Monday, June 7, 2010

A STILL SMALL VOICE

Recently our Pre-K grandson, Gibson, came in from kindergarten and said "I tried to get a girlfriend today." "You did? Well, what happened?" I replied. He said "She didn't hear me, but I'm gonna say it louder tomorrow!" I got a huge belly laugh out of that one. He's a bit timid and I can just about see him saying -- kind of under his breath -- "You wanna be my girlfriend?"

It's frustrating when we try to communicate with people who either don't hear us, aren't listening or simply aren't interested in what we have to say. One out-o-tune husband said, "My wife says I never listen to her -- at least I THINK that's what she said!" That's only funny as a joke.

Ever thought about how God might feel when He is trying to talk to us? In a hundred different ways He's speaking to us, but so often we're simply not listening. Without even being conscious of it, we blow God off. We hear ever other insignificant voice while we let the voice of The Preeminent One go unheard, unnoticed and without any response from our end.

It's a real bummer when you're trying to join a conversation but can't get a word in edge wise. You've been there haven't you -- only the ones who shout the loudest ever get the floor. God rarely shouts, if ever. Do you want to hear His voice? Silence all the other loud mouths. Get quiet--still and alone with Him. I promise He'll say something worth hearing.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

We've Got Friends Comin' Over!

It's getting exciting! June 3, 4 and 5 are the dates for the Destiny Ministries "This Is My Destiny 2010" Conference to be held here at Christ Church West Monroe. It's gonna be a great time spiritually, relationally -- in every way. Billy Hornsby of the ARC (Association of Related Churches) will be speaking to us. Scott Jones, Moderator of Global Christian Ministries will be here -- John Ragsdale leading worship -- can't wait to celebrate with my friends all that God is doing in the earth! Trina and I, along with our church family consider it a huge honor to be able to host this event for 2010. We're making preparations to welcome great friends to West Monroe and to "This Is My Destiny 2010." Hope you'll be here for a wonderful time of refreshing and reconnecting with friends -- old and new. Come on over. We've got room for you!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Take That, Devil!!

Unity! It's the stuff that brings the blessing of God upon our families, our churches and our communities. I for one, consider it a real privilege to live in an area where such a high level of unity exists among Christian leaders -- unity that crosses denominational lines, political ideologies and cultural boundaries. Each month people from virtually every sector of society gather for early prayer -- regardless of race, age, doctrinal differences -- men and women gather to celebrate the power that is in the Cross of Jesus Christ and to cry out to God for the spiritual, social and economic renewal in the Northeast Louisiana sector of our state. How pleasing to the heart of the Father, "...for there the Lord commanded the blessing of eternal life" (Ps.133:3). I love the unity as we all walk together -- to sense the camaraderie among us.

Over and over the scriptures highlight the human body as evidence that the spiritual body of Christ must work together in synergy if in fact, we are to become all that Christ designed us to be (See 1 Cor. 12:12). The combined efforts of the few will always outpace the lone efforts of the isolated. There is power in unity! I love this quote; Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there. ~ Virginia Burden The Process of Intuition.

Last evening more than 82 churches from the Monroe/West Monroe/Ouachita Parish region were represented by their pastors and congregants as they gathered in the Monroe Civic Arena for one purpose -- to glorify God! Heaven rejoiced -- hell trembled! All I can say this morning is "Devil got a shiner!!"

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Ever So Close

"The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart -- that is, the word of faith which we preach" Romans 10:9.

In the 1800's a prospector went to California in search of his fortune. He spent his entire life scouring the mountains for gold, only to die as a pauper. When they were digging the grave behind his house to bury him ... do I really need to finish this story?

It's kind of a sad story, isn't it? To think that our lives could literally be wasted in search of some illusive something--that one thing we dream would make us happy. We tell ourselves . . . "I must be near it now -- surely I'll find it soon, I know I'm close." So goes life by the shovel full.

Dare we squander all the precious moments God has sprinkled into our lives while we frantically search for an even better moment? Have we become ungrateful for all the present good, because we are still searching for the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? And have we so concentrated our hearts on the "Big Find" that we find no reason to be thankful for food, shelter and clothing?

Sometimes the "gold" we're searching for is located in our own backyard. We need only to open our eyes to see. Rather than fret over the relationships we don't have, why not strengthen and concentrate on the relationships we do have. Instead of living a discontented life, why not learn contentment. We don't need to search the world over to find happiness. Stick a spade in the dirt. You're probably rich and don't even know it!