Last week on Valentines Day our Oaks class discussed God and the Church. I opened up the meeting by Reading 1 Corinthians 13, better known as the Love Chapter.. "Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails..."
How have you been showing God's LOVE to the world around you. One thing I did this past week was to buy a heart shaped box of chocolates to share with the women in OAKS class. Our class also surprised the men who meet separately downstairs with a surprise delivery from Pats Pizzeria, a large fully loaded pizza, along with a Valentines Day card from the Oaks Class telling them we love and respect them. Boy did it get noisy downstairs when that pizza was delivered!! Remember Valentines day isn't the only day to share love with others. This is something we can do everyday...it is so much fun to bless others in the name of LOVE!!! Expressing LOVE doesn't have to involve money. Time, a listening ear, words of encouragement are ways to express LOVE. Get creative and spread some love around in the name of JESUS!!
I was reminded of Tina Turners song..."Whats love got to do, got to do, got to do...whats love but a second hand emotion...whats love got to do..." Most of you know the song, its got a great beat but the message....stinks!! LOVE is not an emotion. LOVE is an action. A gift from God and it all started in the New Testament church with the birth of JESUS CHRIST, Gods Son, the Savior of the World.
"For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotton Son (Jesus Christ). That whosoever believes in Him (Jesus Christ) should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The NT commandments that replaced the OT commandments are to "LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to LOVE your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39). That brings us to the Church, the Body of Christ. I'm not talking about a building, I am talking about a people. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, have repented (turned) from their sins and have been baptized into the Body of Christ. What does it look like when we gather together in His Name? The church then becomes your "neighbor".
Acts 2:42 says "And they (the church) devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers."
Are we devoted to our church gatherings? I had to look up the word devoted. It means: zealous, full of passion, strongly attached, enthusiam, strong affection for. Is this how you feel about your church gatherings? Why or why not? What can we do about it?
Did you know that the church is a "living body, created by Christ? (Matt. 16:18) And the head of the Church is Christ. (Col. 1:18) Its through the church body that God intends to extend His kingdom throughout the earth, therefore it is very important that every Christian is a active part of a church family.
How should we act toward each other in this body? The Bible teaches we are to accept one another and not to argue over disputable matters (Rom 14:1, 12-13), It also teaches that we are to not just seek our own good but the good of others (1 Cor. 10:24), We are to speak the truth, in LOVE, and only speak what is good for building one another up in the faith (Eph. 4:25-29), We are told to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21), We are to accept one another and forgive each other....and above all we are to put on LOVE ...the perfect bond of unity. (Col. 3:13-14) Scripture tells us that when one part suffers we all suffer and when one part rejoices we all rejoice. We are all connected, united in Christ. The bible also tells us that the world will know we are Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) by the LOVE we have for one another. This LOVE its powerful stuff, and in my opinion, LOVE without action, like faith is dead.
Too many folks today go to church for what they can get out of it, not for what they can contribute. Meeting together with God's people is an opportunity to join God in His work there. Often we go sit in the church, listen to the message, listen to the music and leave. Have you ever prayed and asked God to reveal to you by the power of HIS Spirit, someone who is hurting who needs encouragement. Someone who may think no one cares so that you can reach out to them and share the LOVE of Christ.
Our churches should be a place where we are taught and live the Truth according to God's Word and where God's people come together to Pray, and commune together. Jesus Christ himself said that "my church shall be called a house of prayer" (Matt. 21:13) Would your church be called a house of prayer. Or would it be called a house of preaching, a house of entertainment, a house of bickering and complaining? Jesus words were my house should be called a "house of prayer". Something to think about!
I hope this blog helps you to examine your church, your heart, and your part in your church. What is it that God is calling you to do? How can you make your church better? How can you reach out to your church family in a way that pleases God? So to answer Tina Turners question, Whats LOVE got to do with it? I hope after reading this blog that you will realize that LOVE'S got everything to do with it...and its not a "second hand emotion". It is so much more. It is a gift from God that HE gives to HIS people. He fills our hearts with LOVE overflowing so we can go share HIS LOVE with others beginning with His family the church, the Body of Christ.
If you are looking for a loving church family to be devoted to, I would recommend that you check out Media Church in Oxford. We are not perfect, no one is, but you will Experience God in our church. We are a place where the Lost get Found and the Found go Deeper. Check us out on the web at http://www.mmchurch.org/
I would also like to invite you to our Oaks class. This ministry is open to all ladies any church affiliation or no church affiliation. Here you will experience the LOVE of Christ and the Love of His people. Women gather together every Tuesday evening at 7:15 at Media Church to study the Word of God, for Christian Fellowship, for Prayer and to Worship. Its a warm, comfortable place that I think you would enjoy...I know I do!!! I guess you would say I am DEVOTED!! I hope you are too!!!!
Joyfully Serving Jesus
Robin
robinmartin3@hotmail.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Returning To God
AND let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meeting, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
As I read and meditate on this verse, I am reminded of the many people that have walked with God, and for some reason have turned and walked away. I hear Him calling them back to Him. For the time of His return is drawing near as mentioned in the above verse. I received this email today from a woman who attended a womans conference with our class this past weekend. Listen to her story and see if you can relate.
