Tick,Tick,Tick the sound of the 12'Oclock chime is sounding bong,bong, bong. Soon it will be midnight. I wonder how many of you watched the New York New Years eve celebration, I know millions do. Everyone waits and when the time gets ten seconds to midnight everyone starts counting down the time. Great anticipation fills the air with the hope of a new year.
Well there is another clock that is ticking, the clock that is counting down to four things. 1) the clock is ticking down on our lives. Every breath we take is one breath that is closer to our death. Every heart beat is one more beat closer to its silence. Ever since we were born we start dying it is a fact. 2) The clock is ticking down to when Jesus will come to take his church, his bride home to be with him. The Rapture. 3) Closely following this is the beginning of the tribulation. A time of horror that this earth has never experience before. A time when pure evil will reign and those that go through this, well it is to terrible and I grieve for those who will be left behind to have to live through this. 4) The thousand year reign of Christ that will come after the tribulation. Now that time will be good .
When I was younger there were days that I feared the coming of the Rapture. I wasn't sure if I would go.I was afraid, what would I do if I was left behind, would I get a second chance. How would I live if I didn't take the mark of the beast. I would be condemned for eternity. In my adult life there were times I feared the coming of the Lord. In the times that I had walked away from him and knew my life and heart weren't right with him. When I finally got myself right with God then I knew I no longer had the fear of his coming.
Now as I think about Christ's coming to take the church through the Rapture I look forward to it. I can't hardly wait to finally see my Savior to bow in his presence and thank him for his forgiveness and his Grace and Mercy he has shown me even though I have never deserved it. Even though I look forward to his coming there is a greater part of me that grieves. I grieve at the thought of so many people that haven't accepted Christ into their lives the millions and probably billions. So many people are so close to being left behind or dying and never having another chance for forgiveness. So many potential people that are going to follow the Antichrist and being dammed to hell, only to have total and absolute separation from God who loves them so much and wants to have a relationship with them. It really makes me sad.
Its for that reason I write these blogs. I hope I can reach one person who's life will be change and come to Jesus and accept him into their lives. I also hope that those who are Christians will come to realize the importance to reaching out to others, sharing your faith, sharing the gospel.
You see we have to make a difference and we have to start in the corner of this world where we live. One person at a time.
For me I don't want anyone I know to go to hell, and I don't want anyone being able to point the finger at me and say Why didn't you tell me, You knew and you kept silent. With that in mind I will not keep silent about my Faith and what Christ salvation means to me. So you see we don't have a choice we have to share the gift that we have been given. We are not called to be silent we are called to spread the gospel and which ever way that God had given you to do it use it to further the Kingdom of God. Remember the Bible says whoever is ashamed of me before man I will be ashamed of them before the Father. The great commission states we are to preach the Gospel in all the world and that world is right where you live.
I Pray that God will give you the strength and courage to start on this path of sharing the great gift of Grace and Mercy and forgiveness that Christ has given to you.
REMEMBER THE CLOCK IS TICKING
DCW
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pastors who are they
Its a Saturday night and like most Saturdays I have spent time talking and praying with and for my dearest friend who is a minister.What a precious time we have had tonight. It is hard to believe that our friendship is only a few months short of being 15 years, and it is one that I have I have learned and grown in.
Let me tell you the story of how our friendship began. I had not gone to church for a while and had been praying and asking God to show me where I should be going to church. God began to move in my heart and show me what place I should attend. My first thought was no God I don't want to go there. This church was the last one that I wanted to attend. I wrestled with God about this for a number of weeks, but the more I resisted the More I knew I had to go to this church. So finally I relented and obeyed what God had laid on my heart. Believe me I was probably one of the least enthusiastic congregants attending, but I stayed. A few weeks later God began to move my heart again. This time though it was to call the pastor and offer myself to spend time each week praying for him. Oh great I thought first off he the minister didn't even know me and second who was I to do this with a minister after all I am just an ordinary guy, this is a job for those super spiritual people or members of the board. Again I went into my I don't want to do this, I mean I really don't want to do this. I didn't want to be getting up and meeting with someone at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday least of all praying with him. Boy I fought this one, again the more I resisted the more I knew this was what I was supposed to do. So I finally phoned him and said I would like to meet with you and pray with you and for you every week. I sensed a degree of caution in his voice but he agreed and said that Saturday at 7:00 would be good, oh brother this was even earlier than I wanted so I agreed and said I will meet you at the church on Saturday morning. Brief pause then he clarified himself it wasn't to be in the morning but in the evening, well that was my first Praise the Lord in our relationship. For the first few months we spent time talking and praying, then we realized we both played violins so we started taking time playing music together. Later as he felt comfortable we started working together on the Praise and Worship for the church on Sundays. Well those Saturdays began to be special the times of worship the two of had, have been by far the greatest time of Praise and Worship I have ever had and our times of talking and praying lengthened and were so precious. Once he moved our time together was over but not our time of talking and praying, we have continued on with this now for almost 15 years. Maybe not as consistent as we once were but you know we still try and spend time every Saturday around 7:00pm.
