Intentional Encouragement

     I've been mulling over a verse lately that God graciously pointed out to me about 10 years ago during my devotions one day.  I'm working out the ramifications of it again just now, so I thought I'd share a little bit of that with you.      At the time God brought this verse to my attention I was searching for his direction for me and my family.  We had sought to go to Australia as church-planters and that door had closed...slammed in our faces.  We spent months searching for the direction God would have us take.  I came to the conclusion that I might not ever be in ministry again on a full time basis.  There seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel.       One day during that time I was reading toward the end of Exodus.  Specifically, I was reading God's command to Moses to lead the children of Israel away from Mount Sinai.  After the disaster of the golden calf incident (read...

     I wrote this post about 2 years ago, but not many people were following or reading back then and I still feel like the words are valuable.  I hope they will be a refresher to you:      I've been thinking today about a phrase I used occasionally when I helped to coach middle and Jr. High school basketball a few years ago. "The best offense is a good defense." When I was going through school, I couldn't handle the ball very well, so I learned to play pretty good defense. My logic was that if we can keep the other team from scoring; we won't need to worry about scoring too much to beat them. A couple of good zone defensive strategies; and good understanding of a man-to-man defense; some good conditioning to keep up and the rest will take care of itself. No need for a lengthy playbook with all those different plays intended to dazzle the opponents and run up the score.      Well; shame on me. First of all;...

     I'm putting the finishing touches on a message I will preach this coming Sunday.  It's part of a brief series looking at the life of Elijah from 1 Kings.  He was the guy who prayed that it wouldn't rain and it didn't.  Prayed that a young boy would come back to life and he did.  Prayed that God would send fire and consume a drenched sacrifice and He did.  Prayed that it would rain again (three years later) and it did.      This week I have put together 3 questions that I will close with.  Do we really believe God answers prayer?  How do we prove that?  What are we praying for?      Obviously the questions are very much related and, in fact, sequential.  I thought I'd take a few moments of your time to get you to think about them too.  The major question that I'm working through again is this.  "Is what I've described above the normal way or is it extraordinary?"...

I received this from a missionary friend of mine.  I'm pretty sure he got it from someone else.  Whatever it's origin; I'm glad for the good reminders of God's character from Psalm 23. The Lord is my Shepherd -That's Relationship! I shall not want -That's Supply! He makes me lie down in green pastures -That's Rest! He leads me beside still waters -That's Refreshment! He restores my soul -That's Healing! He leads me in paths of righteousness - That's Guidance! For His name's sake -That's Purpose! Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death -That's Testing! I will fear no evil -That's Protection! For You are with me -That's Faithfulness! Your rod and Your staff comfort me -That's Discipline! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies -That's Confidence! You annoint my head with oil -That's Consecration! My cup overflows -That's Abundance! Surely goodness a...