Wow! What a concept!
Would you like to double the size of your church family where you attend? It is simple in concept. The problem is we are usually pessimist when it comes to doing something simple.
If everyone in your congregation, or mine, just brought one person you would double the size of your church family.
Just say that you do it over a year. If everybody brought one in a year to attend your church worship and become a part of your family you would double in a year.
Problem?
Yes!
We will get them to buy a product we sell, join our social club, attend a birthday party, or any number of things, but we can't possibly let them know about Jesus.
What in the world is more important to you than your eternal life?
Everyone is able to bring one. You can double the size of your church. It is possible.
However, it is improbable because we don't believe anyone else will try. They may be waiting on you.
Think about it!
Monday, April 14, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Busy!
Busy! Yes, it seems that I am using that word a lot lately and yet I find I am spending less and less time doing what I deem productive work.
My mind is filled with the thoughts of making things better and becoming more productive and in doing so I feel I am losing my grip on what little I have had control of in my life for so many years. I can't make the decisions for everyone that I want them to see as their own. I guess manipulation would possibly work, but I hate the thought of ever doing that. Then I guess the next logical step would be to step back and listen to God.
My life has been a roller coaster of emotions for as long as I can remember. Some memories I wish I could forget and others I wish I had never considered in the first place. I have made some poor decisions and yet, I have been blessed "beyond measure."
My thoughts are so random at times I have a hard time focusing on the present for looking at the past and the future.
What is the remedy?
Stopping and spending some much needed time just talking to God. Take time for the most important person in my life, my God and Father. I know He wishes I acted like He was more important at times, but in reality, I have had to step out from under my own desires and step more openly in my mind toward doing what is best for everyone I touch with my life. I must and have to pray more to revamp my commitment to Him. For me to be who I want to be I am going to have to turn off my drive and turn on God's lead.
Busy? Yes, but hopefully in a more productive and spiritual way.
I'll see you later.
My mind is filled with the thoughts of making things better and becoming more productive and in doing so I feel I am losing my grip on what little I have had control of in my life for so many years. I can't make the decisions for everyone that I want them to see as their own. I guess manipulation would possibly work, but I hate the thought of ever doing that. Then I guess the next logical step would be to step back and listen to God.
My life has been a roller coaster of emotions for as long as I can remember. Some memories I wish I could forget and others I wish I had never considered in the first place. I have made some poor decisions and yet, I have been blessed "beyond measure."
My thoughts are so random at times I have a hard time focusing on the present for looking at the past and the future.
What is the remedy?
Stopping and spending some much needed time just talking to God. Take time for the most important person in my life, my God and Father. I know He wishes I acted like He was more important at times, but in reality, I have had to step out from under my own desires and step more openly in my mind toward doing what is best for everyone I touch with my life. I must and have to pray more to revamp my commitment to Him. For me to be who I want to be I am going to have to turn off my drive and turn on God's lead.
Busy? Yes, but hopefully in a more productive and spiritual way.
I'll see you later.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
What to Do?
There are many things that happen to us that we really never understand. When that happens to me I try to go through this list of things to make sure I am keeping a proper perspective in my mind. This helps me keep my spiritual focus when it seems a bit askew or if I feel threatened in anyway.
1. Pray about the situation.
2. Understand that you really aren't in total control of any situation.
3. Listen to those involved in your life who love you.
4. Keep an open mind concerning your status in the situation.
5. Don't react but walk through the situation and weigh out the possible outcomes as to the direction God would want you to chose.
6. Understand that you have and will continue to make mistakes.
7. Strive to be God's child in every situation that arises.
8. Know that even people you love and who love you are still human and have feelings as well, even when they seem to over or under react to your situation.
9. Know that this life is to be lived with a goal in mind that is yours to claim or refuse.
10. Take your time in making decisions and strive not to become overwhelmed with the possible outcomes on the good or bad side of things.
11. Understand that once your mind is made up on the problem you are facing and your plan to take care of it seems to be apparent, pray again and again.
12. Let God work through you, don't try to force the direction of the situation. Allow yourself to look and seek God's leading and then follow what you see.
I hope this helps you the way it has helped me over the years.
I'll see you later!
1. Pray about the situation.
2. Understand that you really aren't in total control of any situation.
3. Listen to those involved in your life who love you.
4. Keep an open mind concerning your status in the situation.
5. Don't react but walk through the situation and weigh out the possible outcomes as to the direction God would want you to chose.
6. Understand that you have and will continue to make mistakes.
7. Strive to be God's child in every situation that arises.
8. Know that even people you love and who love you are still human and have feelings as well, even when they seem to over or under react to your situation.