So what is the purpose of this story. Well the purpose is to show you that ministers have needs just like you and I. They have physical , emotional, mental and spiritual needs. They are humans too and isolation from having a true friend is difficult for them as well. In seeing my dads life( a minister), my cousins life(a minister) and my friends life and many other ministers it is a lonely job. They can't start sharing their life's problems or personal conflicts or struggles with members of the congregation, because sometimes (unfortunately) they don't know whom they can trust and gossip about a minister is a travesty of the church. Pastors struggle with their families with their kids and probably more so( I was after all a pastors kid). They struggle financially,because most Churches are small and can't afford to pay a minister what he is really worth. Or(and I have heard this one) we don't pay the minister alot because we have to keep him humble if he got paid to much he may lose his humility. Think about that one will you how would you like your boss to not pay you what he should because he figured you may get to proud if you get paid to much. And he felt it was his duty to keep you humble.I am sure you would dance for joy and say thank you.
To put pastors on a unattainable pedestal is not fair to them either. When you do this if they show signs of being human in ways you don't agree with it gives you the excuse to criticize them in ways they should never be criticized. Do you realize how hard it is to be a pastor. Are you there when they get a call in the middle of the night that one of the congregation has passed away and they have to go out and bring comfort to the family. Are you there when they council people and hear all the problems that they have and try to give them hope and encouragement. Do you realize how many hours they spend in preparing the messages for the services he or she leads.
I have become close friends with a minister as I have stated. I do not take that friendship lightly. I have come to understand that as you take on that role you are there to lift up and support them. To be there when they need a friend , when they need an ear. This is not something you do for the glory, you do it because God has called you to do it and if he hasn't called you don't do its not fair to the minister. Never enter into that with selfish motives because God won't bless it. You are there to help carry the load and the spiritual battle that goes along with that relationship.
I had thought of posting pictures of different people to see if you could tell who was a pastor and who wasn't but if you look at people in a mall or on the street can you tell who is or isn't a minister. Not likely unless they are wearing vestments. They are just like you and I.
Know this, as they are called to teach and preach they do realize that they will be held accountable for what they have taught, more than you and I will be. They need your support, they need your prayers. Pastors need Godly people to sit on their boards. They don't need yes people but people who will seek out Gods will and leading.
A couple of suggestions, don't say you will pray for them if you won't , don't just say it was a good message if you really didn't listen to what was being said. Don't patronize them. Don't go into church without a heart that is prepared to hear what God has to say to you through this man who is your pastor.Do NOT be one that criticize your pastor behind his back and before you criticize them check out your own life maybe there are things you need to get right with God and not your minister. Do not enter into a relationship as I have with a minister unless God has really really called you,I know I stated this before but I must emphasize this again.
You know two of the biggest reason Churches try and get rid of ministers are there are people that want power and they do not want to submit to the authority that the minister has before you and God. Two people have come under conviction because of what is being preached and they can't stand the conviction because the minister is preaching the word of God.
So maybe its time you just take some time and realize what a pastor is, his/her trials etc. No they are not perfect, but they have such a challenging calling that most of us wouldn't be able to do. So next time you are in church give your minister a warm hand shake tell him/ her you love them. Tell them and show them that you appreciate them. They do like honesty and sincerity. Be a strength to them and not a weakness.You will find out how much more you will get from his/her messages.
So who are pastors? They are people like you and I except their calling is more challenging then yours or mine.
God Bless you as you learn how be a strength to your minister or pastor.
DCW
Let me tell you the story of how our friendship began. I had not gone to church for a while and had been praying and asking God to show me where I should be going to church. God began to move in my heart and show me what place I should attend. My first thought was no God I don't want to go there. This church was the last one that I wanted to attend. I wrestled with God about this for a number of weeks, but the more I resisted the More I knew I had to go to this church. So finally I relented and obeyed what God had laid on my heart. Believe me I was probably one of the least enthusiastic congregants attending, but I stayed. A few weeks later God began to move my heart again. This time though it was to call the pastor and offer myself to spend time each week praying for him. Oh great I thought first off he the minister didn't even know me and second who was I to do this with a minister after all I am just an ordinary guy, this is a job for those super spiritual people or members of the board. Again I went into my I don't want to do this, I mean I really don't want to do this. I didn't want to be getting up and meeting with someone at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday least of all praying with him. Boy I fought this one, again the more I resisted the more I knew this was what I was supposed to do. So I finally phoned him and said I would like to meet with you and pray with you and for you every week. I sensed a degree of caution in his voice but he agreed and said that Saturday at 7:00 would be good, oh brother this was even earlier than I wanted so I agreed and said I will meet you at the church on Saturday morning. Brief pause then he clarified himself it wasn't to be in the morning but in the evening, well that was my first Praise the Lord in our relationship. For the first few months we spent time talking and praying, then we realized we both played violins so we started taking time playing music together. Later as he felt comfortable we started working together on the Praise and Worship for the church on Sundays. Well those Saturdays began to be special the times of worship the two of had, have been by far the greatest time of Praise and Worship I have ever had and our times of talking and praying lengthened and were so precious. Once he moved our time together was over but not our time of talking and praying, we have continued on with this now for almost 15 years. Maybe not as consistent as we once were but you know we still try and spend time every Saturday around 7:00pm.
