tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88953651758063343062024-03-13T23:44:08.814-07:00My Life in Ministry; The Blessings of the Lord are Overtaking MeThis is my life! As crazy it can get sometimes I still push on. I love my
life as a minister of Christ! I press toward the mark that He has for me,
forgetting what is behind. (Phi 3:12-14)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-26239268227806050072013-07-03T00:00:00.000-07:002013-07-03T00:00:00.326-07:00Help! I've Fallen and I can't Get Up<div style="text-align: justify;">
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"</div>
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A couple years ago, as I was walking into my doctors office, there sat a crippled man on the ground unable to move by himself. There was another man trying to put him into his car but failing hopelessly. I stood there a minute and watched as this kind gentleman tried to get this crippled man into his car. </div>
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I went over to see if I could help in any way, yet it was just a massive disaster. Everytime we would get this man anywhere close to the car, involuntarily, he would somehow get in the way! It seemed there was nothing we could do. </div>
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Finally we told him, just relax we are trying to help you up; trying to get you where you need to be. The sad thing is he just kept telling us how to do it, and would get so discouraged when it would fail (it really was a task to get him in his car). </div>
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Here is the problem - ultimately he had no control of how to get in his car, and even though he had many ideas on the way to, he had to <u>absolutely trust</u> that we could get him there. There was nothing he could do to help; in fact, his way caused more failure everytime. </div>
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A lot of times we are just like this crippled man! In his mind he knew every way to get into his car; He got so discouraged when his way did not work. The fact is, all he had to do was relax and trust that we would get him where he needed to be. "There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death."</div>
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If we could only learn that <u>our abilities</u> and <u>our ways</u> <b>can and will fail</b>. If only we would learn that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. and He can handle any situation that we are in. In the end he is the only one that can get us where we are trying to get anyway.</div>
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Blessing Pastor Ant</div>
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Please Comment if this inspired you in any way!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-66974577472680898632012-11-30T10:08:00.001-08:002012-11-30T10:11:46.081-08:00Acceptable to God!Dude!! The world is at a place that really can't get any worse. With that thought in mind I can't help but to think back at a time when I was younger and seemed everybody was concerned with living righteously in some way! People really used to feel bad for their sins. I mean come on, you know back in the day when you would come home and couldn't find anybody around the house you thought the rapture has taken place and you obviously got left behind. I can't count the times that happened to me as a kid. <br />
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In today's world many people don't think about the rapture as much and it's simply because we are so busy, we don't have time to be concerned with important stuff like a rapture. The scriptures do say that Jesus is returning for those that are "looking" for Him. <br />
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Romans 6:18 says, "Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." Since we are no longer a slave to sin, we are a slave to righteous living. To me it's simple am I living a life acceptable to God. In everything I do, am I pleasing to God? Yes, Jesus paid the for our sins At The cross and His grace is sufficient, there is no doubt. I just wish that each person that claims salvation would live as a slave to righteousness as the Word says. <br />
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So if you are reading this I want you to ask yourself one thing today. This is a big question with a simple answer. As a matter of fact it's either yes or no, don't try that lukewarm, in the middle stuff; just a yes or no... So here it is - the question that is so important - am I living a life acceptable to God?<br />
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Blessings<br />
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Pastor AntUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-40478860181126602012-05-15T21:17:00.000-07:002012-05-15T21:17:17.342-07:00Help!!! I've Fallen and I can't get upA couple years ago, as I was walking into my doctors office, there sat a crippled man on the ground unable to move by himself. There was another man trying to put him into his car but failing hopelessly. I stood there a minute and watched as he tried to get this man into his car. <br />
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I went over to see if I could help in any way, and it was just a massive disaster. Everytime we would get this man close to the car, involuntarily, he would somehow get in the way! It seemed there was nothing we could do. <br />
