JUST SAY YES

Posted on December 17, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Why do we always have to know why before we do anything at all. It begins at an early age so this must be a natural phenomenon. Our parents told us to do something and our first thought was why. We grew up and gave our kids tasks to do and their first response was always a whiny why. As a first grade teacher I would the why before they asked and I still get the question, “but why?” Exasperating, isn’t it. WHY can’t people just do it without explanation? How God, Our Father in Heaven, must feel when we stop to ask why before doing what He asks us to do.

There are many through out the Bible who didn’t question, they just “got up and went”. Today’s great example is Philip, our passionate missionary, who drops everything to say yes to God.

Acts 8, The Message
The Ethiopian Eunuch
26-28 Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: “At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Climb into the chariot.” Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”

31-33 He answered, “How can I without some help?” and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this:

As a sheep led to slaughter,
and quiet as a lamb being sheared,
He was silent, saying nothing.
He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial.
But who now can count his kin
since he’s been taken from the earth?

34-35 The eunuch said, “Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?” Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.

Acts 8 Philip

36-39 As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, “Here’s water. Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn’t mind. He had what he’d come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.

40 Philip showed up in Azotus and continued north, preaching the Message in all the villages along that route until he arrived at Caesarea.

What do we learn?
–Say yes to God!
–Preach Jesus…”grab” every chance given to us!

Randy and I have a few tasks that we planning to accomplish in Bolivia, but I must confess, there is a greater reason that we are going and I don’t know why…yet. God said go, so we are going. That’s all I need to know for now. That’s how God works in us and through us. Trust Him, He knows what He is doing!

Please join us in prayer as we prepare our hearts to do His will in His way by His Spirit here and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We don’t always have to know why, do we, Lord? We trust in You. Continue to transform us making Your desires become our desires. We are listening…
In Jesus Name, Amen

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JESUS. IMPRESSED?

Posted on December 16, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

There is an old saying in leadership circles about spending all your efforts and passion climbing the ladder to success and then find that you had your ladder propped up against the wrong wall. This is Saul. A zealous man, full of God’s Law, a leader by nature with a following. He was able to use his authority to ravage homes of new Christians proclaiming Christ. The church gathered in homes at that time. This sent many underground to gather to pray, worship and commune. However, a great many were “forced to leave home” and became missionaries of the gospel!

“Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.”

Philip is one of the first missionaries to preach away from home base. God acted in many miraculous ways through Philip. There was great joy in the city of the Samaritan region. Evil protested loudly. Evil was defeated and sent packing. Imagine going to a sin filled city where evil reigns and has control then watching God enter and bring salvation to all. And they accept!

We meet Simon “the wizard” in this passage. The writer of Acts decided we needed to know how God exposed him. Simon had his own following when Philip arrives on the scene with Truth. God acts of healing are far better than Simon’s performed tricks.
So, Simon is impressed with Jesus…merely impressed. He sees the power of the Holy Spirit and offers to buy this gift freely given to all who believe which shows the shallow depth of his own belief.

The story takes us on Simon’s journey from mere performance to raw belief. We are shown how God dealt with him from the inside out. We see the steps God took Simon through to transform his thinking, change his heart’s desire to perform for riches and humble his very soul. “Pray for me!”, Simon cries out.

The gospel is preached passionately today. How many are merely impressed with the baby Jesus in the manager without developing a surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord of our lives?

How many get rich on the emotions of people, manipulating God’s Word to bring people to themselves? Woe to those who’s desire is to use God to make money. Be alert, dear Christians!

Acts 8, The Message
Simon the Wizard
8 1-2 That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

Acts 8 not truth

9-11 Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.” He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.

12-13 But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side.

14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

18-19 When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”

20-23 Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.”

24 “Oh!” said Simon, “pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!”

