Random Musings

-/\/\----------------------------------------------------------------- \ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/ --\/------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, November 4, 2009 MORNING: "For my strength is made perfect in weakness." -- 2 Corinthians 12:9 A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Th...

Hi Everyone. I received this message last night from my friend, Paul Pierson. Please be praying for him. In the short time that I have known him, he has truly impacted my walk with the Lord. He is watching for the Lord to do something amazing. Join with me in praying God would be glorified in this. Below is his message: -------------------- Subject: Kidney Update So 6 weeks ago I scheduled a check up with my doctor to see how my kidneys were functioning, before I planned on leaving for Thailand. That was last week. If you read my last email, you know I was diagnosed as Stage 4 Renal Failure. Basically that means I have 19% kidney function. Not good. If you have 15% kidney function, you start dialysis and then, if your kidney's don't start working, you get put on a kidney transplant list. This stage is called Stage 5: End stage renal failure. End being the key word. So I'm 4% away from from Stage 5. Or so I thought. I went to my new kidney specialist this morning and I ...

Here are some words that stirred and broke my heart today. From "IF" by Amy Carmichael. There are a number of areas in my heart and various situations where these apply...ouch. If I do not feel far more for the grieved Saviour than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If in dealing with one who does not respond, I weary of the strain, and slip from under the burden, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where is no peace; if I forget the poignant word, "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, th...

Sometimes, when we least expect it, God shows up in a fresh way. On Tuesday night, as we were waiting for everyone to arrive for Bible Study, the students and I decided to have "Storytime". Those who were there ran around the kids' section at Barnes and Noble and found their favorite books. We read, "Brown, Bear, Brown Bear", "The Giving Tree", "Goodnight Moon", and "The Angry Ladybug". Then, Laura-girl, brought over a book called "Incredible You". In a move only God could make, this story became our lesson for the evening. It may have been one of the more memorable lessons for this group! (Which proves it's about what GOD's doing...not what I am teaching!!!) I wanted to share the questions in the back of the book and see what your responses may be. Some of them were easy, some deep, and others difficult to answer. Here they are...let me know what you think! 1. Do you dream of doing something adventurous l...

The Lord has been working on my heart pretty intensely these days. I've wrestled with an area of unforgiveness for several days and I believe I have finally been able to let go of the hurt. But, it seems that I have barely settled my heart on one issue before the Holy Spirit brings another to mind. It's what I want. I want to be more like Jesus and this is the process. But, it's so difficult and so much work. It's hard to look your failings and weaknesses in the face and lay them at the feet of Jesus! A few days I read something that has really be gnawing on my heart. I am reading a biography of Amy Carmichael, a turn of the century missionary to India. When she first arrived in India, she had an occasion to be sternly (and perhaps not appropriately) scolded by an older missionary woman. Being of Irish stock, her temper started to get the best of her when she heard a voice whisper, "Let this be an opportunity to die". What? It took me a moment to see what the ...

Matthew 6:9-15 (The Message) 7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. 14-15"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off fro...

I just found this post in my drafts folder this morning. Apparently, I never published it. It's interesting to me that I came across it just a few days after posting about accountability. I'm not certain where these questions originated, but where possible, the credit was given. This post was saved about this time last year as I began my journey toward ordination in the Free Methodist Church, so I'm pretty sure they are from the resources I was given then. CAUTION: These questions are tough! They are good ways to measure where we are spiritually, but you will probably feel a bit of a sting once you're done reading them (I know I did!) ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS John Wesley's Small Group Questions: 1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? 2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate? 3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence? 4. Am I a sl...

In the past couple of weeks I have really been challenged by watching the life of a friend of mine. I've watched him take on a couple of projects and go hard at them without complaining. As I've watched him and seen the results of his hard work, I have been awed by what a difference it makes to do something with excellence. Many, if not most, of us are usually satisfied with "good enough". We don't give our best effort at everything and simply settle for whatever we accomplish. I am guilty of that often. I usually get a "good enough" result with a minimal or average effort, and I've been content with that. No more. As I've thought about this during the week, the Holy Spirit has really convicted me. There are areas of my life that really need attention in the excellence department. I've been reading the Scriptures (Colossians 3, II Peter 1, Philipians 4, etc) and it only reaffirms what I am feeling in my spirit. Everything I do, wheth...