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Finally we told him, just relax we are trying to help you up and get you where you need to be. The sad thing to this situation is the man kept telling us how to do it and would get so dis-hearted when it would fail (it really was a task to get him in his car). <br />
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Proverbs 14:12 say, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"<br />
This is the struggle this crippled man was having. Ultimately he had no control of how to get in his car, and even though he had many ideas he had to absolutely trust we could get him there. There was nothing he could do to help. In fact his way caused failure everytime. <br />
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If we could only learn that our abilities and our way can and will fail. If only we would learn to trust God and that He can handle any situation that we are in. In the end he is the only one that can get us where we are trying to get anyway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-8931614478556593222012-02-03T08:27:00.000-08:002012-02-03T10:22:41.991-08:00Stay inside the Boundary! It's shocking out there!<div style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever had the feeling that you just cannot escape sin. You know, the feeling that you are never gonna be set free; that feeling that you are trapped in this sin tendency. We've all been there! I have good new for you. JESUS LOVES YOU! Yes, that's right, He loves you. So why are you constantly loosing to a battle that has already been fought, and won. We spend way too much time trying to fix what has already been fixed. All we have to do is receive who we are in Christ and do our very best to maintain a minute by minute relationship with Him. Whoa! "a minute by minute relationship," that's a bit extreme isn't it? No way, I believe that to be our 'reasonable service" that Paul tells us about in Romans 12:1-2. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">See the problem is that we tend to worry too much about the devil and how he is causing us to slip into sin. I need to remind you that the devil doesn't make you sin. STOP blaming him for what you willfully do; Luke 10:19 tells us that we have been given authority over the enemy. So really he is not an enemy at all, he is defeated; learning this is the first step of becoming free. However, this is how we fall, the devil tempts us and we obey. This is the process of sin, and that is how it happens every time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I remember when I was training my Boxer, Ellie Mae, to stay within her new electric fence; I threw a piece of wienie outside the range of the fence. She ran after it so fast that she didn't know what hit her. The shock scared her so much, and it really hurt me to see it, but she had to learn. I pulled her back into the "safe zone" and loved on her, comforted her and let her know that she was safe and secure. After that, I stood up and threw another piece of wienie outside the boundary. She started after it quickly then stopped, realizing the the temptation was not worth the pain. I gave her a pat on the head and told how proud I was of her. Then, I threw another piece and guess what... ole Ellie Mae stood firm. She didn't move an inch! She looked at me with those puppy dog eyes that said, "I ain't that dumb, dummy." You see, she quickly learned that consequence comes from stepping outside the boundary. So Ellie Mae's response is, "I think I'll just stay here with you, the wienie just isn't worth it." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If we could learn to realize that "the wienie just isn't worth it," then we can overcome the temptation that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">satan</span> put in front of us. Don't you know that he laughs at you every time you fall into his trap. You do NOT have to fall into that trap though, remember it's much safer right there in the presence of your Master. The next time <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">satan</span> puts a temptation in your path tell him, "I ain't that dumb, dummy; I am safe and sound in the presence of my Master and I am not about to fall for that trick." Never forget that God never allows you to be tempted beyond what you can overcome. So learn to be in God's presence every minute of everyday and you will see that it is much safer there with Him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">May the blessings of the Lord Overtake You!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-86253603739086324672011-12-07T10:36:00.000-08:002011-12-07T11:05:06.197-08:002012 The year of Urgency!<div style="text-align: justify;">You know, when thinking of the year 2012 one would almost automatically think the END....of.....THE WORLD. Come on, you know you have. No one can escape it; there are so many people convinced that Dec. 21, 2012 will be the last day we have. I can't help to say this, what if they are right? Not in a crazy way, but in a Christian way. Just follow me just a moment. As I was praying today I had this huge feeling of urgency for the people of the World. I know, I know, we should always have that feeling for the lost people that we continually see everyday. However, let's be real; we really could be doing a better job at caring. