Who are you?

Rev. Matt Idom took the pulpit on Sunday, challenging us to make the Word personal.

Read Mark 2:1-12
(No Bible near? Click the Scripture reference to read online.)

The passage tells a story familiar to most of us. News had spread that Jesus was in a particular house and the crowds descended. Four men brought their paralyzed friend to Him on a mat but could not get through the mass of people. With no way in the door, they took drastic measures. They tore a hole in the roof and lowered him at Jesus's feet.

Rev. Idom asked us to consider who we might be in the story. There are many characters to choose from: those who made up the crowd, some in the house, some outside; the four men carrying their friend; the paralytic being carried on the mat; the teachers of the law; and there's also the man who owned the house.

And I ask you the same question now: Who are you?

Really, take time to read the passage more than once. Ask God who you are, why you are there, and what He wants to reveal about you through this Word.

Getting personal with God's Word is where transformation begins to take place.

But beware. Depending on how you respond to what His Word reveals you will either draw closer to Him through repentance or you will harden your heart through rebellion.

Sunday, as Matt read the passage, I asked these questions. What was revealed made me uncomfortable.

I was one of the people carrying the paralyzed friend on the mat to Jesus. (This is who I want to be.) But what was revealed when Matt asked the congregation: Were you the one who had the idea to go through the roof? I had to say No.

I'm more like the guy who stands and looks and only sees obstacles. There is no way to get him in there. I'm the one who tends to stop, be deterred, doubt when things get in the way or the way is long. Especially when it is someone I really care about. Someone I want to be healed. But it just seems like there's no way.

I struggle with unbelief. I need people around me right now to encourage me to find a way, to persevere in the face of discouragement.

In my acceptance of His revelation, I choose to ask Him to bring other Believers around me for encouragement, and confess my discouragement and unbelief when it comes to the long haul of bringing paralyzed souls to Jesus.

His Word shines light in our hearts and cuts to the core of what we are facing in our lives.

The process can be painful. We don't always want to know who we really are, because then we are challenged to deal with it or deny it.

But what I do know, is the process is critical to our growth as disciples of Jesus. And unless we allow Him to reveal and heal our hearts through His Word we will not be able to lead (or carry) anyone else to Him.

 For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 NIV84

Let His Word do its work in your life. 

Allow it to shine the light of truth in your heart. 

Ask Him to judge the thoughts and attitudes of your heart so you can know... who you are...

Carol Weaver

There Are No Dead-End Streets With Him

Rev. Lynn Wilhite spoke from the pulpit on Sunday.

Genesis 45:1-15 formed the basis of her message. Take time to read it now. Click the Scripture reference if you don't have a Bible with you and read it on-line.

Rev. Wilhite reviewed the entire story of Joseph and all the dead-end street experiences he had.

By faith Joseph recognized the Lord's presence each time:

In the horror of being sold into slavery by his brothers... The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. (Genesis 39:2)

In the false accusations of his master's wife and his unjust arrest... But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (Genesis 39:21)

As I re-read the Scripture, Joseph's attitude and his take on reality astound me. Because surely he should blame his brothers for his enslavement and Potiphar's wife for his unjust incarceration, but no. Joseph gives God credit for sending him to hard places.

...God sent me before you to preserve life.

... God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth...

So it was not you who sent me here, but God. ...

Genesis 45:5, 7-8 ESV

And I wonder... Do I see God's hand in the circumstances leading to dead-end streets? Do you?

Joseph learned to trust God's sovereignty even in terrible circumstances.

He remained faithful, no matter how far away God seemed.

He trusted God and His way even when it looked like it was going no where.

Joseph persevered to the end and recognized the power of God and His plan to preserve life. Joseph's and his entire family's.

And if we go farther in the story. We see Joseph's faith making the way for eternal life through Jesus for all of us. For all humanity.

This is the reality I want to live from. The one where God is sovereign. The one where God has supreme power to turn evil into good. The reality seen and experienced through faith and faithfulness.

The reality where God intentionally allows us to experience trials, end up on dead-end streets, because He knows when we trust in Him there are no dead-ends. And the experiences we gain when we choose faith help us to grow into a perfect people...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 1:2-4 ESV

Count in all joy... for there are no dead-end streets with Him...

Carol Weaver

Make Room for His Word

Rev. Faulk Landrum preached this past Sunday from John 8:31-37.
Take a moment to read the passage for yourself. If you don't have a Bible within reach, click the Scripture reference above to read online.

The reading of this Word began thoughts stirring.

Jesus said... "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples..."

Abide... there's a word to ponder. 

abide... verb... 1: to wait for: await 2 a: to endure without yielding: withstand b: to bear patiently: tolerate... 3: to accept without objection... verb transitive 1: to remain stable or fixed in a state 2: to continue in a place: sojourn... 

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.) 

To wait for... We wait for His Word, by trusting His promises. Awaiting His return by faith. Prepared. Readied.

To endure without yielding... Sometimes, His Word is hard to endure. It is not always what we want to hear or how we want to live. But we endure it. Not giving into temptation.

To bear patiently... His Word often comes with rebuke and conviction. We are to choose to come into agreement with Him regarding sin in our lives, accept what He says as true without objection.

To remain stable or fixed in a state... Here we are supposed to walk His Way. Not waver. Live firmly planted on the foundation of His Word.

To continue in a place... Ultimately, the place we abide is the place where we live. Our abode during our brief journey through this broken world. We are to live in His Word.

Jesus tells us that those who seek to kill Him --- silence Him --- do so because His Word finds no place in them.

These individuals do not abide in His Word. There is no place for it in their lives.

And the question rises... Is there a place in you for His Word?

Without abiding, living in and by His Word, there is no truth, no freedom.

"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 ESV

Consider whether His Word is your abode.

If not, begin to make a place for it in your life.

His Word is the only sure foundation for a life free to love others with compassion and without fear.

Carol Weaver

Satisfying Soul Food

Last Sunday, Dr. Jack Albright preached a message entitled Food for the Journey.

Read the Scripture passages he cited:
Isaiah 55:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
If you can't reach a Bible, click the references above to read them online.

Old Testament and New, God offers us food for life's journey.

According to Dr. Albright, there is only one requirement for receiving this soul food...

You have to be hungry for the journey with Christ.

Jesus invites the hungry.

And I wonder... Are you hungry for Him? am I?

Whatever we hunger for we pursue in an effort to satisfy the ache.

Do you find satisfaction in what you hungrily pursue?

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear that your soul may live...

Isaiah 55:1-3 ESV

What God offers through Jesus guarantees satisfaction, fulfillment, delight. All at no cost. You just have to be hungry for Him.

Consider whether you are satisfied with what you indulge in daily.
If you find it lacking, remember there is something better.
Someone better. Guaranteed to be good.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8 NIV84

Don't waste your money, time, or energy on anything less than the Best.
The Bread of Life.
Satisfying soul food.

Carol Weaver