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Be still and know that I am God

Posted in: The Blog by admin on May 17, 2012 | No Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get away and find God. I went on a spiritual renewal trip to get away. I was far from home with no internet and no cell service. To some this may sound like a nightmare, but 72 hours of uninterrupted time with God was just what I needed and just what my soul had been craving.

Several friends saw something in my life and decided they needed to send me away for a few days. I went into this retreat dragging my feet, not knowing what to expect. I’d heard amazing stories from others who had gone on this retreat previously and they all said the same thing, with a big smile on their face…”I’m not telling you anything about it, but it will change you’re life forever.” As you can probably understand, I was a bit nervous. What had these friends of mine experienced that they just knew that I needed to find? I assumed that they had all drank the ‘Kool-Aid’ and they had been brain-washed in someway. I fired myself up to go and promised that I would go and keep an open mind (no pun intended), but I would watch for what they were serving me to drink. I was ready for a life-changing God moment.

After 24 hours away, surrounded by a bunch of other men like me…I was still waiting. I was there and I was looking for God to show up in a big way and make me a new man! Nothing. I kept anticipating this big moment. Nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I was having a great time away and there had been lots of nice moments, just not the big “knock you upside the head ‘God’s here!’” moment. I went to bed that evening a bit disappointed and a little homesick…but I decided I would stick it out and see this through…plus, there was no cell phone service, so who could I call anyway? As I went to sleep, I prayed and decided that maybe I was forcing the ‘God moment’ that I was looking for. Maybe, I should stop looking, stop anticipating and just relax.

The next morning I woke up at some point after the sun had come up (did I mention that we couldn’t wear watches or turn on our cell phones to check the time?). I was up and dressed for the day as most of the other guys were just waking up. I walked down to the kitchen, got a cup of coffee (checking to make sure that it was coffee and not ‘Kool-Aid’) and walked outside and down to the lake that surrounded the property. I was the only person outside, this was unusual, but it was early in the morning. The dew was on the grass and there was a thick wall of fog on the lake. As I stood on the shoreline with my cup of coffee, I noted that I could only see about 100 feet around me and across the lake before the fog took over, it was almost claustrophobic. That morning I began praying and really talking to God about my problems. I told Him that I was waiting for Him to show up. As I was doing all the talking, I noticed the amount of birds that were singing, the frogs that were croaking. There was a turtle in the water swimming around casually. The fish were feeding and kept popping the surface of the water. Those birds and frogs were really getting into it; all around me was a nature concert. I stood there with my eyes closed and just…listened. I thought of Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God”. These animals were singing and praising God. God was telling me to just stop and listen. He made all of this. That moment was made just for me and no one else. That was my God moment.

I realized that when life gets hard and begins to crumble around you, don’t flinch in faith in God. Stand still — He has a plan. He is GOD. He can do it without me. I’m not as important as I think I am. I’m just a little speck on a pale blue dot in an incredible universe. He has got this world figured out. He is the ruler of kingdoms of this earth and the all-powerful Creator of the Universe. God knows each and every star by name…and yet He loves little ole’ me enough that He sent His Son to die for me so that I might be with Him in His house someday. He’s got it all under control and I just need to remember to turn it all over to Him and stop trying to do it myself.

Legacy

Posted in: The Blog by admin on April 26, 2012 | No Comments

You may have seen this quote recently that someone posted on Facebook. It said, “Children are the rainbow of life, but grandchildren are the pot of gold!” As a man with three great children and twelve wonderful grandchildren (notice I didn’t say great grandchildren—I’m not that old!) I can say, “Amen” to that! I just took a few days off recently to visit 5 of the grandchildren, and I am reminded that a few days is just not enough time to spend with the “pot of gold.”

Whenever I get to spend time with the grandchildren, I try to think of something I can leave with them, something to “pour into them.” Here’s what the Lord gave me for them. I explained to them the difference between heritage and legacy. (Don’t worry; these kids are teenagers, so the words aren’t too big.)

I told them that heritage is something they inherit. They can’t do anything about their heritage—they can’t change it. But, their legacy is up to them. Their legacy will become their children’s and grandchildren’s heritage. I said they need to think now about what their legacy will be. What will they want their kids to remember about them? One bad decision can destroy a legacy. Hanging out with the wrong crowd can ruin their legacy if they absorb bad influences into their lives. I cautioned them to maintain a Christian world view—don’t adopt any of the humanistic world views out there. I left them with Matt 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

Of course, this applies to all of us, no matter how old we are. As long as we are breathing, we are developing a legacy. What do you want to be remembered for? When you are gone, what will your family remember as important to you? Will they see a godly Christian testimony, or something less? It’s never too late to work on your legacy. I recommend Matt 6:33 as a foundation. Get busy.