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We are so consumed with ourselves and the pleasure we can get that we <b>innocently</b>, and <b>totally</b> forget the people that have NOTHING, or on their way straight to HELL. It is highly possible that the World could or could not end on December 21, 2012. Who cares? The fact remains, that it could end today or tomorrow. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> So here is what I say to you "<b>GO.</b>" It's simple, Jesus said go, he didn't tell you to make creative ways to draw people so they can be amused with your creativity. DUDE that runs out trust me! JESUS simply said go. The Word is strong enough if you will just speak it. I want you to know that Christ IS coming soon, yes He is. In what way are you making "<b>GO</b>" active in your life? <b>GO</b>, tell them about a Savior who loves them unconditionally and wants to free them from Judgement. <b>GO</b>, love somebody that is hurting even if it's out of your way. <b>GO</b>, give someone the coat off your back. <b>GO</b>, and pay for the persons meal that is standing behind you and leave a note that says "Jesus gave all, I can give some."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It's quite simple, develop a "GO" mentality. Time is running out, whether it is Dec. 21, 2012 or tomorrow. Revelation 22:7 says, <i>"Behold I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.</i>" So, lay down your silly preconceived judgements of people and be more like Christ;<b> GO</b>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-71024821022803627072010-06-03T07:59:00.000-07:002010-06-03T08:37:06.060-07:00Hands and Feet.....I'll Go Where You Send MeIsn't it amazing when God <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">revelates</span> something to you. Do you not get this overwhelming feeling that you are special. We are special to him and He wants to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">revelate</span> his word to us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">always</span> remember that.<br /><br />For the past few weeks I have been thinking about mission trips and missionaries and so on. I have been thinking about all the wonderful things that these brave people are doing for the Lord! The courage that it takes to to say "I am going to pack up my things and go to India to minister to people that need to hear the word of God" blows me away. There is no way in this world that I could do that (1) because I hate flying...terrified! (2) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">because</span> I hate flying!!! I don't see myself going and doing those things...I truly do not feel that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">calling</span> on my life. Thank God for people that do. I really believe that God has a special blessing for those who go "the distance" to share the gospel and I would like to personally say Thank YOU!<br /><br />However, God revealed something to Anthony Sellers that has change the way that I think a little bit. There is so many missionaries for 3rd world countries but there really isn't any "true" missionaries for this area. There is a ton of hurting people in our very communities yet we overlook them. They are hungry, lost, unhappy, alone, whatever it may be. They need someone! So I have made a commitment to myself and to the Lord that while others work so hard in other countries sharing the gospel, I will work hard in our communities to share the gospel. There is a large mission field right in our back door and religion has shut that door so they don't have to look at it. Well I'm not gonna set by and watch I wanna do something for the Lord. Actually let me rephrase that, I am gonna do what the Lord commanded. <strong>Matthew</strong> <strong>28:19-20 says Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." </strong>I have a heart to see the people that have been cast aside to be brought back. If Jesus had a heart for all the lost and hurting people in the world shouldn't we? even the neighbors that no body likes. There is an overlooked mission field right before our eyes. Religion has gotta get out of the way. Why? <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Because</span> Jesus is coming!<br /><br />May God Bless You Richly<br /><br />antUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-12210674424032911152010-05-26T11:48:00.000-07:002010-06-02T17:05:45.879-07:00Love at first sight.......Hmmmm?!?Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I have really felt that my creativity levels are at an all time low...I'm not sure why, maybe it's just a phase....<br /><br />Anyway I have been thinking about something today, something important. Why is it that Christianity is at an all time low and everything else is on the rise. ( I am about to get very mean...so if you are tender hearted forgive me) I think it's because "Christians" (notice the quotations) have rasied themselves up to a level that is unreachable by someone that needs salvation through Christ. What I mean by that is this - People are begining to be turned off by Christianity, even the most devote Christians are turning away because of the actions and attitude of todays "Christian". This is a sad thing! IT hurts me to see the way that we treat other...."If you don't go to this church you are going to hell", "If you don't sing this way you are going to hell", "If you don't speak this way then you are going to hell". I think we have lost the focus! Are we not in this together?!?!?!