9. Know that this life is to be lived with a goal in mind that is yours to claim or refuse.
10. Take your time in making decisions and strive not to become overwhelmed with the possible outcomes on the good or bad side of things.
11. Understand that once your mind is made up on the problem you are facing and your plan to take care of it seems to be apparent, pray again and again.
12. Let God work through you, don't try to force the direction of the situation. Allow yourself to look and seek God's leading and then follow what you see.
I hope this helps you the way it has helped me over the years.
I'll see you later!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Paying for Your Raising
My wife and I were talking at lunch and discussing why it is that we are the way we are in our lives when it comes down to "Paying for your raising!"
If you have never heard that term, the meaning of it is that as you raise your children you are "paid back" for the things you did that you never got caught doing wrong as a child. In other words, your children are going to "drive you insane" with some of the things that they do and it is "because of what you didn't get caught doing when you were young and living at home."
I really don't believe that to be the case. We all do things we shouldn't and we give Satan a foothold every time we decide to give in to temptation and do something we shouldn't do. We know we are doing something wrong but it is just hard to give it up because our minds are telling us "how much fun it would be" and our hearts are telling us "watch out there is danger up ahead."
It is difficult to raise your children to always do what is right because they suffer from the same thing that we do. It is called "Lack of will power."
Some of us can deal with it and grow our will power into great walls of protection while others of us cave in and allow Satan to run all over us.
I am thankful that I have been adopted by an understanding God who knows what it is like to be tempted because of the temptation His Son Jesus went through here on earth. I have not always been the wall I would like to have been and yes, having godly parents would have been great as a young child while I was growing up. However, the things that were instilled in my subconsciousness because of the lack of God in my life till I was in my teens was a difficult part of overcoming the temptations I have face throughout the years. Not an excuse, just an observation on my part.
I am responsible for the way I choose to live my life and many times I have failed to be what I needed to be. I have paid for my raising but not as badly as it could have been. My children are wonderful and I am certainly proud of them, even though they make mistakes just like I did. But, it doesn't change how I feel about being God's child, adopted and taught a better way.
I guess the best part of all of this is the fact that when I look back and see the horrible mistakes that I have made, and some of you know what they are, I can honestly say, "I may have to pay for my raising, but Jesus paid for my mistakes."
We all make those wrong choices. It's time we just admit it, move on and allow forgiveness to flow. I am not a good person by accident. Jesus died to free me of my wrongs and my bad decisions. That doesn't make me good but it does make me forgiven. He paid for my mistakes. He loves me anyway. He will be at my right hand when ever I am in need.
Wow, what a payment!
If you have never heard that term, the meaning of it is that as you raise your children you are "paid back" for the things you did that you never got caught doing wrong as a child. In other words, your children are going to "drive you insane" with some of the things that they do and it is "because of what you didn't get caught doing when you were young and living at home."
I really don't believe that to be the case. We all do things we shouldn't and we give Satan a foothold every time we decide to give in to temptation and do something we shouldn't do. We know we are doing something wrong but it is just hard to give it up because our minds are telling us "how much fun it would be" and our hearts are telling us "watch out there is danger up ahead."
It is difficult to raise your children to always do what is right because they suffer from the same thing that we do. It is called "Lack of will power."
Some of us can deal with it and grow our will power into great walls of protection while others of us cave in and allow Satan to run all over us.
I am thankful that I have been adopted by an understanding God who knows what it is like to be tempted because of the temptation His Son Jesus went through here on earth. I have not always been the wall I would like to have been and yes, having godly parents would have been great as a young child while I was growing up. However, the things that were instilled in my subconsciousness because of the lack of God in my life till I was in my teens was a difficult part of overcoming the temptations I have face throughout the years. Not an excuse, just an observation on my part.
I am responsible for the way I choose to live my life and many times I have failed to be what I needed to be. I have paid for my raising but not as badly as it could have been. My children are wonderful and I am certainly proud of them, even though they make mistakes just like I did. But, it doesn't change how I feel about being God's child, adopted and taught a better way.
I guess the best part of all of this is the fact that when I look back and see the horrible mistakes that I have made, and some of you know what they are, I can honestly say, "I may have to pay for my raising, but Jesus paid for my mistakes."
We all make those wrong choices. It's time we just admit it, move on and allow forgiveness to flow. I am not a good person by accident. Jesus died to free me of my wrongs and my bad decisions. That doesn't make me good but it does make me forgiven. He paid for my mistakes. He loves me anyway. He will be at my right hand when ever I am in need.
