Skip to main content

thoughts for life and death :: Thursday E-Devotion

Today's devotion is kind of a side thought from our Chase the Lion series as there are some things going on that I want to chat about.  Lets get a little God first:
 
Psalm 116:15 (nlt) --- The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.
 
John 14:2 (nlt) --- There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
 
I spoke with a friend yesterday who lost a close friend this weekend.  Many people were shocked by this young man's death who leaves four young children, a precious wife and a close church family.
 
Got an e-mail this morning and just got off the phone with another friend about a pastor in our area who died last night (see prayer requests below).  He leaves behind so many that love him.
 
Just these two men leave a legacy of life lived for Jesus.  I listened to testimony about the first man and continually am amazed by a laymen who loved his pastor, his church but most of all his God.  The pastor poured his life into others for a long, long time.  For over 6 years I have watched, admired and even taken part in some of the special things this gentleman has attempted for God.
 
So, why do I draw your attention to death?  Good question.  We have been talking about living for God, about defying the odds.  It is so important that we live life.  Don't sit on the sidelines or wait for another day.  We don't know when we will take our last breathe.  Make a big splash, make mistakes, but live.  Live in such a way that people will see God in your life.  Yet the people who make the biggest splash and leave a great wake behind them are not afraid of taking risks and defying the odds.  Think about it.  There is too much we are risking by being cautious.
 
Isaiah 55:6 (nlt) --- Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
 
As I close, here is a quote.  The church has got to be full of risk takers, people who are defying the odds as they live for Jesus.  I came across this morning, and it lit my fire:
 
(speaking about the church) An imperfect system filled with men and women of integrity will function far better than a perfect system filled with men and women who lack integrity.
 
That quote came from this dude who is a worship leader in Georgia, and his blog often challenges me.  May God give us strength to live life and to take risks while we have the chance.
 
 

PRAYER

Pray for the family of Pastor Charles Alston of Bassett's Oak Hill Cathedral as he passed away last night.  Pray for the family of Dot Porter, a neighbor of the Hubbard family from The Community, as Dot passsed away yesterday.  Continue to pray for Jerry Moore's family and church.  Pray for Tryton Horton.  For Linda Cole.  For Kevin Grier as he is critically ill after an accident early this week.  Harold Martin was in a fire this week and now at Baptist Hospital.  His granddaughter, Brandi, attends The Community from time to time.  Pray for Freedom Baptist Church in our area.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you
Post a Comment
Read more

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that
Post a Comment
Read more