25 And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God’s salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Don’t let us be merely impressed with you as a baby this time of year as our emotions run high as we are exposed to music, arts, lights, tinsel and flashy displays of what others depict you to be. You are Savior of the world. You are God and we are not. You are Lord of lord and King of kings! And Your one desire is to be in an intimate, unconditional, loving relationship with us. Emmanuel…God with us! Every day. Not just at Christmas. Forgive us when we are distracted, Lord from the beauty of being WITH You. Transform our thinking and behavior.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HE ONLY HAD EYES FOR GOD

Posted on December 15, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

You can have all the greatest intentions in the world when joining God in His work, obeying His direction with all the right motivations…love for God, then others. You energetically serve with all that is in You because Your desire is to please God and help others find and follow Jesus, too. The evil one does not like it when you do this well with a heart fully devoted to God, having only eyes for Him. Evil will scheme in ways that shock you.

Here is a righteous man, at the top of the list of men chosen to manage in God’s church. He is describe as “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.” He is the only one on the list described this way. I would have loved to have known Stephen. I have known people like him whom I have admired. He was energetic, “brimming with God’s grace”, always doing things that pointed people to God…not himself. It was hard to find anything wrong with this man, so evil in men take the low road and tell lies behind his back, stirring people up to riot against this man of God.

The writer of Acts devotes time to the full testimony of Stephen because what happens to him is a pivotal point in the history of the growing church. With what was done to Stephen sets off many more persecutions of all who are devoted to God and His work. Bringing false charges isn’t new, they did it to Jesus. It worked then, why not now? Remember when Jesus told them it would happen this way? Beating, stoning, whipping, dying on crosses or eaten by lions becomes the new sport for the heathens who reject the Truth. Lying and backstabbing becomes the way to deal with these upstart church planters and do-gooders.

Please take time to read Stephen’s testimony in it’s entirety to catch the nuances and true meaning of recanting Jewish history and their relationship to God. What we need to focus on is how Stephen took the Jewish council on a journey through their own history with a message that continually led them back to God. His whole testimony was to remind them WHO God is and what HE has done. We can learn much from his testimony, too.

Acts 7 Stephen prayed

Acts 6-7, The Message
Excerpts…

8-10 Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke.

11 So in secret they bribed men to lie: “We heard him cursing Moses and God.”

12-14 That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: “This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God’s Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us.”

15 As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!

Acts 7, The Message
Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit

Then the Chief Priest said, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

2-3 Stephen replied, “Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I’ll show you.’

After recanting history, in detail, about who God is, how He works and cares for His people, Stephen closes with:

51-53 “And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!”

54-56 At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”

57-58 Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.

59-60 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, “Master Jesus, take my life.” Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, “Master, don’t blame them for this sin”—his last words. Then he died.

Think about it…

Stephen knew the history but also knew God and His Son well. His relationship with Jesus Christ was more important to him than life on earth.

Stephen spoke with wisdom and clarity. No wonder the council could not take their eyes off him.

Stephen did not fight back or try to defend himself, “He only had eyes for God.” His words pointed everyone back to God and ultimately to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Wow. I want to be more like Stephen.

When we are accused of something we did not think, say or do our first thought is to defend ourselves. “What?, I did not say or do that!” The Truth of Jesus Christ needs no defense. Evil knows that. Satan tries to distract our focus from God to our emotional selves by attacking us through others. He will use half truths, twisted lies and your own words taken out of context. Don’t fall for that. Cast your eyes on God. Examine Your heart. If the motives are pure, there is nothing to defend. If they were not, learn, apologize and move on.

“Pray for those who persecute you”, Jesus taught earlier to his followers for this very reason. We are his followers today. We must pray for those who lie behind our backs. Praying keeps us focused on Truth. Praying sincerely for the souls of our enemies keeps the anger with the need to defend ourselves in check and melts the bitterness in our hearts. Look up, like Stephen, and only have eyes, hearts, minds and souls for God.

“All those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him–his face was like the face of an angel.”

How will we be remembered?

Pay attention to the last sentence, “Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.” Tomorrow…God uses persecution to scatter the believers from their comfort zones and into the world to grow His church!

