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Ministry needs took me to Cleveland, Ohio, last week to be with a dear husband and wife from our church who was to go through major surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Praise the Lord, she is doing well. On my Thursday journey home to East Tennessee, I exited the interstate for an overdue visit in my hometown of Marietta, Ohio.

The first stop was to see my cousin at her workplace and enjoy a too-short time of catching up.  Since I have no siblings, she has been more like a sister to me over the years, and we always have a great time together.  From there I drove a few blocks toward downtown, over the brick streets that are, and found the school where I attended five year old kindergarten as well as the library next door. Would you believe I walked five blocks to school by myself each day?  That was a different day for sure.  I circled the school twice reliving those early days.

  

From there I drove around the famous Mound Cemetery and then a half block down Sixth Street.  Here is where my reminiscing trip reached its summit.  I parked my car in front of 318 Sixth Street and stood for a while remembering some special days at this house.  Mrs. Fox lived in the downstairs, and we rented the upstairs.  The double front doors of the house opened into a foyer with the stairs directly in front of you as you walked through the doors. I can still hear the racket my red wagon made as I rode down the sidewalk wearing out my shoes as I used them for brakes. The best memory of this house was the day I walked home, I believe from school, through the front doors, up those stairs into one of the front rooms which was our living room, and there I knelt down at the couch and trusted Christ as my Savior at the age of five.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  That big house is not a sacred dwelling, but as I stood outside looking up at that window with tears streaming down my cheeks, I could confidently say that this was the place I met the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and forever I belong to Him!  How wonderful to have a godly mom and dad who loved the Lord, spoke often of Him, shared the Word with me, and always pointed me to Christ.  That day, kneeling at that couch, I took God at His Word, believed on Him (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-13), received Him as my Savior (John 1:12), and was born again (Titus 3:5)!

After standing there a bit longer, I journeyed on downtown where Mom and I would walk to shop at the old Five & Dime Woolworth’s store (hardwood flooring and a soda fountain).  Then I drove over the Muskingum River to the Anchorage where Dad labored as a carpenter since he was not pastoring a church during those days.  This old structure was then being remodeled to be used as a nursing home.  I remember walking across the bridge over to the Anchorage to see Dad, still relishing the taste of that good ice cream cone from the Five & Dime!

There were so many other places that I wanted to visit and people to see, but I’ll have to save that for another trip.  I did stop in Charlestown, West Virginia, to visit another cousin who is very dear to me.  We shared, wept, prayed, and rejoiced together.

The point of this reflective story is to simply say, “Thank You, Lord! I have been blessed!  God’s been so very good to me!”  Listen: I Have Been Blessed

      

 

 

Grateful for the gift of marriage as well as the blessing of being married for almost 35 years to my best friend, I share this video to be a source of encouragement for your marriage.

Ronald Reagan Surprises Nancy Reagan

Also, having immense admiration for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, this video is in honor of her passing as well as the passing of an era.

Nancy Reagan Tribute

 

Gatherings at church whether on Sundays, Wednesdays, or others times are more than an event to attend, they are a time to be engaged.  When you consider the call of Matthew 28:18-20, the exhortations of Colossians 3:16 and Hebrews 10:19-25, and the example of Acts 2:42-48, you see believers engaged in ministry.  I watched it happened in full view this past Sunday at Boones Creek Bible Church.

A visitor in his early 20’s, I’ll call Steve, entered the building and was promptly received by our greeters, led to our Welcome Center, and then directed to a Sunday School class.  After class was dismissed, the small group class leader engaged Steve in a gospel conversation.  This lasted through the 30 minute fellowship time into the beginning of the morning service.  At the conclusion of the service. I saw our assistant pastor engage Steve in a gospel conversation.  Later, as he mingled in the foyer, one of our deacons began a conversation with him which ended as they walked to Steve’s car.  What a blessing to see folks engaging this young in conversation because they cared for his lost soul.  How wonderful to hear that he will be meeting with someone from church later on this week.  How glad to see that these men did not just attend church, they were engaged as being the church!

