Month: November 2016

Are You Listening? Are You Prepared?

by Dale, posted in Uncategorized

gatlinburg-fire

So many emotions, thoughts and prayers ran through my mind from early yesterday morning throughout the day in reference to the devastating fires in Sevier County, Tennessee.  Off-and-on I would check the news to hear the latest.  Of all the reports that I heard, two have really burdened my heart.

First, as always, is the news of fatalities caused by the fires.  The greatest tragedy in any event like this is the probability of some souls never have repented and turned to Christ for salvation, and therefore, of their own freewill have slipped into an eternal hell.

Second, the “this will never happen to us” or “that’s too far away to reach us” or “we’ll be okay” mentalities. Folks, let’s face it, we are too comfortable in America.  We are almost convinced we are invincible. The fires had been burning ten miles south of Gatlinburg, but due to the ferocious winds and change in humidity, these fires quickly got out of control.  Read the following:

How Chimney Top Fire Rode High Winds Into Gatlinburg

“This is a fire for the history books because it is unlike anything most have ever seen,” Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

The fire had been going in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Then the humidity dropped ahead of a storm front. Wind speed picked up and the direction shifted, catching firefighters off guard.

Then around 6 p.m., the wind speeds doubled, Miller said.

“There were times last night where we had wind gusts in excess of 87 miles an hour. That is hurricane force. That is nowhere to be when trying to fight a fire,” Miller said.

Embers blew as far as a mile away, sparking new fires.

“At the same time we were facing that challenge, those high winds were knocking down trees. Those trees were hitting power lines and they were falling on this very dry, extreme drought-like condition, and everything was catching on fire.”

The National Park Service says they — too — were blindsided by the winds but that they were still dropping water on the Chimney Top Fire as late as Sunday. 

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As I listened to the news coming out of an area that is very dear to us, my heart sank.  For days folks knew of the fires around them.  How sad when I heard one man say, “We were not warned!”

In another report, a couple from South Carolina came on Saturday for their vacation.  They said, “We saw the smoke, and knew of the fires, but we came anyway.”  Monday night, they barely escaped with their lives as the flames licked its way up to their cabin destroying it and their belongings.

My heart is further saddened because thousands upon thousands of people respond in the same way to the declarations of “You must be born again” (John 3), and “Christ is coming soon” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and “Prepare for eternity” (Hebrews 9:27)!

My friends, the ABSOLUTE, MOST IMPORTANT decision you must make in this life is the answer to this question, “Where will you spend eternity?”

The answer to that question is predicated on your response to this question, “What will you do with Jesus?”  God so loved you that He sent His only begotten (only one like Him) Son to die for you (John 3:16), to take your place on the cross to pay your sin debt (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24) and to make you righteousness in the sight of God (Romans 3:21-26).  The only way to God and to Heaven is through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Ephesians 1:3-7). In other words, Jesus took my sins to the cross so God could take me to heaven.

In closing, please do not hesitate one second to turn to Christ for eternal life, eternal salvation.  Just like these fires, which came swiftly and quickly, Jesus is coming soon.  Death is just one breath away. Don’t be numb to the truth, my friend.  Are you listening?  Are you prepared?

For more information,  see What the Bible Says About Hell

Still Growing & Thriving After 62 Years

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Love, Marriage, Uncategorized
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Dad & Mom watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.

“Well, don’t you look handsome?”

“Here, let me get that for you.”

“Want some popcorn?”

“Here’s a blanket for you.”

“Mil and I have shared many wonderful memories with each other.”

“I love you.”

These are statements that I heard over the Thanksgiving holiday from two people who are still head-over-heels-in-love with each other . . . after 62 years.  Dad and Mom are two sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ, daily needing grace to work at their marriage, and willing to walk in that grace for God’s glory and their marriage.

My in-laws have always been a marriage inspiration to me.  I am sure my father-in-law has his equals, but no one loves their wife any more than he does, and my mother-in-law simply adores her husband.  And yes, they have had their share of conflicts, gripes, hardships, heartaches, and other marriage related issues.

