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GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

But as THE ARK OF THE LORD’S COVENANT entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. ~ I Chronicles 15:29

GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY! ~ Let’s review last week. King David wanted to move THE ARK OF THE COVENANT back to Jerusalem. He basically took a survey, and everyone thought it was “the right thing to do.” However, they left GOD out of the process. A man named Uzzah tried to steady THE ARK as it appeared to fall, and he was killed by GOD for touching THE ARK. We ended the sermon possibly thinking GOD was unfair. Go back and watch. 😊

FIRST, we must come to the realization that GOD is GOD, and we are not! When GOD makes a promise, HE never fails! HE promised HE would redeem us in Genesis 3:15, and HE fulfilled HIS promise. HE promised that HIS holiness was represented in THE ARK, and HE told the people exactly how to move it. HE warned them that if they touched it, then they would die. Why do we pick and choose when to believe GOD’S promises?  We argue with HIM when we disagree with HIS Promises? We seem to want Santa Claus instead of GOD!

SECOND, in today’s passage (I Chronicles 15:1-29), King David seeks GOD’S approval rather than a human consensus.  What a difference that makes! Too often, we, ministers, are more concerned with the opinion of the congregants rather than that of the CREATOR. When King David moved THE ARK ~ GOD’S WAY, everything went well and a HOLY GHOST party broke out. GOD first life!

THIRD, David danced for joy before THE LORD. He was not “showing off.” Michal’s reaction to King David’s worship is a vivid picture of our worship. (v 29 above) In my experience, someone somewhere is always filled with contempt whenever you worship GOD honestly and openly. It is too much for them to handle. Worship anyway! When worshiping GOD, never look out, look around, or look back. Always look up!  GOD’S WORK ~ GOD’S WAY!  😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

LIFE IN CRISIS!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

44 And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, JUST AS THE LORD HAD PROMISED.                                     II Kings 4:44 NLT

You Matter to GOD! {Life in Crisis!} ~ I find myself reflecting on two differing philosophies of life this week. One says, “life is a dream.” In other words, everything is wonderful, and there are never any real worries or concerns. The other is this, “life is just one crisis after the other.” Of course, this means that everything is bad, and the sky is falling. You may see it as the glass half-full or half-empty. Although, some might say, “the glass is broken!” If that’s you, then you have my heart and my prayers. I feel this way because some people seem like they just can’t catch a break. I know people, through no fault of their own, who just seem to have one life shattering event after another. In your case, I agree: “Life is hard!”

If you’re in a pit, and you can’t see the top, look up! The passage above is written during a famine. There was little or no food to eat. The first group tries to fix what might be their last meal only to find that the food is poisoned. The second group does not have nearly enough food for one hundred people with no way to get more food. So, what happens? Does someone decide, “Well, life is short, and we’re just going to die anyway!” NO! They are wise enough to seek the ONE who made the earth and all the food contained therein. HE PROVIDES! ~ HE always has a plan, and it’s a great one (especially given that we can’t see all of it, yet). 😊

Often the OLD TESTAMENT clearly points to JESUS in the NEW TESTAMENT in such a way that none of us should miss it. This is one of those times. Elisha the prophet prays for GOD to provide/multiply loaves of bread so that all the people can be fed. Sound familiar? It should! JESUS does the same thing several times in the NEW TESTAMENT. In fact, on one occasion, HE even states the reason for the allusion to the bread and the miracles so often in HIS ministry. (Matthew 16:11-12)

11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

12 Then at last they understood that HE wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Please remember, THE REAL BATTLE is not the crisis you’re in. THE REAL BATTLE is about your attention, your passion, your heart, your faith, and your very soul! “Cry Out to JESUS” if you “Need a Miracle.” Tell your heart to believe again! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Please remember, THE REAL BATTLE is not the crisis you’re in. THE REAL BATTLE is about your attention, your passion, your heart, your faith, and your very soul!

DIVIDED!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

“So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was THE WILL OF THE LORD, for it fulfilled THE LORD’S MESSAGE to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from SHILOH.”    I Kings 12:15

DIVIDED! ~ How did things get to be this way? There seem to always be two groups of people who cannot find a common ground. Two polarizing groups who hold only to their point of view. In my house, we endured the “peanut butter wars.” I liked Peter Pan; Cheryl trusted JIF. Guess What? For many years, we had JIF in our house. However, we had to get Peter Pan for a short season during the recent JIF recall. That makes me right after all! Right? 😊

We are a DIVIDED people! We argue about a two-party political system of government in our relationships, our posts, and on social media. We allow this to affect our conversations and attitudes. These two political terms are not found in the BIBLE. Since we have received CHRIST’S life-changing grace and HIS discipleship teachings from the WORD OF GOD, then shouldn’t we trust GOD in every season?  We must trust the ONE WHO installs kings and presidents and WHO rules over nations.  But, let’s be nice about it?

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].                    Colossians 4:6 AMPC

I believe we can disagree while still being “winsome” followers of CHRIST. Nevertheless, many in the body of CHRIST seem to have joined the “Karen’s” in our world who are quick to spew anger and hatred any time they feel put out. Billy Graham prayed with politicians from both parties pointing each leader to JESUS. So, let’s follow the BIBLE and be “Winsome!” Oh yeah! For my friends who don’t do “church,” I think of the lyrics from the Beatle’s song, as though JESUS is speaking. “Come Together, right now, over ME!” Let’s avoid being so DIVIDED and try this… ~ Hate the Devil ~ Love people! ~ 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

We can argue about almost anything! 🙂