True Revival

We are given the formula for true revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Our church just went through a time of revival services. I say "services" because that is all it really is unless the people of God follow the formula. I am afraid that our culture and those of society do not want true revival. The scripture says that just as the days of Noah were ... the people were eating and drinking and making merry until the flood came ... so shall the day of the coming of the Lord be. We have become lovers of pleasure and of the things of the world more so than the things of God and heaven.

I long for the day when we shall see Him. Yet I pray for His delay for the sake of those who do not know Him. Now, more than ever, it is time to pray and humble ourselves and seek His face and turn fro our wicked ways, for I believe we are living in the last days. The time is nearer and the world is ready for that great day of the Lord to begin than ever before.

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money! Twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought!
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake!

And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.

JUDGE NOT!
Remember....Just going to church doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes
you a car .

Every saint has a PAST........
Every sinner has a FUTURE!!!!!!

The Things Which Are Possible

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God," (Luke 18:27).

This text shows how to do an "impossible" thing. Size up your problem, pray about it, do all you can about it. If it seems impossible, don't give up, but afirm, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

Keep relaxed. Don't worry. Avoid getting panicky. Never think, "This can't be done." Declare, "It can be done, it is being done because God is doing it through me." Affirm that the process is in operation. The final outcome may not be entirely what you now desire. but, handled in this manner, the solution will be what God wants it to be. (Norman Vincent Peale)

At this point in my life, I fully understand what it means to "Let go, and let God." I have found that many of the things in my life that seem out of control are indeed being orchestrated by God. There are no obstacles in my life that overwhelm me. Life has tried, but God has overcome. He has brought victory and I have been lifted up from the miry pit. What more could I ask?

For Those Who Search

While visiting the Zoo a few weeks ago with my grandkids, we had the privilege of entering a cage where there were a great many parrots. They had the free run of the cage. they would reach down out of their perches and receive a tidbit from various hands and some would even let you touch them. It was quite an experience for the grandkids.

Then there was the majestic eagle. I observed one in particular. Heedless of the squawking birds around him and oblivious to the crowds of people, he sat at the very summit, peering through the imprisoning bars and looking with unblinking eyes tot he realms above, evidently longing to spread his mighty wings to roam the lofty regions where he belonged.

How i wished I could climb up there and cut the bars and set him free, for eagles are types of God's sons who long to burst free from the binding fetters and the natural man to soar to heights far above the sordid and slavish demands of the physical body and the carnal mind.

Far too often we see people who try to find a church where they will be happy. they look for what they think will be the ideal church. Such people are known as "church hoppers" because they go back and forth like Noah's dove and find no rest for the sole of their foot. But it is not the soul of their foot that needs rest. It is the soul within that is longing to be set free. It is the soul within that is longing for that sweet communion with its Creator.

If you find your self with a sense of uselessness and dissatisfaction with the church you are in, then perhaps you should look at things from a different perspective. Maybe its not the church that needs to be changed,but the very heart within you that needs a transformation. Seek for what you can do to restore the "joy of thy salvation" right where you are.

Don't Sweat the Details

As I was reading and studying the Book of Nehemiah, I noticed something very enlightening in the fourth chapter. Nehemiah had set the people to rebuild the walls of Jeresalem. Each family was assigned the portion of the wall that was closest to thier homes. Here in chapter 4, the enemies of the Jews began to ridicule and threaten in order to cause them to stop thier work. But Nehemiah led the people to pray and to watch and to arm themselves. The people worked with one eye to the task and the other on the horizon searching for the enemy. With one hand they held a trowel and with the other a sword. As I read of this remarkable feat by the Jews to rebuild the wall it occured to me that this is exactly what we as Christians are to do. We are to lift up our prayers and petitions to the Lord, then we are to put feet to our prayers. We are to take actions to involve ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God to protect and defend the gospel and to watch for the coming of that great day when the Lord returns to receive us unto Himself.

Now the interesting thing that I see in all of this is that five times Nehemiah uses the word "so" (verses 6, 10, 18, 21, and 23). This tiny word is an indicator for us to "not sweat the small stuff". In that word "so" we can only read between the lines, for therein lies the details of all that took place while they prayed, and watched, and armed themselves. It is in the details that we get caught up in our circumstances and I think Nehemiah is saying "don't sweat the small stuff" for there is a bigger picture for us to see. Don't let the details be so cumbersome that you forget the vision God has given. It is in the details that the old Devil will set a snare for us.

"So", consider the details but don't let them cause you to fall or fail in the task that God has given. Pray, and watch, and arm yourself for the battle at hand.

Here It Begins

Just a note to say that blogging is a new experience for me. I hope to be able to provide some interesting thoughts for you to think about. Hence the title “Thoughts To Keep You Thinking“. It will be just a stroll through the things that I am experiencing at the time … Reading, thinking, feeling, or just plain pondering. Check back at a later date for updated posts to the site. Feel free to comment and give constructive criticism. I will read and listen, but don’t count on seeing me jump to the tune if I disagree. God bless and good reading.
Mike