:: To Worship Him ::

PLAN A

Bloged in Worship Music by DeNelle Stotser Saturday August 25, 2007
 
   “Let not the doubting man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  (James 1:7,8)
 
   This Scripture is pretty hard to handle sometimes, especially for the person that procrastinates to procrastinate making decisions.  But who hasn’t been double-minded at some point or another?  Neil Andersons says that when a person vacillates between God’s Plan A and our own Plan B, then our spiritual growth will be stunted.  Then our maturity in Christ will be blocked and our daily experience as a Christian will be marked by disillusionment, discouragement, and defeat.  I don’t know of anyone who would willing choose that outcome. 
 
   I suppose that fear is one reason people vacillate and are unstable.  We know that the ‘one’ or ‘two’ behind our Plan B is the either our flesh screaming and demanding to be in control or else the evil one who is behind influencing our thoughts.  Either way we are in for trouble with a ’T’ when we listen to either of these. 
 
   So our choice for life boils down to the battle over our minds.  Our life will take either the course of Plan A, living God’s way by faith, or Plan B, living man’s way by following the impulses of the world, the flesh, and the devil.  The way that leads to victory over this dilemma is to take control.  We are the one who determines the winner in every skirmish between Plan A and Plan B.  We are able to live every day above this world and all its lures and deadly pleasures if we choose God’s plan for our lives. Seems its the only way to life, peace and prosperity.  I don’t see any reason for another way, do you?   I choose Plan A and life!
 
Powered By Qumana

A HEALTHY CONTROL CENTER

Bloged in Worship Music by DeNelle Stotser Friday August 24, 2007
 
   “For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.”  (1 John 2:16)
 
   Some one said that the reason we get tempted in our minds is because our mind is the ‘command central.’  The place that we contemplate is in the mind.  Reminded me of ‘Control Center’ at Nasa.  The astronauts in the space shuttle have some say but usually everything is driven by the direction of Control Center in Huston.  There they have a group of experts that sit before computers and controls that help them make their decisions. Same way with our minds. 
 
   Take Eve for example.  She was driven by the lust of her eyes.  Problem was that she dwelt upon the temptation in her mind.  The lust of the eyes is mental temptation, temptation that comes through the avenue of the mind or ‘control center’.    Story is told of a wife and her husband shopping in a mall.  There was a very shapely young woman in a short, form-fitting dress strolled by in front of them.  The husbands eyes followed her.  Without looking up from the item that the wife was examining, she said to her husband, “Was it worth the trouble you’re in?”
 
   Charles Spurgeon once made a parable.  He said, “There was once a tyrant who summoned one of his subjects into his presence, and ordered him to make a chain.  The poor blacksmith ,(that was his occupation) had to go to work and forge the chain.  When it was done, he brought it into the presence of the tyrant, and was ordered to take it away and make it twice the length.  He brought it again to the tyrant, and again he was ordered to double it.  Back he came when he had obeyed the order, and the tyrant looked at it, and then commanded the servants to bind the man hand and foot with the chain he had made and cast him into prison.
   “That is what the devil does with men,” Spurgeon said.  “He makes them forge their own chain, and then binds them hand and foot with it, and casts them into outer darkness.”
   Spurgeon went on to say, “that is what drunkards, gamblers, blasphemers and every sinner is doing.  But thank God, we can tell them of a Deliverer.  The Son of God has power to break every one of their fetters if they will only come to Him.”  Praise God!
 
Powered By Qumana

BEGINNINGS

Bloged in Worship Music by DeNelle Stotser Thursday August 23, 2007
 
  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”  (John 1:1-4)
 