<br /><br />Someone very dear to me and once was on FIRE for God will not even set foot in a church anymore. His reasoning "The people hurt you and talk about you and they dont'care"! I know that there are some that truly do care don't get me wrong. They are far a few between though!<br /><br />Christians have gotten SO LAZY in there thinking. Christianity has become a status instead of a passion and it is so much more than that. However in order to get back to the basics we have got to understand one thing.."LOVE" Jesus said in <strong>1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. </strong>We tend to forget that it was love that has made a way for us when we don't deserve a way. We tend to forget that love picks us up when we should be trampled upon. If you want to be known as a follower of Christ then follow His teachings....in other words LOVE!!! That was His greatest commandment. If people don't see LOVE in you at first sight then they do NOT see Jesus in you AT ALL!!!<br /><br />In Love people will not be turned away from Christianty...It can be a place to run too...<br /><br />I leave you with this....<br /><br />about 2 weeks ago God put this simple vision in my mind...A lost ship in the ocean and the storms were heavy. The crew on board had made their peace and were ready to die because they knew that they were alone and in danger...They knew that they may not return home....Then all of the sudden of in the distance they see a flashing light...very dim but it's there...as they got closer they saw a beat up lighthouse shining his bright light as bright as possible. The moment that the crew saw that light they had hope...even when hope could not exsist for them. They knew that were almost home.<br /><br />No matter how beaten or broken you are, let your light, the love of Christ, shine as bright as it can...you never know what LOST ship is looking for it.<br /><br />May God Bless you Richley<br /><br />Ant<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-14989165802658801842010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:02:06.071-07:00Witnessing After DarkIt was A few months ago bout 10:30 PM that I heard something slamming outside. I got out of bed to see what was going on and I saw a broke down car in my drive way and a man with a bright flashlight coming toward my house. I quickly got dress and opened the door and he was right there, I do not even think that he knocked. There was a little bit of fear coming over me as he ask me to come down to the end of my drive way and help him out. However I told him that I would be glad to jump his car off if I could find my cables. I got down to his car and became very nervous because I could tell that he was on drugs badly. All I wanted to do was to get his car fixed and get back in the house. A few minutes had passed and I had told him that I was the Youth Pastor at a church down the road and was curious if he went to church anywhere. All of the sudden another person got out of the car and came over real close to where I was standing. My nerves was feeling a bit stretched then. It was his wife, she was very gray in color and on drugs so badly that she looked dead. My heart was truly broken to see this, especially after seeing that they had two small children in the back seat.<br /><br />They began to tell me that nothing in their lives could get any worse. Their car was broke down, their house burned down the night before and they were having to stay with a friend. Immediately the word sprung up in me and I quoted to them 1 Peter 5:7. I told them that the Word says to cast ALL your cares on him because he cares for you. You could see a glimmer in the eyes all the sudden. They begin to tell me that someone had invited them to church down the road so they were going to go there. I will never forget the look on the young lady’s face as she told me, “please pray for me and my children”. I assured her that I would and again they told me that it just could not get any worse. I again told them to cast their cares and worries on Christ! He told me that they were gonna get their lives straight and get back in church where they belonged. They left and I felt a bit refreshed knowing that I was able to share the Word with someone hurting. However there were so many things that I would have done differently if I could do it over again. After thinking about the time I had with these lost hurting people I almost feel ashamed. I wish so badly that I would have wrote there names down and the names of there children. I wish I had of given them a card or something so that they could contact me for prayer when they needed it. One thing that regret the most is that I did not ask them if they were ready to receive Jesus as there Savior King at that moment. I let them get away and they were write in front of me.