Why are you there ?

1 Kings 19

⁹ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
¹⁰ And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
¹¹ And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
¹³ And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said,
 What doest thou here, Elijah?

   Knowing where you are going is not as important as knowing why you are there !

 Knowing why God has you at a place in your life is difficult. But, I would rather be at a place that I don't understand, than to get into a place  that God doesn't want me. Elijah knew why he was in that cave. He was hiding from his purpose and God calls him out and asks: Why ?. Fear, lack of trust, pride, self inflated views of ourselves, and a general lack of compassion are all reasons we can end up in places that can leave God asking us :  What are you doing there ?  Where as : Love , Joy, Peace, long suffering, humility, and self control may lead us to places we don't want to be, but are places God expects us to be.

    

Branch youth group !!

Tonight we started a new youth group and it was a blast !  6 middle school kids and they were great ! Please pray for them .
May our Lord bless !

Russell

Faith

 

From :http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

 

Just then a having an issue of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak. She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter, “ He said, “Your faith has healed you. And the woman was healed from that moment. (Matthew 9:20-22)

I resonate deeply with this woman. I can see her, reaching out for his hem. I can feel the strain, that desperate reaching, longing just to touch Him, just even the very edge. A longing for only Him.

I am the woman with the issue of blood. Except I am the woman with the issue of doubt. I am the woman with the issue of sin, with the issue of flesh, with the issue of forgetfulness. I am a woman who wants to snap my arms shut and protect, fold my arms tight around this chest to guard my heart that is still so raw and exposed from being broken. I want to gather these children to myself and shelter them from the ugly hurt of this world.

But I can’t fold my arms and simultaneously reach out for my Savior. I reach for Him and I have no choice but to fling my arms wide again. I reach for Betty’s hand and I know, just like that woman, I must seek Him. I must know Him. “If only I touch His cloak…”

And do you know what? He isn’t out of reach. I stretch out my arm and I realize that He is right here, just two steps in front of me, clearing the way. The sweet promises of Isaiah flood my mind, “His robe filled the temple.” I reach and I feel that His hem is wide, enough for me and for you and today and tomorrow. Enough to fill and enough to overflow.

Some time last week in the too-early hours of the morning, I asked God why He allowed me to believe so strongly that Katherine would live when she wasn’t actually going to. I can usually get a pretty good sense for those things. It is hard for me to think that My Father saw me in my hope, He knew I was believing, and He simultaneously knew the ending. I think He answered that He gave me the grace to believe that she would live so that in her final days she would feel hope and high spirits all around her, so that she would feel that she was fought for and that she was worth the fight. She was worth it.

Its His message to us on the cross and it is His message to the woman with the issue of blood as He stoops down to look into her eyes, to speak to her, to meet her need: “You are worth it.” And I want it to be my message to these hurting that He brings into our lives: You, you are worth it. We are for you. He is for you.

I want my life to be found in chasing after Him and I want my arms to be filled, not just reaching for, but gathering in the hem of Jesus. His robe fills the temple. His glory fills the earth. I want my arms to be filled with gathering His grace, His love, His goodness. I want to follow Him wherever He is going and be so full of Him that He is overflowing out of my arms, out of my very life. Even when it means reaching out my hand with a smile to a situation that might hurt, will hurt.  He gave me the grace to hope. And so I am asking that He would give more grace, again, even if it is harder to grasp this time. Grace to feel joy and grace to hope for life and grace to fight hard, because people are worth the fight. Grace to have arms so filled with Him that they have to remain open, and that He spills out.

John 1:4-5
(4)  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(5)  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

 As Spring brings forth new life, as will the light of all men. Jesus is the light of life. May our Lord shine through our live this Spring, so that darkness maybe conquered. Life is not defined in years, but by action. Shine as if this day were your last. Tomorrow will come fast enough. 

Watch the Lamb

 Easter is quickly approaching. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the word will be celebrated around the world. May we truly worship the One who made all things possible. Jesus gave us everything, may our lives be hidden with His.

Whom Shall We Fear ?

Never gives up ....

The rest of the story

http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Compare to the message that many are hearing in our area..

Childerns Missions 2013

Below are links to ministries that reveal the true power of Love of Christ. 

Alex's House

Uganda Missions "Amazima" ( Katie)

James 1:27
(27)  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Faith......

You have got to read this !

"So these are your treatment options..." I choke back a sob and let my voice trail off. How do I present a 30 year old mother of 5 with the fact that we've already done all we can do? "...I will support you, whatever you choose." I turn so she doesn't see me blink back the tears.

"For me, I would like to choose life." The words are steady, certain. "My children are still so young. I would like to live."

I choke with all the times I have taken this breath in my lungs for granted. The tears burn hot but I try not to let them fall. Not yet. Its not over yet. Yes, dear friend, oh yes, how I want you to live.

There are days we stare death in the face around here. Sometimes the right diet and medication just isn't enough and the heart pumps too hard and the chest heaves for breath and we see it coming. Other times we blink and a life is gone. Sometimes friends cling tightly to life and are given a miraculous second chance. Other times they cling to my hand as I whisper that Jesus is right on the other side and they slip away to be with Him. I feel it coming, but I don't want to. I watch her smile at her children and I can't help but hope. I know the God who works miracles, the One who calls things that are not as though they were. I know Him, and I can't help but ask it, "Oh Lord, might she live?"

I think of a few men carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat, desperate to lay him at the feet of Jesus. I think of how cumbersome it must have been to try to get him up on that roof, how difficult it must have been to remove the tiles so they could lower him down through the ceiling to the Lord, into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus (Luke 5:17-25). I think I know the desperation they must have felt, the urgency to get him there. I remember that because of the faith of the men, Jesus forgave their friend's sin, and for His glory alone, He healed that man's legs as well, told him to get up and walk.