Town Hall Meeting of Government Health Care August 26th 7:00 PM City Hall Peachtree City GA. Hwy 54 & Willowbend Newnan Town Hall Meeting August 17th 7:00 PM Newnan Fairground, Newnan GA. Pine Rd. please tell all your friends/family and church to attend this very informative meeting with panel of speakers and a Q&A Time (Bring Your Questions!!!) Thanks

For anyone who has talked to me in the last couple of weeks, this won't be news to you. There are many things in the political system and in the government that are making my blood pressure spike! Is it just me, or does it make anyone else crazy that our representatives in Washington are voting on bills they haven't even read? I came across a few organizations today who are taking the fight to the Hill. I wrote letters to my own representatives this morning. But, I have to say, I felt completly ridiculous asking my Senators and Representative to read the bills before they vote! It seems like common sense to me, but obviously, not everyone thinks so! Check out: www.DownsizeDC.org (Read the Bill Act) and www.LetFreedomRingUSA.com (Read the Bill Pledge) Here's the letter I wrote today: Dear Senators Chambliss and Isakson: I am writing to request that you investigate the possibility of legislation or a Congress-wide pledge that all representatives in the House and Senate b...

It's good to know that some of our representatives in Washington are willing to stand up for Democracy. Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina, is standing up for Honduras with 17 other Senators (still trying to find out who they all are). Here is his press release regarding the situation there. He is also calling for a full investigation into the parts played by Chavez, Ortega and Castros in the Honduran situation. So, thank you, Senator DeMint, for standing up for democracy and the people of Honduras! DEMINT STATEMENT ON HONDURAS “Americans should support the Honduran people and their legitimate leaders in their brave and heroic stand for freedom and the rule of law.” Greenville, SC - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, made the following statement about the ongoing situation in Honduras. "The people of Honduras have struggled too long to have their hard-won de...

My previous post contains information circulating from the White House and from the media regarding the situation in Honduras. As many of you know, I was in Honduras while the transfer of power was taking place. I have dear friends who live there and are watching their government go through a very difficult time. I've been asked this question a great deal, so here is how I understand the situation in Honduras: The former president (Mel) wants to eliminate term limits. However, the Honduran government is similar to ours with three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial). They also have a constitution. In order to eliminate term limits, the constitution has to be changed. Mel decided to have a survey of the people to see if they wanted it on the ballot to change term limits. This survey was supposed to be held on Sunday (we were scheduled to leave the country the following Monday). The Congress and the Supreme Court of Honduras advised Mel that what he wa...

I was just reading some remarks made by our President while in Russia. He had this to say about the situation in Honduras: "Now let me be clear: America cannot and should not seek to impose any system of government on any other country, nor would we presume to choose which party or individual should run a country. And we haven't always done what we should have on that front. Even as we meet here today, America supports now the restoration of the democratically-elected President of Honduras, even though he has strongly opposed American policies. We do so not because we agree with him. We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not." You can read the entire speech at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/REMARKS-BY-THE-PRESIDENT-AT-THE-NEW-ECONOMIC-SCHOOL-GRADUATION/ On June 28th, he had this to say: "I am deeply concerned by reports coming out of Honduras regarding t...

I watched this video today and it resonated in my heart. It touched on a part of my heart that has been challenged since I've returned from Honduras. While I was there, we would have 2 or 3 church services a day. By the end of the day, I felt completely poured out. All that was in me, I had poured out for the people of Honduras. And, it was a requirement - a profound necessity - to fill back up on the Word of God, prayer, and time in His presence. It wasn't an option. It was as voluntary as breathing. We had a good deal of "down" time, but it was important to spend that time filling back up in order that we could pour ourselves out. Since I have been home, I haven't reached that point of being poured out. It has broken my heart to realize this. It should feel as necessary as breakfast to dive into the Word in the morning. I should feel that hunger and thirst as if it were time for lunch in the middle of the day. And, in the evening, I should long for the Word of G...