What causes a marriage to continue to grow and thrive even past 62 years?  Well, the answer is found in Scripture.  The answer is found in the daily application of the following grace-enabled commands and principles.

DAILY . . .

  • Soak your soul in the grace of God (2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9a)
  • Love one another (1 Corinthians 13)
  • Serve one another (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10)
  • Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)
  • Submit to God and one another (Ephesians 5:21)
  • Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
  • Forgive one another (Colossians 3:13)
  • Build up, encourage one another (Romans 15:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:25)
  • Bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
  • Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another (Ephesians 4:32,
  • Outdo one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10)
  • Welcome one another as Christ welcomes us (Romans 15:7)
  • Enjoy the act of marriage with only one another (Genesis 2:25; Hebrews 13:4)
  • Make each word a gift not a gripe (Ephesians 4:29)
  • Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
  • Pray for each another (James 5:16)
  • Imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
  • Grow in the application of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18)

Marriage is the creation of God and a gift from God (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:6; Ephesians 5:18-32).  He can help your marriage grow and mature as He so designed if you will submit to Him each day.  Furthermore, a marriage does not run on auto-pilot.  You must make more deposits into your marriage than withdrawals.

If your marriage has grown stale, blah, ordinary, or headed for trouble, then surrender your rights.  Get honest with God and each other.  There’s mercy and grace with the Lord (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:16).

If your marriage is thriving, precious, meaningful, and fulfilling, keep doing what you have been doing each day.  Do not take it for granted.  Take one of the aforementioned list and work on it each day or each week. Enjoy the journey together with your eye on Christ and each other.

After our delicious Thanksgiving dinner, we went around the table and shared words of gratitude.  Denise asked, “Dad, what are you thankful for?”  His reply being a man of few words, “Many things.” And then with tears in his eyes, he pointed to Mom and simply said, “Her.” He didn’t need to say anything else.

Still growing and thriving after 62 years.

Clippin’ Grace Coupons in Ministry

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Evangelism, Grace, Salvation, Uncategorized

The focus of my blog posts this week has been on our Grace Giving Missions Sunday at BCBC.  Truth is, every day of our life is a focus on the grace of God because by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9) and by grace we operate in life (2 Corinthians 9:8).  Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve.  Grace is the principle upon which God operates in our life. Therefore, these “coupons” we clip are gifts of His grace to undeserving people who stand in Christ alone, redeemed, justified, and forgiven (Romans 3-5).

Coupon #1:  Denise, My Wife

I certainly do not deserve such a godly, Word-filled, hard-working, caring, loving, lady of prayer and faith as my wife!  For 35 years we have been working by grace on our marriage.  One of the things that she has seen fit to do through the years is to make our house a home.  A man cannot do that.  Only a woman with her touch can make your home a place where you are accepted, love, and . . . fed as the picture shows.  How cool to walk in the house this week and see fresh homemade French bread on the counter.  She knows me so well.  In moments she said, “You want a piece?  Get some butter.”  Wow!  What a grace blessing Denise is to my life in so many ways!!

Coupon #2: Souls Coming to Christ

How awesome to hear the testimony of teens coming to Christ for salvation!!  How awesome to hear when anyone comes to faith and repentance for salvation through Christ alone (Five Questions), but to hear about precious teens in their public schools coming to Christ is super-awesome!!  My friend, there are no schools, work-places, government, or countries closed to the gospel (Romans 1:16).  My, my, my what a thrill to hear of fifteen students getting saved in one school!  Wow!! Glory!!!!

Coupon #3:  Grace Investments

When you reach my age, you are able to look back over your life and rejoice in the people God put in your life to make spiritual and ministry life investments!  Yesterday, we were able to have lunch with two faithful, glowing, caring servants of the Lord who made those investments in us while we were serving in Indiana from 1986-2000.  One of the awesome blessings to our hearts is that these two servants have not really retired.  Dr. Taylor is no longer the senior pastor of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN, but he teaches a seniors Sunday School class and supports his pastor and the ministry that he loves so dearly.  His dear wife, Joan, continues to serve alongside him in the class just as she has done for many years.  These folks are investors, champions, encouragers, and trophies of God’s grace!