So what is the purpose of this story. Well the purpose is to show you that ministers have needs just like you and I. They have physical , emotional, mental and spiritual needs. They are humans too and isolation from having a true friend is difficult for them as well. In seeing my dads life( a minister), my cousins life(a minister) and my friends life and many other ministers it is a lonely job. They can't start sharing their life's problems or personal conflicts or struggles with members of the congregation, because sometimes (unfortunately) they don't know whom they can trust and gossip about a minister is a travesty of the church. Pastors struggle with their families with their kids and probably more so( I was after all a pastors kid). They struggle financially,because most Churches are small and can't afford to pay a minister what he is really worth. Or(and I have heard this one) we don't pay the minister alot because we have to keep him humble if he got paid to much he may lose his humility. Think about that one will you how would you like your boss to not pay you what he should because he figured you may get to proud if you get paid to much. And he felt it was his duty to keep you humble.I am sure you would dance for joy and say thank you.
To put pastors on a unattainable pedestal is not fair to them either. When you do this if they show signs of being human in ways you don't agree with it gives you the excuse to criticize them in ways they should never be criticized. Do you realize how hard it is to be a pastor. Are you there when they get a call in the middle of the night that one of the congregation has passed away and they have to go out and bring comfort to the family. Are you there when they council people and hear all the problems that they have and try to give them hope and encouragement. Do you realize how many hours they spend in preparing the messages for the services he or she leads.
I have become close friends with a minister as I have stated. I do not take that friendship lightly. I have come to understand that as you take on that role you are there to lift up and support them. To be there when they need a friend , when they need an ear. This is not something you do for the glory, you do it because God has called you to do it and if he hasn't called you don't do its not fair to the minister. Never enter into that with selfish motives because God won't bless it. You are there to help carry the load and the spiritual battle that goes along with that relationship.
I had thought of posting pictures of different people to see if you could tell who was a pastor and who wasn't but if you look at people in a mall or on the street can you tell who is or isn't a minister. Not likely unless they are wearing vestments. They are just like you and I.
Know this, as they are called to teach and preach they do realize that they will be held accountable for what they have taught, more than you and I will be. They need your support, they need your prayers. Pastors need Godly people to sit on their boards. They don't need yes people but people who will seek out Gods will and leading.
A couple of suggestions, don't say you will pray for them if you won't , don't just say it was a good message if you really didn't listen to what was being said. Don't patronize them. Don't go into church without a heart that is prepared to hear what God has to say to you through this man who is your pastor.Do NOT be one that criticize your pastor behind his back and before you criticize them check out your own life maybe there are things you need to get right with God and not your minister. Do not enter into a relationship as I have with a minister unless God has really really called you,I know I stated this before but I must emphasize this again.
You know two of the biggest reason Churches try and get rid of ministers are there are people that want power and they do not want to submit to the authority that the minister has before you and God. Two people have come under conviction because of what is being preached and they can't stand the conviction because the minister is preaching the word of God.
So maybe its time you just take some time and realize what a pastor is, his/her trials etc. No they are not perfect, but they have such a challenging calling that most of us wouldn't be able to do. So next time you are in church give your minister a warm hand shake tell him/ her you love them. Tell them and show them that you appreciate them. They do like honesty and sincerity. Be a strength to them and not a weakness.You will find out how much more you will get from his/her messages.
So who are pastors? They are people like you and I except their calling is more challenging then yours or mine.
God Bless you as you learn how be a strength to your minister or pastor.
DCW
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Condemnation or Compassion
I have been thinking, just so you know I am not a minister. Though my closest friend is a minister, a close cousin of mine is a minister and my dad was a minister. I have never been a minister nor will I ever probably be a minister. I am just an ordinary person like so many of us are.
I walk through this life wrestling with spiritual issues as christians sometimes do. I have stood in front of hundreds of people and sang songs that have touched peoples hearts. I have had christians snub their noses at me when in my weakness I have fallen. I have known and sensed the very presence of God and struggled when through sin have wondered if I will ever have a relationship with God again. I have had friends who have stood by me in my failures and have friends who have deserted me at those times. I have tried to live the "perfect" christian life only to have the reality of my imperfections crush me. I have had my pride broken and felt the power of God's hand humbling me. Yes I struggle with temptations and sin. If we are honest we all do.
As my good friend has told me on many occasions when I was coming to grips with my imperfections "welcome to the real world". Thinking you have to be perfect is only pride. This does not mean we don't keep striving for perfection but we will only be perfect when our bodies are finally transformed when we get to heaven. I have come to understand to a greater degree Paul's conflict he wrote about in Romans on why do I do what I don't want to do.
My dad who was a minister had a heart of wanting to see people come to Jesus as their personal savior, yet he had his set of rules that he ensured people had to adhere to if they did come to Christ. A few weeks before he passed away I was in the hospital visiting him and talking to him about things you do when you know you are dying. My dad looked at me with tears streaming down his face and remorse in his voice as he asked me a very powerful question. How many people had he turned off from becoming a christian or turned away from being a christian because he was so dogmatic about the do's and don'ts if you are a christian. It nearly broke my heart and people I do not ever want to see another christian die with those haunting words echoing through their minds and hearts as they come to the end of their lives it is really sad. I believe near his last days my dad came to realize that God works in each of us as individuals not as man figures how they should be. I think it is a lesson we all can learn from, I have. You see as the bible says man looks at the outward but God looks at the heart. It is the heart that God wants to change and as he changes us from within there will be changes on the outside. Sometimes the things that christians look at and figure a christian shouldn't be doing aren't necessarily the things that God wants to work on in a persons life at that particular time in their lives. Remember King David the sins he committed, yet he was a man after God's heart. Why, because he asked for forgiveness when he recongnized sin in his life. Would we welcome David into our circles , our churches today knowing what he had done?
