God’s Pleasure

SCRIPTURE

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

~Revelation 4:11, NLT

QUOTE

God is not proud…He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him.

~CS Lewis

Unthinkable it would seem, God created for His pleasure and to add to the mystery, He decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  God’s mysterious plan is revealed in Christ and this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. This plan is to fulfill God’s own good pleasure.

So God is not a miserable unhappy God, He is a God who delights in His creation and takes pleasure in seeing us grow and mature into the likeness of Christ. Paul said, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Imagine you and I bringing delight to God. Jesus passion was to please or to bring pleasure to the Father and He did: twice God spoke from heaven and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

How do we please the Father? We love what He loves. He loves Jesus, faith, obedience, sacrificial giving, kindness, mercy and praise just to mention a few. It is not impossible: you could make God smile today.

• TODAY WE PRAY FOR THOSE FACING TRIALS. My uncle [the only survivor of my daddy’s generation] had surgery last Thursday and he had has a difficult time. He is 89 years old and the surgery was a success but he is having trouble getting his strength back. Lift up a prayer for Floyd and Lucille Bailey.
• Consistency is not our strength anymore: after that fantastic crowd last Wednesday, we dropped back to normal. The school having a game on Wednesday evening doesn’t help. There is no reason for us to be so unfaithful to the LORD’s work. It light of His goodness to us; you would think we would be more conscientious about serving Him.
• No Deacon’s meeting this Sunday. We begin at 9:15 with LCBS, worship at 10:15, Visitation at 4:30 and Celebration at 6:00.

Consideration

SCRIPTURE

Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Philippians 4:5, NLT

QUOTE

Being considerate of others will take your further in life than any college or professional degree.

~Marian W. Edelman

Ken texted me Sunday evening [Jan.25] and ask me to come over: he said Kenny wanted to talk to me. We had a great conversation. So sacred was the moment that I can share only a portion. I read several passages for Kenny and for myself and the one that seemed to help me the most was Philippians 4:4-9 but the words that gripped me most came from verses 6-7…Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

As I got ready to leave, Kenny gave me a gift. Something he had been thinking about for a while. Here is a man whose body is racked with pain. He has not enjoyed the taste of food or drink for weeks. He is so weak that he speaks just above a whisper and yet he was thinking of me. Kenny Holladay epitomizes verse 5, “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.” Kenny is Mr. Consideration!

Kenny is loosening the mooring ropes, getting ready for his departure: pray for it to be peaceful. Pray for a spirit of euphoria to form a glorious cloud in his room. Pray it line for line right now. Look up euphoria if you have to but pray the prayer: it is important.

Kenny Holladay

 

• Today we pray for Ministers and Missionaries.
• REVIVAL this Sunday with Phil the thrill Glisson. Teresa and Scotty will be with him. Children’s church and nursery both services. February 1…Plus Baptism in a.m. worship. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
• Yet another Profession of faith yesterday…Bree Tyson [4 in last three weeks]
• We don’t generally publish offering over the internet but the offering for the Hogan family was great. You did it again DBC. The LCBS lesson must have hit home.

An Inside Job

SCRIPTURE

So we have good reason to give thanks to God without pausing. For you have taken into yourselves the word of God we brought to you and received it as a message from God—not just something whipped up by someone like you or us—and that word is at work in you who believe.

~1Thessalonians 2:13, The VOICE

QUOTE

God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.

~Paul Of Tarsus

The Apostle Paul teaches us that Christianity is an inside job. Religion works on the outside but Christ begins the work of salvation on the inside and from there, it works out. Dr. Warren Wiersbe says, God works inwardly by using four tools: [1] The Holy Spirit [2] The word of God [3] Suffering and [4] Prayer. I do know for a fact that people who suffer have a different perspective. I also know that salvation is grace from start to finish. You cannot come to Christ in confession of sin and not expect to be changed. The Rich Young Ruler came to Christ but he had no intention of being changed or transformed by God’s grace. He was willing to make a few changes himself but he would not yield control of his life.

