2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him.
I love this passage. I truly believe this. I believe God when he says his eyes are running to and fro throughout the earth looking to show himself strong on my behalf. I don't know about you, but I need a "strong God." I feel weak a lot and helpless. I don't always have it together in spite of what some of you might think. I need a God who is strong on my behalf. You say, Are you saying your heart is perfect toward Him (God)? Yep, it is. The word "perfect" here means "full, peaceable, ready, quiet, complete."
I am seeking God with my whole heart. I experience the presence of the Lord daily in my life as I have fellowship with Christ. In the Old Testament, God's presence was embodied in the tabernacle as the Israelites encamped around it. Today, we experience God's presence as we spend time with him in prayer, worship, and in His word. It is a wonderful thing to spend quality time with the Lord, building consistent intimacy. The continual pursuit of His presence will lead to a revelation of the glory of Christ in your life. What's so special about His glory? His glory is a manifestation of God's goodness, His mercy, His love and compassion. This is what causes our heart to be "perfect toward Him." Isn't that cool?
Please remember little Rachael Worley in your prayers. Also, remember our missionary, Arlene Miller. Please be praying now for Sunday's special day of revival and refreshing. Come expecting!
-Pastor
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Financial Principles That Always Work
Man, I must be loosing it. I thought I wrote a blog yesterday. But I guess I got too busy and didn't get it done. So here is the one for today. May God bless you!
As I was doing my daily reading today, I found some financial principles for individuals, businesses, and nations that always work. There are many others in God's Word, but these are big ones that we hang our hats on. God will bless you, your business, and our nation greatly as we practice these.
I. Give a Tenth of your Income to God
Deuteronomy 14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
II. Provide for the Ministry, the Fatherless, and the Widows
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
III. Provide for the Poor
Deuteronomy 15:4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
As a church, we too are committed to practicing these principles. God is blessing our church tremendously financially and spiritually right now. And I believe its because of our obedience.
Have a wonderful day!
-Pastor Randy
As I was doing my daily reading today, I found some financial principles for individuals, businesses, and nations that always work. There are many others in God's Word, but these are big ones that we hang our hats on. God will bless you, your business, and our nation greatly as we practice these.
I. Give a Tenth of your Income to God
Deuteronomy 14:22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
II. Provide for the Ministry, the Fatherless, and the Widows
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
III. Provide for the Poor
Deuteronomy 15:4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
As a church, we too are committed to practicing these principles. God is blessing our church tremendously financially and spiritually right now. And I believe its because of our obedience.
Have a wonderful day!
-Pastor Randy
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wilkerson's Recent Prophetic Word on the Drudge Report
Some of you may be familiar with the Drudge Report which is read by hundreds of thousands of people daily. Today the Drudge Report carried David Wilkerson's prophetic word that I read this past weekend in my message. Here is what it looked like on the Drudge Report.
___________________________________________
TESTING THE FAITH
Famed pastor predicts imminent catastrophe
Best-selling author, Teen Challenge founder, sees 'earth-shattering calamity about to happen'
A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry to teens predicts an imminent "earth-shattering calamity" centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world – part of what he sees as a judgment from God.
David Wilkerson, author of "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book about his ministry to troubled New York street kids that was later made into a movie starring Pat Boone, tells readers of his blog this weekend that he is "compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message" about his prediction.
"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us."
Wilkerson's vision is of fires raging through New York City.
"It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago," he explains. "There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Wilkerson is the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, where he launched a ministry to gang members and drug addicts in 1958. He is a highly regarded mentor to other pastors in evangelical circles and travels the world holding conferences for other Christian ministers.
His work in New York in the 1950s and 1960s led to the formation of Teen Challenge – a nationwide ministry to reach out to people with life-controlling habits. Teen Challenge has grown to include 173 residential programs and numerous evangelism outreach centers in the United States, and 241 centers in 77 other countries. The program claims a recovery rate of 86 percent.
The story of Wilkerson's first five years of ministry in New York is told in "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book he co-authored in 1963. The book became a best-selling phenomenon and more than 15 million copies have been distributed in over 30 languages.
"God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations," claims Wilkerson. "He is destroying the secular foundations." Wilkerson urges everyone to stockpile a 30-day supply of food and other necessities to deal with the catastrophe he foresees.
