February 2010 Archives
Utilize Your Gifts
I used to make the statement, “I’m not a writer; I just love to write” but I found myself today thanking God for the gift of writing. In a lot of ways, I feel like I communicate better in writing than in conversation and I’m thankful for a way to share what God is doing in my life and to hopefully enourage others.
It seems like so often we desire gifts and talents that we don’t possess instead of being grateful for those we do. For myself, I would love to be good at everything but I fall very short of that desire. At the same time, if everything my hands touched turned to gold, I wouldn’t need God, would I? I would also possibly be less aware of the gifts God has given me.
Today I would like to encourage you to thank God for the gifts He has given you. If you aren’t sure what those gifts are, ask Him to show you. If you are compassionate for others and quick with an arm around the shoulder of someone who is hurting, that’s a gift. If you are always ready with a genuine encouraging word for a friend who is discouraged, that is a gift. If you are hospitable to the point that people always feel at home in your home, that’s a tremendous gift. Don’t underestimate the ways God is using you. You don’t need to be “known”; you just need to be willing to be used, and He will use you in whatever way He’s gifted you to be used.
I will also encourage you not to bury your gift. It’s easy to feel insignificant in reaching out to others but a cup of water given in Jesus’ name will always count in the Kingdom. Let Him use you and then stand back and watch Him work.
What is Love?
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
I have contemplated the topic of love a lot in the past year or so. When I read 1 Corinthians 13, I realize how far I have to go to truly become like Christ. Can I truly say that I love my neighbor as I do myself? Do I have that love that is willing to lay down my life for a friend? I’m convinced that, until we truly understand Christ’s love, we are unable to love others to that degree but Scripture describes love to us for a reason.
Love is more than words; it’s more than gifts; it’s much more than candy and (believe it or not) chocolate. Those things could be given in love but they could also be given by strangers. Let’s make sure that, if we tell someone we love them, that we show them our love by our deeds. Go step by step if you need to. Am I patient? Am I kind? Do I keep a record of wrongs? Do I serve self or do I truly serve others? If others wonder if you love them, you probably don’t but God can fill you with that genuine love that truly reflects Him.
Make an extra point today to show your loved ones how much you love them.
Your Favorite 2009 Recording
I hope you don’t mind if I invite your participation from time to time. I realize blogs are often something you read when you have a few minutes before beginning your busy day or maybe at the end of a long day before heading for bed but the Body of Christ is to be encouraging to each other and I would love to get to know you a bit as well.
Today, I would love to know what your favorite recording is from last year and why it’s such a blessing to you.
For myself, I think I would list “Worth It” from Brian Free and Assurance right at the top. Just about every song has a strong lyrical content and encouragement that I’ve needed, and it’s encouraged me to pray for their group and others who are continuing to travel and spread the Hope that the world needs to hear.
Encouragement for the Broken and Battle Scarred
“Where all the saints shall gather–some broken, bent and battle scarred” (Quoted from “Children of the Dust” as sung by the Freemans).
Do you ever feel that way? I find that it’s near impossible to go through a battle without some of those symptoms. Try as you might, the fight will wear you down and leave you breathless but you know that, if you stop fighting, the enemy prevails so you keep on, weary though you are. If you stop a minute and look past the enemy, you will find that you are very close to the Promised Land. Your war is almost over and, once you win a few more battles, you will be Home and your victory will be complete. As the Bishops sang, “Open your eyes, you battle-scarred solder, His coming is nigh at the door!”
There WILL Be a Payday
This evening I found myself singing a song I haven’t heard in years. The title is “There’ll Be a Payday” and it was sung by the Perry Sisters in the mid to late 1980s. The song was talking about the Payday we will one day have in Heaven when our life here is finished but I was also reminded of the Scripture which says: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in that day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
First Peter 4:5 states: “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
So, you see, it’s not just the righteous who will receive a pay day. Every person who has ever lived will be held accountable for the way they lived their lives. This should cause us to continually reflect on our lives, not to be hyper-self-focused but to at least be willing to say, “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” (Psalm 139:23-24).
“Out of the Wilderness” (The English Family)
The English Family consists of Mom and Dad–Phillip & Renee, a
nd children–Jacob, Elizabeth, & Rebecca. I’ve been trying to think of who to compare their music to but, in a day when groups are trying to immitate others, I think this group has settled into their own sound somewhere between The Collingsworth Family and The Crabb Family.