Dear Heavenly Father,
What a wonder You are! Blessed be Your Name. Your servant, Stephen, teaches us and humbles us greatly with his witness. May what we think, say and do bring You glory, honor and praise all day long and into the night.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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LEADERS AND MANAGERS

Posted on December 14, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

“Where two or three are gathered in my Name I am among them” says Jesus as recorded in Matthew 18:20. I have been known use that verse when the need for problem solving arises in God’s church. Where two or more gather, there will be some issue that will need to be addressed because of our differing opinions and personalities, needs and wants, fears and aspirations. We learn many lessons about leadership and management as we travel through Acts and see how God works through men and women to problem solve as His church grows rapidly and exponentially throughout the region.

In our next passage we see leaders who are tenaciously obeying what God through Jesus has given them the authority and gifts to accomplish. We also see that the leaders have gained wisdom in realizing they cannot and should not do it all. They must divide the work and empower people to manage the workings of God’s thriving, growing church.

With more people, (being added daily by the hundreds and thousands) there will be more needs. We can learn much by reading deeply into what is taking place in God’s church for the first time. Leaders are defined. Managers are assigned based on their witness (full of the Holy Spirit) and love of God and their known behaviors of integrity, trustworthiness and “good sense” way of living. They will be depended upon to manage the work of God’s church which will extend beyond their own families to the family of God.

The congregation decided. The congregation then brought these men to the leaders (apostles) for pray and commissioning for their specific tasks. Take note of the next sentence…”The Word of God prospered.” “The number of disciples kept increasing.” God was glorified in this act of obedience! God led His church, with Jesus as the Cornerstone, to greater thinking, higher thinking, with a solid foundation (Word of God) upon which to prosper.

Acts 6 growth

Acts 6, The Message
The Word of God Prospered

1-4 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”

5-6 The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose—

Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
Philip,
Procorus,
Nicanor,
Timon,
Parmenas,
Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.

Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task.

7 The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.

Acts 6 serve

 

Think about it…

I am reminded of father in law, Jethro coming to Moses and saying, “This work is too much for you, you must train others to help you.” Moses took his advice…

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people’s common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves. (Exodus 18).

So, this isn’t new information, but it is as much relevant today as it was centuries ago. We must train others to do what we did better than the way we did it. We should take joy in seeing them learn and grow in the work like we did. God will bless the training of others to share the work HE has invited us to do WITH Him.

Great leaders like Peter and John remember and take seriously Jesus’ departing last words as He commissioned them,

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

When we, His church, are led by His Holy Spirit we are equipped by His Spirit to problem solve with wisdom, insight and understanding beyond ourselves. Some of us are leaders. Some of us are managers. Some of us are in need of both. Some of us are persistent followers who set the example for others to follow Christ with all the love that is in us. ALL are created equal in God’s eyes, we just have different tasks He has called us to do…in Jesus Name.

All of us continually learn and are continually transformed by His Spirit. We use what we know about God, not matter how much that is at the moment, to help others grow and transform, too. We GO and teach others while continually being taught ourselves. We haven’t made it yet but we’re becoming as an old chorus goes. I love how God works in us and through us, don’t you?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Whatever you invite us and assign us to do, may all be accomplished by Your Holy Spirit in us, in Jesus Name, for Your Glory! 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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IF IT IS OF GOD…DON’T LET UP FOR A MINUTE!

Posted on December 13, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

There are many heart warming stories of tenacity, perseverance, and generosity this time of year. I turn to a puddle of tears at every story depicted. Even a touching commercial causes me to tear up every time it is played. I think of people I knew in my family who never gave up in spite of adversity. I also think of family members who are my heroes of faith by the actions they took to help others no matter what time of year it was. I think of friends who always smiled no matter what was happening in and around them.