"I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off," Wilkerson concluded in his message. "I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose."
A past vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention is hoping believers pay attention to Wilkerson's message.
"I have known David Wilkerson for more than 25 years as well as many of his friends and associates," said Pastor Wiley Drake. "He is a godly man and I believe he is listening to God. I encourage each Christian to read and heed what God is saying through our brother."
___________________________________________
TESTING THE FAITH
Famed pastor predicts imminent catastrophe
Best-selling author, Teen Challenge founder, sees 'earth-shattering calamity about to happen'
A respected pastor, best-selling author and founder of a major ministry to teens predicts an imminent "earth-shattering calamity" centered in New York City that will spread to major urban areas across the country and around the world – part of what he sees as a judgment from God.
David Wilkerson, author of "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book about his ministry to troubled New York street kids that was later made into a movie starring Pat Boone, tells readers of his blog this weekend that he is "compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message" about his prediction.
"An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen," he writes. "It is going to be so frightening, we are all going to tremble – even the godliest among us."
Wilkerson's vision is of fires raging through New York City.
"It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago," he explains. "There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Wilkerson is the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City, where he launched a ministry to gang members and drug addicts in 1958. He is a highly regarded mentor to other pastors in evangelical circles and travels the world holding conferences for other Christian ministers.
His work in New York in the 1950s and 1960s led to the formation of Teen Challenge – a nationwide ministry to reach out to people with life-controlling habits. Teen Challenge has grown to include 173 residential programs and numerous evangelism outreach centers in the United States, and 241 centers in 77 other countries. The program claims a recovery rate of 86 percent.
The story of Wilkerson's first five years of ministry in New York is told in "The Cross and the Switchblade," a book he co-authored in 1963. The book became a best-selling phenomenon and more than 15 million copies have been distributed in over 30 languages.
"God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations," claims Wilkerson. "He is destroying the secular foundations." Wilkerson urges everyone to stockpile a 30-day supply of food and other necessities to deal with the catastrophe he foresees.
"I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off," Wilkerson concluded in his message. "I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose."
A past vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention is hoping believers pay attention to Wilkerson's message.
"I have known David Wilkerson for more than 25 years as well as many of his friends and associates," said Pastor Wiley Drake. "He is a godly man and I believe he is listening to God. I encourage each Christian to read and heed what God is saying through our brother."
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday Wrap Up
Long day, but a good one! What a wonderful presence of God we experienced this morning as well as tonight. Days like this when the presence of God is great...no kidding, I wish we would go another two hours or more. I guess that's because when you attend a conference at Bethany you go from 9 am to 9 pm only to stop for lunch and dinner. Like encounter Saturdays, it just gets better and better and you don't realize how long you have been there. I sincerely believe one day that might happen in our church on Sundays. God's people could get so hungry for the presence of God in the future that we could easily go all day on Sundays. Wouldn't that be something!
Wow, we just had visitors everywhere this morning. I hope to see that again next Sunday. Please invite people this week. I know I am excited about inviting people. Remember, next Sunday, we are calling it "a Day of Revival and Refreshing." Come anticipating a great move of God!
I heard a good joke this week that I will leave with you.
A Nutritionist told his patient that he must go home and practice eating breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. He told him to come back in a month and they would evaluate his progress. Well, one month later the man reported back to the Nutritionist that he wasn't doing very well with his new eating strategy. The nutritionist ask "Why, what's the problem?" The patient said "Well every night around 10:30 there's a voice that rises up within me that cries out Long Live the King. And off to the kitchen I go."
Have a great week!
-Pastor Randy
Wow, we just had visitors everywhere this morning. I hope to see that again next Sunday. Please invite people this week. I know I am excited about inviting people. Remember, next Sunday, we are calling it "a Day of Revival and Refreshing." Come anticipating a great move of God!
I heard a good joke this week that I will leave with you.
A Nutritionist told his patient that he must go home and practice eating breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. He told him to come back in a month and they would evaluate his progress. Well, one month later the man reported back to the Nutritionist that he wasn't doing very well with his new eating strategy. The nutritionist ask "Why, what's the problem?" The patient said "Well every night around 10:30 there's a voice that rises up within me that cries out Long Live the King. And off to the kitchen I go."
Have a great week!