Wow, what a payment!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Just a Thought!
Not too long ago I came across a quote from A.W. Tozer that made the statement that "A church that can't worship must be entertained. And leaders who can't lead the church to worship must provide the entertainment."
The sad part of that is most believe ministers who preach on Sunday are the reason we come together on Sunday. After all, we pay him to preach to us. We want to feel something when we leave and if the preacher doesn't do it for us we feel left out and untouched.
That is disturbing when we think about the real reason we come together. The apostles and early Christians were found on the first day of the week spending time with each other and remembering the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. However, I don't think we spend enough time considering the words that we sing or the needs poured out before God during our prayers. The words of the songs that we sing and the words and statements in our prayers are what goes to God, not the preaching. The preaching goes to us for our edification. Prayers and songs do that as well, in most instances, but it is time we stopped and thought a little more about what we are thinking as we sing some of those older and really good songs as much as what we are singing when we sing any song or read any of our favorite scriptures.
Take time to think about what we are doing when we come together each Sunday in "worship" to God.
I'll see you later,
Britt Farmer
The sad part of that is most believe ministers who preach on Sunday are the reason we come together on Sunday. After all, we pay him to preach to us. We want to feel something when we leave and if the preacher doesn't do it for us we feel left out and untouched.
That is disturbing when we think about the real reason we come together. The apostles and early Christians were found on the first day of the week spending time with each other and remembering the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. However, I don't think we spend enough time considering the words that we sing or the needs poured out before God during our prayers. The words of the songs that we sing and the words and statements in our prayers are what goes to God, not the preaching. The preaching goes to us for our edification. Prayers and songs do that as well, in most instances, but it is time we stopped and thought a little more about what we are thinking as we sing some of those older and really good songs as much as what we are singing when we sing any song or read any of our favorite scriptures.
Take time to think about what we are doing when we come together each Sunday in "worship" to God.
I'll see you later,
Britt Farmer
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Remember When?
I remember when I was more fit, lets say! Younger, of course, and able
to do things that would beat my body down if I tried to do 1/4 of the
things I did when I was, uh, younger. I remember one day biking 22
miles on Stingray bike I had, (with a banana seat...ouch). Then a
friend of mine and I swam and floated over two miles to the city park in
Lone Star, TX. Then there was the time I got up and hitch hiked to
Fort Worth on Friday morning to see Lisa...mowed their yard on
Saturday (hour of work) and her mom buying me a bus ticket back that
got me to Longview at 5 a.m. on Monday and then went to school.
Now, I just feel blessed to put both feet on the floor. Memory is still good and that is a blessing. However, the body may go before the mind. Think it is time to work on that a little to see if I can start working my way back to doing a little more physically.
Just sayin'!
I'll see you later!
Now, I just feel blessed to put both feet on the floor. Memory is still good and that is a blessing. However, the body may go before the mind. Think it is time to work on that a little to see if I can start working my way back to doing a little more physically.
Just sayin'!
I'll see you later!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Spiritually Obese
I am over weight! I know it and those who know me realize that I am aware of this point. I need to exercise because my being over weight has and will continue to affect my health. I have sleep apnea and have to rely on a machine to help me continue to breath at night while I sleep. I have weighed more than I do now, but I still need to lose a lot more of my body fat to be healthy.
This is not a revelation, but did get me to thinking about what I need to do to remedy this situation. I need to lose weight, shed it, work it off to become healthy again.
I use to blame it on my inability to exercise because of a car wreck back in the early 80's that left me unable to be mobile and my inability to be mobile put me into a state of "I can't because..." when it came to being active. I started gaining weight. I became a couch and easy chair man. It happened slowly. The weight didn't just appear one day and I was obese. It happened slowly.
I need to begin eating better and exercising more. That is it. I will not lose weight sitting in my chair at home continuing to eat more than I need. I have to make some changes in my life.
A couple of years ago I was working for Schwan's Home Food Service out of Longview, TX. My boss, Clint, made a statement that got me to thinking. He made the statement that what actually made Schwan's good for people who are dieting or wanting to eat right is that the food is proportioned out to healthy amounts. That was a standard company statement that he was parroting, but it got me to thinking.
There are people who are spiritually obese Christians.
We have sat in the pew, feasting on great spiritual food. We have gobbled it up to the point where we have become so full of good things that our spiritual bodies have become "fat" from the spiritual food that we have been digesting for years. That would seem to be a good thing. Spiritually fat on good spiritual food.