But look at us today. We get down and out at the slightest things in this life because we are spoiled. We get grumpy if we are a little sick. We heave a sigh at those who take more time than we think they should at the store. We change our happy mood while singing Christmas carols quickly when a driver cuts us off in traffic! We think life will never be the same because an order didn’t come in on time…or at all. We are dismayed when a family member can’t make it for Christmas. We get depressed over the bills WE are racking up.

Yes, we are spoiled and a bit selfish. We let all these life inconveniences mar our witness of the Savior, Jesus Christ whom we say is our Lord. We never know who might be watching…and learning. What are we teaching with our actions?These little life things will be forgotten by us. But, who we are and what we do in the Name of Jesus Christ will be remembered forever. I think about this as I read about Peter.

Nothing compares to the dogged determination of Peter and the other disciples as they stand firm to tell the story of Jesus and His salvation to the world. They are like energizer bunnies who never give up because of their desire to obey God. They were thrown in jail. They were beaten to a pulp. They walk through locked jail gates and preach again. They are brought back in to stand in front of the Jewish Council. They speak Truth fearlessly. They must obey God rather than men because of their desire given to them by Jesus Christ Himself to carry on the work of bringing all men and women back to God. They know their message well. The message isn’t altered in any way. So what, if we are whipped a few times, you can’t kill the message!

Acts 5, The Message
12-16 Through the work of the apostles, many God-signs were set up among the people, many wonderful things done. They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony on the Temple porch named after Solomon. But even though people admired them a lot, outsiders were wary about joining them. On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Master were added right and left, men and women both. They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on stretchers and bedrolls, hoping they would be touched by Peter’s shadow when he walked by. They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and bedeviled. And they all were healed.

Acts 5 never stopped

To Obey God Rather than Men
17-20 Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, “Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life.”

Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

21-23 Meanwhile, the Chief Priest and his cronies convened the High Council, Israel’s senate, and sent to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. When the police got there, they couldn’t find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported, “We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn’t find a soul.”

24 The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. “What’s going on here anyway?”

25-26 Just then someone showed up and said, “Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?” The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.

27-28 Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, “Didn’t we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus’ name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.”

29-32 Peter and the apostles answered, “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.”

33-37 When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God’s Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds.

38-39 “So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!”

40-42 That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus’ name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

Acts 5 obey

Think about it…

Yes, Truth reigns because of Peter’s obedience. Little inconveniences such as beatings and being thrown into jail do not stop the Message. Because of who they are and what they did, we will hear the Truth be told to us at our next church service! Think about it. We are the church because of the work Peter and others who tenaciously spread the Truth no matter what. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone that holds the church (us) together.

The best message of wisdom was by a teacher of God’s Law when he calmed down the council with, “Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, BUT IF IT IS OF GOD, there is nothing you can do about it…”

This causes us to stop and reflect. What are we thinking about today? Who are we thinking about today? IS IT OF GOD? Are we working to please God rather than men (or ourselves) with our attitudes, gratitude, positive actions, smiles no matter what our current circumstances might be right now? Or are we being grumpy because we are out of coffee?

Let our first thought, our very first thought, be Love. Love is Jesus Christ who came to seek and to save us. That is of God!

Isn’t it awesome to see how Jesus used the gift of previously uncontrolled rash boldness in Peter to tenaciously obey Him and be the rock upon which He builds His church? Wow!

And…smile. Smiling’s my favorite.

Then Shine! “Make ’em wonder what (who) you’ve got!… (My favorite Newsboys song.)

Dear Heavenly Father,
May my life reflect Your glory today…not my grumpiness over trivial stuff. Holy Spirit, you are welcome to guide my thoughts and actions. Cleanse me. Fill me. Transform me. May all we think, say or do be of You. I pray your protection and blessing over those in the world who truly are suffering for Your message of Truth. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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DON’T MESS WITH GOD!

Posted on December 12, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

We all have an inner desire to be like those we and others admire. Maybe they are rock stars in the faith, great musicians or instrumentalists. Maybe it is someone who has the gift of generosity. Maybe this person you and others admire has given a huge donation to the church. So, you donate something big with a desire to be admired, too. Whoa, STOP!