<br /><br />Sharing God’s word and the Gospel of his Word is so important. One thing that I have learned from this experience is that we cannot waste any more time waiting till next time. There is lost and hurting people walking this earth and we are just letting them get away each day. If I had of gotten some way to contact them I could have checked on them and made sure that they were o.k. It is not about walking around a screaming “Jesus loves you” in people’s faces. It is about people seeing the Love of Christ in you and you become a light in their darkness. When I came back in the house and got back in bed I shared what had happened with my wife. Her response was “you always get the easy ones”. I thought that her response was quiet funny. On the contrary though It is not always easy witnessing. It is almost like something that you just have to do. There are certain fears that you have to overcome and obstacles that get in the way. The key thing that I see clearly now after this experience is that we can shed light on someone’s darkness. However, if we do not make any initiative to continue to help them somehow, they can and will fall back into the dark! It is so much more than saying Jesus loves you and then walking away! I pray that the Lord God Almighty will give me more chances so I can be a light in someone’s darkness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-65278629811689192112010-03-02T07:37:00.000-08:002010-03-02T08:43:12.566-08:00Because I said so....God has opened many wonderful doors for me in the past years... I am so thankful for each and every one of those doors. One huge door was being able to start Bible College last year. It has opened my eyes up to so many things about my relationship with God and how to truly see him. Last night I started my second Theology class and wow was it amazing. We talked about basic things just to get the class rolling, you know like what is theology and what is doctrine...basic stuff. Then as we got deeper into the night some great things started to unfold and one statement was made that changed the way I looked at salvation....I mean it changed it deeply!<br /><br />"How can you love someone you don't know?"<br /><br />That statement alone amazed me... In today's Christian society if you ask someone what it is to be saved they will answer you, "To love Jesus with all your heart, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">that's</span> what being saved is". Some may say "to believe that Jesus died and rose again", "If you just believe and love". Is it not more than that...As <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Christians</span> we have made it easy to live our lives they way we want to, and hold on to certain threads of doctrine to get us by... Is it enough?<br /><strong>John 14:6</strong> says - <strong>I am the way, the truth, and the life. no man comes to the father but by me. </strong>So we understand that Jesus is definitely the only way to Heaven. That's no <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">problem</span>. However have we taken the time to get to know who Jesus is... Or do we just say that we love him because that is what it calls for in our faith...<br /><br />I would like to say that I am sorry if I am being a bit harsh...however I want people to understand what it really mean to have Salvation!<br /><br />I know that their are some weirdos in the world that like to spit that "L" word out as soon as they start dating...Why because everyone wants to be loved... However most people like to take it slow. They wanna get to know the person before the take the step to say "I love you". Why? Because it is important to you to know who you are loving. Right? You don't wann get your heart broke. They thing is Jesus will not break your heart! He has taken the time to get to know you! He know the number of hairs on your head.<br /><br />Have you taken the time in your faith in Christ to get to know Him so that when you say you LOVE him you know what you are talking about? If you think about this hard enough you will understand that being a Christian is more than just showing up at church on Sundays and walking the walk or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">talking</span> the talk. It's about knowing that you are nothing without Him...My wife tells me all the time that she wouldn't know what to do with out me and I feel the same about her.... That is what our salvation should be based upon...That without Christ we are nothing and that we depend on him for everything.<br /><br />There is gonna come a day when it is not so easy to be a Christian....( the Bible says so ) We are gonna have to be firm in our LOVE and BELIEF in order to survive the persecutions that are coming. When someone argues with us and asks us why we are a Christian and what proof do we have, the answer can't be "because I said so" or "because the bible says so". You need to research, study and have an answer that will make the person asking "think"! I can tell you every little thing about my wife <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">because</span> I love her</strong>.... Can we tell people every little thing about Jesus.....<strong>We say we LOVE him!</strong><br /><br /><br />May God Bless You Richly<br /><br />antUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-20017265342998674652010-02-26T06:54:00.000-08:002010-02-26T09:40:23.063-08:00Oh My What Big Teeth You Have!!!Well I guess it's time that I talk about the events that unfolded last Sunday night. I was gonna keep it on the down low. It doesn't really have to do with "my life in ministry" but it is so funny I have to share it.