Also, while the congregation was greeting one another in the morning service, I watched one of our dear older saints of God holding the hands of another lady as they bowed their heads engaged in prayer.  In the midst of all the hand-shaking and sharing what God had taught them so far in the service as well as in SS, here were two ladies meeting at the Throne of Grace!  They were engaged and not just attending, going through the motions.

Finally, two ladies entered our foyer near the end of the service. They were out-of-town guests of a family in our church and had chosen to attend Mass at the local Catholic Church.  While waiting on their hosts, one of our deacons greeted them and engaged them in a gospel conversation.  Sensing the need to summons a lady to talk to them, he introduced them to my wife.  She, too, got to know them, and then inquired about their spiritual condition.  Once again, people engaged being the church and not just attending church.

These examples are shared for God’s glory and to encourage the folks in our congregation to continue to always be engaged, soul-conscious and looking for ways to fulfill the aforementioned scriptures.

When I look back over Sunday, I am reminded of Jesus and His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).  Read it, study it, and when you gather at church the next time, be engaged . . . don’t just attend.

Spring promises new life after the dead of winter.  My neighbor placed a new fire pit in their backyard yesterday.  Flowers are popping up here and there.  I even heard a lawn mower on Sunday afternoon.  With the forecast temps to be in the 70’s this week, I would suspect we will see more new life of spring.

This morning while purchasing my wife’s favorite bagel from Panera, I said to the clerk, “I’m going to take this home to my wife.  She loves cinnamon crunch bagels.”  The dear lady looked at me with a sad look and said, “I wish my husband would do something like that for me.  We’ve been married for 30 years.  I suggest we go out to eat or take a drive, and he declines.  He never wants to do anything with me.”  How sad.  I felt so bad for her.

Men, is your marriage in the dead of winter?  Does it need the spring of new life?  Marriage is a gift from the Lord, and He will give you grace to renew your “winter marriage” no matter what the circumstances may be (2 Peter 1:2-7).  Here’s five suggestions to help you see new life in your marriage.  And men, since you are the leader of your home, you take the initiative in each of these.

1. Leave love notes for your wife.

2. Walk with her. Don’t walk way out in front or way behind.  And, hold hands as you do.

3. Put your cellphone on silent, look her in the eye, and express your love to her while sharing a cup of coffee and your favorite cookie.

4. Have fun together. Laugh.  Go through the car wash and pretend it’s a “tunnel of love” and kiss.  Even if the kids are in the car, you saying a whole bunch to them!

5. Make your next outing an event. For instance, go grocery shopping together and act like you did when you were dating.  On the way home, stop for an ice cream cone to share.

No matter how long you have been married, say goodbye to the dead of winter and hello to the life of spring!

Song of Solomon 2:8-14

The voice of my beloved!

Behold, he comes

Leaping upon the mountains,

Skipping upon the hills.

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Behold, he stands behind our wall;

He is looking through the windows,

Gazing through the lattice.

10 My beloved spoke, and said to me:

“Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away.

11 For lo, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone.

12 The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of singing has come,

And the voice of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs,

And the vines with the tender grapes

Give a good smell.

Rise up, my love, my fair one,

And come away!

14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,

In the secret places of the cliff,

Let me see your face,

Let me hear your voice;

For your voice is sweet,

And your face is lovely.”

Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming and Roger Youderian were martyred in Ecuador for the Gospel sake at the hands of the Auca Indians, January 1956.   You can read the story here: Did They Have to Die?  At the conclusion of yesterday morning’s message from Mark 8:27-38, I shared the following quotes from Nate Saint.

“People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives … and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”

“If God would grant us the vision, the word sacrifice would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short, we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from a Comprehension of Christmas and Him, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through his poverty, be made rich.” (Written two weeks before he was martyred.)

Nate Saint was known for adventure living throughout his childhood until his death.  That adventurous nature was turned into being driven by a desire to live for Christ and to reach the lost for Christ at any cost.   His life was a life well-spent.