God doesn’t like that motivation. He never has and never will. The only motivation that is acceptable to God is our heart’s desire to honor Him…ONLY.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” wrote Shakespeare. “They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”

Remember those familiar words from English Lit 101? Shakespeare was right: We have many roles to play in life as from time to time we relate to various people and confront different circumstances. The important thing is that we let God write the script, choose the cast, and direct the action. If we disregard Him and try to produce the drama ourselves, the story will have a tragic ending.

That’s what ruined Cain, the first human baby born on the stage of Planet Earth: He ignored God’s script, “did his own thing,” and made a mess out of it.

Here’s what happened to the first family God created…

Genesis 4

1 Adam slept with Eve his wife. She conceived and had Cain. She said, “I’ve gotten a man, with God’s help!”

2 Then she had another baby, Abel. Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.

3-5 Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.

6-7 God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”

God rejected Cain and his sacrifice. Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: His heart wasn’t right with God. It was “by faith” that Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain (Heb. 11:4), which means that he had faith in God and was right with God.

Abel brought the best that he had and truly sought to please God, but Cain didn’t have that attitude of faith. Cain controlled what he gave. HUGE difference!

At the end of yesterday’s passage in Acts 4 we learn that a man, Barnabas, sold a field that he owned, brought the money and made an offering of it to the apostles. There was probably a bit of praising going on for this act of generosity and pleasing God.

On the heels of that gift, we come to a new situation where a couple in God’s new church decides to emulate Barnabas who has been generous in giving. However, they secretly hold back what they say they are giving. To say Ananias and Sapphira have a “heart condition” is an understatement!

See what happens when our hearts are not in the right place with God. And Who are we kidding…God knows our hearts!

Acts 5

Acts 5, The Message
Ananias and Sapphira
5 1-2 But a man named Ananias—his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it.

3-4 Peter said, “Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.”

5-6 Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.

7-8 Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you given this price for your field?”

“Yes,” she said, “that price.”

9-10 Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

What do we learn?
–Examine our hearts.
–Don’t mess with God Who knows our hearts.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You have given many instances and examples with this story the most notable in Your Word about what you are longing to have from us…honest and true hearts. You search the world over for those whose hearts are completely yours. You love a cheerful giver whose heart’s desire is to only please You. Yes, you have taught us well. Help us to examine our own hearts before any action is taken. Help us to be honest with ourselves before coming to You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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FROM MINE TO OURS

Posted on December 11, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

“That’s mine!”
“NO, it’s mine, I had it first!”

What is it we always shouted as kids? “Possession is 9 tenths of the law, I have it, so it’s mine!” A little knowledge of what we learned in our seventh grade government class is dangerous is what I’m now thinking. (Smiling) Kids on the playground depict the basic culture we live in…hanging tightly to what we have and never letting go of the grip…on stuff.

A good teacher will present a solution to this struggle. “If you let go of what you have, you both can play with it and have fun together.” WHAT?!, the students are thinking. “Yes, try it.” Of course they need help from the teacher to remove the grip each of them have on the item. What you have doesn’t belong to you anyway. It belongs to everyone at the school. If you share instead of fighting over what is yours, then more fun can be had by all.

What do we learn? 
–Unity happens by letting go. Spiritual unity means letting the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, minds and souls so we rise above self and stuff to see God and others in a completely different way.

–We no longer care about what we possess and how hard we work to cling to it. We care more about the lives and souls of others.

–We leave the thinking of the world that tells us to grab all we can while we can. We move toward a thinking that is the complete reverse of world thinking.

–We move into higher, more nobler thoughts…like Jesus taught us. (See Phil 2, 4 and ALL of the gospels’ teachings of how Jesus loved.) We discover that we love more, live more joyfully, experience peace and have more fun when sharing with others!

