THE PERFECT CHURCH

If you should find the Perfect Church

     Without one fault or smear,

For goodness sake!  Don't join that Church,

     You'd spoil the atmosphere.

If you should find the Perfect Church

     Where all anxieties cease,

Then pass it by, lest joining it

     You mar the masterpiece.

If you should find the Perfect Church

     Then don't you ever dare

To tread upon such holy ground

     You'd be a misfit there.

But since no Perfect Church exists,

     Made of Imperfect men,

Then let's cease looking for that Church

     And love the Church we're in.

Of course, it's not a perfect Church,

     That's simple to discern,

    But you and I and all of us

     Could cause the tide to turn!

JOY

One of the greatest joys I experience is that of watching the Lord work things out in my life.   As I attempt to let go of my own hold on my life and let the Spirit of God direct each day's activities, it is exciting to see things fall into place.  Also, looking back on past days, I see His protecting hand on my life.  It is not an easy thing to let go of your life (I am discovering) but it is definitely most rewarding.  I am reminded of the verse that says, "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?"  (Luke 12:25)


It is interesting to note how various books come into our hands at the very time that we have needed them.   Many times I have laid aside a book with no time to read it or even interest at that moment and then when I pick it up, the very words I read is just what I needed to hear right then.  God has perfect timing and knows our needs before we even pray about them. If we are truly seeking Him first, then He will take care of those needs at the right time!


As we continue to get more acquainted with Him, truly knowing Him, we will have greater confidence in hearing His voice and moving according to His instruction.  We do not want to be deceived so we must remain steadfast in our desires and motives, putting God as top priority in our lives, not only for those special moments, but for each moment of the day.  Let this be our goal...."That I may KNOW Him...."  Phil. 3:10.  The Amplified says it this way "For my determined purpose is that I may know Him - that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly."  

SINGING HYPOCRITES

1.   We sing "Sweet Hour of Prayer" then are content to pray five or ten 
       minutes a day!
2.  We sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" then wait to be drafted into His 
      service!
3.  We sing "O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing" and do not use the one 
      we have!
4.  We sing "There Shall Be Showers of Blessings" and fail to go to church 
      when it rains!
5.  We sing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" and then let the least offence 
      sever it!

6.  We sing "Serve the Lord with Gladness" then fuss about all we have to 

      do!

7.  We sing "I Love to Tell the Story" yet never mention it to anyone.  
                                                                                                         Greystone Bible Church                                                                                                                    

CHRIST IN YOU....THE HOPE OF GLORY!

What is our goal, our heart's desire?  Is it to have eternal life?  Is it to know God?  Or maybe we just want to escape punishment?  


In John 17 Jesus told us what eternal life is - "And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent" (17:3).  Do we really KNOW God or just know about  him?  There is a distinct difference.  We can know about the space program for example, but few of us know the space program.  Sad to say, many are exhibiting by their words and actions that they only know about  Him.  Knowing indicates an intimate relationship.  


If God truly is IN us, can we trust ourselves to do the right thing?  Yes, we can!  First of all, we can know God's voice which comes to us as a small, still voice.  (The devil comes as a roaring lion!)  Secondly, even when we miss it, when we blunder, we know that "the Lord seeing not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (I Sam. 16:7).  God knows our deepest desire or intent.


A very important thing to remember is that human reactions and feelings are not sin.  God gave these to us as a part of our makeup but the way to escape following those flesh feelings is in knowing who you are and to speak the Word of truth.  What we ought to do should naturally flow from WHO we are.  


At times we know God has spoken and we obey, but there are times that seem more questionable.  Do not become frustrated or worrysome or nervous.  When the decision is necessary, the one you make will be right. Trust GOD!  He can change your plans or change your desires.  Our responsibility is to keep our hearts pure before Him.   


"Search me, O God, and know my heart:  try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."    Psalms 139:23,24

DID YOU EVER NOTICE?

DID YOU EVER NOTICE?

A lot of Christians are like wheelbarrows.....

     No good unless they are pushed!

Some are like canoes.....

     they need to be paddled!

Some are like footballs.....

     you can't tell which way they will bounce next!

Some are like balloons.....

     full of wind and ready to blow up!

Some are like trailers.....

     they have to be pulled alone!

Some are like neon lights.....

     they keep going on and off!

And then, for which we thank the Lord,

     some are like good watches.....

     Open faced, pure gold, quietly busy, 

          and full of good works!

                                           (Tract Evangelistic Crusade)

TRUST IN THE LORD

In recent days and weeks various problems and needs of all kinds have come to my attention.  Of all people, we Christians should know how to overcome in these situations.  We should give no place to worry, frustration, confusion, or fear.  How can we accomplish this?  By placing trust in the Most High God.    That sounds simple enough, so what is the problem?

Have we never proven God in the past or do we so quickly forget past victories?  It would be well worth the time, effort and discipline to write, in a special journal, the answers to prayer, revelation of the Word through personal reading, and even visions or dreams we may have that comfort us, to read over in times of weakness or discouragement.  It is an uplifting reminder of God's goodness to us personally.

Our spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, needs to become the ruling force in our lives and when that happens, we will discover that trusting or leaning on our own understanding is fruitless effort.  Who can know the will of God?  Who can really know what is best for us in each situation or how to work out the solution to the problem?  We must learn total dependence upon His wisdom and mercy and grace.  We must abandon our own carnal thinking and trust as Job did...."Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him".   We must have confidence in God who orders the steps of the righteous(Psalm 37:23); who doesn't forsake His saints (Psalm 37:28); who gives strength and blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11); who delivers from fear (Psalm 34:4); who heals the brokenhearted and binds up wounds (Psalm 147:3); who answers when we call upon Him (Psalm 91:14-16).

God's Word is full of examples of God's sustaining power through trials and deliverance from them, both Old and New Testaments.  However, we also have modern day examples as well - bookstores are full of exciting accounts of God's never-failing love.  When trials or circumstances arise, go to the Word for reminders of God's precious promises and REST knowing He ALWAYS makes good His promises.

The Meanest Mother in the World

In one of my file folders, I had this little 'article' that I wanted to share.  It was from a church magazine from 1983.  

The Meanest Mother in the World

I had the meanest mother in the world!  While other kids had candy for breakfast, I had to eat cereal, eggs and toast.

While other kids had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had a sandwich.  As you can guess, my dinner was different from other kids' dinners too.

My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.  You'd think we were on a chain gang or something.  She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.

I am ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nerve to break the child labor law.  She made us work.  We had to wash dishes, make the beds and learn how to cook. 

That woman must have stayed awake nights thinking up things for us kids to do.  And she always insisted that we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

By the time we were teenagers, our life became even more unbearable.  None of this tooting the car horn for us to come running;  She embarrassed us no end by insisting that the boys come to the door to get us.  

I forgot to mention that most of our friends were allowed to date at the mature ages of 12 and 13, but our old-fashioned mother refused to let us date until we were 15.  She really raised a bunch of squares.  

None of us was ever arrested for shoplifting or busted for dope.  And who do we have to thank for this?   You're right, our mean mother.  

I am trying to raise my children to stand a little straighter and taller, and I am secretly tickled to pieces when my children call me mean.  I thank God for giving me the meanest mother in the world.  

Author unknown 

TAKING A RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.


But risk we must.
Because the greatest hazard to life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, 
      but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Only the person who risks can be called free.  


                       -- Author unknown

ATTITUDE

I ran across something in a file this morning that I thought I would share......  

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, a giftedness or skill.  It will make or break an organization...a school...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past....We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have.   And that is our attitude....

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with you....

Your life can be enriched with success, recognition, security, energy, achievement, happiness, growth, adventure, health, friendship, love, and inner-peace.  These all can be yours with a proper attitude.

Back again!

I was reminded recently that I had a blog that has been neglected for two years. In fact, I forgot I actually actively wrote in it for maybe two years. After looking it over again, I decided that I will see if I can write my thoughts once again and hopefully someone can benefit from something I have to say or experiences that I share.

In the two years since my last blog life has been pretty normal. We found a good church in our community and are very happy. The "claim to fame" is that our church has no fights. That is a blessing and probably pretty rare. We also have watched sermons online from a very large church in the Tulsa area where the preaching is very practical - something that is understandable and can change lives. http://www.churchonthemove.com/service

Our family is increasing. The oldest grandchildren are married and now one of them is expecting their first child in May. Our step-grandchildren have had babies too, adding to the fun and excitement of family life. Another grandson graduates from high school this spring and college in the fall is getting closer for him. My son got married on 11-11-11 to a beautiful gal and blended their families and homes. My daughters' lives have changed with their families growing. Nothing stays the same and that is good. That shows there is normal life, excitement and progress.

Our pets are the same, LC (our kitty) is 13 years old and Gracee (our Australian Shepherd) is 12. They are doing fine and are fun to have around.

So this is an update now for the past couple of years. I will post some pictures to update a little so hopefully I can continue to write this blog and that others will enjoy what I write.