pastor, I am experiencing a personal revival right now and have been for the last few weeks. As energizing as that is, I also see even more need for us to pray for each other, for our churches, our communities, our nation, and yes, our world.
As we pray, we need to be thankful to God for all that He is, has done, and has promised to do. We need to pray for all pastors, worship leaders, teachers, deacons, trustees, etc. We need to pray for all those who work in the church's nurseries and kitchens. We need to pray for those who type the bulletins and those who clean the floors. BECAUSE OUR CHURCHES NEED TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR JESUS CHRIST. WILL YOU PRAY FOR US?
These verses really grabbed my attention this week. I know I have read them many times before but not like this time. As a pastor, I am experiencing a personal revival right now and have been for the last few weeks. As energizing as that is, I also see even more need for us to pray for each other, for our churches, our communities, our nation, and yes, our world.
As we pray, we need to be thankful to God for all that He is, has done, and has promised to do. We need to pray for all pastors, worship leaders, teachers, deacons, trustees, etc. We need to pray for all those who work in the church's nurseries and kitchens. We need to pray for those who type the bulletins and those who clean the floors. BECAUSE OUR CHURCHES NEED TO REACH MORE PEOPLE FOR JESUS CHRIST. WILL YOU PRAY FOR US?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"HISTORY MAKERS AND WORLD SHAKERS"
I have been blessed to be included in a special prayer group and today was my first day with these men. When my friend, Dan, prayed, I was so overwhelmed with how beautiful and how powerful his prayer was. As we prayed together, I felt so much of God's presence in the room and then it happened... Dan used a phrase that grabbed my attention and would not let go... "Lord, make us history makers and world shakers...". WOW, what an awesome way to say, "Lord, help us do our part in fulfilling Your mission here on earth.".
So often, we pray things like "Lord, take care of me and give me what I want...". You might as well admit it because deep down you know that I am right. We are to ask God for our 'daily bread' but we are not to be the focus in all of our prayer. The best way to see your prayer answered is to pray for somebody else. And nothing is more important than praying for the salvation of someone else.
So, Lord, just as Dan requested... please help us become history makers and world shakers. Give us eyes that see what You see. Give us ears to hear what You hear. And give us boldness to act upon what we see and hear. Amen.
So often, we pray things like "Lord, take care of me and give me what I want...". You might as well admit it because deep down you know that I am right. We are to ask God for our 'daily bread' but we are not to be the focus in all of our prayer. The best way to see your prayer answered is to pray for somebody else. And nothing is more important than praying for the salvation of someone else.
So, Lord, just as Dan requested... please help us become history makers and world shakers. Give us eyes that see what You see. Give us ears to hear what You hear. And give us boldness to act upon what we see and hear. Amen.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. - A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. - A Franciscan Benediction
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