–Unity is one mind, one heart, thinking like Jesus, in commUNITY. What we have is Jesus! What we need most is Jesus! If you have Jesus then you have all you need.

–The stuff we collect is just…stuff.

–We can’t seem to do this by ourselves, we need the help of God’s Holy Spirit…

Acts 4 unity

As soon as Peter and John were let out of the clutches of the religious leaders, Jesus’ followers prayed and praised God. “They lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony is prayer.” What happens when we pray in harmony with one mind and one heart? Fearless confidence in God! While they were praying, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.”

AND guess what happened next, something we all long for in God’s church…

 

“The whole congregation of believers was united as one–one heart, one mind!”

THEN their thinking (by the power of the Holy Spirit) changed:
“They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. NO ONE said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything.”

This is what happens when we go from “mine to ours” thinking. We have a ton more fun when we share life with others.

HOW does this happen? I am convinced that the closer we get to Jesus, the closer we get to each other. When HE is the center of our attention, thoughts, motives, and energies we move toward him. When others move toward Him, we see them more clearly. We touch each other lives as we move toward Jesus together. We can’t help it. It’s a Spirit thing.

Read and see what you think…

Acts 4, The Message

One Heart, One Mind

23-26 As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:

Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!

27-28 “For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.

29-30 “And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.

32-33 The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.

34-35 And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.

36-37 Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You continually change our thinking as you transform us to be all you intended for us to be. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who comforts, convicts, challenges and helps us to think more and more like You and less like the world. We need you every hour. The more we think about You and others, the more fearless and confident we become in Your ways. Help us to love each other like you love us. Deeply and profoundly. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WE CANNOT BE SILENT

Posted on December 10, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

I would assume that many of us have had the same experience in the work place, church or secular. A tremendous plan has been executed after many months of preparation and problem solving with potential to impact the world. Then those in leadership over you feel a need to “call a meeting” to discuss the implications of your actions and of those who worked with you. I still cringe at those words, usually delivered in a memo, not in person, “there will be meeting first thing Monday morning.”

It happens a lot to those who step out in faith, out of the world’s comfort zones, to do what God asks us to do. When God leads and you are dedicated to follow, you don’t think about the implications of what others might think at the time. Your only desire is that God is glorified and His salvation through His Son is brought into the Light of day, open and honest, so that others may see Him as He really is…Savior and Lord. Our intention is not to hurt anyone but to help.

Here is Peter, led by the Spirit, to change the life of a man at the gate of the Temple. God then uses this miracle to glorify His Son, giving Peter a platform to testify Truth. The Holy Spirit lets loose in Peter so that he brings God’s plan of salvation for all out into the open meeting called by the religious leaders who ordered Jesus to be killed a few months earlier. So, we think we have it bad? Not so much. There will always be people to question our moves and motives. Be ready, like Peter, to shift the attention from you to Jesus Christ. Use all as a platform to tell the Truth.

Key: Whatever we do must be led by the Holy Spirit. Will we ruffle feathers? Yes. Every time. The world prefers to live under the covers of darkness, all snuggled up in their self made comfort.

With the evidence of a healed man right in front of them, they could not make their charges stick. “We have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the one God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole.”

Peter and John get a stern talking to and then return to their mission given to them by Jesus Christ. “Jesus is the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone. Salvation come no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, ONLY this one.”

“We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”

Will there be other “meetings” called? Yes.

Acts 4 been with Jesus

Acts 4, The Message
Nothing to Hide

1-4 While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!

5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”

8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4 Jesus

What do we learn?
–Tell the Truth of Jesus Christ.
–Be led by His Holy Spirit who lives in You.
–Focus on God with motivation to please Him.
–Be ready for opposition.
–Present the evidence. (God’s Word)
–Proceed with fearless confidence…from Christ.
–Let God do the rest.

