Marks Of A Good Servant

Scripture

 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.”

~Genesis 24:12, NLT

Quote

A servant of God has but one Master. It ill becomes the servant to seek riches, greatness or honor in that world where his LORD was poor, rejected and despised.

~George Mueller

Abraham’s most exalted servant was Eliezer from Damascus. Abraham trusted Eliezer with his life. Abraham sent him on a mission to find Isaac a wife. Isaac was extremely introverted and still grieving the death of his mother. The scripture above is Eliezer’s prayer before departing on this very important mission. We see in Eliezer’s life the characteristics of a good servant.

1. He listened to his masters instructions.
2. He obeyed his masters instructions.
3. He prayed before He began the mission and while he was on the mission.
4. He always puts his master’s business first. He refuses to take time off, or to enjoy himself, till he has carried out his master’s instructions.
5. He refuses to be distracted. He was focused on his purpose and he would not turn to the right or the left.

• A normal schedule today for the first time in a while and the last time in a while: Deacons at 8:15, Donuts and bisquits at 9:00, LCBS at 9:15, Celebrate Jesus in worship at 10:15. PM, AWANA at 5:30, Visitation at 5:30, and evening worship at 6:15.
• We had a great time with the GOLDEN GIRLS and Senior Adults yesterday. It must be due to my age but I am enjoying these opportunities for fellowship more than ever.
• Our Baptism today is iffy. Charles Floyd is ready but they were not at home yesterday and so I really don’t know. We will play it by ear. The water is ready.
• We need some strong men to show up 8:45 and help David restore the stage.
• Remember, David Wood is trying to get interest in a prayer time to pray before our worship service. There is a sign up sheet in the foyer.
• I think we are sponsoring 13 children for Christmas: I want to thank you for what you do for others at Christmas.
• Buford Burgess had a better night. I didn’t talk with Gary yesterday or Noah. I am assuming everyone is doing about the same or improving. Mrs. Lewis is very low. Ben Blankenship’s dad is at DGH, I am not positive about the diagnosis but I think it is very serious. Our Nephew Heath has surgery December 15. They will be going into the back of his brain. They say it is a common surgery but when you mention brain or heart, it is serious to me.

Martha, Martha!

SCRIPTURE

The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.  One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.”

~Luke 10:41-42, CEB

QUOTE

  It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, ‘What are we busy about?

~ Henry David Thoreau

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. When someone repeats your name as Jesus did with Martha, it generally means that you need to stop and think. Martha was so busy that she had not taken time to think. First of all, you do not give Jesus instructions…”Tell my sister to help me.” We just don’t tell God what to do; obviously Martha was not thinking. Secondly, Martha was distracted about many things. She lacked the power to focus. Meditation, contemplation, solitude, prayer–all these things help us clear our minds so we can focus on the One thing most important instead of being occupied by a multitude of things that mean nothing. Thirdly, Martha’s haste, her business kept her from knowing, being aware of what Jesus really wanted. Martha pretense was to please Jesus but she was actually doing as she pleased. In truth, she had not taken the time to see what Jesus wanted most. Jesus had Mary’s undivided attention and He wanted Martha’s also. Have you ever given anyone your undivided attention lately? It is a precious gift.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THOSE ENDURING TRIALS

• We had a healing service: we took June to Kroger’s after church: she is OK now. She ask some of the grandkids what they were going to be when they grew up. Ryder is going to play right tackle for Auburn and then go to the NFL. He plans to do ventriloquism in the off season. Josie want to be a school teacher like her mom and a veterinarian but she said, “I don’t think I can do both so I guess I’ll be a teacher.” Ty didn’t exactly shoot for the stars. He is going to marry a hot chick with $5,000 and they are putting in an in ground swimming pool. Of the three, I would say that Josie is the most realistic.
• Miss Clara is sick again. I will be at the office today but if you call, use my cell number. The phone doesn’t work in my office. {Not kidding}
• Great Music again last night: every band member was there doing their job but every church member was not there in support. We need REVIVAL!
• May 21-26 Mandy is on Vacation. If you need help with your phone, she will be available Wednesday May 27.
• May 29 Senior Adult Cook Out. BBQ chicken and ribs.
• June 6…Rally for Biblical Marriage in Montgomery. I think the time is 3:00 PM
• June 8-12…VBS and VBX

VBS-VBX June 8-12

My Consolation Is In Christ

 

SCRIPTURE

When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.

~Psalms 94:19, NRSV

QUOTE

All of us face cares and troubles in this life. The sin comes when we are consumed with our cares to the neglect of our responsibility to Christ.

~David Wilkerson/Yaakov.

I will not deny that I care about things that I really don’t want to care about and yes these things consume my mind and energy. I do see God’s grace at work as He narrows my interest but I still care about College Football and especially one team. I am writing this blog on Saturday night and it is the last thing I intend to do before retiring. Am I going to watch the IRON BOWL, don’t intend to but that is not the worse of it. I am usually successful in getting to sleep when they play late night Saturday football but I wake up around mid-night and ask June who won. If we win, I usually get up in the middle of the night and watch the tape: if we lose, I never waste my time but I have a hard time getting my mind off of the loss. I am not over last years Iron Bowl fiasco and here we go again. Honestly, I wish I didn’t care who won. Felton said yesterday, “I don’t care who wins. I pretend to be for Alabama just to aggravate my granddaughter but I really don’t care.”

