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Monthly Archives: October 2013

Look what I learned

17 Oct

Look what I learned

Proverbs 3:5-6   Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

I really don’t know how I could summarize the past couple months into a OneMinuteMinistry. From preaching my first sermon, to receiving an answer to a three year prayer, to a calling to preach, to an opportunity to become the preacher at a small church who stepped out in faith on me. God has humbled me beyond words with his grace in all of this. It happened so incredibly fast, I have no word other than overwhelming to describe it. My life has been turned upside down, and I am simply trying to reorganize it. God has placed me at a point in my life where I have no choice but to rely solely on Him. In my testimony rooted in pride, this step in sanctification is one where any ounce of pride left, fell out when He flipped my world. Thank you Jesus.

Solomon’s proverb above, the wisest man who ever lived, writes not to lean on our own understanding. He could have written to the likes of a prideful man leaning on his incredible wisdom and understanding. He could have said to pursue lifelong education and the pursuit of knowledge; no, he said to rely on God. He said in all your ways to rely on God. When we come to have that Holy fear, respect, and awe of God, and seek him with all our being, he sees and knows that and begins to reveal more of himself to us. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Education is great and necessary in so many ways, but in that education rely on what God reveals, not the opinions of your blended learnings. Rely on the truths of the scriptures, period.

In my sermon preparation yesterday, God clearly spoke to me on this. I came to realize even more clearly the power of the Living Word. How I need less of Mike Anderson, and more of God. I am unedjumicated’, but I have a true, fearful heart for God and lean on his understanding. I stand before you a man humbled by grace, and covered in mercy. There is nothing special about me that you cannot have too. All it takes is answering that call He has placed on your heart. Those convictions that you feel, those questions that you feel, are all Christ working inside of you. All it takes is a true repentance of your sins, asking for Him to forgive you of them, and live your life, the rest of your life, in the assurance of eternity with him. Your life will forever change,  your life will take on new meaning, your life will want to move to that of a disciple, to share the Hope that lies within you. You will want to share your knowledge and understanding of the Savior of the world.

 
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Posted by on October 17, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Time Management

16 Oct

Time Management

1 John 2:15-17    Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The pressures of life are great
We are driven to succeed;
We are told it is the measure
Of attaining what we don’t need.

I am feeling that pressure
Weighing my life in many ways;
What is really important to me
How do I spend my days?

Time management is the struggle
For 20+ years it has been my days;
It is the nature of my business
Life on call in so many ways.

Now the heart is different
My life is a J.O.B.;
I still love what I do
But it doesn’t really define me.

My heart is elsewhere now
It is sharing the Hope within;
It is sharing the Redemption
It is sharing Forgiveness of sin.

The world presses hard
Shows me troubles and trophies too;
Satan’s kingdom here on earth
Wants me to have his worldview.

This battle of my time
Will likely never go away;
But it keeps me centered and focused
On spending it with Christ every day.

 
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Posted by on October 16, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Gardening for life

14 Oct

Gardening for life

John 4:36 -38  And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Sow and water and reap
These we are taught to do;
We are to share our hope
That’s what Christ expects of you.

Sow means to explain
For them through Christ to see;
Testimonies of a  changed heart
The difference He made in me.

Water is no different
Not knowing others have sown;
Adding to the evidences
Of not doing life alone.

Reaping is the reward
Of seeing them come to know;
Christ as their Savior
And getting that eternal glow.

You can never experience
The joy found in all three;
When you keep silent
When prompted by Thee.

Your life may be the only Bible
That some ever do read;
But your testimony to it
May be all they ever need.

They may see something in you
That they really want to attain;
They may eventually come to you
And ask what they can gain.

How can you deny
These joys you shall not keep;
When you speak up next time
To sow and water and reap.

 
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Posted by on October 14, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Me, or Him?

13 Oct

Me, or Him?

Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

My testimony is rooted in pride
Nothing I could not attain;
I lived for this world
And all that I could gain.

Oh how I sinned
Lived a life far from Thee;
Chasing temporal pleasures
It was all about me.

God humbled me greatly
Both body and mind;
These days are much different
Less of the old me to find.

My pains are physical
My hurts they are deep;
My mind is deeply sorrowed
For the life I did keep.

His call on my life now
Is to share the hope that I claim;
In him there is forgiveness
In him there is no shame.

I seek no honor and glory
I seek no attention at all;
I seek only to stand before you
A humble man who seeks to be small.