-Pastor Randy
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Friday Countdown
Happy Friday everyone! And praise God for the warm weather. This weekend is suppose to be nice.
I am anxious for us to come together this Sunday for worship. I want to encourage you to bring someone with you. I am telling you this is a great time to be a witness to your friends and neighbors about Christ. People are asking questions. People are giving up hope on this world. People are beginning to see that they can't trust in man. You and I have to be humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God, and turning from our sins. The result is God will hear our prayers, forgive us, and heal us (2 Chronicles 7:14). Don't you want God to bring healing to your home, community, and country? I do. And I know God wants that too.
On Sunday, March 15th, I ask that you join me and the church for a day of revival and refreshing. I sincerely believe God is going to divinely visit us and do a mighty work as we gather together on this day. This coming Sunday I will be announcing our schedule for this particular Sunday. Plan now to BRING YOUR FAMILY AND PRAY AND FAST WITH US ABOUT THIS SPECIAL SUNDAY!
I love you!
-Pastor
I am anxious for us to come together this Sunday for worship. I want to encourage you to bring someone with you. I am telling you this is a great time to be a witness to your friends and neighbors about Christ. People are asking questions. People are giving up hope on this world. People are beginning to see that they can't trust in man. You and I have to be humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God, and turning from our sins. The result is God will hear our prayers, forgive us, and heal us (2 Chronicles 7:14). Don't you want God to bring healing to your home, community, and country? I do. And I know God wants that too.
On Sunday, March 15th, I ask that you join me and the church for a day of revival and refreshing. I sincerely believe God is going to divinely visit us and do a mighty work as we gather together on this day. This coming Sunday I will be announcing our schedule for this particular Sunday. Plan now to BRING YOUR FAMILY AND PRAY AND FAST WITH US ABOUT THIS SPECIAL SUNDAY!
I love you!
-Pastor
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Checking in from "The Rouge"
Sorry its been awhile. I am attending the Pastor's Remnant Conference in Baton Rouge and we are on an Encounter-like schedule. So you know what that means...its pretty busy from morning to late at night. I brought nine other pastors with me from the southern Ohio area. They have thoroughly enjoyed it. Steve Hill, the Brownsville Revival Evangelist, preached this last session. Same Steve Hill...a great soul-winning preacher! He will preach tonight as well. Please remember him in your prayers. He has cancer in his blood and cancer tumors as well. But he is standing strong in his faith as the enemy attacks his body.
Also, please continue to remember in your prayers Sister Phyllis Titus as she battles cancer once again. She too, is strong in her faith.
Well, I better go! I will check in again soon. Have a great week! I love you and am praying for you.
-Pastor Randy
Also, please continue to remember in your prayers Sister Phyllis Titus as she battles cancer once again. She too, is strong in her faith.
Well, I better go! I will check in again soon. Have a great week! I love you and am praying for you.
-Pastor Randy
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday Wrap Up
Good day today. Great worship service this morning. Ken preached good tonight...except for the suey-side joke. Now I know what you all have to put up with when I am gone and he preaches. Just joking...I really appreciate and love Ken.
The state tools conference was really well attended yesterday. It seems like someone told me that there were 400 to 500 that participated. I know those that attended my classes were eager to learn and receive. It's great to see so many churches hungry to do ministry and be more effective in ministry.
Hey, I want to take a few minutes to encourage you to READ. That's how we learn...grow. Right now I am reading the following:
"Uncommon" by Tony Dungy
"The Remnant" by Larry Stocksdale
The book of "Mark" in the bible
What are you reading? If you are reading a book that you would like to share with me, just click on the "Comments" at the bottom and give me the name and the author. I might want to read it. Thanks so much.
Have a great week everyone!
-Pastor Randy
The state tools conference was really well attended yesterday. It seems like someone told me that there were 400 to 500 that participated. I know those that attended my classes were eager to learn and receive. It's great to see so many churches hungry to do ministry and be more effective in ministry.
Hey, I want to take a few minutes to encourage you to READ. That's how we learn...grow. Right now I am reading the following:
"Uncommon" by Tony Dungy
"The Remnant" by Larry Stocksdale
The book of "Mark" in the bible
What are you reading? If you are reading a book that you would like to share with me, just click on the "Comments" at the bottom and give me the name and the author. I might want to read it. Thanks so much.
Have a great week everyone!
-Pastor Randy
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