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

Joining God In His Work With His Resources

by Dale, posted in Church, Evangelism, Faith, Giving, Missions, Money, Uncategorized

 

missions

This week, I have been writing primarily to the congregation of Boones Creek Bible Church.  One of the most blessed aspects of this ministry is joining God in His work through missions!  Every Sunday we are brought up to date about two of our supported missionaries through our Adopt-A-Missionary Ministry.  Each missionary family is “adopted” by one of our church families.  How stirring to hear what God is up around the world as these families give their reports via pictures, videos, praise notes, and prayer requests.  Friend, the most exciting event on the planet happens every time a lost soul repents and receives Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (If you have never been born again, please take time to watch this: Five Questions)

This Sunday is Grace Giving Missions Sunday.  This is a special day as look to the Lord for His direction in how He will provide for His mission’s work through His people.  BCBC Family, would you consider the questions below after reading the following passages:  Matthew 6:25-33; 28:18-20; Mark 12:41-44; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 and Philippians 4:16-19.

  • What part will you play in mission’s giving this year at Boones Creek Bible Church so we as a body of believers can be obedient to the Great Commission?
  • Have you been asking God to reveal to you the amount that He would have you trust Him for each month?
  • How big is your God?
  • What is the value of a soul to you and your family?
  • What do you need to set aside that is temporal so you can give for the eternal?
  • What does your wallet, your checkbook say about your heart for missions, for the lost?
  • What will your children learn about giving to missions from your example?
  • How much celebrating via giving will you do in 2017?

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

A Giving Celebration

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Giving, Praise & Worship, Uncategorized

 

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“God directs his people not simply to worship but to sing his praises before the nations. We are called not simply to communicate the gospel to nonbelievers; we must also intentionally celebrate the gospel before them.” (Tim Keller)

One of the many ways we can “celebrate the gospel” before nonbelievers is for them hear how God meets our needs for His work and His glory!  How sad that the unbelieving world sees us storing up treasures here, even going into debt for temporal things that have no eternal value, and they never heard the stories of how our great God supplied our needs and especially provided so we could get in on the blessing of giving!!  God wants you to celebrate not grumble or be a Mr. Scrooge.

The following passage describes one of the many celebration activities in a believer’s life:

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

One of the most joyful events that occurs in any church service is when the offering is received!  Think about it.  Look at the following based upon the above passage:

  1. God promises that if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully.
  2. God does not pressure you to give.
  3. God does not want you to be miserable when you give but joyful.
  4. God is able to provide so you can get in on the blessing of giving.

Indeed, it is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35), even when you do not think you have to give.  God is able!  So, when it comes time to give, do not look at your wallet, look at your God Who is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

Therefore, people of BCBC, preparing to give and then giving to missions in 2017 should really make you celebrate when you consider 2 Corinthians 9:15!!

I am looking for much celebration in the days to come!  God is able!

His Heartbeat

by Dale, posted in Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Missions, Uncategorized

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It was one of those moments!!  I’m seated on the front row of our church auditorium Sunday morning as we watched an Operation Christmas Child video.  Within seconds I was captivated.  There I viewed precious children wearing huge smiles of joy as they received and opened their shoe boxes!  Greater still was the testimonies of children who had received Christ as their personal Lord and Savior as a result of this initiative.  Then I realized that these children were not only gripping my heart, but it was touching the hearts of many around me.  Our church is buzzing with excitement this month as we participate for the first time in OCC!!  Missions is the heartbeat of God! Look at the cross and empty tomb.

Prior to the OCC presentation, one our church members shared the good news of God’s working in another missionary endeavor in Salt Lake City, Utah.  What a thrill to see and hear the testimonies of children and adults declaring their desire to be publicly identified with Christ in baptism; announcing their decision to follow Christ and be His disciple!  One adult, newly saved, walked in off the street, asked to be baptized, and the tank was filled during the morning service so this “Ethiopian treasurer” (Acts 8:26-38) could be obedient to the Lord!!  Missions is the heartbeat of God! Look at the cross and empty tomb.

What is missions? In its most direct and simple form, missions is Matthew 28:19-20, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you . . . .  Furthermore, Psalm 96: 3 says, Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!  Also, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Missions is the heartbeat of God!  Look at the cross and empty tomb.