You know if a person has hit his finger with a hammer you don't heal it by continuing to hit that same finger with a hammer over and over. It will never heal and there will finally come a time when that person will not want your help any more. The same is true for a person who has sinned or fallen. If we keep hammering them about what they have done, keep pointing our fingers keep ostersizing them, will we restore that person or cause them to really turn their hearts away from God. I speak from some degree of experience in this area. There are those who still point fingers at me and those that still keep throwing my failures up in my face for what purpose I am not sure. So why do we do that as christians ( I have done the same as well)? Does it make us feel better because "we never did that or fell like that." How do we demonstate God's love by doing that (we don't). So many Christians have forgotten how deep and how wide God's Mercy and Grace is. When you have experienced it you really can't find the words to explain it. We forget that we are all sinners, no matter how little you think you have sinned you are still a sinner. Where is there a degree of sin in the Bible sin is sin and we must remember Jesus's sacrifice on the cross was for all sins, gossip,lying,stealing, murder, adultry, idolitry,gluttony etc. As it says in the Bible if we say we have no sin we are liars, think about that. It is God's Grace and Mercy that has saved us we could never be good enough and we could never deserve it. If we got what we deserved for our sins we would not be able to stand.
I came to this conclusion one night as I felt I may never have a relationship with God again. I was looking up at the stars kind of talking with God, wondering asking, when he spoke to me and gave me the following words, words that I wondered how they could come to pass but they are slowly and in his time, I hope you learn and get some encouragement from them.
January 4, 2006
I walk through this life wrestling with spiritual issues as christians sometimes do. I have stood in front of hundreds of people and sang songs that have touched peoples hearts. I have had christians snub their noses at me when in my weakness I have fallen. I have known and sensed the very presence of God and struggled when through sin have wondered if I will ever have a relationship with God again. I have had friends who have stood by me in my failures and have friends who have deserted me at those times. I have tried to live the "perfect" christian life only to have the reality of my imperfections crush me. I have had my pride broken and felt the power of God's hand humbling me. Yes I struggle with temptations and sin. If we are honest we all do.
As my good friend has told me on many occasions when I was coming to grips with my imperfections "welcome to the real world". Thinking you have to be perfect is only pride. This does not mean we don't keep striving for perfection but we will only be perfect when our bodies are finally transformed when we get to heaven. I have come to understand to a greater degree Paul's conflict he wrote about in Romans on why do I do what I don't want to do.
My dad who was a minister had a heart of wanting to see people come to Jesus as their personal savior, yet he had his set of rules that he ensured people had to adhere to if they did come to Christ. A few weeks before he passed away I was in the hospital visiting him and talking to him about things you do when you know you are dying. My dad looked at me with tears streaming down his face and remorse in his voice as he asked me a very powerful question. How many people had he turned off from becoming a christian or turned away from being a christian because he was so dogmatic about the do's and don'ts if you are a christian. It nearly broke my heart and people I do not ever want to see another christian die with those haunting words echoing through their minds and hearts as they come to the end of their lives it is really sad. I believe near his last days my dad came to realize that God works in each of us as individuals not as man figures how they should be. I think it is a lesson we all can learn from, I have. You see as the bible says man looks at the outward but God looks at the heart. It is the heart that God wants to change and as he changes us from within there will be changes on the outside. Sometimes the things that christians look at and figure a christian shouldn't be doing aren't necessarily the things that God wants to work on in a persons life at that particular time in their lives. Remember King David the sins he committed, yet he was a man after God's heart. Why, because he asked for forgiveness when he recongnized sin in his life. Would we welcome David into our circles , our churches today knowing what he had done?
You know if a person has hit his finger with a hammer you don't heal it by continuing to hit that same finger with a hammer over and over. It will never heal and there will finally come a time when that person will not want your help any more. The same is true for a person who has sinned or fallen. If we keep hammering them about what they have done, keep pointing our fingers keep ostersizing them, will we restore that person or cause them to really turn their hearts away from God. I speak from some degree of experience in this area. There are those who still point fingers at me and those that still keep throwing my failures up in my face for what purpose I am not sure. So why do we do that as christians ( I have done the same as well)? Does it make us feel better because "we never did that or fell like that." How do we demonstate God's love by doing that (we don't). So many Christians have forgotten how deep and how wide God's Mercy and Grace is. When you have experienced it you really can't find the words to explain it. We forget that we are all sinners, no matter how little you think you have sinned you are still a sinner. Where is there a degree of sin in the Bible sin is sin and we must remember Jesus's sacrifice on the cross was for all sins, gossip,lying,stealing, murder, adultry, idolitry,gluttony etc. As it says in the Bible if we say we have no sin we are liars, think about that. It is God's Grace and Mercy that has saved us we could never be good enough and we could never deserve it. If we got what we deserved for our sins we would not be able to stand.
I came to this conclusion one night as I felt I may never have a relationship with God again. I was looking up at the stars kind of talking with God, wondering asking, when he spoke to me and gave me the following words, words that I wondered how they could come to pass but they are slowly and in his time, I hope you learn and get some encouragement from them.