The CD starts with a song written by Phillip called “Out of the Wilderness.” Next is a slower song written by Jacob, “Send Down Your Angels.” Jacob also wrote “Built on Sand,” “Victory’s In Sight” and he co-wrote “The Message is in the Music” with his dad. “My Soul Has Got to Move” is a soulful song sung by Elizabeth. Rebecca, Jacob and Elizabeth give Mom and Dad a break as they sing “One More Mile.”
Other songs include: “I Am Determined,” “Be Healed,” and “Pay Day.”
So Much to Thank Him For
My day began this morning by hearing Called Out Quartet sing “So Much to Thank Him For.” It seems like so often my days are hectic and it’s easy to neglect taking the time to let God know exactly how thankful I am for Him and His love and His mercy in my life but this morning I wanted Him to know how much I really appreciate His many blessings.
Among the things I’m thankful for, I’m truly grateful for each of you who read this blog. I don’t know all your names but I do pray for you at times and trust that God is continuing the work He’s begun in your life.
This week, I would like to challenge you that, if you begin to complain about something, turn it to gratitude. You may not be able to thank Him for the trial now but one day you will. We still have so much to thank Him for.
Pray For Those in Authority Over You
“For unto us a Son is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
In these days of uncertainty, I am grateful that God is still Wonderful. He’s still available to give Counsel when I request it. He’s still Almighty. He’s my Father who is always with me, and He’s the Prince of peace. I have nothing to worry about because the government is on His shoulder. I don’t have to carry it and, for that, I am thankful.
At the same time, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty.”
I heard a sermon a while back where the preacher commented on the fact that the government Paul was under was Rome. Lest we think that it was easy to pray for the authorities back then, think again. Even godless people are in desperate need of prayer, maybe more so than the Godly since the godless aren’t praying for themselves. They need Spirit-led believers interceding on their behalf so that God can work and lead them even if they don’t realize that’s what’s happening.
Often, people complain about the government and the way they run things but are we doing everything we can to help them? Are we interceding for them, asking God to guide them and use them for His glory even if they don’t know what they are doing? The Word tells us to do just that, and we need to be faithful in that area.
Look How Far You’ve Come
I don’t know about you but there are times in my life where things I thought I’d gotten victory over come back and frustrate me. After 17 years of knowing God, I am no longer a child and I have high expectations of how I should live and rightly so but I think sometimes I have to be reminded that the ground I’ve gained is not due to any goodness in me but is a result of God’s mercy in my life. Without His Spirit, I would be the same person I was 20 years ago.
Before I found Southern Gospel Music, I grew up on the music of Evie, Don Francisco, Christine Wyrtzen, Andrae Crouch and Jamie Owens. Lately, a song by Jamie Owens has been going through my head called “Look How Far You’ve Come.” The chorus says:
Don’t give up; don’t give in
Give it all to Him for He cares so much more than you know
When it seems who you really want to be is someone you’ll never become
Just look how far you’ve come
There are days when that thought really encourages me. As Gloria Gaither penned, “I’m not what I wanna be; I’m not what I’m gonna be; but thank God I’m not what I was.” Can I hear a hearty Amen?!
What Are Your Top 10 Southern Gospel Recordings?
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have 10 CDs, which ones would they be? I actually was faced with that a couple months ago. Well, I wasn’t stranded on an island but we were going to be away for several weeks and I needed to limit the CDs to what would fit in my travel case. I ended up taking about 30 (I’m not good at downscaling) but if I were to limit it to 10 CDs I never get tired of, it would be as follows: (These are not in any order; I’m just listing them as they come to mind.)
Brian Free and Assurance: “Worth It”
Brian Free and Assurance: “It’s So God”
Kingdom Heirs: “True to the Call”
Perrys: “Look No Further”
The Freemans: “The Very Best of … and More”
The Freemans: “Highway”
Brothers Forever: “Sheltered”
Karen Peck and New River: “Triumph”
The Roy Knight Singers: “Greener Pastures”
The Primitive Quartet: “35th Anniversary”
Now that I’ve listed those, I think of others that I’d just have to find a way to smuggle as well but I guess I’ll have to leave them behind for now. I’d love to hear which CDs have been the most meaningful to you.
On second thought, I may just have to get stranded twice. 🙂 On the next round, I’d take:
The Primitive Quartet: “I’m Looking Through New Eyes”
The Rambos: “Collection: Volume 1”
The Rambos: “Collection: Volume 2”
The Ruppes: “Something Old, Something New”
The Hinsons: “Live and On Stage”
The Hinsons: “On the Road”
Brian Free and Assurance: “Live at New York City”
The Freemans Concert Series Volumes 1, 2, 3
Okay. Now it’s your turn. Think about it because this is all you’ll have to listen to for a month.
