It was good to see the group of people gathered together for prayer this morning. There is no better way to start a day than by fellowshipping with God. Not only can we present our needs, we can just say "hello," thank Him for His presence, rejoice ahead of time for His guidance, and offer worship to Him for who He is. When I leave the house in the morning, I kiss my wife and say "goodbye" to her. Why can't I be as friendly, if not more friendly, with God? Is prayer a part of your morning with God? Do you wake up each day and greet your best friend, the Lord Who saved you? If not, why not start tomorrow?
Thursday - April
27, 2006
Geof Jackson (Director of Grace School of
Ministry) told me when he arrived home from church on Easter morning, he saw his neighbors mowing their lawns. They had not gone to church despite the fact they all had good church homes. There is a trend across our country to stay home from church and think things will be alright. Don't let that thought control your life. You need the fellowship of God's people though you may think you are spiritually strong enough to neglect going to church. A hot piece of coal needs the presence of other pieces of coal to remain hot. When separated from the stack of burning coal, a single piece of coal will cool off and become covered with soot. When put back into the stack, it will begin to burn again and become red hot. "Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25).
Wednesday - April
26, 2006
Today is my day to study and pray for the Wednesday evening service. I am teaching on the Glory of the Church and gaining a whole new appreciation for the day we live in. It is fun to learn of Moses and the children of Israel who traveled through the desert. But I am glad I do not live in those days. I am more appreciative than ever of the Holy Spirit Who lives in me and the completed Word of God, the Bible I own. You and I have much to be thankful for. Let's celebrate together this evening around God's Word and the fellowship of the saints. Wednesday evening is a great break during the week to renew fellowship with our Creator and each other!
Graduation day for the *School of the Local Church is coming next month. After teaching the class this morning, it made me more aware of the need of churches across our country for ministers who know God's Word and will not back down by pressures from the world. I can't guarantee our nation will remain peaceful in the days to come. We may see more acts of terrorism. But I will guarantee the Word of God will be needed more than ever and churches who preach the Word will be high on people's priority list. Join me in prayer today for our SLC graduating class of 06.
*Note: School of the Local Church will be expanded from one year to a two-year ministry training school beginning in the 2006-2007 school year. The name has been changed to Grace
School of Ministry.
The word found quite often in the Psalms, Selah, means to stop and reflect on what has just been said. It is found in the middle and end of many of David's writings. I do this quite often while listening to a tape or CD in my car. When something the minister says strikes me, I stop the message and think on it. In fact, I stopped my car in a Quik Trip parking lot this morning while listening to a message and wrote down some thoughts. Monday should be our Selah day. It is the day to think about what has been taught the day before in church and make it a deeper part of our Christian walk. Happy Selah day!
Today is my day to put in much time into the sermon
for Sunday. Friday is my day of study and note preparation.
Saturday is my day of prayer. I have really been enjoying
the series on Creation. I have taught some of this
before, but it is always new. Sometimes I feel like
David when I look at the stars and universe. Who am
I that God would even think of me? I am glad He sent
Jesus to die for me. And I am glad He made this great
earth for me to live on. Sunday's service should be
great.
Thursday - April 20, 2006 May is coming quickly and the School of the Local
Church will be graduating class number twenty-one.
Geof (Director of Grace
School of Ministry) has told
me about the upcoming schedule and cirriculum for next
year’s change over to a two year program. It
should be exciting. Along with all the improvements
and name changes, the School of the Local Church will
become Grace School of Ministry. I want the congregation
to join me in prayer for the students across the country
to hear from the Holy Spirit and attend. Their lives
will be blessed and enriched. I pray for Geof and Jan
also to have God's wisdom in training the new students.
Wednesday - April 19, 2006 I have been talking to Chip (Associate Pastor of Grace
Church) about the Ounce of Prevention Seminar we are
hosting on Friday, April 28. I am trusting God for many
churches and Christian schools to be able to attend
and not have to go through the trouble we went through.
I want our lessons to be passed on to others so it
can be said of them that "the children of light
are wiser than the children of darkness.” I
want Satan to have no more victories in the lives of
our children. Oh yes, our church service is tonight.
I pray for all who attend to be strengthened in the
Word they learn.
The church is preparing for the
leadership simulcast on May 5 for business men and
women. God really loves business. He blesses it so
we can use the finances to preach the gospel. Nothing
is closer to God's heart than winning souls and anything
which helps win souls is going to be blessed by Him.
I am praying for many men to be able to attend and
learn about how to get along with others in authority
so your business will prosper.
I know Christmas is celebrated at the wrong time of
the year. Jesus was not born in December, but in a
warmer month. But we do know Easter is celebrated at
the right time. It just makes sense, doesn't it? God
would want Jesus to be raised from the dead when everything
was in bloom and all of nature spoke of rebirth. That's
a good thing to think about now that we have just celebrated
Easter. That should make for a good Monday.
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