How wonderfully blessed to be a part of a church that is involved in the heartbeat of God!  This month, our focus is on Grace Giving Missions, the means whereby we support these and other missionary endeavors each year.  My challenge today in this post is really directed to our church family.  As you seek the Lord in prayer this week for what He would have you give each month for missions, would you ask yourself this question, “What is my heartbeat for missions?”  Before you answer that question, take a long look at the cross (Matthew 27:27-54).  Then stand for a while at the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-10).  Do you have God’s heartbeat for missions?  Matthew 16:26 says, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  The Lord placed more value on a man’s soul than the wealth of the world.

I believe those moments like Sunday morning in church are a result of your heart beating like God’s heart because missions is the heartbeat of God!

The Greatest Tragedy

by Dale, posted in Death, Eternity, Salvation, Sin, The Gospel, Uncategorized
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Almost every day, I scan through the headlines, Latest News and Watch Now sections of foxnews.com. Here are some of what made yesterday afternoon’s news:

  • An Execution: Hunt for criminal after sheriff’s deputy killed
  • At least 2 dead after magnitude-7.8 earthquake hits New Zealand
  • France remembers 130 killed in Paris attacks 1 year ago
  • Georgia prepares to execute man who killed ex-girlfriend 15 years ago
  • Pennsylvania inmate arrested in 2008 murder of New York teenager
  • 18-year-old charged with murder in road-rage beating
  • Father and son die in hiking accident near Northern California lake
  • Rocker Leon Russell dies in Nashville at 74
  • Four Americans killed by suicide bombing in Afghanistan

Wow! Deaths, killings, murders, . . . one tragedy after another.  The Word of God addresses these scenarios and gives us the root cause of them all.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man. (Matthew 15:19-20a)

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44)

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:1-4)

The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a)

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).

How sad to see an innocent life snuffed out because of a selfish, wicked heart.  How painful to see the effects of sin! How awful to watch men and women play out the defilement of their hearts.  And we say, “How tragic!”  My friend, none of things in the aforementioned news headlines rank as the greatest tragedy.  And before I go any further, I am not heartless nor belittling the agony or pain described in those headlines.  Nevertheless, the greatest tragedy occurs every day on earth when a man or woman dies in their sins, rejecting the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Who paid for their sins, and therefore slips into eternity never again having the opportunity to accept the free-pardon of sin through Christ.  In short, the greatest tragedy today is when someone dies and goes to hell . . . and they do so by their own choosing.  Jesus Christ came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins as our substitute, and rose from the tomb to prove He is Who He said He was and is, and . . . He did it all for you. No one needs to die in his sins and go to hell, a place reserved for Satan and his demons, because God so loved you, my friend, that He gave His only Son, the only one like Him, to die in your place so you would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

The greatest tragedy . . . an eternity in hell.

The greatest triumph . . . eternity in heaven.

If this post today has piqued your interest, has created within you a desire to know more, would you take 17 minutes to consider just Five Questions and their answers.

17 minutes vs. eternity?  Please take time to watch it now.

Clippin’ Grace Coupons in Ministry

by Dale, posted in Grace, Ministry, Pastoring, Uncategorized

Every week ministry is filled and enriched by God’s grace.  No matter what kind of week it has been, grace has been sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) and overflowing (2 Corinthians 9:8).  Here’s another peek into some of the grace coupons I clipped in recent days.

COUPON #1:  COUPLES’ ADVANCE

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Several years ago, I attended my first Men’s Prayer Advance, and I have never been the same since.  The MPA is the highlight conference for me each year.  Last week, my wife and I attended our first Couples Advance.  The fact that is was held in Pigeon Forge, TN, made the event that much sweeter!  How we love East Tennessee and the Smokies!  More importantly, how wonderful to come apart for three days and intentionally work on our marriage by the grace of God.  This past June we celebrated our 35th Anniversary, and we both love the gift of marriage and love being married!  Seriously, sometimes I feel like we are still on our honeymoon.  But, because we are two sinners saved by grace (Ephesians 2:1-9) and accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), we need the searchlight of God’s Word to show where we must grow and change to be more like Christ (Ephesians 5:18-33). Of course, the Word works (Hebrews 4:12)!  What a blessing to get honest with God and each other.  The marriage triangle says it all:

marriage-triangle

COUPON #2:  PREACHING THROUGH REVELATION


He that can toy with his ministry and count it to be like a trade, or like any other profession, was never called of God. But he that has a charge pressing on his heart, and a woe ringing in his ear, and preaches as though he heard the cried of hell behind him, and saw his God looking down on him–oh, how that man entreats the Lord that his hearers may not hear in vain! – Charles Spurgeon

Preparing to preach from this awesome book every Sunday takes considerable time, prayer, and digging.  To mine out the truths and deliver them without a sensational spin as well as be true to the text is a chore but a delightful one. I often think of a line from the movie, Sheffey, when he preaches his first sermon and runs out of the church in fear.  Shed McCombs, in the face of Sheffey’s protests and not willing to let him quit, declares, “Tis a fearful thing to preach the Word of God!”  Indeed it is, but I must say, how grateful to be grace-enabled to preach Revelation in these last days!

Scratchin’ My Head

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Praise & Worship, Prayer, Uncategorized

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Yesterday’s presidential election was, I believe, a display of the mercy of God and a direct answer to the millions who gave hours to effective, fervent prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  God heard our cries, and our nation has been delivered, this time, from four or more years of a pagan, ungodly, anti-Christ government, national agenda.  It was as though we were in Daniel’s shoes as he prayed for the city of Jerusalem and Israel, O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name (9:19), God intervened once again.

What rejoicing is wrought when God answers from His Holy Throne in mercy, grace and victory!  Yesterday, the election results were the buzz.  But, I have to be honest with you.  I am scratchin’ my head at something.  To watch God work in such a powerful way, in such a way that left many in disbelief, I am at a loss to explain why our churches were not filled to capacity last night with the people of God from everywhere praising the Lord in song, testimony, praise and MORE PRAYER.  Quite frankly, I am perplexed.

After the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea, the people of Israel gathered to sing the song of the redeemed (Exodus 15) in praise for God’s deliverance.  A parallel passage to Exodus 15 is found in Isaiah 12 which has an eschatological tone of millennial praise!  What a day that will be for the nation of Israel and us! Seems like to me that the hymn of praise recorded in Isaiah should have been the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart (Psalm 19:14) last night in prayer  and praise gatherings across this land!!

Still scratchin’ my head this morning.

Our Native Tongue

by Dale, posted in Prayer, Uncategorized

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Last evening, while contemplating my Monday, a personal day of prayer and Bible study with the election heavy on my heart and mind, I began to watch the Worship Night in America video.  As the introduction played along, I heard the following statements, and they greatly resonated in my heart!

Prayer is the language of the people of God.

Prayer is her native tongue.

Today marks the end of an election that has brought many things to the forefront of people’s minds, both positive and negative, but none greater among evangelicals, I believe, than prayer.  How awesome to see in recent months the people of God at Boones Creek Bible Church express the language of Heaven, to meet together for three hours and cry out to God, to gather in small groups around the front of the church and speak our native tongue, to have a group gather every Monday for one hour or more to gather around the Throne of Grace, and even this past Sunday night to watch a remnant of the church broken before God in faith-believing, intercessory, confessional, repentive supplication that led to a crescendo of worship-filled song!

God loves to hear His redeemed pray, to cry out to Him.

Psalm 34:15 – The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.

Psalm 66:19-20 – But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me.

Proverbs 15:29 – The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the Throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Christ shed His blood to open the way to the Throne of Grace.  He has given us a language, a native tongue, which identifies us as true believers reconciled back to God into the fellowship of grace and mercy through Christ alone. There is never a moment that we do not need God; we are desperate for Him every moment of our lives . . . and He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Now that this election is hours from being over, may the passion for prayer and in prayer continue.  Yes, prayer is the language, the native tongue of God’s people.  It is the atmosphere of every believer.

Psalm 18:6 – In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.