The Broken Vessel
Written by Darrell C. Wiebe
Shards of clay lying on the ground fragments and pieces, remnants
Of what once was a beautiful vessel just scattered in chaotic order
The master potter with tears in his eyes knew how this beautiful piece of pottery
He had created had fallen into what looked like splinters
The sweeper came to discard the broken vessel, the master stopped him with raised hand
“You cannot have them, they are my creation, and I alone will take care of this vessel”
The master pondered, over this creation that lay broken before him
“I will put it back together piece by piece until once again, I will see its beauty”
So the master set to work, taking each fragment and setting them
On his work table, laying them out until they were all before him
He remembered how he had taken a lump of clay and formed it by his hand
Until it was the right shape and added colours til it was the beauty he desired
Now there would be scars and some pieces missing, but he
Would fill them in until this vessel was restored close to its beauty
So he worked, for hours, days and years, but slowly it began
To take shape and a glimmer of joy was seen in his eyes
Oh, how I love this creation of mine I can see already how it will shine
A bit of time and it will be put back together, and it again will be mine
Finally all the pieces he had were put back together, the lines
Of separation he filled with his hand and just a few scars remained
There you go my beautiful creation mended and pieced together again
Though you fell and were shattered and broken, my hands have cared and restored
I will put you on my shelf for display so the world can se your beauty
I will fill you with my water and you will hold it in you
All who gaze and see you will know, it was my hand that completely restored
Some scars will fade while others stay it is I who created and it is I who heal
So go reflect my Glory once again to a world, that waiting to see
What I can do with the broken soul and I will take pride
In all that you do, for you were shattered but I mended and healed
And always remember this “I love you, my beautiful creation”
© January 4, 2006 Darrell C. Wiebe all rights reserved
My dear friend has told me Darrell I would rather error on the side of Compassion than of Condemnation. So where do we stand. Is it our condemnation that will restore or is it compassion. I believe had God not kept tugging at my heart, I would have totally walked away from him had I listened to the condemnation that I had gotten by so many " Christians". Let us be those who show compassion, let us be those that restore. I am so tired of seeing christians shooting the wounded, let us heal the wounded and show what God's love is really about. We are to be different than the world on how we deal with people so lets be different let us love poeple back into the fold or into the fold for the first time. Don't let the do's and don'ts be our guide to how a person should be, allow God to do his work.
So where do you stand today in the restoration process "Condemnation or Compassion"
God Bless you on your spiritual journey
DCW
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Let Freedom Ring
Some of you will notice that this is the title of a powerful song that was sung by the Gaither Vocal Band. I have no intent of using the songs words in this blog, I just find that the words are appropriate for what I wish to say today
We are now into our second day of having crossed over the threshold of a new year. The door to 2010 has closed behind us and our ability to relive that year is passed. The green shoots of dreams and ambitions are being watered by the rains of hope and confidence. Before us lays a new path for a new year. It is unemcumbered by poor decisions and circumstances. It is straight, inviting us to take the walk of renewed strength and power for the future.
There will be days as we walk this path of 2011, that we will encounter those who have faltered. Those whose lives are rancid with dispair,hopelessnes and defeat. Who live their lives chained to the guilt of their past. The dark cloud of bitterness will be their covering.
But we as christians are a people who have found our freedom through the blood of Christ. We have been washed and cleaned. The chains of our lives guilt have been broken and cast aside. He has entered our lives, our hearts and put a joy in us beyond our comprehension. His words I Forgive you echo through the halls of our mortal bodies,minds and souls. We have been made heirs of God.
Let the spark that was started in you grow to be a flame, let that flame shine bright to those you meet. Let the hope that he has put in you shout out to the world around you. Let the forgiveness you have, not be held captive by your silence,but be shared with power.
Let our voices be heard in the smallest town of the smallest country, to the largest city of the largest country. Let us declare Christ's love. Let us lift his Praise to the skies and sing as the rocks and the hills cry out. Let us share the hope we have to the hopeless. Let us announce his forgiveness to those who seek forgiveness. Let us help break those chains of guilt by Wielding the word of God. Let us live our live as real people, those who are not perfect but forgiven by God Grace and Mercy. For our Faith is not a crutch, it is strength and it is Freedom.
This year Let Us declare God's forgiveness and our Faith. Let Freedom Ring from every part of this place we call earth !!!! Let us make a difference in 2011!!!
DCW
We are now into our second day of having crossed over the threshold of a new year. The door to 2010 has closed behind us and our ability to relive that year is passed. The green shoots of dreams and ambitions are being watered by the rains of hope and confidence. Before us lays a new path for a new year. It is unemcumbered by poor decisions and circumstances. It is straight, inviting us to take the walk of renewed strength and power for the future.
There will be days as we walk this path of 2011, that we will encounter those who have faltered. Those whose lives are rancid with dispair,hopelessnes and defeat. Who live their lives chained to the guilt of their past. The dark cloud of bitterness will be their covering.
But we as christians are a people who have found our freedom through the blood of Christ. We have been washed and cleaned. The chains of our lives guilt have been broken and cast aside. He has entered our lives, our hearts and put a joy in us beyond our comprehension. His words I Forgive you echo through the halls of our mortal bodies,minds and souls. We have been made heirs of God.
Let the spark that was started in you grow to be a flame, let that flame shine bright to those you meet. Let the hope that he has put in you shout out to the world around you. Let the forgiveness you have, not be held captive by your silence,but be shared with power.
Let our voices be heard in the smallest town of the smallest country, to the largest city of the largest country. Let us declare Christ's love. Let us lift his Praise to the skies and sing as the rocks and the hills cry out. Let us share the hope we have to the hopeless. Let us announce his forgiveness to those who seek forgiveness. Let us help break those chains of guilt by Wielding the word of God. Let us live our live as real people, those who are not perfect but forgiven by God Grace and Mercy. For our Faith is not a crutch, it is strength and it is Freedom.
