daddy4ms

Introduction: I wanted to title the message today “Stoned” but decided that might have a different meaning.   But the more I studied and prayed the more I realized I was to preach this passage while highlighting the “stones” that we throw at one another in the church.   So, as I mention those I will move a stone from the pile to the steps as a symbol of laying it down instead of continuing to use against brothers and sisters. Review- vs. 54 Who is Stephen?-Ch. 6-Seven chosen including Stephen were to be good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, he was full of faith, Stephen was full of grace and power and was doing great signs and wonders, as Brad said he was the head of the hospitality committee- Religion (law and temple) Now when they heard these things—ground their teeth gnashing the teeth is a sign of hostility and rage [1] Vs. 51-Stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy ...

Spending today in prayer and worship here today. This is similar to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. 

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 6  For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7  And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9  The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’” (Haggai 2:6-9)

I loved Jared C. Wilson's chapter "The Pastor and the Bible."  I highlighted a lot!  Often we can let good things become too important in the church and in life.  This chapter is a reminder that our absolute authority is God's Word and how important the Bible is in our preaching.  most gospel-centered preachers have an aversion to "how-to" sermons to begin with...Do these things and thereby reap these rewards is in essence legalistic..."How-to" sermons are specifically designed to help people become better Christians. The long and short of it appears to be that an entire ministerial enterprise dedicated to meeting felt needs, supplying biblical advice, and providing top-notch production values has quietly become a huge success at drawing crowds but a huge failure at what the Bible actually calls the church to do. Our words ought to stand under Scripture, not vice versa. When we come to the biblical text, it is meant to shape us: we are not to...

Here is a new song by Francesca Battistelli called Holy Spirit.  Be reminded of God's presence, goodness, and glory. 

Listen to the many ways God has proved faithful and is worthy of praise as you read these promises from 1 Chronicles: “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!   Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’   And God granted his request” (4:10). “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.   Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.   Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” (16:10-12). “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.   For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.   Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place” (16:25-27). “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (16:34). “I declare to you that the Lord will build a house f...

Are you amazed with God?  Enjoy this new song by Selah.

At our church, we have a time in the worship service where people can share prayer requests or praises about what God is doing in their lives.  I love this time!  However, often in the church we stay silent about what God is doing because we see it as arrogance or bragging. I shared the quote below with our church family a few weeks ago. Listen to this quote from God Is Able by Priscilla Shirer: So why should we be surprised that when God works, He wants an audience? When God works in you, He wants others to know about it.  When He works in them, He wants you to know about it. And so He takes us to church. Within the family and fellowship of  your local congregation, as well as the larger church in general, He has established an audience for His ability. When His miraculous, need-meeting activity occurs in our lives, He intends to use it as a faith-building evidence of His power among those who hear us tell it and see us changed by it. Amo...

Here's another great reminder from Priscilla Shirer about God's glory and prayer from God Is Able. So when we come to Him with our needs and requests, with our aches and our longings, one of the greatest reasons why we can be so confident in Him is because--let's just say it-- God is gettin' Him some glory when He acts on our behalf.

18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

I continue two previous posts based on The Circle Maker  today.  These thoughts are based on our limiting of God and how God provides for His glory. You have to trust the favor of God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself. And if we pray in alignment with the will of God, He always provides. God loves showing up in unexpected ways at unexpected times. The blessings of God will complicate your life in positive ways. God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him; God is great because nothing is too small for Him. The reason many of us miss the miracles is that we aren't looking and listening. 

(See part 1 & 2 on previous blog posts.) In the opening verses of Isaiah 6, what the prophet encounters first in the house of God is the glory of God: “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (v.1). It doesn’t first say he encountered well-dressed people or hot coffee or influential power brokers or a booming sound system or a great organ. What he caught site of first was God’s glory. There’s a growing trend in some churches to offer door prizes to any returning visitor. One church visited recently by a friend of mine promised him a ten-dollar Starbucks gift card if he came back the following week. Isaiah shows us the door prize that awaited him when he walked into the house of God—the uncomfortable, wrecking presence of God’s glory: “Woe is me!” (v.5). In the Bible, the glory of God refers to God’s “heaviness,” his powerful presence. It’s God’s prevailing excellence on display. The glory of God is...

Today's post is dedicated to God for his greatness. Last night, was our first "official" night of ministry for our 4 year olds through 6 th graders. It went very well! We had a great turnout for both Hide N Seek and our 5 th /6 th grade ministry. I want to give glory and praise to God for the whole thing because without Him none of this would be possible. God has provided wonderful volunteers to lead both of these ministries! God has provided a great facility and curriculum to make ministry possible! God sent His son, Jesus, to be our Savior to forgive us of our sins and therefore we want to share that good news with others. Thanks for all the behind the scenes work coming together. I also have had two of three D6 Dads groups. I have been blessed by each one. I am so excited to see dads seeking God for what He wants them to do and be. It is exciting to see a willingness to grow together and challenge one another. Thank you God for bringing each dad that has a...