Thursday night I returned from an 11 day mission trip to Honduras. It was a WONDERFUL trip and very intense for me. I am still working on gathering all of the miracles we saw in order to have them in one place, but it was beyond anything I could imagine. At the last service alone, 13 people had their sight restored! It was incredible to have the opportunity to minister with the PCF (Peachtree Christian Fellowship) team and pour God's love and power on the people of Honduras. There will be more to come, but I wanted to write about how the trip most affected me personally while it's all still fresh. God definitely worked on my heart while I was there and I'm pretty sure He broke down anything left of myself that was getting in His way! For those of you who don't know, here's a quick recap of what God has been working in my life in the last 12 years. When I was 18, I first noticed that something was wrong with my body and since then, I've been seeing Doctor a...

I was listening to an old favorite CD today and stumbled upon this song and just had to laugh. In so many ways, it sums up what the Lord has been teaching me lately. Clumsy by: Chris Rice You think I'd have it down by now Been practicin' for thirty years I should have walked a thousand miles So what am I still doin' here Reachin' out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit I slip and fall and aI knock my halo loose Somebody tell me what's a boy supposed to do? I get so clumsy I get so foolish I get so stupid And then I feel so useless But You're sayin' You love me And You're still gonna hold me And that You wanna be near me 'Cause You're makin' me holy You're still makin' me holy I'm gonna get it right this time I'll be strong and I'll make You proud I've prayed that prayer a thousand times But the rooster crows and my tears roll down Then You remind me You made me from the dust And I can never, no never, be good e...

When is enough really enough? At what point should you draw a line in the sand in a relationship and say "I'm done"? I don't have a good answer to that question and it's really starting to bug me. I'm writing today in hopes of stirring some conversation and gaining some insight, or at least some new perspectives. I don't think the root of my confusion can be found in human logic. From a logical and human perspective, I think those lines can sometimes be clear. If someone hurts you continually or is more selfish than not, maybe it's time to walk away. In my humanness, there have been times when I have felt like a relationship wasn't worth the work it required and I've wanted to walk away. I think that's normal and happens quite often in relationships. There seems to be a natural ebb and flow to life and people come and go from our lives and our relationships change. But, what is the right thing to do? What is the godly thing to do? ...

As I was driving this afternoon, I was surprised by a new perspective on my relationship with God. Some time ago, I was involved in a business venture that was completely frustrating. A competitor approached us and asked for help in running his business. You see, my family has been in the travel business for more than 20 years, and I, myself, have been involved with the agency for the last 15. We have seen the industry go through a number of big changes and have managed to survive, and prosper, through them all. This competitor, although a businessman, did not have any experience in the travel industry. So, as he was waiting out his contracts, he asked us if we would help. We arranged a situation that was mutually beneficial and had a plan to help him recoup as much money as possible (or at least not lose any more) and then absorb his business once his contractual obligations were fulfilled. It was a good plan. It should have worked for both parties. What we failed to factor i...

This is one of my favorite hymns. It resonates within my heart like little else. It's been on my mind for the last few days, and I've been meditating on the words. Come Thou Fount Come Thou Fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing Thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise Teach me some melodius sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it Mount of Thy redeeming love Here I raise mine Ebenezer Hither by Thy help I'm come And I hope, by Thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood O to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, O take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above I think there are a number of reasons why this song ...

The other day, I happened to notice that it had been 3 months since my last blog entry. I can't believe it's been that long! There's usually a number of reasons why my writing goes silent and the top two are: 1. Busyness 2. Emotional drain It's not usually because I don't want to write, but because I can't. I hate those periods of time because the lack of writing usually signals real struggles in my heart, mind, and/or spirit. However, when the fog lifts, writing becomes my way of processing all of the things that have happened and a way to chronicle what I've learn. The last time I wrote, I was processing grief. Since then, much has happened in my life and there is much to process. I love this time. Thanks for indulging me as I share my thoughts, my life, and my heart in the coming weeks.