Dear Heavenly Father,
If there was fear in Peter and John for being called into “the meeting” for reprimand, it is not indicated. They knew the facts and were not afraid to tell Your Story of salvation for all. Their confidence came from you. That is evident. May Your Holy Spirit lead us and develop the same confidence and boldness in us to speak when You give us the platform to speak.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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TURN

Posted on December 9, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

Our work, as volunteers for Christmas Palooza, was to get a great picture of little ones sitting on Santa’s lap last night. That was our assigned post, Randy and I. We were beside the camera, trying to get kids of all ages, from infant to big kids, and their parents to TURN from looking at the crowd, the synthetic snow that was falling (yes, we had that, too!), the music, and all the rest of the distracting goofiness around us. What fun!

Acts 3 pics with santa

It was a fun evening to host the community in a free fair with games, food and pictures with the guy in red. The maze the people traveled through ended with singers at the nativity. TURN, look at Jesus! was the message of the evening. Over a thousand came last night and it’s not over! Our church will open the doors at 2pm today for another round of hosting. But that’s not all, they will also finish with a few hours on Sunday after worship services! This is one of the greatest outreach opportunities Randy and I have experienced…helping others find and follow Jesus by seeing Jesus in us…getting them to turn their eyes to focus on the One who created us and provided a way to save us was the goal.

Randy and I did all kinds of silly antics trying to get the babies and kids to TURN their eyes toward the camera so that the best picture could be taken for the family. We were exhausted after only a few hours of non stop Santa sitting, telling and picture taking. We cannot count the times we smiled and said, “LOOK this way!” The lines were long because this guy in the red suit draws quite a crowd! But what an opportunity!

There was another instance where a crowd gathered to see a man who couldn’t walk previously in life, be healed completely. His joy of being restored to full health sent him dancing in the Temple courts praising God. Can you see it? Those gathered dropped what they were doing to TURN to see this man praising God. More and more people did the same thing. What is going on here?

Acts 3 repent

When Peter saw he had a congregation of people, he began to tell them about God. He reminded them of WHO their God was, for they had forgotten over the years. He also brought Jesus to their attention and boldly told the story of what God’s people did to Jesus only weeks earlier. Look, listen, TURN your faces to God! Peter passionately preached using God’s act of healing the man as a way to draw the attention of the crowd to God. That’s how God works! (It’s not about us!)

As hard as we worked to get the eyes of children to look at the camera, we should be ready for opportunities to passionately tell God’s Story of His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son. Look this way! Repent, TURN to God, His Story, His Message and be saved.

Acts 3, The Message
Turn to Face God

12-16 When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:

“Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we’re the witnesses. Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.

17-18 “And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.

19-23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.’

24-26 “All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God’s covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

Acts 3 turn

Think about it…
–There are many distractions today. Does the crowd decide for us what we will do, who we are and where we will go?
–Peter told them two choices were presented by Pilate to be crucified: Jesus, who did no wrong and was the Son of God and Barabbas, a thug, murderer, thief, and rebel for hire. And you chose the evil Barabbas. Peter also explained; “But God used it to fulfill HIS plan” of saving all of us. YOU have a chance to repent, turn to God and be restored to a full relationship with God! Grace.
–God wants to save, restore, and bless with His best. Repent, it’s not too late. TURN from the world to look at Him. Focus on His wonderful face!

One more thought…
–It was interesting and challenging to get a whole family group to TURN and look at one focal point! When all eyes were looking the same way a great picture, wall worthy, was made. I wonder if it frustrates God when members of His family are looking in different directions instead of focusing on Him?
–How many of God’s leaders today are tenaciously, continuously shouting, “TURN, look this way? God’s way.
–What is the picture of His church? The posture of our bodies in worship and the direction of our eyes tell the story.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
There are so many thoughts about You this morning! It has always been about You, is about You and will be about You for eternity! You are God and we are not. Let us TURN and look at You, focus on You, and see You working all around us. May all we do and all we are be in Your Name for Your glory. Your are amazing, Lord!
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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BUT WHAT I DO HAVE…

Posted on December 8, 2017 by randscallawayffm

ACTS – The Acts of God

The first place of worship that Randy pastored was the church where we grew up. The church building was located on the border of two cities at a well traveled crossroad with a busy intersection. It wasn’t a big church but must have seemed friendly to passersby. Randy’s door was always open which meant many interesting visitors came by asking for handouts. He heard many stories of particular situations of dire need…in their eyes. They came wanting money. We had very little.

