Thanksgiving 2009

Wow... I am Thankful for so many things... First and Foremost: I am thankful for my Lord and Savior who is in complete control of my life and this world...! Praise the Lord...!

Romans 11:36

"To whom be glory for ever. Amen" —Romans 11:36.

This should be the single desire of the Christian. As a Christian, you are "of God, and through God," then live "to God." Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to HIM. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. -Charles Spurgeon


Coach Sam's Self Inventory: How much of my day is spent in pursuit of Excellence to the Lord...? -OUCH...! -Lots of room for improvement, here...

I especially love when Spurgeon says: ...Let this ambition fire your soul,... make GOD your ONLY object!

AMEN

New Thought for the Day Series: God's Tender Mercy

I'm going to keep things short and sweet for awhile...

Today's thought for the day is something my wife Monica told me last night...

'God's tender mercies are renewed EVERY DAY...!' -Let's start today with a clean slate.

I say, AMEN...!

Here's a good article I came across when I did a web search for God's Tender Mercies...


http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/05/praise-god-for-his-tender-mercies.html

The Miracle Business

November 9, 2009

Is God still in the miracle business..?

Think about some miracles that have been recorded in the bible. The parting of the Red Sea, the saving of humanity and animal life on Noah’s Arc are two of my favorites from the Old Testament. The New Testament is full of signs and wonders from Jesus, Himself.

Why do you suppose the bible records these ‘wonders’…?

If you believe that the bible is the inspired word of God then you know for a fact that these events DID INDEED OCCUR. Now, the question I’d like to pose today is this:

Do you think God is STILL in the miracle business today? If so, then please cite some examples or praise reports…

My perspective is that I believe that God most definitely is still in the miracle business. The thing is that people are so accustomed to these miracles that they totally disregard that a ‘higher power’ is at work here.

Look at the AMAZING variety of plant and animal life on this planet. Is that not a miracle…? Look at the diversity of mankind and everyone with unique features, personalities, fingerprints, etc… Are those not miracles…? What about the fact that our planet is the only planet to sustain life as we know it. We’ve got this whole eco-system thing going here where pretty much every bit of life needs every other bit of life to survive, and it does. How can so many people refuse to believe in a Creator or the miracle of creation…?

Consider the complexities of the human body itself. All our organs ‘just evolved’…? Yeah, Right…! Every living organism is a walking miracle if you ask me.

But the bible speaks of, and I believe in supernatural signs and wonders, too. I’m speaking of miracle healings, and angelic visits, and other incidents that defy human logic. How about the countless miraculous life transformations that occur whenever a person really and truly accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal savior…?

I have one of those kinds of lives. Maybe you do, too. When was the last time you gave your ‘conversion’ story...? When was the last time you simply turned a conversation to one of spiritual matters….? Who has the best shot at winning our family, friends, and neighbors to Christ? WE DO.

Friends, a life touched and changed forever by Christ is an awesome miracle and that story is worthy to be shouted from a mountain top, DAILY…!

Oh Yes, God has NEVER gotten out of the Miracle Business… It’s all perspective.

What do you think….? I’ve got more thoughts but I’m out of room today. I sure hope this topic stirs some discussion… Please be in prayer about how God wants YOU to affect those within your sphere of influence for Jesus.

Your Brother in Christ, Coach Sam

Where was God Yesterday?

November 6, 2009

Prayer Request: Lifting Up the Victims, Family, and Friends of the Fort Hood Tragedy

The death toll stands at 13 and the wounded number 30. Let’s lift up the families of those who had their lives taken from them yesterday. Oh the grief they must have at this time must be horrific. Pray for swift and complete healing for those who have been injured. Pray also that the facts become known and those who were behind this tragedy are brought to justice quickly.

This incident brings up the age old question: How could God allow such a thing to happen…? First off, and I do not want to sound callous, but it is a fact that we live in a fallen, broken world. There is sin all around us. Sin has been present in the world since Adam and Eve.

I have often considered this question following a tragedy: How DOES God work? I believe that God works in so many ways that we can not even come close to imagining or identifying all of them. I’ll list and discuss a few of them and then leave the topic open for others to expound on in the discussion forum.

I believe that God is present and He works through His people. Those of us who label ourselves ‘Christians’ are supposed to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are called to ‘action’ in response to times like these. And that ‘action’ could take many forms.

I do not personally know any of those who were killed or injured yesterday. But have I ever faced the death of a loved one? Yes. Has God given me a heart of compassion for those who are hurting and suffering? Yes. And I believe that God was there amidst the shooting. He was protecting people. The death toll probably could have been worse.

I also believe one of God's reasons to allow things like this to happen are to draw people close to HIM. Yesterday’s event at Fort Hood sure put my day in perspective in a hurry. Up to that point, I was having a mediocre to ‘bad’ day. Then I received a text message from a friend asking for prayer for the victims. I immediately considered my day wasn’t going so bad, at all. My life was not at peril, and no one was shooting at me, or trying to do me harm. Did anyone else consider that?

We Americans are so blessed to be living in the peace and comfort and freedom that we are accustomed to. I think that is taken for granted far too often.