EXTRA

• THE GOLDEN GIRLS has been rescheduled for October 11, 9:00 am at Cracker Barrel in Hartselle.
• Baby Shower for Zack & Kimie Cochran at Sandy’s this Saturday 2-4 pm. It is a boy!
• There is a FRONT PEW SHOWER for Katie Matthews Sparkman this Sunday October 5th. Katie is having triplets {Girls}.
• Don’t forget, your deadline for ordering Wednesday supper is Tuesday morning by 9:00 AM.
• Remember, you give your mission offering in envelopes for the next two Sundays. LM is Lottie Moon, GRACE is Guatemala, and the Gideon International envelops are marked. Pick up your envelops in the foyer.
• We have three books by Ronnie Rogers, REFLECTIONS OF A DISENCANTED CALVINIST. Read this book and then chapter 2 in Platt’s book Radical. You don’t need to read anymore than chapter 2. You will see very clearly what we have been talking about. The books are $10 and you have to see Mandy. They will not be in the foyer. Calvinist believe that salvation is monergistic–regeneration comes before faith. Salvation is God alone and man has no part in it. Calvinist are good at double talk but read chapter two and the story of the old preacher who took his students to the cemetery.
• I have not talked to a soul that did not get inspired by the service Sunday. The video was good but the singing was better.

The key to being a good leader in church is to be a good follower. In the kingdom of God, you can’t lead until you learn to follow. The disciples ultimately became good leaders but before they lead, they learned the discipline of following. There are no shortcuts. You cannot skip the course on following and jump into leading: it will not work. You must learn to be faithful to all the services of worship and supportive of all church ministries. When you refuse to be supportive of others, chances are, others are not going to be supportive of you.  It is the Law of Leadership and I did not invent it.

 PRAY FOR TEACHER’S DAY

Showing Interest In Others

SCRIPTURE

We should stop looking out for our own interests and instead focus on the people living and breathing around us.

~I Corinthians 10:2, The Voice

QUOTE

You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

~Dale Carnegie

I agree with both Paul and Carnegie but I continue to struggle when it comes to giving preference to others. I am very convicted by what Paul said to the Philippians who at the time were having problems working together…Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors’ interests first. Practically every problem we face would disappear if we simply let go of our prideful hidden agendas.

• Today is our day to pray for SENIORS. Why don’t we focus on Roger Burcham today. Roger was 78 yesterday and he battles several health issues. Roger is the last of the 2001 Friday Men’s Prayer Group [John Tanner was the founder, Hugh Fitzgerald, Bill Cagle, Milton Chaney, Luther Roberts, Kenneth Narrell, Joe Eaton]
• Full schedule today: Deacons at 8:00, LCBS at 9:00 and worship at 10:15 and 6:00. The am sermon is “A Merciful Savior Who Hears A Sinners Prayer” and tonight, “A Courageous Savior”.
• Joe David will preach next Sunday morning and then on the 28th, I am praying about offering communion on Sunday Morning.
• Our next Holiday is COLUMBUS DAY October 13. {Something to look forward to}
• Today is Chloe Bug’s Birthday, she is two and terrible.

I’m not much of a sports fan these days and will probably be less as the season wears on but I am going to go out of the limb and say that no SEC team will go undefeated in 2014. I don’t see anyone running the table. Too many good teams. I think Auburn has the best shot but the SEC West is going to be brutal. Anyone who can run the West deserves to be the top cede in the playoffs.

 Christianity is now the target of persecution

Bobby Stork

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school principal, Jody McLeod. “It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.”

 Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it “an alternate life style, “and, if someone is offended, that’s OK. I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, “safe sex.”  If someone is offended, that’s OK. I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a “viable” means of birth control.” If someone is offended, no problem. I can designate a school day as “Earth Day” and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess, “Mother Earth”, and call t “ecology.”  I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as “simple minded” and “ignorant” and call it enlightenment.” However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated. This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments. Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree.  For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression. For this reason, I shall “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s,” and refrain from praying at this time. “However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to bless this event, please feel free to do so.  As far as I know, that’s not against the law–yet.”One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer’s Box!