However, understanding the word of God to the point where we have allowed ourselves to just become so obese on the word of God that we are proud to sit in our easy chairs laid back and thankful for all the good we have been given to feast upon is spiritual gluttony. We have been eating and feasting on good spiritual food that we have become fat and satisfied to the point we have a hard time when it comes time to exercise our spiritual bodies.
We are so obese because we have failed to exercise the spiritual muscle we had to the point we have become spiritually anemic. We are failing to use the knowledge we have except to point out that our food is the best food because "Look at us, we are 'spiritually fat'.
We will die from the lack of using our spiritual bodies that God has blessed us with. It is time we got off the pew (easy chair) and exercised our spiritual bodies into shape by using what God has blessed us with and share with those who are spiritually starving and don't even know it. We need to exercise our spiritual bodies by sharing with those who are starving spiritually. The food we have been feasting on needs to be used to feed others.
It is sin for us to hold back the exercising of our spiritual bodies while others who are so desperately needing spiritual nourishment.
There are a lot of people who have set up spiritual bakeries or candy stores who make it look and taste good but do nothing more spiritually than a steady diet of donuts and candy bars would do.
It is time we started exercising our spiritual bodies into chiseled spiritually healthy Christian bodies. We need to get out of the easy life and begin moving into the right life.
It will never happen over night. It will never happen unless we are willing to admit we have become spiritually fat, non-involved, spoiled to the easy life Christians, comfortable with where we have come to in our spiritual walk.
It is time we begin being the spiritually fit, chiseled Christians God wants us to be in the face of this world. It is time that we used our spiritual bodies to share Jesus with those who are spiritually starving.
Are you spiritually obese?
More to come on this! I love you all.
Britt
This is not a revelation, but did get me to thinking about what I need to do to remedy this situation. I need to lose weight, shed it, work it off to become healthy again.
I use to blame it on my inability to exercise because of a car wreck back in the early 80's that left me unable to be mobile and my inability to be mobile put me into a state of "I can't because..." when it came to being active. I started gaining weight. I became a couch and easy chair man. It happened slowly. The weight didn't just appear one day and I was obese. It happened slowly.
I need to begin eating better and exercising more. That is it. I will not lose weight sitting in my chair at home continuing to eat more than I need. I have to make some changes in my life.
A couple of years ago I was working for Schwan's Home Food Service out of Longview, TX. My boss, Clint, made a statement that got me to thinking. He made the statement that what actually made Schwan's good for people who are dieting or wanting to eat right is that the food is proportioned out to healthy amounts. That was a standard company statement that he was parroting, but it got me to thinking.
There are people who are spiritually obese Christians.
We have sat in the pew, feasting on great spiritual food. We have gobbled it up to the point where we have become so full of good things that our spiritual bodies have become "fat" from the spiritual food that we have been digesting for years. That would seem to be a good thing. Spiritually fat on good spiritual food.
However, understanding the word of God to the point where we have allowed ourselves to just become so obese on the word of God that we are proud to sit in our easy chairs laid back and thankful for all the good we have been given to feast upon is spiritual gluttony. We have been eating and feasting on good spiritual food that we have become fat and satisfied to the point we have a hard time when it comes time to exercise our spiritual bodies.
We are so obese because we have failed to exercise the spiritual muscle we had to the point we have become spiritually anemic. We are failing to use the knowledge we have except to point out that our food is the best food because "Look at us, we are 'spiritually fat'.
We will die from the lack of using our spiritual bodies that God has blessed us with. It is time we got off the pew (easy chair) and exercised our spiritual bodies into shape by using what God has blessed us with and share with those who are spiritually starving and don't even know it. We need to exercise our spiritual bodies by sharing with those who are starving spiritually. The food we have been feasting on needs to be used to feed others.
It is sin for us to hold back the exercising of our spiritual bodies while others who are so desperately needing spiritual nourishment.
There are a lot of people who have set up spiritual bakeries or candy stores who make it look and taste good but do nothing more spiritually than a steady diet of donuts and candy bars would do.
It is time we started exercising our spiritual bodies into chiseled spiritually healthy Christian bodies. We need to get out of the easy life and begin moving into the right life.
It will never happen over night. It will never happen unless we are willing to admit we have become spiritually fat, non-involved, spoiled to the easy life Christians, comfortable with where we have come to in our spiritual walk.
It is time we begin being the spiritually fit, chiseled Christians God wants us to be in the face of this world. It is time that we used our spiritual bodies to share Jesus with those who are spiritually starving.
Are you spiritually obese?
More to come on this! I love you all.
Britt
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