Dear Robin:
"This is the testimony that I have since my return from Sandy Cove. God reminded me of His Great Love. I am back in the word, and hungry for more. You have helped me to see my sin, and have encouraged me to turn away. I know it is a process. I shared with Allen. He is supportive. I have a mature Christian prayer partner and we will meet once a week to pray specifically for each others lives. I am looking up churches on line and have a plan to visit a couple locally. I have already noticed a difference in my attitude as I drive down the road. I am listening to Christian music now and my spirit is uplifted. You are welcome to share this with the ladies. As I do my "Jesus Calling" (Sarah Young) I have a photo of the group and I pray for each of you. I love you and thank you for your obedience to our Lord." Have a blessed day. (and she continued with)
"My Morality is sin. In that I gave my self physically to many men. Thinking and desiring to fulfill the desires of the flesh. I wanted to be loved unconditionally and so complete. I wanted a man to sweep me off my feet everyday of my life. After 12 years of backsliding I have found no man can do that for me. I left my true love looking for that prince charming.
In my captivity, I connected with a man and thought He is my soul mate. I have waited on him to make the holy convenant with me. I really wanted to be his helpmate. In my sin I have destroyed that possibility. I have made myself unworthy of his love. This man is just a man and not my true love Jesus. I have gone astray and I have opened doors to the enemy of my savior.
I must rush back to his arms and turn from my worldly deeds. I will wait upon the Lord for I know he is good and faithful. I am sorry Lord that I have not trusted in you. Forgive me.
I have been playing house. I have been so disappointed, so often in the past 8 years. We seemed to fit perfectly in each others arms. Now I know I must let go. I have done all I can to try and please him. I have used my own power, and every time I fail, I seem to fall deeper into a pit of darkness.
In my end, I wanted to die. Please Lord I cried how much longer do I have to live with no purpose? God strategically placed the right people in my life, to show me this: I am very precious in his sight, He hears my pleas for help. He provides the way. Just trust and obey He tells me. Do what you know, that I have taught you by my spirit. I will remember your sins no more. I will remind you of what I taught you. I will give you direction and remind you that my enemy is a defeated foe.
I love you....You know how to pray and together we can mend those broken fences of 12 years, we can kick those squatters' out, and put on a fresh coat of paint. Remember you are washed clean by the blood of the lamb. You are as white as snow. My angels are ministering to you. I love you."
Can you relate to this story? I am hear to remind you that God loves you very much and has not forgotten you. He wants to restore your broken relationship with HIM. The following steps will tell you how to do that.
1. God's mission is to redeem a world that does not know Him and is lost in sin. (Rom. 5:8)
2. Because of sin in our lives, we are separated from God. (Jeremiah 3:20-22)
3. When we stray from God he disciplines us in increasing measure until we return. (Heb.12:5-11)
4. We cry out to God in our distress and return to Him. (1 John 1:9) Confession and repentance go together. We you repent of sin, you turn away from that sin and return to God.
5. When we return to God, he returns to us in a fresh way and begins again to fulfill His purposes for us. (James 4:8) The joy of your salvation, the power of God and His holy cleansing of your life will not occur until you sincerely return to God.
We all at times have walked away from God. Some of the ways we do that is through worldly distractions (we take our eyes of Jesus and slowly drift away), by being careless with our spiritual lives (we get so occupied with other things that we no longer go to church, pray or spend time in God's word) and sometimes we make a deliberate choice to walk away from God (to pursue a worldly lifestyle, refuse to obey God's commandments) Because of sin in our lives we lose our joy, we no longer hear God's voice and our lives do not produce spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23). To prevent this from happening we must surround ourselves with folks who will hold us accountable, and seek to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and make it a practice to immediately obey whatever God tells you.
Where are you at in this picture? Have you strayed away from God and the church? Is the enemy whispering in your ear that you will never fit in and you have strayed to far? I want to remind you that HE is a liar and no truth is found in him. (John 8:44) So won't you come home running for His arms are open wide... His name is Jesus.... yes He's the One...He is the answer.... you 've been looking for.... so come home running.... just as you are.......Is He calling you ....can you hear His voice? (John 10:3-5)
At Media Church in Oxford our mission is that the lost get found and the found go deeper. I invite you to join us on any given sunday. Check us out on the web at http://www.mmchurch.org/
I also invite you to Media Church on Tuesday evenings at 7:15PM. I would love to meet you and together we will grow so we don't groan.
If you are not interested in church at this time but would like to talk about life issues. I offer biblical counseling free of charge... contact me at robinmartin3@hotmail.com to set up an appointment.
* Some of the info on this blog is taken from "Experiencing God" Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King. In class we will discuss in next 3 weeks how to Experience God in the Church, the Workplace and in His Kingdom. I covet your prayers for me as I lead these sessions. Thanks :-)
Joyfully Serving Jesus
Robin
As I read and meditate on this verse, I am reminded of the many people that have walked with God, and for some reason have turned and walked away. I hear Him calling them back to Him. For the time of His return is drawing near as mentioned in the above verse. I received this email today from a woman who attended a womans conference with our class this past weekend. Listen to her story and see if you can relate.