<br /><br />Last Saturday I had a normal routine day at the house same ole blah blah. It felt amazing outside so I went out and cleaned up the trash around the yard that my beautiful dog, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ellie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mae</span>, decided to tear out. After getting it good and clean I felt like a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">million</span> dollars. ( as usual when I do something manly) Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that's</span> just the starter of what took place. Sunday night when I got home from our outreach ministry I noticed something in the yard again...My blood started boiling.....I was not happy with ole Ellie at that very moment. It looked like it was just an old pillow that she had tore up. So I approached......... Just as I was going to pick it up I noticed something very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">peculiar</span>. This pillow HAD TEETH! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">AHHH</span> yikes. It looked dead but I wasn't sure, so I kicked it...and I mean hard! Nothing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">happened</span>...still appeared dead, but it sounded like ole Ellie had some gas...then I come to realize that was not Ellie, no it..........was........THE POSSUM!<br /><br />I called Mary to the door ( BIG mistake ) and told her about it. Well she started dancing around like the thing was after her. After kicking it again I noticed this old sucker is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">playin</span> dead and I am not gonna let him get me! I ran into the house ( I feel like this is a good time to say this possum was not ordinary possum...It was a monster possum) anyway I ran into the house to get my gun. I was trying my best to keep Ellie away and keep Mary quite. By this Time she had already called all of her family. So I came back outside and disposed of the vile creature ( For the sake of people who love evil animals like this one...I will not go into details). When it was all said and done me and my now empty gun went back into the house. I looked at Mary and there was only one thing I could say and think...I'm a murderer..................I really did feel bad but that thing could have killed my dog......OR ME!<br /><br />So anyway As you can see my Sunday night was no ordinary one. Many people wanted to know, why didn't you eat it...I wanna tell you this; I know I live in Alabama but I am not eating a possum.<br /><br />Besides the crazy opossum, I do wanna leave you with a <strong>mighty</strong> scripture for today!<br /><br /><div align="left"><strong>Hebrew 8:12</strong> says- <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, </em><em>AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE</em>." </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Isn't it amazing how much God loves us little ole normal people!</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br />May God Bless you Richly<br /><br />antUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-26678969208676621832010-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:002010-02-25T10:44:57.080-08:00BUT...I thought you LOVED me?I have had the awsome apportuninty to be apart of a ministry called "Celebrate Recovery"for a while now. The idea for these services is for people with addiction to learn to let go and give God control of their life. There is no words to describe the power of these services. When I was invited to lead worship for the first time I wasn't real sure what to expect, but I was in a place in my life where needed God to move in me greatly. As I started to lead worship I begin to feel a great pressure lift from me...It was like a house fell off my shoulders. I was feeling more free than I ever had. The only thing that I could notice was that I was surrounded with people that truely wanted to worship God. Not just because it was the thing to do but because it of their passion for Him.<br /><br />I have grown up in church all my life. I can remember the day the I accepted Jesus as my Savior King. I was 7 years old and I can remember it like it was a movie I watched last night... Though all the years I have been living for Christ I have not seen a group of people that wanted to just be close to their King like this before. It was the God moving event that I needed in me. I felt all the things that were weighing me down vanish. I learned to <strong>let go! If God is not in control of your life then who is? you? </strong>I don't think so.<br /><br />Like I said I have been in church all my life so why did this service inspire me so much. I think simply because I was returning to my first <strong>Love. </strong>As Christians we can get caught up in the things of the world and before you know it you have slipped right back in to the things that it has for you...... i.e. Depression, lust, anger, FEAR. The devil has all these traps set up and waiting on us to trip over daily. So how do we handle it? We have to map out our course with the Word. It is our sword in battle, our light in darkness, and food when we are hungry. Yet we still leave our first love and chase the things the world has... WHY??? The only way I can compare it is this; have you ever used the phrase with someone "BUT...I thought you LOVED me". I have..We all have probably at some point. Think about what was going through your head...abandonment, hurt, alone... Now imagine God is saying that to us every time we cheat on him. Why is it so easy for us as christians to forget about our first Love. Then come running back when we need Him. Being saved is not <strong>just</strong> believing that Jesus died for you...It's depending on him for everything you are and knowing you are nothing with out Him. How could we let a world that is going to one day be destroyed sway us from that.