This year Let Us declare God's forgiveness and our Faith. Let Freedom Ring from every part of this place we call earth !!!! Let us make a difference in 2011!!!
DCW
Thursday, December 30, 2010
What if
Here we are a mere few hours until a new year begins. We stand at the door, that is getting ready to open and soon all of us will walk through it. Some will cross that threshold, anticipating the future and all that it has to hold. There will be those who will drag with them all the baggage of the last year and probably of many other years.
Tucked in the recesses of their mind is the one looming question "What if". What if my wife/husband hadn't left me. What if I didn't have this disease. What if I had gone to University/college when I had the chance. What if I had made better choices. What if I had grown up in a better home. What if I was treated better and the list goes on and on. So many what ifs. Unfortunately many of these people harbor their own sense of regret and resentments about the What if s in their lives. They live their lives in bitterness and anger never willing to let the What ifs in their lives go. As each year passes there is less joy, less happiness and misery has come to consume every fiber of their being. Their treatment of friends, family and people in general becomes hostile as they want those around them to feel as miserable as they do. Being around them is like a dark cloud that sucks any light and soul of those who come within their sphere. So much pain and hurt.No forgiveness.
Well if you happen to one of those people that are living with What ifs and have had enough of the misery that goes along with out moving on, I have some good news for you. There is healing.
There is a God in heaven who has sent his only son (Jesus) to this earth to bring healing. He came so that we could live life to the abundant. To live a life free of the pain of the past. He wants us to be free of the chains that are holding us in the past. Wanting Joy to be in your life. He invites us to come to him to cast all our cares on him because he cares for us. He wants to forgive you so you can know forgiveness and give forgiveness. He wants you to have Joy so you can leave that bitterness and anger behind, he wants to transform you into a totally new person. It is after all by his stripes we are healed he did it for you.
One of the worst What Ifs that I can think of that a person could ever have regret about and never be able to change is Standing before God and not ever having accepted his son into your life and have him turn you away and ending up in hell. Then asking yourself the question What if I had accepted Jesus into my life.
So while you are still here, still alive get healing for your what ifs, Allow Jesus into your life for healing, for forgiveness allow him to free you from the pain of the past and the future. He loves you. Come and be set free.
Enter through that door of the new year a new person changed by Gods amazing love for you. Letting the door shut on all those What ifs that you have lived with for so long.
God Bless you in the year 2011 and may it be the sweetest you have experienced as you start your new walk with God.
Yours
DCW
Tucked in the recesses of their mind is the one looming question "What if". What if my wife/husband hadn't left me. What if I didn't have this disease. What if I had gone to University/college when I had the chance. What if I had made better choices. What if I had grown up in a better home. What if I was treated better and the list goes on and on. So many what ifs. Unfortunately many of these people harbor their own sense of regret and resentments about the What if s in their lives. They live their lives in bitterness and anger never willing to let the What ifs in their lives go. As each year passes there is less joy, less happiness and misery has come to consume every fiber of their being. Their treatment of friends, family and people in general becomes hostile as they want those around them to feel as miserable as they do. Being around them is like a dark cloud that sucks any light and soul of those who come within their sphere. So much pain and hurt.No forgiveness.
Well if you happen to one of those people that are living with What ifs and have had enough of the misery that goes along with out moving on, I have some good news for you. There is healing.
There is a God in heaven who has sent his only son (Jesus) to this earth to bring healing. He came so that we could live life to the abundant. To live a life free of the pain of the past. He wants us to be free of the chains that are holding us in the past. Wanting Joy to be in your life. He invites us to come to him to cast all our cares on him because he cares for us. He wants to forgive you so you can know forgiveness and give forgiveness. He wants you to have Joy so you can leave that bitterness and anger behind, he wants to transform you into a totally new person. It is after all by his stripes we are healed he did it for you.
One of the worst What Ifs that I can think of that a person could ever have regret about and never be able to change is Standing before God and not ever having accepted his son into your life and have him turn you away and ending up in hell. Then asking yourself the question What if I had accepted Jesus into my life.
So while you are still here, still alive get healing for your what ifs, Allow Jesus into your life for healing, for forgiveness allow him to free you from the pain of the past and the future. He loves you. Come and be set free.
Enter through that door of the new year a new person changed by Gods amazing love for you. Letting the door shut on all those What ifs that you have lived with for so long.
God Bless you in the year 2011 and may it be the sweetest you have experienced as you start your new walk with God.
Yours
DCW
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Where is your heart
Here it is almost the 24th of December. There is only one day of shopping left. Some of you will be pleased with the amount of money you spent on gifts this year. Others will feel poorly because you just didn't have the money to spend on gifts that you would have liked to. Some will have many plans over the next few days spending time with family and freinds. While others may be all alone wondering what is so good about this time of year. There will be those who have great expectations for the gifts they will receive and who may disappointed because they didn't get what they wanted. There will be those who, will wake up knowing there is no christmas tree, and there won't be any gift for them again this year.
Gifts or no gifts two very distinct differences that will happen this year at Christmas. Yet there are many who, at this time of the year have no peace in their lives. Whether they have it all or don't have anything at all. There is no peace.