Dear Robin:
"This is the testimony that I have since my return from Sandy Cove. God reminded me of His Great Love. I am back in the word, and hungry for more. You have helped me to see my sin, and have encouraged me to turn away. I know it is a process. I shared with Allen. He is supportive. I have a mature Christian prayer partner and we will meet once a week to pray specifically for each others lives. I am looking up churches on line and have a plan to visit a couple locally. I have already noticed a difference in my attitude as I drive down the road. I am listening to Christian music now and my spirit is uplifted. You are welcome to share this with the ladies. As I do my "Jesus Calling" (Sarah Young) I have a photo of the group and I pray for each of you. I love you and thank you for your obedience to our Lord." Have a blessed day. (and she continued with)
"My Morality is sin. In that I gave my self physically to many men. Thinking and desiring to fulfill the desires of the flesh. I wanted to be loved unconditionally and so complete. I wanted a man to sweep me off my feet everyday of my life. After 12 years of backsliding I have found no man can do that for me. I left my true love looking for that prince charming.
In my captivity, I connected with a man and thought He is my soul mate. I have waited on him to make the holy convenant with me. I really wanted to be his helpmate. In my sin I have destroyed that possibility. I have made myself unworthy of his love. This man is just a man and not my true love Jesus. I have gone astray and I have opened doors to the enemy of my savior.
I must rush back to his arms and turn from my worldly deeds. I will wait upon the Lord for I know he is good and faithful. I am sorry Lord that I have not trusted in you. Forgive me.
I have been playing house. I have been so disappointed, so often in the past 8 years. We seemed to fit perfectly in each others arms. Now I know I must let go. I have done all I can to try and please him. I have used my own power, and every time I fail, I seem to fall deeper into a pit of darkness.
In my end, I wanted to die. Please Lord I cried how much longer do I have to live with no purpose? God strategically placed the right people in my life, to show me this: I am very precious in his sight, He hears my pleas for help. He provides the way. Just trust and obey He tells me. Do what you know, that I have taught you by my spirit. I will remember your sins no more. I will remind you of what I taught you. I will give you direction and remind you that my enemy is a defeated foe.
I love you....You know how to pray and together we can mend those broken fences of 12 years, we can kick those squatters' out, and put on a fresh coat of paint. Remember you are washed clean by the blood of the lamb. You are as white as snow. My angels are ministering to you. I love you."
Can you relate to this story? I am hear to remind you that God loves you very much and has not forgotten you. He wants to restore your broken relationship with HIM. The following steps will tell you how to do that.
1. God's mission is to redeem a world that does not know Him and is lost in sin. (Rom. 5:8)
2. Because of sin in our lives, we are separated from God. (Jeremiah 3:20-22)
3. When we stray from God he disciplines us in increasing measure until we return. (Heb.12:5-11)
4. We cry out to God in our distress and return to Him. (1 John 1:9) Confession and repentance go together. We you repent of sin, you turn away from that sin and return to God.
5. When we return to God, he returns to us in a fresh way and begins again to fulfill His purposes for us. (James 4:8) The joy of your salvation, the power of God and His holy cleansing of your life will not occur until you sincerely return to God.
We all at times have walked away from God. Some of the ways we do that is through worldly distractions (we take our eyes of Jesus and slowly drift away), by being careless with our spiritual lives (we get so occupied with other things that we no longer go to church, pray or spend time in God's word) and sometimes we make a deliberate choice to walk away from God (to pursue a worldly lifestyle, refuse to obey God's commandments) Because of sin in our lives we lose our joy, we no longer hear God's voice and our lives do not produce spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23). To prevent this from happening we must surround ourselves with folks who will hold us accountable, and seek to love God with all our heart, mind and soul and make it a practice to immediately obey whatever God tells you.
Where are you at in this picture? Have you strayed away from God and the church? Is the enemy whispering in your ear that you will never fit in and you have strayed to far? I want to remind you that HE is a liar and no truth is found in him. (John 8:44) So won't you come home running for His arms are open wide... His name is Jesus.... yes He's the One...He is the answer.... you 've been looking for.... so come home running.... just as you are.......Is He calling you ....can you hear His voice? (John 10:3-5)
At Media Church in Oxford our mission is that the lost get found and the found go deeper. I invite you to join us on any given sunday. Check us out on the web at http://www.mmchurch.org/
I also invite you to Media Church on Tuesday evenings at 7:15PM. I would love to meet you and together we will grow so we don't groan.
If you are not interested in church at this time but would like to talk about life issues. I offer biblical counseling free of charge... contact me at robinmartin3@hotmail.com to set up an appointment.
* Some of the info on this blog is taken from "Experiencing God" Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King. In class we will discuss in next 3 weeks how to Experience God in the Church, the Workplace and in His Kingdom. I covet your prayers for me as I lead these sessions. Thanks :-)
Joyfully Serving Jesus
Robin
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