   The word ‘novice’ in the dictionary’s meaning is ‘beginner.’  An unexperienced person or one who is beginning a job or type of club would be called a novice.  There is a sign outside a riding stable that says:
     “We have fast horses for folks who like to ride fast.  We have slow horses for folks who ride slow.  We have big horses for big folks, and we have little horses for little folks.  And for those who have never ridden horses before, we have horses that have never been ridden.” 
    In other words, I think that means, if you are a novice, better not ride!  I think I was thrown by a couple of those horses.  Not smart!
   On a plaque marking Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace near Hodgenville, Kentucky, is recorded this scrap of conversation: “Any news down ‘t the village, Ezry?”  “Well, Squire McLain’s gone t’ Washington t’ see Madison sworn in, and ol’ Spellman tells me this Bonaparte fella has captured most o’ Spain.  What’s new out here, neighbor?” “Nuthin,’ nuthin’ a’tall, ‘cept fer a new baby born t’ Tom Lincoln’s. Nothing’ ever happens out here.”        
   Some events, whether birthdays in Hodgenville or spiritual rebirth in a person’s life, may not create much earthly splash, but those of lasting importance will eventually get the notice they deserve. 
   Yes, in the beginning there was a wonderful God.  And in the beginning there was a Savior, and the Spirit of God.  In the beginning there was a plan for the world and everyone that is to live here.  That plan is for all to come to the Light for our spiritual beginning.  Once we give our lives to the Lord, we must not remain novices.  Our days should begin with prayer and fellowship with our Father and His Word.  There is a saying that “the tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”  Time is precious and we must use it wisely.  Some find it hard to begin something, yet others find it hard to remain consistent.  In the end, a faithful student of the Word of God, one who consistently feeds upon God’s Word, will be the winner.  The prize is not necessarily when we get to heaven.  We can actually have our prize here in the now.  Let’s not remain novices or beginners but ‘pig-out’ on the blessings of God.
    
Powered By Qumana

TRAVELING INTO THE UNKNOWN

Bloged in Worship Music by DeNelle Stotser Wednesday August 22, 2007
 
   “The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”  (Exodus 20:21)
 
   I like Moses’ nerve.  I would love to know how he actually felt walking into the unknown, especially when he was alone.  There are many things I will attempt when I have others with me.  I am not always so confident when I am alone though. 
 
   I read these funnies that I thought worth sharing today.
 
   Middle age is the time when a man is always thinking that in a week or two he will feel as good as ever. 
   Age is no cause for veneration.  An old crocodile is still a menace and an old crow sings not like a nightingale.
   It’s what you do–not when you do it. 
  • Ted Williams, at age 42, slammed a home run in his last official time at bat. 
  • Mickey Mantle, age 20, hit 23 home runs his first full year in the major leagues.
  • Golda Meier was 71 when she became Prime Minister of Israel.
  • William Pitt II was 24 when he became Prime Minister of Great Britain.
  • George Bernard Shaw was 94 when one of his plays was first produced.
  • Mozart was just seven when his first composition was published.
  • Benjamin Franklin was a newspaper columnist at 16 and a framer of the United States Constitution when he was 81.
  • You’re never too young or too old if you’ve got talent.  Let’s recognize that age has little to do with ability.
  • The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills.

   I agree!  What has age got to do with it?  As long as there is breath there’s something worth doing.  And like Moses, we must never fear moving into the unknown when we are directed by God.  Entering into His presence or into His will is the most desirable place we can be.  When our reliance is upon Him, there is nothing to fear.  We can boldly travel the Highway of Unknown with confidence knowing He is with us every step, even into the darkness.  Praise God!

Powered By Qumana

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Bloged in Worship Music by DeNelle Stotser Tuesday August 21, 2007
 
   “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 
   I read where Madison Avenue had discovered long ago that a good way to sell a product is to add the words “new and improved.”  The only thing that may be new and improved is the box, but it sells and we believe the product will be better.  Notice how businesses and strip malls improve and redecorate their store fronts in order to attract customers.  Can’t blame them for “perking up.”  If we are applying for a job, if we are smart, we package ourselves by trying to look our best.  Certainly nothing wrong with that.  I’m talking about the something in us that loves the newest and the latest.  For instance, the people that camped out for days before the latest technology (forgot the gadget) recently came out.  We like the latest cars, fashions, and too often we gravitate toward the latest trend in our Worship practices.  I guess that’s the reason the New Age teaching is so popular.  Something different and trendy, like the Scientology Churches, etc. 
 
   Trouble with always wanting the new, the new soon becomes old.  My car is still pretty but no longer new.  My clothes are still nice but not the latest.  Maybe we get to a point where that doesn’t matter anymore.  I have found at my age that comfort is the most important thing.  But that doesn’t fly with my faith and Christian values.  When I gave my life to the Lord Jesus, at that point I became a new creation.  The old values are slowly being replaced by the foundational teaching of the True Truth; God’s Word.  (To me that is working our your salvation.)  His Word is old, tried and true, yet fresh and new every day.  Something old, something new.  In His Kingdom, we grow from glory to glory each day, more and more into His likeness as we feed upon His Word.  As we study His Word, it becomes alive in us.  How exciting!  Why would we want a replacement?  God’s precious Word is good enough for me!
 
Powered By Qumana

14 queries. 2.045 seconds.
Powered by Wordpress
theme by evil.bert