Monday, July 16, 2007

Giving all

"Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. He said, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4

May we all learn to give. Learn to die to self. Learn to look to God for all our needs. I don't know how to do that yet, but boy, do I wish I could have that kind of faith and live that way. I know that's what we are all called to do, but, I still have a lot of the world living in me and it keeps telling me that dying to self and giving all is irresponsible. Is it? I don't yet. I haven't had (haven't chosen) to live that way. I assume that at some point in our lives, especially if the world continues down the path we are going, we will have to learn how to have faith. How to give. How to die to self. How to love. How to be like Jesus.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Call - 07/07/07


"John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:1-2

Living in Nashville it was only a 20 minute drive to LP Field, home to the TN Titans. For others in my family it was a 31 hour flight from Thailand and a 12 hour drive from Texas...and for the other 80,000 plus who came to The Call, who knows how long it took and what sacrifices were made to be with believers for the purpose of repenting, fasting, praying, and worship with a house full of believers in Jesus.

This being an event led by those who are of the charismatic persuasion, it was sad how few churches in our area promoted the event and didn't encourage believers to attend. Love and unity...such a hard thing for the church. We pride ourselves on accepting non-believers into the fold, but we stand strong against those who believe in Jesus, the Saviour of all mankind, because of petty differences in doctrines. Even with that said, there were believers from all denominations , cultures, nations, that joined together and spent about 14 hours straight, asking the Lord to unite us all as a people.

As the Lord seems to be preparing His people for revival, the world seems to be getting closer and closer to another world war. This is a time that we must stand and unite, put away the silly differences, and seek the Lord in all we do. God will unite us...one way or another. I just pray that we will stand together as His church, one people, in days to come.