Here we are celebrating Christmas and I would dare say many people today really don't have any idea why we celebrate Christmas. It has become the toys, the gifts. Making sure it is the most expensive and just right. Ensuring your children have what they want. Visiting Santa Claus.
So here we have a great celebration but have forgotten the author of this great celebration. The greatest imaginable gift is out there for everyone to open, yet very few decide to receive it or to open it. This child that was born, that we celebrate came to give a peace to the world that was never before able to be had. This child was the son of God, who would grow up to be the Savior of the World. He would live his life to die on the cross and all in between share the good news of how man can have a personal relationship with God. He forgave many of their sins and is still there willing to forgive each and every one of us of our sins. The really good news is he didn't stay in the grave he rose from it and is in heaven seated on his throne sealing his eternal stamp of the power of who he was and his power to forgive.
So I ask you where is your heart. Do you have that peace that he can only give. Have you ever wondered how you can experience peace in your life, in your heart. Is there a longing you have that no earthly gift can give you. That no family member, friend , wife or girlfriend can give you. Is your heart aching as you search for that peace not only at this time of year but throughout the whole year. Let me tell you again Jesus who was that child is there waiting for you to receive that gift. He is there with open loving arms just waiting for you to come to him to accept him into your heart to be forgiven. He wants to give you reason to celebrate this season and celebrate it all year through. He is the Prince of Peace and he wants you to have his peace. So take the time to come to him and have the best Christmas ever for this child came for you.
If you have already accepted him into your life may the joy of his living in you be real to you in a way you have never experienced. Pass the message along. Celebtrate the birth of our Savior like you have never done before.
So Where is your heart today?
May the Peace of Jesus our savior be with you. Have a Merry CHRISTmas.
DCW
Gifts or no gifts two very distinct differences that will happen this year at Christmas. Yet there are many who, at this time of the year have no peace in their lives. Whether they have it all or don't have anything at all. There is no peace.
Here we are celebrating Christmas and I would dare say many people today really don't have any idea why we celebrate Christmas. It has become the toys, the gifts. Making sure it is the most expensive and just right. Ensuring your children have what they want. Visiting Santa Claus.
So here we have a great celebration but have forgotten the author of this great celebration. The greatest imaginable gift is out there for everyone to open, yet very few decide to receive it or to open it. This child that was born, that we celebrate came to give a peace to the world that was never before able to be had. This child was the son of God, who would grow up to be the Savior of the World. He would live his life to die on the cross and all in between share the good news of how man can have a personal relationship with God. He forgave many of their sins and is still there willing to forgive each and every one of us of our sins. The really good news is he didn't stay in the grave he rose from it and is in heaven seated on his throne sealing his eternal stamp of the power of who he was and his power to forgive.
So I ask you where is your heart. Do you have that peace that he can only give. Have you ever wondered how you can experience peace in your life, in your heart. Is there a longing you have that no earthly gift can give you. That no family member, friend , wife or girlfriend can give you. Is your heart aching as you search for that peace not only at this time of year but throughout the whole year. Let me tell you again Jesus who was that child is there waiting for you to receive that gift. He is there with open loving arms just waiting for you to come to him to accept him into your heart to be forgiven. He wants to give you reason to celebrate this season and celebrate it all year through. He is the Prince of Peace and he wants you to have his peace. So take the time to come to him and have the best Christmas ever for this child came for you.
If you have already accepted him into your life may the joy of his living in you be real to you in a way you have never experienced. Pass the message along. Celebtrate the birth of our Savior like you have never done before.
So Where is your heart today?
May the Peace of Jesus our savior be with you. Have a Merry CHRISTmas.
DCW
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas
Its Christmas. To some this time of the season is sad and lonely. To others its a time of celebration watching the children's excitement as they see their gifts under the tree the thrill as they open the presents that they have waited sometimes not so patiently to do. How is it that Christmas has been so poorly represented in that last number of years and why are people so afraid to wish someone a Merry Christmas. It makes me feel so sad at times that we have to try and eliminate the best gift ever offered to mankind. The birth of that child who would some day become the savior and who will someday return as the King of Kings who when he comes every knee will bow before him.
For a moment tho' I would like to take you back in time. Imagine a middle eastern town normally fairly quiet, its residents would go about minding their own business. Not today, today the city was crowded overflowing with strangers, people who had come to this little town of Bethlehem to be counted because it was the law under the order of Caesar Augusta. So every single place a person could sleep was taken. No more hotel rooms available. I imagine that there were those who even slept out on the streets.
Then along comes this couple. They are young and she is very pregnant, but they had to come because her husband was from this town by lineage. They didn't know where to go or where they could even sleep. They just knew they had to be here. So after knocking on all the doors they could for a room and still no place for them to sleep I would think that they were beginning to get a bit discouraged. Yet one more place to try. As they knocked fear of being turned down yet again gripped their hearts. The inn keeper tried to make them understand he had no more rooms to rent, his heart went out to them as he could see that this women would soon give birth. Finally as almost a last thought he mentioned that he did have a stable out back where he kept his animals a few sheep,some goats a pig or two and a couple of cows and of course his donkey. They could have that for a good rate if they wanted even though he knew it wasn't a place for a pregnant woman but that is the best he could do under the circumstances. This young couple jumped at it, finally a place to rest a place to lay down. They could make it work, the inn keeper said they could use all the straw they needed to make things as comfortable as they could. Now this stable was nothing glamorous, it had the smell of the animals and their dropping lay strewn throughout this little place,but it would be their home for the next few days.