The prideful will fall
By God’s grace they will see;
There is more to life
Than just pointing to me.

Only the humble enter heaven
For if we thought we could attain;
In pride we would work harder
And Christ died in vain. (Galatians 2:21)

 
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Posted by on October 13, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Do the demons know you?

11 Oct

Do the demons know you?

Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Is there a Most Wanted poster with your picture on it at the Gates of Hell? Has Satan assigned an army of angels to torment you; is there a spiritual war raging inside your head? Do the demons know you by name, or have they even heard of you? Comfortable Christianity will likely allow you to meet them at a later date. Your life should be so zealous for Christ that it is a constant pain in Satan’s side. You should possess the evidence of Christ, the power of Christ, and the security of Christ that threatens him. That light inside of you should be so bright it dis-spells the kingdom of darkness. It is of a place of honor to see those spiritual wars that rage; it is a place of honor when things in life get rough; it is a place of honor when all that God designs or allows in your life points you to the evidence of your need for him alone. The trials, these temptations, these pains that you endure, all are there to draw you closer. When you draw closer, and the world expects you to fall away in your faith, you become a witness for the power of God in your life. Your life becomes your testimony, and your testimony is to your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul had been baptizing in the name of Christ, and anointing with the Holy Spirit in Ephesus and all of Asia. He had baptized 12 disciples, and spent two years with them in Tyrannus teaching, witnessing, and performing miracles in the name of Christ. The news of Christ, and the power of Christ, began to raise “copycats”. The Jewish so called magicians were claiming the name of Christ in their magic acts. With the seven sons of Sceva, it backfired, and the demon drove out the exorcist. Acts 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. The demon was not threatened by those he knew were not Christians; he was not threatened by those claiming the power, without living the life. The demon called them out, and drove them out, naked and embarrassed.

So much of my life, I thought, and somewhat claimed to be a Christian. I thought that if I believed in Christ, that was all I had to do. I had lived my life in sin, but could somehow justify my sinful lifestyle in my own mind. I could have the pleasure of sin for a season, or even sin repeatedly as long as I repented, and still remain ok on God’s scales of life. Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. Paul states it very clearly there, we are not to continue in lifestyles of sin when we claim Christ. We are not to rest on Grace, and live in sin. We are to let God work out sanctification in us, and through us, fleeing the sins he reveals to us. We are to live as Paul says, 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 
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Posted by on October 11, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Oh, I got my Rest

10 Oct

Oh, I got my Rest

Matthew 11:28-30   “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message)

I couldn’t help but laugh at my daily scripture that came to my phone this morning; I had overslept for the second day in a row, and the scripture was Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. There is so much in that scripture, so much pertinent to those hearing it that day, so much again to the religiosity of today. Christ has just instructed his apostles, and he had went out and began teaching himself. Christ had spoken of John the Baptist, and answered the questions & pointed him out as the prophet in the wilderness as was written in Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts. Christ was proving he was the Messiah with John’s coming before him; he was proving he was the Messiah in all the miracles he had performed in the cities before their very eyes; yet they had not believed. Christ now began condemning those cities to hell, they would pay for their rejection of him; he spoke openly of the great city of Sodom that was known to have been destroyed by God. He told them Sodom would have repented of their sins if they had seen the proofs of Christ right before their eyes.

The scribes and Pharisees had such a hold on the people of that day, they were trapped in their belief system of religiosity. They had come to believe at their core they must work for their salvation. They had come to believe all the demands of the Law that they could never attain. They had come to believe that they must work hard, and follow all the rules. All other religions to this day point to what we must do to reach their God; what work we must accomplish to atone our sins, or to earn the right to Him. Even sects of Christianity preach a dualism of works based faith entwined with Christ. Grace teaches that we can never earn the demands work teaches; grace teaches our faith produces good works, not our works produce our faith. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

I can describe my faith in one word; Peace. In that peace is the understanding of Grace. In that peace is the understanding of my assurance of Salvation; I know, that I know, that I know I am going to heaven. In that peace is that rest that Christ describes in Matthew 11:28. Religiosity and all the works based faith systems can be described simply as burdensome to the soul; it is work for the soul to make sure you are doing everything you are to do to earn your way to heaven. Grace is a restful soul that performs it’s good deeds out of a love relationship for the Savior that did the Atoning Work at the Cross. It is much easier to work for something you love, isn’t it?