 

We humans are fouled up: we care about things that we shouldn’t and don’t care about things we should. Every team June and I pulled for yesterday lost: Georgia, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Florida. What will I do if Alabama loses and I think there is a strong possibility that they will? I plan to go about my days activities as if football does not exist. We have the HEAVEN video in our am worship and Mrs. Martha Newby’s COLS this evening at 3:00. Everything I do today is much more important than the Iron Bowl. It would not be wise to say that on the Paul Finebaum show but I firmly believe a sermon trumps a football game and so does the celebration of the life of a saint.

• We have the big screen in place and are ready to show the BGEA My Hope Video of HEAVEN at 10:15, actually 10:45. We have a great LCBS Lesson today and bible study begins at 9:00. Deacon’s and wives meet with me at 8:50 in sanctuary.
• I want to thank Felton, Adam, Willard, Jeff and Hannah for responding to my plea for help. I want to thank Brent for helping me get everything working.
• I will be assisting Bro. Tim in Mrs. Martha’s COLS and will be cutting it close but LORD willing I will be back for evening service. I have a sermon but I thought since we have the big screen up, you might want to see another of the My Hope video’s [28 minutes]. I will do whatever: text me and tell me what you prefer. It was a lot of trouble to get that big screen up for one video.
• Most people have signed up for the new church directory. Those who have not need to sign up today.
• While it is on my mind TRUSTEES, we need to change light bulbs in the entrance of the FORTE on across the walkway. We will need the lift to change the middle section.

Hindrance To Revival # 19–INVERTED PRIORITIES

Day 23 of 24

SCRIPTURE

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

~Matthew 6:19-21, NLT

QUOTE

American’s have inverted values: we are to use things and love people but we love things and use people.

~Warren W. Wiersbe

I had some heart warming visits yesterday. I’m not sure, I’ve ever had a day like it. We have a lot of hurting people and I fear that we are so caught up in trivial pursuits that we are passing them by and I am among the guilty. I do thank the LORD for letting me be in the right place at the right time. My hurries pace prevents that from happening at times. I hope that you have carried out your acts of kindness. This is very important. Don’t let lesser things hinder you from making your appointed rounds. 

• Full day today, breakfast at 7:00 with SAFE fish fry at 11:30 and Trunk-A-Treat. at 5:30. June and I will be leaving for Mississippi after Trunk-A-Treat. We hope to be back tomorrow night.
• Today we pray for FAMILY.
• Deacon and wives meeting Sunday Morning 8:50 at the Altar.
• Congratulation to Spence Cole and the Danville Lady Hawks for winning the class 4-A State Championship in Volleyball. Eddie says the trophy will be on display at Donnie’s next week. We need a ticker tape parade down main street.
• Remember, we get an extra hour sleep on Saturday night and it could not come at a better time.
• Everyone pray for revival.

STORY

Chad, Felton and I put in a handicap ramp for Mrs. Odie Lee Lawrence this past week: Felton and I finished up yesterday. Mrs. Lawrence gave me a pretty good chewing the other day. Felton said [referring to me], “Do you know who this is?” and she said “no.” He said, “He is the pastor at Danville Baptist.” She said, “I thought they ran that man off years ago.” We move the ramps for place to place and this one had been used twice before we hauled it to Mrs. Lawrence house last Saturday. She told me she did not want it, she wanted all new wood. Hey, I didn’t know if she was kidding or serious. I didn’t know what to do but Felton assured me she was kidding. He got there before me yesterday and told her, “You should be ashamed of the way you talked to that preacher” and she told him she was sorry. She said, “He has been there a long time, he is bound to be old.” Felton said, “Yes he is old, he is 75 years old.” She only came out once while we was working and the only thing she said was, “You don’t look 75.” I thanked her for the compliment and went back to work.

Good Investments

SCRIPTURE: “Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice and it will never be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:42, ERV]

QUOTE: Busyness is the enemy of intimacy. ~Paul Baloche

COMMENTARY: I love Martha; she was a Type-A who ran the shooting match. She ran the house, she made the major decisions and I promise you, she told Lazarus and Mary what to do and when to do it. Normally I think they fell in line but when Jesus came for a visit, things were far from normal. Mary got her a cushion and sat down at the feet of Jesus and listened to every word. She was so fascinated with Jesus that nothing else in the world had any importance. She was not concerned with her hair, her make-up or what her room looked like. She was not trying to make a big impression or get all the attention, she simply wanted to know everything about Jesus that could be known. Although I can’t prove it, I believe Mary heard things that the others did not hear. It was not because Jesus whispered in her ear, it was that she was listening with her heart and her mind. She sensed that time was running out, that Jesus had a heavy burden to bear and I think she knew He was soon to die. He told them all: time, place and manner but no one was really listening except Mary. Mary made the right choice and a good investment. Jesus said, “That it would never be taken from her.”

Billy Parker gave me a copy of the following poem that was found in Bear Bryants pocket the day he departed this world [according to internet]. It is a good poem and I would call it REDEEMING THE TIME. It goes good with today’s devotion…

Today is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it…or use it for good. But what I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. Leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain and not a loss, good and not evil, success and not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price that I have paid for it.

 

EXTRA

• Clayton Clemmons surgery went good. They got to him late in the day and he had some pain last night but feeling better today. Clayton is Ashton Davis brother and Robert Clemmon’s grandson. Robert was the owner manager of Foodland in Hartselle for many years.
• Beautiful day yesterday: Thank You Jesus!
• I think this makes 7 days in a row that we have had to blog from the church office or not blog at all [like Sunday]. CHARTER  cannot get the bugs out of our system. We have had minor problems before but nothing like this.