Thoughtful Thursday: My Heart is Fixed!

Psalm 57:7  “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

In this passage, David is talking about how his heart is fixed on God, because God fixed his heart.  David said "I will sing and give praise."  At the particular time that David wrote this Psalms, he was not in the comfort and splendor of his palace.  He was actually far from his palace, hiding in a cave because Saul was trying to have him killed (see I Samuel 22).
What a great testimony it was for David to be continually praising God thru this calamity in his life!

Below are a few suggestions I heard given by a speaker some time back on some things to do when we are in the midst of a calamity:

1.  Read at least 1 chapter in the Bible ever morning.

2.  Write down what you learned from what you read.

3.  Make a list of things for which you can praise God for.

4.  Pray for others who also have a calamity.

5.  Continue to sing and praise God thru the day.

6.  Be in your place. Whether it be at home, work or church.

7.  Be patient

8.  Help organize the solution.

These are great practical things for us to even do on a daily basis so that when the calamity comes, we are already prepared and in the habit of doing these things already.  Then hold tight to God's promises to never leave you or forsake you.   

This brings to mind the lyrics of a song I love:

Sometimes He calms the storm, with a whispered peace be still.
He can settle any sea, but it doesn't mean He will.

Sometimes He holds us close, and lets the wind and waves go wild.
Sometimes He calms the storm, and other times He calms His child.

Monday's Message: Submit Yourselves

Jesus gave His life, to purchase the church; as we read plainly in Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

But the dear Lord Jesus wasn’t at all through giving to the saved, when He gave His life, and gave eternal life to all those who trusted Him and received it by faith.

He also gave the church to the saints; or to the saved.

I thank the Lord for the church.  It is started by and founded on and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is His gift to us. 

I’ve never been in a perfect one, because only it’s founder is perfect; but I thank the Lord for every one I’ve had the privilegeto be a member.

The man Stephanas seems to have been a type of pastor of the church in Achaia; or had eventually become so.  As we read about him in I Corinth. 16 :15 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” and then the Lord has Paul continue in vs. 16, from this “That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”  The words “unto such” seem to refer to Stephanas. If he was not or never a pastor, it is clear that he served the Lord as a minister, and helped the saints of God in the church.

Our Lord instructs the Corinthians to submit themselves to such; or to those like Stephanas in their church in Corinth.

To submit means: to arrange under, to subordinate

2)to subject, put in subjection , obey 3) to submit to one’s control 4) to yield to one’s admonition or advice.

I pastored for 25 years; but before this, I had a pastor in the churches I had the opportunity to be a member. And with such, and had a command of the Lord to put myself under their leadership.  I learned that it is because they are called and gifted by the Lord Jesus to fulfill that ministry, and that though they’re not perfect, they are in leadership under the Lord.  God’s command is reason enough, but let’s think about this.  When God calls, He qualifies.  And the pastor often knows more than the flock about many things.  Some because he’s dealt with them before, but others, because God most often gives him wisdom to help him with the responsibility to properly care for God’s sheep.

This is why we read in Heb. 13: 17  “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Your pastor will answer to the Lord one day for the church he was given responsibility.

To be quick; there is another passage about submission in I Pet.1Pe 5:5 “ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Not every single time, but very often, those that have been around a while have seen more than we have, and have heard more than we have, and so have learned more than we have.  And we would do well to take heed and respect their years of wisdom.

God sure was good to us to give us the church.

Thoughtful Thursday: By God's Grace

While driving home from church one Sunday night, we drove up to an accident that had just happened.  A man on a bicycle had been struck by a car.   We immediately pulled over, and my husband and I got out and rushed over.  My husband started directing traffic a different way and I rushed over to the man lying on the ground.  He was conscious, but a bit disoriented.   Having no medical training, I knew there was nothing I could do for his wounds, which did not appear life-threatening, so I just began to talk to him in order to distract him from his pain.  I asked his name.  He told me his name was Ian.  He lived nearby, so I tried calling his family from my cell phone to notify them of the accident. Meanwhile, someone that witnessed the accident had run to his house to tell his family.   A few minutes later, a lady ran over to him and cried "Ian!  Ian!   Are you ok??"   To which this battered and bleeding man, lying on the ground, replies "Yes, by God's grace".

Have you ever been slapped in the “spiritual” face?  

Yes, this was definitely one of those moments.
How does one, in what seemingly is a terrible situation, have such a great outlook!?

How many times have we been having a "bad day" and someone asks how we are and they receive a reply like "Ugh!  I've been better." or "It's been a horrible day!"  When in all actuality, we just simply woke up late, got caught in traffic, got a paper cut...or some other "horrible" thing that has caused us to dwell on the bad rather than the blessed.  I know I'm guilty of this more often than I probably realize.  

Even on a day when we wake up late, we should be thankful that God allowed us another day to live for Him.

Even on a day when we feel overwhelmed, we should be thankful that we serve the One that has unlimited strength for us to rely on.

Even on a day when we just don’t feel like smiling, we should be thankful that we are on our way to Heaven…by God’s grace!

Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:3 - For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Colossians 3:15a - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

His ways are not our ways

Written by Robert Holley

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  I had read this verse before, but didn't think it was that true.  I thought that the way I would do it is the way that God would also, but I was wrong.

        In October of 2004, I was diagnosed with sudden complete kidney failure.  As a 27 year old with two children, I did not understand why God would let this happen, but it did.  For the next five years, I had to do dialysis to keep myself as healthy as possible to receive a transplant.  By the grace of God, I was relatively healthy.

        Because of a blood transfusion I had received, I was not cleared to receive a kidney transplant until December of 2008.  On Friday night March 7, 2009, I received a phone call from the transplant doctors telling me that I could possibly receive a kidney transplant.  I was not the first in line, but if the person ahead of me was not able to receive it, then I would be next.  They told me that I would receive a phone call the next day to let me know.  My wife and I called all the people we knew to pray that I would receive it.  On Saturday morning, I went to our church bus meeting and asked for prayer concerning this.  Before the meeting was over, I received a call that told me that I WOULD NOT be receiving this kidney, and that I would have to wait for the next one that was available.  Although I was disappointed, I went and visited my bus route and then went to our new church building to help with its construction.  Later, I left and went to my part time job delivering pizza and then went home to begin getting ready for church the next day. 

        Just before I began my home dialysis, I received a call on my phone telling me that I WOULD NOW RECEIVE the kidney.  I told them I would be there in 30 minutes.  They told me some things I needed to do before coming to the hospital and that it would do me no good to die in a car accident before getting the kidney.  I hurriedly called many friends and relatives to tell them the great news, and to make sure that all of my areas were covered at church for Sunday. 

        When I arrived, they had to do some test to make sure that all was well before the transplant.  Five things stick in my mind about that night.

1.  My wife had to repack the suitcases for my children because after being told I was not getting the kidney, she had unpacked them so everything would be put back away. 

2.  Time change took place that evening and the nurses were glad that they did not have to work as long.

3.  The transplant doctor showed up with a Mt. Dew in his hand before starting my 3-4 hour transplant surgery.

4.  They asked me if I still wanted the transplant before wheeling me into surgery for the transplant.

5.   God's way for me to get a transplant was not his way.

        Since receiving my transplant now seven years ago, I have only been in the hospital once for a slight infection of my dialysis port that was to be removed the next week.  God has not only blessed me with good health, but also with a four and a half year old son.  I also had the privilege of winning a man and his family to the Lord.  He had kidney failure and was on dialysis just like I was.  He has now passed away, but his family and I know that we will see him again someday.  I would not have chosen this way for my life, but his ways are higher and better than mine will ever be.