 
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Posted by on October 10, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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God is in control, The End.

08 Oct

God is in control, The End.

Romans 4:19-22   And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Romans 4 speaks about the great faith of Abraham, of how he was justified before God in his great faith. He is known as the patriarch of great faith; He stood on the mountain of God and was ready to plunge a knife into his only son as a sacrifice to God. There is much theology wrapped up in all that Abraham understood and felt in that act of great faith, but it as simple as he knew in his obedience that God was in control. In the study of this passage, Matthew Henry expounds deeper, “He was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform, plerophoretheis —was carried on with the greatest confidence and assurance; it is a metaphor taken from ships that come into the harbour with full sail. Abraham saw the storms of doubts, and fears, and temptations likely to rise against the promise, upon which many a one would have shrunk back, and lain by for fairer days, and waited a smiling gale of sense and reason. But Abraham, having taken God for his pilot, and the promise for his card and compass, resolves to weather his point, and like a bold adventurer sets up all his sails, breaks through all the difficulties, regards neither winds nor clouds, but trusts to the strength of his bottom and the wisdom and faithfulness of his pilot, and bravely makes to the harbour, and comes home an unspeakable gainer. Such was his full persuasion, and it was built on the omnipotence of God: He was able. Our waverings rise mainly from our distrust of the divine power; and therefore to fix us it is requisite we believe not only that he is faithful, but that he is able, that hath promised. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

God is in control, The End. All that Satan brings to our minds to convince us otherwise is straight from the pit of hell. All other thoughts are to steal our joy and peace in that understanding of the omnipotence of God; the sustainer and ruler of the universe. When I sat before God on a mountain only a few days ago, I remembered the scripture of how even the rocks praise Him. He sustains everything that you see every day. God could open up that mountain upon which I sat and swallow everything whole; he could rain down fire from heaven and wipe it clean. Even the rocks praise his power. So why is it that in our sinful nature that we can’t seem to grasp it? It is the power of sin in our lives. We must continually draw near to God for that strength to fight off the enemy of doubt. When Christ came walking on the water in the midst of the storm, Peters faith and focus on Christ enabled him to walk on the water with Christ. Matthew 14:29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Only when he took his eyes off Christ, and let doubt set in, did he begin to sink. Wherever God has you at this very moment, he will sustain and provide for you at this very moment; you are not alone. The measure of this understanding is the measure of your relationship with God, it is a measure of your faith.

 
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Posted by on October 8, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Preacher Mike (if you only knew how much I struggled saying that)

07 Oct

Preacher Mike (if you only knew how much I struggled saying that)

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

I would like to give you a glimpse into my life, into my testimony, into the evidence of the power of God’s grace on the life of a great sinner. I was raised in a Christian home, and yet became a rebel. I ran from God headlong into a life of sin; I did so much wrong, you could almost pick a sin, and I could relate. I hang my head in shame of the life I led for most of my life. I went back to church, even in and out of church for awhile, but I answered that tug on my heart that God placed there. My life changed when I accepted Christ as my Savior and began to read my Bible every day. God began his sanctification work in me; it is a painful process that requires the revealing of sin, the repentance and obedience required, and the removal of it from one’s life. It is a never ending process for our lives here.

I felt a stronger tug about three years ago, maybe that tug to preach. God laid this daily ministry in my lap almost two years ago, and I have been amazed at his provision and work in it. I moved my HVAC business model to that of a ministry, and God has opened doors for me to take Christ into peoples homes as a contractor. The past six weeks of my life have been hard to describe. I was given the opportunity to preach my first sermon, to get a glimpse of what it was like. I commented later that I experienced every emotion possible that day; it truly was hard to put into words. Then God opened the door to put my name in the hat for consideration as a preacher at a small local church. The day after that opportunity came, God clearly answered that three year prayer one morning for what was his Will for my life; I was called to preach his Word. This put into motion the whirlwind that has been the past month. I was voted in as their preacher yesterday at that church.

If you have followed this ministry, you knows’ I am an unedjumicated man. I stood before them yesterday and told them I am simply an ol’ country boy with a heart for God. The root of my ministry lies in God’s grace, and spending time with him daily, becoming disciples in that pursuit.  I stand before you as the proof of God’s grace and mercy; Grace in the forgiveness through Christ he has giving me that I did not deserve; Mercy in not sending me into eternal punishment that I did deserve. There is no sin you can commit, for which you cannot be forgiven in Christ. How many times must he die to forgive you?  You are not to get yourself better and then come to God, you are to come to Christ and then you will get better; the only true change in life always begins at the Cross.

I do not know what the future brings, but I know all I want to do is to abide in His Will for my life for each day. I know that He is taking me far outside of my comfort zone; He is taking me where I cannot rely on me, but only Him. He has humbled me beyond measure with his calling on my life. It will forever change my life and my families too. My great-grandfather was a southern-Baptist preacher here in town, from what I know, an uneducated man too. I hope that he is smiling down from heaven on me now. God does not call the equipped, he equips the called. There is nothing special about me, He can and will do the same for you with a heart for Him. All you must do is pursue Him daily, and the rest will fall into place. Model your life after Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. It truly is that simple; put God first every day, in every thing, and watch what he reveals to you.

 
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Posted by on October 7, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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I can’t – He can

06 Oct

I can’t – He can

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

This scripture falls on the heels of the parable of the rich young ruler. He had come to Christ with his chest stuck out in pride for all that he had materially, and all that he felt he had in religiosity. He had kept all the laws, and in his peers eyes had seemingly been rewarded for his keeping them. He had great wealth, and it seemed as God was rewarding him for his diligence. Christ knew that he worshipped his wealth, and not the Provider. This parable can really hit home in the society which I live, we are consumed by wealth and the pursuit of it. The prosperity preachers have come to make a good living off of it; they preach that if you are not wealthy you simply do not have enough faith; name it and claim it they shout. But how do they answer for the scriptures in this parable? 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” Christ was challenging the disciples to go against the prosperity teaching of even that day; wealth did not equate salvation or proofs of one’s blessings because of their religiosity. Christ continues on in Matthew 19 to speak of how the last will be first, and the first will be last, in the kingdom of God. If we are focusing on our position here, we are missing the blessing of our position to come, with a humbled servant hearts life of service for kingdom work here.

Matthew 19:26 is a scripture that can be used in many contexts. It is a scripture that points to our need for Christ and God’s grace in all our lives. It points to the power of Him, and our need for him to accomplish all things. It points to our need for a Savior, for we can never our way into heaven. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. It points to the power that the Creator of the universe has, and his ability to rule over it. It points us to what should be our focus in life, serving the eternal and not the temporal pleasures we feel that we can attain. It places us outside of our comfort zone, where Jesus is, to see and feel that only that He can accomplish. We get outside of where we can attain great things, into where only He can provide these things. It takes us out into the area that pride is left behind; the root of all sin is not found when we are where only He can accomplish the work. These things may only be evident to you and God, but he knows the heart, and rewards the heart truly seeking him.

 
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Posted by on October 6, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

Sittn’ on a stump

05 Oct

Sittn’ on a stump

Jeremiah 29:12-13    Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Yesterday was a special day with just me and God. I took a spiritual retreat into the mountains of NC. I disappeared into the hills and sought God in solitude and prayer in the midst of his creation. I spent the day slowly driving down all the backroads and occasionally getting out and doing some hiking too. I had an audio Bible playing in the CD for the entire trip; I was wrapped up in listening to the evidences of Him, while witnessing the evidences of Him. I had two great times in prayer; once down in a creek sitting on a log, and once out in a field sitting on a stump. Out in the field was truly special; not a Spirit led prayer, but a closeness to God that is hard to put into words. As I sat there for so long, I felt his presence there, while looking at the evidences there. I was reminded of when Christ said even the stones of the earth praise him; Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” It was just like we were just hanging out together in that field. He was listening to everything I had to say, and he was showing me the evidences of his design and care in all that surrounded me. I thought of Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ God was showing me all the proofs in all the details that lie before me in that field he created and sustains. The field and I both understand and praise him for it. He could open up the earth and swallow that field whole; he could rain down fire from heaven and wipe it clean; yet in his sovereignty he sustains. Part of me could not understand how some cannot believe simply from the evidences of Him in creation. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

I strongly encourage you to seek God alone with all your heart some day. It is the root of my ministry; seeking God every day, for that was when my life changed. Getting alone with God and no worldly distractions will provide you the opportunity to hear from God when you seek him with all your heart and focus. Nature provides this solitude and the proofs of him that surround you. Go find you a stump or a log somewhere yourself, and have a talk with your God.

 
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Posted by on October 5, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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