• How did you spend your life yesterday? Who or what is your life consumed with today?
• Is denial, death and resurrection your life story? (Mark 8:34; Philippians 3:10)
• Are you distracted or daring in your life for Christ?
• When you stand before Christ at the Bema, will you have accomplished anything by the power of God that has eternal significance? (2 Corinthians 5:9-11)

No matter what is happening in your life, your state, your nation, or the world, civility, calm, courage, and contentment can only be found within the pages of God’s Word and the application thereof.  Whether or not you viewed last night’s 11th GOP Presidential Debate in Detroit, Michigan, may I challenge you to earnestly, meditatively, and personally pray through Psalm 33 for your city, your county, your state, and your nation?  In all of life’s questions and decisions, you must start with God’s Word, continue in God Word’s, and formulate your conclusions based upon God’s Word.  The answer to all you heard last night and/or the circumstances of your life is found in this Psalm 33.

Are you ready?  Either use the passage given here below or open up your Bible and meet with the Sovereign Lord of creation and history.  By the way, write down what God says to you through His Word.  He is truth and there is no debate.

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful.

2 Praise the Lord with the harp;

Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing to Him a new song;

Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

4 For the word of the Lord is right,

And all His work is done in truth.

5 He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;

He lays up the deep in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of His heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven;

He sees all the sons of men.

14 From the place of His dwelling He looks

On all the inhabitants of the earth;

15 He fashions their hearts individually;

He considers all their works.

16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army;

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

17 A horse is a vain hope for safety;

Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You.

What are you passionate about?  Are you transferring that passion to your children, your grandchildren?

Last evening after coming home from church, I saw a picture on Facebook that had passion written all over it.  There was a happy, fulfilled, fun-loving grandfather taking a selfie with his grandson on his back. The gleam in grandpa’s eyes was priceless.  You see, I have known this man for many years, more than I want to count (Ha!).  He is passionate about his walk with Christ, his precious wife, his own children who are all now married and gone, the ministry he shares with thousands every year, and many other things.

I also know that this grandfather has a real passion for hiking and running.  He has served for many years at a camp in the mountains of western North Carolina that is known for its four waterfalls.  He has hiked and ran to the well-known falls multiplied times.  It is no wonder to me to see this selfie of grandfather and grandson standing in front of one of the waterfalls.  Furthermore, the status read, “I had so much fun tonight going to a waterfall with my grandson.  I think we have many more hikes in our future.”

You see, when you are passionate about something, you want to share it with others!  What really struck me about this picture was grandad carrying his grandson to his favorite place.  He was willing to be uncomfortable for a while, to sweat some, to be inconvenienced a bit, to take a small risk, and to make time to share his passion with someone he loved.

In particular, parents and grandparents, are you passionate about Christ?  Does the Word of God, the mind of Christ, resonate in your heart?  Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ in such a way that you cannot hold it in?  You just have to share it with someone!  Are you willing to be inconvenienced a bit to make sure the children around you know Christ in a personal way?  Can they see your passion for Him?  Would you be willing to “carry them on your back” so they could experience Christ?  Would you sweat some?  Would you take risks?  Would you plan the time and take the time?

Children become passionate about who and what is passionate to us.  If you took a selfie of you teaching your children and/or grandchildren about Christ, what would be seen?  Would there be passion in your voice, a gleam in your eye, a delight in your soul, and a heart to do it again?  They are watching and listening.

Psalm 16:7-9, 11

7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

11 You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

Psalm 86:8, 10-12

8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord;

Nor are there any works like Your works.

10 For You are great, and do wondrous things;

You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And I will glorify Your name forevermore.

Have you been praying a long time for someone to be saved?  Do not give up!  (2 Peter 3:9)

Yesterday afternoon I was invited to the home of one of our dear senior saints.  She had something very precious that see wanted me to see.  Ellie’s husband passed away 14 years ago, but she has a wonderful reminder of the greatest day in his life.  Gene was not a born again believer when they married, but in God’s mercy at the age of 31, he trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord.  His own personal testimony is hand-written in this picture.

