I am thankful for the reassurance of the scriptures today.  It is a joy and overwhelming blessing to know that Jesus Christ stands ready to intercede on our behalf in times of weakness and faultering.  When the mountain seems too high, the valley too deep, the desert too hot, and the gulf too wide … he is able to save us, to strengthen, and secure us.  He is able not in just the little things, but in the big things … the things where we have lost our ability or strength.  There is no limit to his power to save, to his ability to deliver, and he will extend his grace to all those who come boldly before the throne to receive help in time of need.

Are you faced with an obstacle in your life that you cannot overcome?  Does it seem like every time you climb to your feet the devil knocks you down again?  Remember the scripture, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”   Don’t try to fight the battle on your own.  Give the battle to the Lord, call out to him in your distress.  Call on his name, Jesus Christ, and rest in knowing that he is able to save to the uttermost, to the very end, he will not stop short of meeting your need.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Saturday morning our church family awoke to heart-breaking news that one of our young brothers, Bro. Stacy Hall, had passed from this life during the pre-dawn hours, as the result of a car accident while on his way to attend our church convention here in Dyersburg, TN.  His father, Bro. Roger Hall, older brother, Bro. Paul Hall, other family members, and his local church family from Florida were already here.  He had been unable to get off work in time to leave with them, but was determined to be part of the convention.  Sadly for us God chose to call him home.

As the news spread our primary thoughts were for Bro. Roger and the family.  We were prepared to do whatever it took to take care of them in their grief.  I personally could not imagine going on with the convention under the circumstances and was prepared to cancel it altogether.  With remarkable (supernatural) strength and peace Bro. Roger told those of us gathered around him that we must go on with the convention and that he and Bro. Stacy’s family were going to stay and be part of the services Bro. Stacy had been striving to attend.  Bro. Roger stated that his family, the young people that loved Bro. Stacy, and their church needed the strength they would receive from the services to get them through the coming days and weeks.  Bro. Steve Geary and Bro. Mike Herrin (co-pastors of their church) agreed; and so, with heavy hearts, we pushed on and prepared to open with the first service Saturday morning.  Bro. Roger, Bro. Steve, and Bro. Mike addressed the assembly, dedicating the convention to the memory of Bro. Stacy Hall.

Their decision to continue the convention and remain in attendance filled me with awe; however, the story does not end there.  Within only a few hours of having received the news of his passing, Bro. Stacy’s father, brother, cousin, friends were ministering under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, and worshiping the Lord with uplifted hands and heads, rejoicing in the presence of God.  Bro. Roger put it very simply and truthfully, “Only by God are we able, only through the Holy Ghost can we …”.  From the beginning of the first service until the final “Amen” of the last service, the power of God filled the place where we were.  The youth service scheduled for that night, which by all practical guidelines should have been full of grief, was filled with joy in the Holy Ghost.  The young people did an awesome job honoring Bro. Stacy and uplifting one another and the entire assembly.

Although speaking in tongues is the initial sign of being filled with the Holy Ghost, I witnessed quite possibly the greatest additional demonstration of the Holy Ghost that I have ever seen in my lifetime this weekend.  I saw the supernatural power and peace the Lord promised to those who would receive his Spirit.  Yes … the bible is real, His words are true, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Mat 19:26)

Bro. Stacy, thank you for inspiring us by your determination to be His servant.  Father in heaven, thank you for the comfort and power of your Spirit.  As much as lies within each of us, may we follow his and his family’s example of unwavering faith and trust in You.

Paul writing in Ephesians 2:4-9 says,  ”But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:   Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The grace of God levels the playing field.  We don’t have to hope that we are better qualified than someone else for God to “take notice” of us.  It’s not based on how talented or good looking you are or how successful you are in business.  You cannot be too mean for him to call you, and you can’t be so good that you don’t need him to call you.  We all have sinned and need his grace, mercy, and love.  The answer is in him.  Isn’t He GREAT!?!?

God bless and have a great week!

The hope of eternal life rests on faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The decision seemed natural, no thought required, as automatic as breathing in that next breath of air.  The Lord had restored life to him and so he would give his life to the Lord.  Life for life.  As the Lord stepped into the ship, ready to leave the country of the Gadarenes, the man ran to him and lay his request before the  Lord.  He would be with the him wherever he chose  to go.  When Jesus became weary and needed to sit, he would supply the chair.  When the Lord was thirsty, he would would be the first to offer a cool cup of water.  It was what he wanted, it was what he craved … to be with the one who had shown him so much compassion.  Any request great or small would be a joy for him to fulfill for the Master.

Imagine the bewildered look on his face when the Lord, with eyes full of love, gently smiled and said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”  What? Had he misunderstood the Lord?  Was his mind leaving him again?  The Lord did not want him with him?  But then thinking again, he must trust this man that had redeemed him from certain destruction.  Surely the Lord, who was able to banish the multitude of devils knew what he was doing when he instructed him to return to his friends.  And so he was resolved, that whether in the Lord’s presence or not, he would follow through on his decision.  He would trade his will for the Master’s, he would spend his life as the Lord instructed.  The bible goes on to record that the this man departed and began to publish throughout the land the wonderful works that Jesus Christ had done for him; and that all men were amazed by his testimony.

What about you?  Has the Lord ever told you, “No.”?  Has there ever been something you wanted as much as your next breath and yet it seemed the Lord would not let it fall within your grasp?  Has there been something else, that you preferred not to do, that he kept moving you towards?  The Lord does know what is best for you.  He knows the talents he has placed within you, and where you can be most effective.  Trust him and be the witness he wants you to be.  Publish the love he has shown you to those with whom you come in contact.  Always understand that when the Lord says, “No.”, it is good.

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!