The Amazing Part

I could not wait to get home today. Well, I kinda could, but I could not wait to post this... Today at church I saw something that the disciples must have seen, and it really blew me away. for many years I attended smaller churches and saw baptisms done in the way of our traditions, in the way of our forefathers. Nothing wrong with that... I just mention it because the baptisms totalled, say, 25-30 or so in the several years I attended and ministered in those bodies. Now, I know that God can work in smaller churches, that's not what I'm writing about. HERE is what I wanted to say..... Today in church we had a spontaneous altar call in 1st and 2nd services, "anyone that wants to be baptised, now is the time - what will YOU do with this choice God has placed in front of you?"... We had 59 baptisms today alone. We had 16 people scheduled for baptism and at the response to God's word, 43 more came to be baptised. Acts 5:14 says "more and more men and women believed in the Lord, and were added to their number." To be in a place where God is working, and to be a part of it amazes me. I think that today we throw that word around a good bit (did you see that amazing Florida game last night?), without utilizing the full understanding of the word. One of the definitions of "amazed" is this - astounded; suddenly filled with wonder. that's what happened to me today. I was filled with wonder as I saw the God of everything that has been created have compassion and mercy as He called those to the altar, and gave new life to those that surrendered.

Praise Adonai, Master, Creator, Father, for you are faithful to those that call on your name. Let your praises ring through the hearts of men, for you are willing and able to change us into your image. Love You Lord, ELOHIM, our redeemer.

Regretting what was lost

As our worship team was working thru the songs we used @ church this past week and today, I was struck by one line in one song that is having an impact on me, or rather, God is using that line with other situations to impact my life. That line is from a song by Jars of Clay...."I won't regret to let Love do what Love will let...". At first I thought it was just because of the odd arrangement of words, but after today, I think it's because the Holy Spirit has put this line in my life, for me to sample, to meditate, to savor. I have in my past been called many things, some of which have not been true, some of which have been true. In our sermon today, our Pastor led us thru the dangers of not watching our tongue, what we say. He also had some interesting words of wisdom about how to watch our self, and as a body, ourselves. My thought is this, that by using words as a weapon, by using words to tear down instead of build up, will we regret anything that Love has tried to do thru us? Even passive words that don't build the Kingdom of Heaven are dangerous. If my God had wanted me to encourage a youthful, exuberant, guitarist, and yet, I had put him off by telling him that I had no time to speak just yet, (busyness) could I have possibly put myself in-between God and His will for said guitarist?
Yes, possible... although anyone that knows me knows that I'll talk music anytime, anyplace, this is just an example. But think of it... are we so "righteous, slain in the spirit, holy, BUSY", that God cannot act in a way that would lead us to to rejoice in His actions, or will we regret... regret that we were too busy to uplift another, even with a smile, a hug, a kind word. Would we regret to let Love do what Love would let? Please understand, I am not trying to condemn anyone reading this, only to let the Holy Spirit of the Living God say to you what He would lay on my heart. Would the words that come from your mouth, from my mouth, be escaping (to hurt, damage) or be set free by Love to build up and justify?
Questions, questions... all good but all useless unless we come to grips with the answers, and that is done by putting the knowledge and wisdom God has given us to good use. As I stated earlier, I have been called many things, but I hope that God Himself would help me to never be too BUSY, too involved, or too self righteous to speak the words that need no form, the actions that Love would perform thru me. To those I know that I have not been what I should, I apologize, I am sorry. Check out 2nd Corinthians 7...v10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. v11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. As for me, I intend to see to it from now on, that Love will do what Love will let.

Now... no regrets... Time to move forward,...time to gain ground.