August 16, 2008

Promised

Have you ever made a promise and didn't keep it? Did you feel bad when you realized you didn't do what you PROMISED to do. The word promise is an interesting word. The dictionary defines the word as: a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that guarantees that a particular thing will happen.

When you give a promise to someone, what is their assurance that you will do as you promised? What is it that causes you to make the promise and what causes you to want to keep the promise you made?

Questions we all should seek to answer in our own life. So meet me at one of the services this Sunday and we will talk about the answers and about the promises God has made to us.

August 07, 2008

What Now?

The glory. The manifest glory. The manifest glory of His presence.  Is that what Moses saw? Is that what Moses asked for? He sought God’s manifest glory. He received only a portion. Yet, somehow - somehow that was what He wanted. Somehow He didn’t complain. Did he?  God so manifested Himself in Moses that the people were afraid. The people ran from the presence of God.

Let us ponder for moment on the question that perhaps there were just a few that pressed in anyway? Perhaps there was just one person that when all the others ran from God’s presence - they stayed. They pressed in as far as they could. Out of millions of people, wouldn’t you think that just one? Just one would press in?

So, what holds us back?  What keeps us there? What is it in us that when all the others run away - we stay. We press in. Against all fear, doubt, uneasiness - we stay....?  Were they afraid of God’s voice?  Were they afraid of the light that illuminated everything in them, both good and bad? Were they afraid of the heaviness of His presence as the Father looked down upon them?  What was it that made them cower?

Am I one that stays? Or do I crowd away like all the others? Do I run to the front at the first glimpse of the manifest glory of His presence? Or do I worry that the presence will kill me?

Where did Moses get his courage? Is it courage that we need? Such as the cowardly lion we all run away at the first sight of something new. But isn’t it something new that we have wanted? Haven’t we left Egypt in search of our Canaan land?

We have felt God’s presence in our praise and our worship. We have watched as people have not ran, but instead have flooded the altar of God. We have seen people healed, delivered, and saved.  Yet, I want more. It is unexplainable. It is not tangible. The thing that I seek after is not in my vocabulary. It is not a scent that I can let you smell. It is not a glimpse that I can let you see. It is not a feeling that I can let you touch. I can not explain it, yet I crave it.

I ache for it. Thirst, yearn, and desire it. I begrudge all who say they may have it.  I linger around waiting for a taste of it.  Just as the woman with the issue of blood knew that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, I know that if I can just taste a morsel of the fresh bread that my Savior makes I will never go back to the old stuff. I will never return to the Egypt that I once knew.

With just a morsel of God’s presence appearing, I know that I will plunge my life into His presence.  What if all of God’s people were to wait with such anticipation that it burns deep in their soul? What would the Father do then?  David said that his soul longed and thirst for the presence of God – is this what he felt?  Or was their more?

Will we press in or stay back???

Just A Little Bit . . .

Well, just a little bit can make a big difference for good or for bad.  When it comes to TRUTH, we should never be satisfied with just a little. Isn't it interesting that truth is spiritual food just like natural food?  Without it we won't be strong and healthy. With only a little food we become weak and unhealthy.
I guess you could say that eating disorders in the natural equate to TRUTH and spiritual food disorders. Disorders such as: bulimia, anorexia, binging, and even gluttony.  Feeding the soul with TRUTH food is the best way to ward off the problem of 'just a little bit'.   Spiritual food is crucial to a spiritually healthy life.

July 30, 2008

A Miracle Today????

          God is still working miracles. In fact He never stopped doing miracles. So,  whats a miracle? Well the simplest definition is, "A temporary intervention into the ordinary course of nature." Stuff like the sun stopping in its place for a measurable amount of time, or someone walking on water or finding a coin in a fishes mouth. All of which are recorded in the bible. 

Here is a couple of question for you.
  • Do they still happen today?
  • Is there a way to know if a miracle is real or not?
  • Is there more than one source of a miracle?
  • What do you think is happening in Lakeland Florida?
Gotcha on the last one, huh?
So what do you think about the Lakeland Florida Revival?

