Saturday, Jun 14, 2008

TWG - June 14, 2008

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TWG - June 14, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 25; Psalm 36; Philippians 3

Today is June 14, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. TWG is a covenant to seek the LORD God with all our heart and with all our soul. If you seek Him, He will be found by you.

What a beautiful day it was yesterday. I got my sermon ready on “A Father’s Heart.” Susan got the bulletin ready. Marcia forgot all about music practice! Can you believe that? I laid several more rows of pavers, and hope to finish them this morning… join me if you can. It is looking beautiful. We are supposed to finish the fence today as well! Rich was out front painting the new handicapped spaces. He is an artist! After work I ran to work out and then I stopped by the Hamptons garage sale and bought a few bucks worth of stuff. New ski’s, backpack, bag… and of course Susan bought some stuff as well. I put a picture of Josiah checking out his new scooter on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Philippians 4:11-13 …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Like is full of challenges. Life is full of excuses to meet those challenges. “I don’t have the time!” “I don’t have the money!” “I don’t have the ability!” “I can’t handle this right now (or ever)!” “I don’t want to do this!” “I’ll pray about it (translated… If I put if off, maybe you’ll forget you asked me!” “I’m afraid I’ll fail!” I hear and see so many excuses about why supposed Christians are not meeting the challenges of the day, I wonder if they have cut this saying out of their Bible… “I CAN DO EVERYTHING through Christ who strengthens me!” Christians are supposed to be “CAN DO” people. If there is a need, every one of us should express the willingness of Jesus when he said, “Not My Will, but Thy Will Be Done.” When God places a need for ministry before our eyes, our response should be the CAN DO response, “Of course I CAN DO that… if God wills.” Most of us make more excuses than Moses. We respond to needs by telling ourselves why we can not possibly do that and then by process of elimination say… I’m too ___________, or don’t have enough ___________ so I can not possibly do that. God wants us to say “Yes” to him first… and condition that on whether it is His will for our lives. Serving Christ and living for Christ has less to do with “I” and my ability and time and more to do with “Christ” and HIS will and HIS strength. If you are relying on your ability, your strength, your money, your time, your… no wonder you are not a CAN DO person. How can I tell if you are relying on the strength of the Lord? (i.e. a spiritual person). Simple. Give you a task that you can’t do because it is beyond your ability and if you are a CAN DO kind of person you will take the challenge and attack it, because you are doing it in HIS strength. The sad commentary on our churches is that 20% of the people do 80% of the work… why? Perhaps because the other 80% are not walking in fellowship with God. If you are not relying on HIS strength you are NOT walking in fellowship with Him. If you are not serving you are sinning! I hope this little spanking is a nice reality check. Don’t pass it by, apply it personally. I CAN DO everything through Christ who strengthens me. God is not asking you to go it alone… he’s going to give you HIS strength. You don’t need to say… I’m too ______ or I don’t have enough ________, because what we do in life for Jesus isn’t dependent on us. It depends on Him. We should be saying, GOD CAN DO IT! How big is your God? Is He big enough to give you strength to meet the challenge you face? Could he enable you to do a job you don’t have the ability to tackle? Could he help you meet a need you don’t have the cash to supply? Could He give you the emotional stability to work through an issue you can’t handle? Can he give you to time you don’t possess to accomplish His work? OF COURSE HE CAN! There is only one obstacle in the way… you. You have got to say, OK, Lord, if you give me the strength, I CAN DO IT!

Dear Almighty God! I Can Do It! If you give me the strength I will do whatever you want me to do. I am sorry that I have been telling you “no” when I should be telling you “yes.” I know you want me to serve you. I know you want me to do your will. Forgive me for selfishly wanting my own way. That will change today. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”-

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:49 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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