The One Day Workout

Posted in: The Blog by admin on April 19, 2012 | No Comments

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23 ESV)

So I have kept my New Years Resolution.  I’ve joined a gym…and I am exhausted.  Who knew it was going to be this strenuous and painful.  I am glad I only have to do it that one time…now I should stay in shape for life!

RIGHT.  We all know that is not how it works.  But if that logic doesn’t apply to our bodies…why should it apply to our faith. And yet, this is how must of us live our Christian lives.

We exercised our faith one time at a concert, conference, camp our church service.  We said a prayer, made a decision or had an experience.  The problem is that some of us have assumed that one spiritual workout was all we needed for our souls to remain healthy for all of eternity.  But that is not true and lasting faith…

Now don’t get me wrong, when we make a true, life-changing submission to Jesus Christ, our eternal destination was sealed.  But this decision is not a instant total body workout…it’s the beginning of a life-long workout plan.  Biblical faith is something that must be exercised and exercised often. Jesus tells us that it will be a daily workout or faith and actions.

I am more resolved than ever to get in shape, physically and spiritually quit the one time workout we have come to call “faith.”  Let’s take up our cross…every day.

Freedom

Posted in: The Blog by admin on April 5, 2012 | No Comments

I read the story told of Abraham Lincoln visiting a slave auction. As Lincoln arrived, he heard the auctioneer describing the next slave up for bid. It happened to be a young black girl that had been stolen from her family. Lincoln was moved with compassion and began bidding on the young slave. He eventually won the bidding. After purchasing her, Lincoln told her she was free. She was amazed that he would pay the price for her simply to let her go free.

It is amazing that Jesus would pay the price for us to be set free. The price was His Death, Burial, and Resurrection. He paid the price of sin so we could be set free. His resurrection proves that we are free indeed.

Do you know someone that is a slave to their addictions, attitudes, bad choices, or sins? Tell them the Good News. Jesus has paid the price and you can be set free forever! 

-Pastor Godfrey

Enoch

Posted in: The Blog by admin on March 29, 2012 | No Comments

Very little is written in the Word of God about the man name Enoch. In just a few short words, the Bible paints such a beautiful picture of Enoch’s powerful testimony. Genesis 5:24 states: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” What a legacy!

Recently, my heart has been so captivated by these few words that I decided to search them deeply in order to share my findings with my middle school students. Having checked my phone log over the past five weeks, I received seventy-three calls and text messages from ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen year olds in relation to this topic. After thousands of years later, Enoch’s legacy of walking with God continues to impact to the young hearts and minds of this generation. I, along with my students and leaders also desire the same special bond which our friend Enoch shared with our God.

Our middle school group has ascertained so much knowledge and encouragement from our “Walk With God” series, and I am excited to share with you the one thing which stood out to the students about Enoch’s life more than his love, faith, trust, humility, devotion, knowledge, harmony, and intimacy with God. The one thing is Enoch’s length of faithfulness and dedication to God. Genesis 5:21-23 gives a brief synopsis of Enoch’s life. According to the passage, Enoch was the grand-father of Methuselah, the oldest man ever mentioned in the Bible, who lived for nine hundred and sixty-nine years. When Methuselah was born, Enoch was sixty-five years; and then he lived for an additional three hundred years. These were the years in which Enoch walked closely with God. Not one day; not two days per week; and not every Sunday and Wednesday of every year. But for these long three hundred years, Enoch walked consistently and habitually with God.

There is no mention in God’s Word of Enoch sliding backwards or struggling with worldly issues and sin. His heart and mind were so fixed on our Heavenly Father, that he remained faithful to God for One hundred and nine thousand, five hundred (109,500) days, until God decided to take him into heaven. Enoch never tasted death. He was simply ushered into the presence of God without pain, tragedy, or fight.

I am convinced that God was extremely pleased with Enoch’s walk. They had a relationship that was inexplicable. May this be our legacy……….THAT WE ALL WALK WITH GOD.I have always enjoyed reading Micah 6:8; however, recently it has become my most favorite verse in the entire Bible. The verse reads: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”

All is well!

JB Brown