July 28, 2008

Happy Little Life . . .

          I learned something new today.  It is probably something that most of you already know, so bear with me here.  I learned that while I am busy trying to make my "happy little life" here on earth, God is trying to get my attention and let me know that life is not about my "happy little life."  When I go through trials and hard times, I think that my "happy little life" isn't happy and get frustrated and mad... sometimes even at God.  I think He doesn't want to give me what will make me happy whether that is an object, an emotion, health, etc.

          Yes, God wants me to be happy.  He wants to see me live a happy life.  However, I have found that I am often wrong about what I believe will put the "happy" in my "little life".  God knows that until I can become holy and true to Him I won't be happy. 

          Sometimes I am like a child who throws a fit because I can't have a toy or watch TV.  In the moment, I could care less that my mother adores me.  My world is out of wack.  I don't see that my heart is not in the right place.  I need my mother's love and comfort far more then I need the thing that I have made an idol of.

          I don't think that God causes mishap, hurt, or pain in our lives, but I do believe that He takes those mishaps, hurts, and pains and tests us with them.  He wants to make sure we get back on track and our little world gets priorities back in line.   Deuteronomy 13:3 says, "The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Hmmm...maybe my "happy little life" can be happier with more of God...?

Funday @ the Water Park with DP!!!

Check out the pictures from last night!  Just click the picture below to watch the slideshow!

July 26, 2008

The Chiseled Look

          God wants us all to have that chiseled look. Not the six pac abs kind of chiseled physically body that most would think of. Physical fitness is great and everyone should work at staying healthy and in shape. But a physically fit body isn't what we need when the hardships and trials of life comes hurling at us like an out of control freight train come down the tracks at us.
          We need to be in shape spiritually but let the LORD chisel away at the things in our life that keep us spiritually weak and unfit for lifes trials and tribulations. Build spiritual muscle by staying in three things: Prayer, the Word, and fellowship with others who seek to have the same chiseled look for Jesus.

July 23, 2008

I didn't hear Him . . .

I realized something tonight. . . Maybe I'm just a little slower then most people.  Okay, actually I am a little slower then most, but that probably isn't a good excuse.  I realized tonight that God is constantly talking to me.  Weird, huh?  I had this revelation that God is always talking, but sometimes I choose not to listen, sometimes I don't hear Him over other things around me and then the biggest revelation of all was that sometimes Satan does his best to distract me from God's voice.

I have been on this sort of quest recently to try and listen for God's voice more often.  No, I have never heard Him audibly, outloud in a booming voice that shakes the earth - or even my car.  But I have heard Him in that still, quiet voice and sense of "knowing" that one gets inside of them.  So, like I said,I have been on this sort of quest to try and listen more often.  And tonight I heard Him.  I heard Him remind me that Satan is the father of lies and he will do anything to distract me from listening to God's voice.  I was in a little bit of a depressed mood today, for whatever reason, but I realize (as I am going to bed of course) that since I listened to Satan's voice over God's voice today that I have missed a whole day of hearing God.  Hmph.  That stinks.

Luckly, tomorrows another day.  God's still God and I'm still human.  Thankfully He's willing to keep talking.

July 22, 2008

"Set my feet upon a rock . . ."

          Well if you were with us sunday, the word was pretty clear. How can we keep our salvation fresh and vibrant and at the same time, move on in maturity?   I can't help but think that there people who become bored with their relationship with Jesus. Not because they don't love him or care about him any more.  Its just that life has a way of dulling our senses and numbing our minds with the riggers of the daily grind.

          So I would encourage you to stay in the word and stay close to him in all that you do. Psalms says it best. Psa. 40:2 (KJVS) "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."

~Pastor Bob~

July 21, 2008

DP Funday BBQ & Chili Cookoff!

Hi Everyone!

Just thought I'd post a copy of the slideshow from the recent DP Funday BBQ & Chili cookoff!  We had such a great time and thank you to everyone who helped out!  It was a HUGE success!

View this slideshow created at One True Media
DP Funday BBQ & Chili Cookoff!

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