At that time in our lives, I was teaching to keep our financial situation solvent to pay the bills of a family of five. His salary was not always counted on as the church was financially struggling as well. So, this next passage makes us smile when Peter says to the beggar at the Temple Gate, “I don’t have a nickel to my name,…” It certainly fit our situation at the time.

Our journey taught us not only to empathize with someone struggling to make ends meet but it taught us how to survive and even thrive as good stewards in problem solving which led to helping others do the same. Faith in Our Provider always brought us through tough times and we knew He would do it for others.

One day Randy was approached by a young man about ten years younger than himself who also had a family. This man was asking for money to buy tires for his car to get to a job site. Randy told him, “Let’s go take a look.”

Randy went outside the church doors to the yard where the car was parked. Yes, the man needed tires. Randy told him, “I don’t have any money on me but what I do have is a way to help you solve your problem. Come with me.” Truth: we might have had $20 in our bank account at the time and rarely carried cash because there wasn’t any to clutter our wallets!

Randy took the young man to a local junk yard with spare car parts and recycled tires. Randy knew this place well because it was how we survived! He told the owner what he was doing and asked to see what was available. In under an hour, this young man learned how to recycle old tires for tires with enough tread to last until better times. He was back on the road again. Total cost: Time and Faith (The owner helped, too!)

This is only one of many opportunities that came to the open door of Spencer Road Church of God in those days. Randy taught a young man how to spend $20 and buy healthy groceries that would last for a week. Yep, in that day, it could be done. We learned to rarely hand out money, but to help while retaining a person’s dignity. Those in real need got it and appreciated it. Are there still opportunities to share God’s love and faith in tangible ways such as this? Absolutely!

We don’t need money to declare the glory and power of God! We only need faith and a willing heart to stop, listen to His Spirit and notice someone in real need and help them learn about the provisions that God provides all around us.

“I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have is_______”. May God’s Holy Spirit lead us to filling in that blank…maybe even today, maybe tomorrow. Then, like Peter, give God ALL the glory and praise for what happens. God is God and we are not. We are only His hands and feet. How can we help others know Him? Listen to Him.

May all we are and do be done in Jesus Name, Amen.

Acts 3 faith

Acts 3, The Message
1-5 One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

11 The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.

Something to think about…
–Spoiler alert: God’s Holy Spirit in Peter uses this healing of the beggar as a platform to lead others to the Truth about Jesus and is His salvation.

–God’s Holy Spirit prompts us to help others. Could what He does through us be an open door, after helping, to tell His story?

–Be open to God’s Holy Spirit. You never know when He will invite us to be a part of His salvation for another human being.

“…but what we do have is….Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth and The Life!

–Want to be a world changer?
Rise up and walk…In Jesus Name.

And I’m singing…

Hope for all the world, You came down,
Traded heaven’s throne for a sinner’s crown,
Grace poured out.
Son of righteousness crucified,
Hanging on the cross You paid the price,
To give us life

In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,
In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,
For love has come to make a way for us,
In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,
In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,
For all our days, we rest in Jesus’ name

You alone are good forever true,
Never far away, we’re holding on to You,
Only You

In Jesus’ name our sins are washed away,
In Jesus’ name we are rescued, we are saved,
For love has come to make a way for us,
In Jesus’ name there is freedom for the broken,
In Jesus’ name there is healing for the hopeless,
For all…

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Forgiveness, Grace, harvest, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, investments, Jesus, joy, Leadership, Listen, lost but found, Love, Macedonian Call, marriage, Mercy, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment