Greetings Saints:
We are changing our Blog this week to encompass Pastor Tom's great message on Sunday in which he unpacked Psalm 1.
We are sure you will agree... it was full of so many clarifying and inspiring thoughts. Again-and-again we are reminded of how very practical God's Word is in living, "Real Life," and "living it well." As we begin to replace the many lies we have imbibed from not only a desperate world, but often from difficult life experiences, everything changes. Embracing His way of seeing life, His way of seeing reality, and His way of seeing ourselves, sets us free. It is not an overnight process, but it is a certain process. It is the sacred path traversed by God's children from generation-to-generation. Our Master Himself said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free." I am sure that is your testimony as well! It certainly is ours.
However, there is no question about the fact that there is a battle over God's Word. No casual observer will be able to make His thoughts the HOME of his mind, without a fight. That is why Pastor's words on Sunday were so valuable and so powerful. That is why we are starting this Blog today.
Let's use this Blog as a weapon. Let's encourage one another with passing on some of the ways that we have found to be helpful in this war. Now "no preaching!" To repeat an old Christian adage, "We are just beggars telling other beggars how we found food." (Lol). This is a chance for us to share with one another some living ways that are working for us. Remember, we are all different people, with different temperaments, we can be as creative as we want.
For me, (Linda) along with my own personal Bible reading, reading good Christian Classics has fed me in great ways through my life. I have so many mentors in heaven I cannot wait to meet. Gleaning from their testimonies and thoughts and meditating on the Scriptures that were made real to them, has been a staple in my life. Feel free to add to the Blog the name of an encouraging book, or even a chapter or paragraph from a book that has spoken to you in this regard. Let me begin by passing on one of my all time favorites, "The Pursuit of God," by A. W. Tozer. I lit my candle by its light on many occasions. It made me hungry for God and still does when I reread it. Underline the verses he quotes in the book, and meditate on them.
May I underline one more thing Pastor Tom told us on Sunday? If you do not presently DELIGHT in God's Word, don't fear! Tell Him you want to. Tell Him you won't "let Him go" until He gives you that gift. It is a gift. So is prayer a gift, so is everything in this life of grace. We cooperate with Him (read the Word, get it on audio if you don't like to read) and one day it will surprise you... one day you will see a little green shoot breaking its way through the ground. And in time, you will find you cannot live without His Word. Don't forget, however, He is more interested in talking to you from the pages of His Word, than you are in hearing from Him. Try Him.
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Ps. 119:105
Blessings, Pastors
We are changing our Blog this week to encompass Pastor Tom's great message on Sunday in which he unpacked Psalm 1.
We are sure you will agree... it was full of so many clarifying and inspiring thoughts. Again-and-again we are reminded of how very practical God's Word is in living, "Real Life," and "living it well." As we begin to replace the many lies we have imbibed from not only a desperate world, but often from difficult life experiences, everything changes. Embracing His way of seeing life, His way of seeing reality, and His way of seeing ourselves, sets us free. It is not an overnight process, but it is a certain process. It is the sacred path traversed by God's children from generation-to-generation. Our Master Himself said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free." I am sure that is your testimony as well! It certainly is ours.
However, there is no question about the fact that there is a battle over God's Word. No casual observer will be able to make His thoughts the HOME of his mind, without a fight. That is why Pastor's words on Sunday were so valuable and so powerful. That is why we are starting this Blog today.
Let's use this Blog as a weapon. Let's encourage one another with passing on some of the ways that we have found to be helpful in this war. Now "no preaching!" To repeat an old Christian adage, "We are just beggars telling other beggars how we found food." (Lol). This is a chance for us to share with one another some living ways that are working for us. Remember, we are all different people, with different temperaments, we can be as creative as we want.
For me, (Linda) along with my own personal Bible reading, reading good Christian Classics has fed me in great ways through my life. I have so many mentors in heaven I cannot wait to meet. Gleaning from their testimonies and thoughts and meditating on the Scriptures that were made real to them, has been a staple in my life. Feel free to add to the Blog the name of an encouraging book, or even a chapter or paragraph from a book that has spoken to you in this regard. Let me begin by passing on one of my all time favorites, "The Pursuit of God," by A. W. Tozer. I lit my candle by its light on many occasions. It made me hungry for God and still does when I reread it. Underline the verses he quotes in the book, and meditate on them.
May I underline one more thing Pastor Tom told us on Sunday? If you do not presently DELIGHT in God's Word, don't fear! Tell Him you want to. Tell Him you won't "let Him go" until He gives you that gift. It is a gift. So is prayer a gift, so is everything in this life of grace. We cooperate with Him (read the Word, get it on audio if you don't like to read) and one day it will surprise you... one day you will see a little green shoot breaking its way through the ground. And in time, you will find you cannot live without His Word. Don't forget, however, He is more interested in talking to you from the pages of His Word, than you are in hearing from Him. Try Him.
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Ps. 119:105
Blessings, Pastors