THE SILENT SERMON
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services
regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting
before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the
man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace...and waited.
The preacher made himself at home but said nothing . In the grave silence,
he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After
some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a
brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone,
then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's
flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its
fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher
glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood
up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the
fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of
the burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear
running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially
for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.'
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little.
Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left
unspoken.
The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul -- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness -- that's Guidance!
For His name's sake ----- that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death --that's
Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies ---that's
Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil -----that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life ---that's
Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord ----- that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!
Face it, God is crazy about you!
What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in
our lives.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
BELIEVE
" Lord! we know what we are, but not what we may be.."
William Shakespeare
I think like many we all hold that desire to meet Jesus and ask that all important truth, what did it all mean? where is our place, how do we get there? whats next? But we are here on this earth till its time to be with him, there is no time machine that can take us back to when he walked the earth to meet with him. All the wisdom of his time here is in the bible, our only tool to learn his desires for us and how we should grow in relationship with him. so we believe, we believe in him, and his saving grace and the word of God that strengthens us.
For some this can be difficult, not all of us grew up with a solid foundation in a christian home feed and nurtured with the word of God. Some of us came from our own personal Egypt's , of pain, abuse, addiction and anger. The concept of a loving healing Lord is not something easily learned or believed. That's where faith steps in as we grow in the word. As we learn his plans, to prosper not to hurt us we can finally grow in belief and trust God, building a relationship with him.
Sometimes this revalation comes quickly and sometimes slowly, but as long as we press in, and believe even what we cannot see the growth comes. With two thousand years between the dream and the reality ( and the hope of a time machine not really looking that promising), Jesus still offers us access to him, the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow and welcomes us wherever and when ever we want. His invitation still stands today: "Come unto me." and when you do, he promises you the time of your life.
QUESTION:
If you could step beyond the bounds of prayer and stand face to face with the Lord to ask or say one thing what would it be?
William Shakespeare
I think like many we all hold that desire to meet Jesus and ask that all important truth, what did it all mean? where is our place, how do we get there? whats next? But we are here on this earth till its time to be with him, there is no time machine that can take us back to when he walked the earth to meet with him. All the wisdom of his time here is in the bible, our only tool to learn his desires for us and how we should grow in relationship with him. so we believe, we believe in him, and his saving grace and the word of God that strengthens us.
For some this can be difficult, not all of us grew up with a solid foundation in a christian home feed and nurtured with the word of God. Some of us came from our own personal Egypt's , of pain, abuse, addiction and anger. The concept of a loving healing Lord is not something easily learned or believed. That's where faith steps in as we grow in the word. As we learn his plans, to prosper not to hurt us we can finally grow in belief and trust God, building a relationship with him.
Sometimes this revalation comes quickly and sometimes slowly, but as long as we press in, and believe even what we cannot see the growth comes. With two thousand years between the dream and the reality ( and the hope of a time machine not really looking that promising), Jesus still offers us access to him, the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow and welcomes us wherever and when ever we want. His invitation still stands today: "Come unto me." and when you do, he promises you the time of your life.
QUESTION:
If you could step beyond the bounds of prayer and stand face to face with the Lord to ask or say one thing what would it be?
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