<br /><br />Revelations 2:4 says -<em>Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.</em><br /><em></em><br />Thank you God for bringing me that Celebrate Recovery service and reminding me of my first love.<br /><br />May God bless you richly<br /><br />Ant<br /><br />Join us @<br />Celebrate Recovery<br />-thursday nights<br />Dilworth Church of God<br />With Rev Dale Lawley<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-54445666497230684572010-02-23T07:04:00.000-08:002010-02-23T07:46:10.143-08:00dude! Where is my amp?Things have been going absolutely fantastic since my new role as pastor at church...Everybody seems to be so excited about the things that are happening. "Excited" is not even a good word to express how I feel. I am so humbled by the fact that I serve a God that never gives up, even when I try to. "Thank you Lord for who you are"<br /><br />So everything has been going great....you got that already! However that usually mean that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">satan</span> is going to attack harder. Attack harder he did. 2 weeks ago I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">received</span> a phone call that the church had been left unlocked and that alarm not set... That is never a good thing. I decided I was gonna wait till Sunday to find out who may have done this and go over the importance of LOCKING THE DOOR with them. So <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sunday</span> comes and I got to the church about 9:17am and see a couple of the praise team members there getting ready and I ask a few of them if they had been at the church and they said "no". So I forgot about it for a while and moved on preparing for worship. Then the question arose.... DUDE! Where is my amp? I looked at Jake and said probably where my amp is... (My little drummer boy likes to take them home and have jam <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sessions</span>, I never really think about it)<br /><br />So as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Zac</span> walks in the church I see he has one amp in hand...Mine (praise God) However Jake's was gone! It turns out that Someone had came into our church and stole our musical equipment...I didn't even realize it. The keyboard and drums were still there, but the guitars and amps....not so much. My heart dropped out of my chest. Why? That is the question that kept <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">coming</span> to my mind. Why would someone steal instruments from God's house? I could not understand this. I assured Tim and Jake that their stuff would be replaced and told them try not to worry. Although I felt my "joy" shrinking.<br /><br />Don't you see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">satan</span> has come to <strong>steal</strong>, kill and destroy and we as a body together cannot let him win... I quote to everyone "the joy of the Lord is our strength" The devil is coming to steal your joy first. You have to push through the fire...you have to break the bonds... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">satan</span> will not be victorious. That morning as I was preaching the Lord spoke to me about making an commitment to LOVE <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">because</span> LOVE never fails. Even though these people was used by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">satan</span> to try and steal our joy that day, we have to make a commitment to love them. Can you imagine Jesus hanging on the cross and looking at the very people that betrayed him and killed him, yet he still made a commitment of love...He even ask God to forgive them. Can we make that same commitment with people that hurt us daily.<br /><br />Focus on what <strong>John 10:10</strong> says in whole.<br /><br /><em>"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; <strong>I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.</strong>"</em> ( the very words of Jesus )<br /><br />look to the GOOD not the BAD<br /><br /><em>May God bless you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Richly</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-90144555767542090252010-02-22T06:42:00.000-08:002010-02-22T07:59:09.219-08:00OH He's still working on me...Makin me what I'm supposed to beAfter being the youth pastor for 4 years now I have seen and heard many, many things. I have been able to be there for youth that needed someone to talk to, or even needed help through addictions... God has truely blessed me with a passion for people...NOT just "saved" people but all people... I didn't realize what God was preparing me for....I didn'want to realize.<br /><br />In November of 2009 we lost our 3rd pastor (thats right, our 3rd) I was in a place where I just wanted to give up. I wanted to just go to some mega church and dissapear into a sea of faces, and forget about the things that God had called me to do. It was just to hard!!! I didn't understand why we were going through this. The sad thing is I thought that everyone felt the same as I did..."Let's just close up shop and move on", that was not the case!