A Year of Praise - Post 2

A Year of Praise - Post 2

Praise the Lord, Everybody!!

Psalm 149

King James Version (KJV)

149 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - Fellowship Church Where Passions Become Reality Because You Are A Chosen Generation

A Year of Praise - Post 1

Around this time next year, I'll pass a new milestone.  I was trying to think of what to do to 'mark' the year leading to 50.  Some friends have sponsored charities during their penultimate 50 year.  Others have whittled away at their personal bucket lists.  I was trying to think of some activity or action I could do for the next 12 months when the Holy Spirit reminded me that I already have a mode to do this, via this blog.

So, for the next 52 weeks, as I close in on my 50th year, this blog will focus on praising the One, True God, His Son and His Spirit.

And I'll use His own words....

Psalm 150

150 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/

It's Just the Fear

Luke 2:10

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

It's Just the Fear

This passage is familiar if you've ever read the telling of the birth of Christ in the book of Luke....or if you've ever watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.  But this is the verse that came to me yesterday.

I was watching my son participate in youth service yesterday at church and uncharacteristically of him, he got nervous during one of the presentations.  He powered through.  Didn't quit, but he melted into tears when it was over.  When I finally got to him, he told me "Mom, I'm fine.  It's just the fear. "

It's just the fear.  Wow.  Imagine what could happen when we get to the point when we recognize it's just the fear.  Sure, fear is real. It makes us uncomfortable; it can take us to a space that we don't like, but it's just fear.  It's no big deal. Our Father is bigger than our fear.

Here is where we can physically as well as spiritually apply the 'press' that Paul talked about.  Press through the fear, the pain, the reluctance to do that which God has given to you, to me to do. Reward, growth, obedience, assignment, satisfaction and so many other wonderful things are just on the other side.  The angel said they brought good tidings of great joy, so we had nothing to fear.  So, when fear comes, press on.

And after all, it's just fear.

Philippians 3:12-16

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

 Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/

What's God's is God's

Daniel 5:3-6

³ Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

⁴ They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

⁵ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

⁶ Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
 

What's God's is God's

My son had to read the story of the 'Handwriting on the Wall' recently for school. There was a synopsis in his book but it wasn't very well written, so we opened the book of Daniel and began reading the true story.

As we were reading, the Holy Spirit led me to hone in on the verses above and I was drawn to follow up on this misuse of the vessels. Even in the world, the idea of 'reading the handwriting on the wall' is a pretty common story. We've come to interpret it as understanding that when something forboding is about to happen, we should be able to read the signs. This is where this story rested with me for a long time.

But this time, for the first time for me, the emphasis was not on what Daniel read on the wall, but why Belshazzar, the king was in trouble in the first place.

His crime was not only that he stole the holy vessels out of the temple, but he defiled them by using them for purposes other than in worship of the one true God. The Word testifies that God is a jealous God. He would not tolerate this king's arogance in misusing vessels that had been sanctified for holy use. If He is that protective of things, how much more protective do we think He would be over us? The one's for whom He sacrificed His only begotten Son in order to redeem?

Jesus told the disciples directly, and us by recording, that after He left His earthly ministry, the Holy Spirit would come and dwell within and among us. Paul reminded us in his letters to the Corinthians that we were bought with a price and our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We belong to God and we are sanctified (or set aside) for the use of worshipping God. We are God's, and He is concerned about how we keep HIS vessel.

If we have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we belong to God. So, it is on us to honor the contract. Yes, we still have thoughts and desires and dreams and plans and ideas. But, it is our duty to examine each and every one of them and decide to yeild to the will of the Father. Some things may over lap. Others may have to wait. And others may have to be put down altogether. This is what is meant by presenting our bodies as 'living sacrifices' (Romans 12:1-2).

Dear ones, it's time to read the handwriting on the wall in our own lives. Consider where we've taken these vessels of God. What we've done with them. Some reports we'll gladly share. Others aren't worthy of daylight let alone the blood of Christ. BUT, with new mercies every morning, there is a new opportunity to be obedient today. There is a new opportunity to move into discipleship today. There is a new opportunity right now to stop whatever has been done in darkness and to move into His marvelous light.

Let's walk in the light.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Romans 12:1-2

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 John 1:5-7

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages. Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com.

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com/

Feeding His Sheep

John 21:16 - He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Feeding His Sheep

Now that February is upon us, chances are good that resolutions set a few weeks ago got left in the polar vortex.  It's funny how those things seem so important on January 2 are all but forgotten come January.  My theory is that we focus so intently on what's wrong that we lose sight of the benefits of what's right about our plans to make changes.

Even when we train pets, we focus on positive rewards rather than punishing the negative behavior.  Oh, there's a time for correction, but to get consistency in behavior, every descent trainer will tell you to use rewards, not punishment.  But, when we set out to lose weight or break a habit in our own lives, as soon as we come us short, we punish ourselves.  We start that inner conversation about how we'll never get there or never stop doing 'that'.  We feed the wrong and not the right.

When Jesus was talking to Peter about how he could show his love for the Master, Jesus told him to 'Feed my sheep.'  Beloved, we can get so caught up in the outside work that we can lose sight that WE are also His sheep and need to be fed too.

There's a simple principle about survival; what's fed lives.  When we come to Christ and focus our discipleship efforts on fixing what's wrong, we're actually feeding the wrong.  I offer this challenge to feed the Spirit and not the carnal man.  When we hone in on the goodness of Christ, on the privilege and benefit of following Him and walking in obedience, the empty rewards and hollowness of that 'stuff' we do that's against God will show up in such amazing contrast that, in time, we won't even be able to tolerate it, let alone entertain it.

Jesus showed us an example of this in the parable about the tares and the wheat.  When the enemy sowed tares in the good crop of wheat, it was tempting to spend the time and the energy pulling out the tares.  But the master farmer knew that you might destroy the wheat by doing that.  He said, let the tares grow with the wheat and when the harvest comes, we'll separate them then.

So, after focusing on dedication, now lets focus on growing the wheat; growing the good things of Christ.  The 'whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, has virtue or any praise - these are the things we should think on, grow, feed (Philippians 4:8).  Don't let the tares have more attention than they deserve.  Because, when it comes time to harvest, they will be consumed.

Love Him?  Feed His sheep.  Don't know Him?  Come to Fellowship and we'll introduce you.

Matthew 13:24-30

²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

²⁵ But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. 

The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.

Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send an email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. 

Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - http://www.fcchosengeneration.com