This discussion is far from over. I’d love to hear the perspectives of other prayer warriors about where was / is God in all this?. But let me close with this: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GROUP IS CLEAR: TODAY, WE ARE CALLED TO PRAY…!

Your brother in Christ, Coach Sam

Discipleship Lifestyles

November 4, 2009

Still Examining the Life of a Disciple

I am in no way trying to get legalistic, here. But what does being ‘fully surrendered, and living for Jesus’ look like…? God should be leading you in this area.

Here are a few questions for self examination:

• When you awaken, is God the FIRST thing on your mind in the morning, and do you immediately have a morning prayer moment before you even get out of bed…?

• What’s your evening routine before going to bed? Do you read scripture before dosing off to sleep?

• Do you ever pray with your spouse or a friend…?

• When someone asks you to pray for them or a situation do you stop what you are doing and pray for their need right then and there…?

• Do you visibly pray in public at a restaurant in front of people you don’t even know?

• What do you pray about? Is it a real meaningful conversation with the Lord, or just a laundry list of ‘to-do’ things for the Lord…?

• What does ‘Pray Without Ceasing’ mean and look like…?

Friends, I am in no way condemning anyone. San Chadwell is not without areas in need of improvement, I assure you. My perspective is that a life that has been fully surrendered to Jesus Christ should look vastly different from the lives of rest of the world. And that difference will be made apparent in the actions of the lifestyle of the believer.

Now, if you have to force yourself do the things I mentioned above then you are living in the flesh, trying to do stuff under your own power. These actions are not to be done out of ‘obligation’. These activities should flow from our hearts because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If these actions aren’t a part of your normal lifestyle, don’t panic. But I do suggest that you pray for God to work on your heart and make you more in-tune with the things that please him.

We CAN and SHOULD do everything we do for the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31). We are called to make disciples of all men. (Matt 28:19). But to make disciples of others we have to BE a disciple, first. Being a disciple means getting in touch with God as a lifestyle.

I could go on more this morning but I try to keep my messages about the same length each day for ‘easy digestion’. Once I get to 500 words I try to wrap it up. I'm a little over quota today.

I hope everyone has a great day today. It is my wish that God richly bless you in your walk with him today!

Your Brother in Christ,

Coach Sam

Timothy: The Making of a Disciple

These are my notes from Pastor Greg Smith’s sermon on discipleship a few weeks ago… Pastor Greg is the Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church, Brazoria Texas.

Pastor Greg uses the term: ‘The Right Stuff’ in his description of ‘Timothy’ in the book of Acts.

Paul was about to embark on a missionary journey and decided to take Timothy along with him. Why…? Paul chose Timothy because he had the right combination of intrinsic variables to be useful to Paul’s mission.

What were those variables? What was or is the ‘Right Stuff’…?

First of all, Timothy was already a ‘Disciple’. He was a follower of the Teachings of Jesus. He was a follower because his mother and grandmother were Believers. Pastor Greg stressed the importance of having Godly parents. Hmmm… I think in my own life how I did not have Godly parents. I guess that is why I am what I consider ‘a late bloomer’ spiritually…!

Pastor Greg said a Disciple is called to do 2 things: Carry a Cross, and Carry a Yolk…!

To Carry a Cross means to sacrifice your life for the Lord. –Timothy was willing to leave his family, home, all he had to journey with Paul. He did not know if or when he would return. –That’s sacrifice…!

To Carry a Yolk means to be in service to something or someone. A ‘Yolk’ means work. –Timothy became totally committed to ‘discipleship’ as his life’s work.

Acts 16:22 speaks of Timothy’s reputation. The fact that he was well spoken of in two different churches is a testament to Timothy’s ‘Faithfulness’ to live for God. Timothy was always faithful to the cause. Faithfulness is a key ingredient to being a Disciple.

Faithfulness goes along with obedience. God can not use someone who is not faithful and obedient.

Finally, Pastor Greg brings up the topic of ‘submission’. Timothy was perfectly willing to submit his life to Jesus and do what ever it took to follow HIM. God had control of His life.

Pastor Greg explained how an F-16 Fighter Jet is completely submissive to the Pilot’s will. So we must be to God’s will. The Lord Jesus says that we have to be completely submitted to his will to soar.

Pastor Greg closed by asking if WE were submitted to God’s will…? Do WE have the RIGHT STUFF…? Do our Lives REFLECT what we PROFESS…? These are good thought provoking questions…

I welcome any discussion on these notes… Part two is coming tomorrow…

Back to Blogging...

I've been away from Blogging for awhile... Most of my posts have been on face book the past few months, but I feel that it is important to keep this blog forum going as well.

I must report that God has been and is continuing to 'do a work' in me. I spent a good portion of the morning this morning doing a spiritual inventory and pretty much trying to get 'right' with God.

I really haven't spent a lot of 'quiet time' with the Lord lately and it sure felt good to get back in the routine.

God is leading me into Discipleship like never before. I can't explain it more than that. My prayer today is that I live the day 100% for Jesus all day today until I turn down the covers tonight and go to sleep...!

More soon...