December 2008
Monthly Archive
Joy & Gladness
Posted by Orlando on 25 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Devotions |
Joel 1:16
Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
Church should be one big party. I know what we do at C.L.C and how enjoyable it is to be around my bothers and sisters.
I see our ushers almost come to the point of using stun guns just to get them out of our ed-wing and into the sanctuary on Wednesdays and likewise to get them out of the building after a service. Our people enjoy being at Church.
The exhilaration that comes in worship, people lifting their hands, clapping, moving, and praising. Sometimes I stop and look around at the faces of those fully engaged. The sheer wonder of the Holy Ghost working in the life of another!
Yet likewise to see someone who for whatever reason is disconnected and distracted, I ask what have they allowed to steal the Joy and gladness that is available in God House?
Guard vehemently that which God has so wonderfully provided!!! You can’t do church at home or via the internet or T.V ludicrous if your able to get there, get there nothing like it. The backseat in school was usually for the disconnected how true of Church as well.
Forgiveness to be Feared
Posted by Orlando on 18 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Devotions, Uncategorized |
Psalms 130:4
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
What an awesome thought to understand the depravity of our soul and the holiness of God, yet the world looks at God’s forgiveness and they use it as an excuse to keep on keeping on.
I wonder what type of picture we portray to the world; I’ve heard people use the story of the prodigal son to justify. As if the Father in that story where sitting around sulking, waiting day after day for the son to return. The Father was where he always was, and it was the change in the son’s attitude that allowed him access back into the Father’s House.
The Father never changed his stance, and it was the Fathers unwavering stance that made his forgiveness all the more beautiful and something to be feared.
How can my daughter ever know the wonder of forgiveness unless she first experiences discipline and correction? For unless she knows that the one with power to forgive also reserves the right to discipline she can’t!
Just Do It!
Posted by Orlando on 11 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Devotions, Uncategorized |
Jeremiah 6:16
so now the LORD says, “Stop right where you are! Look for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, `No, that’s not the road we want!’
So many times, we invade heaven with prayers and supplications, only to reject the very thing we need. The problem is not that God does not answer prayer; the truth of the matter is that we don’t like his answers. Let’s go over this again for those that are slooooowwwww! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The benefits of doing things his way are very clear rest for your souls.
God’s not going to bend to your pressure, whining, or complaining! I’m thinking that if Jesus, who prayed if there’s any other way, got no response, and he was perfect, that we may be wasting our breath on some of our requests.
Whatever he told you to do last, like Nike, just do it!
Strength
Posted by Dr John King on 08 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Devotions, Uncategorized |
Woodrow Wilson said:
The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it.
Louis Pasteur said:
Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.
Strength is not a physical attribute, I mean real strength. I am not talking about physical prowess.
Bullies have that and bullies are cowards.
I spent most of my high school days looking after disabled kids on the bus and protecting those that could not protect themselves. I learnt that if you can whip a bully once they run. I have also learnt that those bullies I could not whip (yes I did receive my share of beatings), somewhere down the track someone else reminds them of the order of the universe.
Some of the strongest people I know, are not those that others would deem or call strong.
Yet they are powerful beyond themselves.
They give people permission to be great, when they themselves stumble.
They have the strength of mind to change, to bend, to bounce back.
They have an inner courage, to persevere, to rise above.
To love when all around them are loveless, to strive when all around them give up, to pursue when all around them stop. To dream when everyone else lives in fear.
To believe when surrounded by skeptics.
To have faith when everyone else runs. To attack and conquer their inner demons.
It is not age specific, nor gender specific, it is character driven.
This, I believe is the strength that God asked Joshua to have. A strength that didn’t run from conflict, but guaranteed it.
Friend, life will have its critics.
Small people with small minds and small hearts who are committed to a small life and a small god.
Don’t be that person.
I knew a man once who lied to get a promotion because he could not believe that God would provide - all his life his god will not provide.
I knew a woman once who all her life had to make it happen because her God was always slow…she will always have to make it happen.
I knew a man once who would not listen and shipwrecked his life. He will spend his days listening to the voices of “What if…”
You can not make a weak person strong, by weakening a strong person.
You only become strong by overcoming your weakness.
As Helen Keller said:
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Run!
Posted by Orlando on 04 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Devotions, Manhood |
Proverbs 5: 8
Run from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!
With my wife and daughter going out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, I was left with a lot of, what we call around here, Cave time. I spent most of my free time reading praying and watching movies that are full of stuff blowing up and limbs either breaking or being completely severed!
This leads me to the following thought. As guys, the thought of running from a fight or challenge does not really compute, yet no other dragon has slain so many Valiant men as this one. Not having a son (yet), my concern is high! For we live in a day and age that is as sexually volatile as ever. One day soon I will sit with my son and these words will fall from my lips! “Run son, Run for your life!!!!!”
Gentlemen, let’s be proactive not only for ourselves but for a generation to come. My heart breaks for the young men and boys who, without strong leaderships, will suffer, because no one was there to simply say, “run.”
Warriors Creed
It's a Guy Thing
It's a Guy Thing: Let's Talk About Sex
It's a Guy Thing: Show Me the Money
It's a Guy Thing: Character is King
It's a Guy Thing: Achieving Authentic Wealth
It's a Guy Thing: Creating a Better Life