I know this God.

And I, too, want to choose life.

And even when I have seen one too many die of this horrible, life-sucking disease we call AIDS, I want to choose to fight. And even when temptation and despair is overwhelming, I want to choose hope. And even when man's sin and depravity threaten to be all consuming, I want to choose the victory that is in Christ Jesus.

I want to choose Life.

I know the prognosis. I read the reports and the chest x-rays and the liver panel and I knew the doctor's speech before he gave it, that the antiretrovirals meant to save her life were tearing her stomach apart and that 80 pounds is just too small for a woman of five and a half feet. I know what the world says.

But she would like to live. And I know the Life-Giver.

I want to show her. I want to show her how we hope against hope, believe against all the impossible that He who died to give us life is making all things beautiful and perfect. I want to show her the One who is Life and how we know that His ways are better and higher and that He is working all things for our good, but still we can ask for a miracle; we beg for it.

I clasp her hand and I close my eyes and tonight I want to bring her into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. I tuck them all in and I hand her a glass of milk with her medicine and we watch her children's chests rise and fall with sleep on these mattresses all over the floor as hers heaves hard for each breath.

I know the Life-Giver. So tonight I lower my friend Katherine through the roof. I beg on her behalf, on the behalf of her children that she might know Him more and that for His glory alone He might heal her, call her to get up and walk.

Would you join me?

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Light of The World ...

Isaiah 49:6
(6)  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
John 8:12
(12)  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Matthew 5:14-16
(14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
(15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.


 Lights and Christmas go hand and hand. Since the star led the wise men to a baby in the manager, following the light has led men to Christ. Jesus is the light of the world, leading men to God and showing the way of salvation unto all people. Christians have a great responsibility in reflecting the light of Christ into a dark world.  We reveal the hope of Christ to those who walk in darkness. May God grant you the strength this Christmas to shine the light of Christ in your part of the world..

The light you shine changes those who see it !! 

Peace on earth good will toward men!!

Russell  

Our Israel

Our Israel

Romans 10:1-4

In this chapter Paul explains the Stubbornness of Israel in maintaining ignorance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He declares that they have a zeal for God.  The problem is that their zeal is misplaced, trusting only in their works and not the grace of God found in Jesus. The righteousness that they boast of is derived only from their works and not the righteousness found in the work of Christ on the cross.

 Today in “Our Israel” we face a similar problem but with a new dynamic. People have lost their zeal for God and replaced it with a zeal for self.  People have maintained self-righteousness rejecting the need of a savior and the need of the righteousness of God. 

 We live in a similar day as Paul, in regards to the need to preach the Gospel of Jesus to our own people. For the most part, many have been exposed to a Gospel that is not a Gospel in most churches. The gospel that is popular today resembles the works based self-centered Jewish gospel that Paul faced. There is one difference, God has been replaced with self or a God that only satisfies self. The life of sacrifice that Christ demands has been replaced with “it’s better to receive than to give” mindset.

 Until Pastors stop building earthly empires and focus on the kingdom building principles of Christ, Christians will remain only a shell of their full potential as world changers in Christ. This is the ministry we have, as Paul , to reach Our Israel.       

bless the Lord

Beautiful song !!

mission

2 Timothy 4:5-7
(5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
(6)  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
(7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:


   So many sit idle for the cause of Christ.. thinking church attendance is enough or waving at people as the pull into parking lots is serving the Gospel of Jesus . Somebody should have told Paul that was all he had to do..... to say that your not called to share your faith is a lie from Satan.. Keep fighting the good fight !!   

Thank You Mr. Smith for your faithfullness

See you soon.....

Jesus Saves

We have heard a joyful sound,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Spread the gladness all around,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves;
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the steeps and cross the waves,
Onward, 'tis our Lord's command,
Jesus saves, Jesus saves.

 1 Timothy 1:15
(15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 When did that one thing stop being enough to get people excited about living for Jesus.    

The words Of Christ

Colossians 3:16
(16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

    With all the words we can read in a given day, no other words are as important as the words of Jesus !

  Paul tells us to allow the words of Christ to dwell in us richly. With all the things trying to take our attention, the media, Hollywood,or even some preachers, we have to filter all of that through the words of Christ ( those words written in red so to speak ). The words, that were illustrated by His death and blood that was shed on the cross. If what you dwell on is yourself or what God can do for you, or give to you. Then look carefully at whose words your dwelling on. The words of Christ are words of sacrifice not abundance!!!

Give of yourself today !

It changes the world.....

Russell

           

Happy New Year !

  A new year is here. We can reflect on the past and look forward to our future,while losing our present. If you do New Years' resolutions... be challenged this year to do the work that God has for you each day. Seek His will for your life just in a day to day commitment to follow Him. By doing this your taking full advantage of the year God is giving you. Don't allow the world to still ( yes i meant that spelling) the day that you have. Serve Jesus by making the most of your time by sharing the Gospel, in what ever way possible.        

Merry Christmas !

 Merry Christmas !

   I pray that true peace will be found in your life. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. He is called the Prince of Peace, this is because through Him we all may have peace between ourselves and a Holy God. This peace also provides strength and encouragement in this world in which we live.

  Some today lose sight that Jesus and His love is ever reaching for those who are in need and those who are hurting. Christmas is more than just a party but its a picture of what was to follow. The wise men brought gifts that told the story of this King and Priest but also a sacrifice. You see this peace for which we celebrate was bought at a price that cost this child His Life. 

Remember the true reason for the season... the reason for Christmas was so we may have Easter !!

Yours in Christ,

Russell