I was led to the Lord Jesus, by my father-in-law, in his house trailer at Warsaw, Ind., on a Monday afternoon, August 20^th, 1962.  I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and in return, he has promised me eternal life & some day a home in heaven with him, & our heavenly father and all the true believers, which are from the past, the present, & future.

May I always love him & serve him & thank him, for washing our sins away on the cross of Calvary.

I probably would not have accepted him, had it not been for all the prayers of my wife, my folks, my relatives, and my friends that love me.

Two things stand out to me in Gene’s testimony:

1. The last sentence acknowledges prayers of importunity from Ellie, his folks, his relatives and his friends . . . . “that love me.” What an example of “loving your neighbor” (Matthew 22:37-39)!! You pray for them without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17). Do not give up praying for lost souls!

2. The fact that family was used of the Lord to reach Gene for Christ speaks volumes to me. The devil likes to tempt us into believing that the most difficult people to reach are those within our own family.  Truth is, they are the easiest to reach.  You know them; they know you.  Barriers do not have to be broken down by a stranger.  Are you burdened about your lost loved ones?  Talk to them soon about Christ. Do not give up sharing the gospel with folks who desperately need it!

Importunate praying never faints nor grows weary; it is never discouraged; it never yields to cowardice, but is buoyed up and sustained by a hope that knows no despair, and a faith which will not let go. Importunate praying has patience to wait and strength to continue. It never prepares itself to quit praying, and declines to rise from its knees until an answer is received. (E. M. Bounds)

Luke 18:1-8         Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

When you pray, how often do you cry out to the Lord?  Charles Spurgeon has eloquently recorded in his Treasury of David the following commentary about 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.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God.

Prayer is that postern gate which is left open even when the city is straitly besieged by the enemy; it is that way upward from the pit of despair to which the spiritual miner flies at once when the floods from beneath break forth upon him. Observe that he calls, and then cries; prayer grows in vehemence as it proceeds. Note also that he first invokes his God under the name of Jehovah, and then advances to a more familiar name.

my God

Thus faith increases by exercise, and he whom we at first viewed as Lord is soon seen to be our God in covenant. It is never an ill time to pray; no distress should prevent us from using the divine remedy of supplication. Above the noise of the raging billows of death, or the barking dogs of hell, the feeblest cry of a true believer will be heard in heaven.

He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Far up within the bejewelled walls, and through the gates of pearl, the cry of the suffering suppliant was heard. Music of angels and harmony of seraphs availed not to drown or even to impair the voice of that humble call. The king heard it in his palace of light insufferable, and lent a willing ear to the cry of his own beloved child. O honoured prayer, to be able thus through Jesus’ blood to penetrate the very ears and heart of Deity. The voice and the cry are themselves heard directly by the Lord, and not made to pass through the medium of saints and intercessors.

My cry came before Him

The operation of prayer with God is immediate and personal. We may cry with confident and familiar importunity, while our Father himself listens.

The words cry out, cried out mean “to cry out for help, to shout, to implore for aid.”  These are days of distress, trouble, battle, fainting, and longing.  The battle rages against the devil, the flesh and this world. Our Heavenly Father Who has given us complete access into the Holiest (Hebrews 4:16; 10:1-19) desires that we cry out to Him for His ear is open to our supplications.  Let us relinquish our weak praying in exchange for prayer that comes from the agony of our souls.  May even weeping, singing, and scripture be heard by God, Who for His glory, will accomplish His will which is always good.

Psalm 34:15        The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

Psalm 34:17        The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 56:9          When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

Psalm 57:2          I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

Psalm 84:2          My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 102:1        Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.

Psalm 107:28      Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses.

Psalm 119:145   I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes.

Psalm 119:146   I cry out to You; save me, and I will keep Your testimonies.

Psalm 141:1        LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

Psalm 142:1        I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.

Enter your “War Room” today and cry out!  Make haste to do so.  Our gracious Heavenly Father will meet you there!