<br /><br />We had a meeting the week after out 3rd pastor had left and I was sitting on the stage with the elders of the church. I remember A very special young lady coming up to me and saying "We can't close the church, I cant' lose my family". I still remember thinking I still can't do this... Then anthoer young lady came to me and express how hard it was for her...( she was an athiest before coming to a youth revival and dedicating her life to Christ). Things started to get a bit fuzzy in the ole brain at that point...I was battling like Jacob...God was winning! All the sudden I could feel God softening my heart. It was like a chisle cutting through rocks and being almost there. Then it happen...The question I was waiting for... Can we just close the church? Then a VERY special lady stood up and stated with a powerful voice "over her dead body!" I was shocked to see that the people wasn't thinking what I was thinking. They were holding strong when I should should have been holding strong for them. They were holding me up when I should have been holding them up.<br /><br />God spoke to me then and there as the rocks fell off my heart, "Protect My People". He said it over and over again...It became a voice that would not leave my thoughts. Quickly I looked to my best freind and partner in ministry, Timothy, and said " you know that we have to do this...He looked at me with a funny face and said "i'm gonna kill you"....haha right? Then he said "I'm with you".<br /><br />I found myself in that wierd place yet again... Unsure of myself but confident I was was where I was supposed to be. Even though I wanted to give up, God had other plans. You see when it comes to his people, God cares! People may look at me and say "how can a 27 year old be a pastor?" I'm not sure myself, But God knows. So I will listen and follow him, feed his word and most of all...Love! We can't do some of the great things that God can do, But one thing we can do just like him is LOVE.<br /><br />I am reminded of the song I learned as a child... "It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the Earth and Jupitor and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, <strong>He's still working on me.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I will not give up!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><em>Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>My God Bless you Richley</em><br /><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8895365175806334306.post-26527146906410743882010-02-19T13:16:00.000-08:002010-02-19T21:00:48.457-08:00A new Thing!Well my wife tells me that I am the worst person in the world when it comes to grammer. So let me apologize ahead of time for any typos... or uh-ohs.<br /><br />About four years ago on a Wednesday night I was in a normal church service having a great time when I had this urge to get and go down stairs. I got to the doors at the youth room/fellowship hall and noticed that all the kids were just sitting around not being taught or anything close. They were just being baby-sat for the adults pretty much. My heart jumed out of my chest and The Lord spoke to me and said "feed my sheep". I remember talking to Mary about it for days trying to sort out what I was supposed to do with that, I am a music man not a youth pastor. At least that is what I thought! The next few days thought just ran crazy through my head...( I tend to do that when i get an idea in my head) All I could think about was what The Lord had spoken to me. So I made a step, I ask if I could do a 3 week sermon series for the youth. I had no idea what I was doing so I just trusted God and his calling on me. After the 3 weeks the youth was so excited and pumped about what they had learned and I felt like I was on top of the world. I didn't expect this to be so easy and so hard at the same time...It felt good!<br /><br />At the end of the 3 weeks I called the church outside to a burning barrell and had told them to take anything that henders them from God and bring it with them. It was amazing at all the stuff that everyone brought... (I even brought my justin timberlake cds) I was so happy to see people giving up things because they love God more... At that moment I knew that I was in the right place at the right time. I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do. All I knew was that I had to do it.<br /><br />A lot of things have changed over the past 4 years I feel a bit more mature even though some would argue that is so not true. I feel I have become a leader, and a protector of God's people and I know that there is nothing else that I could do with my life... I think that I am gonna take this blog and make it a tool to encourage those who are discouraged and to lift up those who are down. I am gonna talk about all the the ups and downs and everything in-between that I have been through as a minister of God.<br /><br />Remember if you ever feel like you don't know what you are doing or you fell like you are not sure you are doing it right. Just hold on and let God take the lead, his plans are greater than ours. His wisdom and knoweldge is greater than ours, and his ways are greater than ours. He just wants us to obey...<br /><br />Jeremiah 29:11 - <em>For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(NIV)</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>May God Bless YOU!</em><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0