Now I am not sure if it happened that night or the next but it did happen she went into labor. Was there anyone around to help besides her husband I am not sure. Maybe some of the other ladies who had seen this young woman's plight came to give her a helping hand in the birth of her child. She did give birth and this child she gave birth to was a son. This was no surprise as she had been told this nine months earlier by the angel that had come to visit her. Here he was this special child who was to become king, who was to be the messiah, the one who was all God and all man born here in such humble settings it didn't make sense but this was the way it was. This couple like any other couple loved their child and felt proud like so many couple do.
Out in the country in the cool of that dark night as was custom Sheppard's tended to their sheep. To them it was just an ordinary night, the way it had been for more nights then they would dare to recall. It was quiet the sheep had gone to sleep and as was typical these men huddled around the glowing embers of a fire that was slowly dying. Some had already dozed off, others still quietly talked while other heads bobbed starting to fall asleep. Then it happened, a piercing light shattered the blackness nearly blinding them and the chorus of Angels broke the silence. This was a sight that threw them to their knees. Fear gripped them. What was this why had this happened to them. The crescendo of the song rose in an anthem of Praise to a child that was born in the town just up the road. After the Sheppard's were able to gather themselves from seeing and hearing such a sight they found their way into Bethlehem where this child lay and humbly bowed.
I don't know if the angels sang any more songs or what the words were, I do know that the words were songs of praise and adoration to Jesus the child born in the stable. I also think that these angels sang from the very depth of their being as they announced the birth of their creator the savior of mankind to this earth. Tho' he had always been, God was placing his foot back on this earth and the time had come for the plan of salvation to be put into place.
So this year as you sing the songs of the season remember the true reason for it God coming to this earth to save us. And when you sing those songs sing them with all your heart sing them with passion, with sincerity and sing them out of Love. Remember that night,Remember what it means and raise your voices and souls in Praise to our Living Lord and King JESUS.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MAY HIS RICHEST BLESSINGS FALL ON YOU IN THE NEW YEAR
DCW
For a moment tho' I would like to take you back in time. Imagine a middle eastern town normally fairly quiet, its residents would go about minding their own business. Not today, today the city was crowded overflowing with strangers, people who had come to this little town of Bethlehem to be counted because it was the law under the order of Caesar Augusta. So every single place a person could sleep was taken. No more hotel rooms available. I imagine that there were those who even slept out on the streets.
Then along comes this couple. They are young and she is very pregnant, but they had to come because her husband was from this town by lineage. They didn't know where to go or where they could even sleep. They just knew they had to be here. So after knocking on all the doors they could for a room and still no place for them to sleep I would think that they were beginning to get a bit discouraged. Yet one more place to try. As they knocked fear of being turned down yet again gripped their hearts. The inn keeper tried to make them understand he had no more rooms to rent, his heart went out to them as he could see that this women would soon give birth. Finally as almost a last thought he mentioned that he did have a stable out back where he kept his animals a few sheep,some goats a pig or two and a couple of cows and of course his donkey. They could have that for a good rate if they wanted even though he knew it wasn't a place for a pregnant woman but that is the best he could do under the circumstances. This young couple jumped at it, finally a place to rest a place to lay down. They could make it work, the inn keeper said they could use all the straw they needed to make things as comfortable as they could. Now this stable was nothing glamorous, it had the smell of the animals and their dropping lay strewn throughout this little place,but it would be their home for the next few days.
Now I am not sure if it happened that night or the next but it did happen she went into labor. Was there anyone around to help besides her husband I am not sure. Maybe some of the other ladies who had seen this young woman's plight came to give her a helping hand in the birth of her child. She did give birth and this child she gave birth to was a son. This was no surprise as she had been told this nine months earlier by the angel that had come to visit her. Here he was this special child who was to become king, who was to be the messiah, the one who was all God and all man born here in such humble settings it didn't make sense but this was the way it was. This couple like any other couple loved their child and felt proud like so many couple do.
Out in the country in the cool of that dark night as was custom Sheppard's tended to their sheep. To them it was just an ordinary night, the way it had been for more nights then they would dare to recall. It was quiet the sheep had gone to sleep and as was typical these men huddled around the glowing embers of a fire that was slowly dying. Some had already dozed off, others still quietly talked while other heads bobbed starting to fall asleep. Then it happened, a piercing light shattered the blackness nearly blinding them and the chorus of Angels broke the silence. This was a sight that threw them to their knees. Fear gripped them. What was this why had this happened to them. The crescendo of the song rose in an anthem of Praise to a child that was born in the town just up the road. After the Sheppard's were able to gather themselves from seeing and hearing such a sight they found their way into Bethlehem where this child lay and humbly bowed.
I don't know if the angels sang any more songs or what the words were, I do know that the words were songs of praise and adoration to Jesus the child born in the stable. I also think that these angels sang from the very depth of their being as they announced the birth of their creator the savior of mankind to this earth. Tho' he had always been, God was placing his foot back on this earth and the time had come for the plan of salvation to be put into place.
So this year as you sing the songs of the season remember the true reason for it God coming to this earth to save us. And when you sing those songs sing them with all your heart sing them with passion, with sincerity and sing them out of Love. Remember that night,Remember what it means and raise your voices and souls in Praise to our Living Lord and King JESUS.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MAY HIS RICHEST BLESSINGS FALL ON YOU IN THE NEW YEAR
DCW
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