Getting A Better Network

John 15:1-8

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Getting a Better Network

When tragedy strikes in our lives, whether small or large, we reach out to our networks.  Family, friends, people who have had similar experiences; it's a principle common to all of human kind.  We are designed for connection.

It's not by accident that this happens.  That's why this connection is at the core of Jesus' mission on earth.  His sacrifice restored our relationship with the Father.  We are grafted in and our survival once we accept Christ's sacrifice, relies on our connection.

For those of us who believe and receive the gift of Christ, abiding in Him is essential.  Confessing Him isn't enough.  We must abide in Him.  There is our peace.  In Him, in The Vine, we are tended directly by the Father.  

So, get a better network.  If you find yourself connected with anything or anyone other than Christ, then you're not availing yourself to be tended by the Father.  Instead of Facebook, or Twitter, or the telephone, or anyone else, try the Father first.  You'll reach Him through the Son.

Galatians 4:1-7King James Version (KJV)

4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Like the song says, have a little talk....

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.youarechosen.net) 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.

Supplying Need

Psalm 78:19-39

19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

21 Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.

29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Psalm 78 is one of the historical Psalms...a reminder of the goodness of God specifically to the Children of Israel, but also to us.

The exert above highlights how the nation of Israel was fed from Heaven while in the wilderness.  There were no crops, but they were full, every day.  No rivers, but they had fresh water.  They had quail and bread.  And when they came into the promised land, the manna didn't cease until they had corn to eat.

As children of God, we can sometimes confuse wants with needs.  We can be blinded by lust for things we don't need, that, in fact, would do us harm to have them.  

Today, remember that God LOVES you.  He's not in love with the praise we bring;  He doesn't love our adoration of Him...He loves us.  It's personal.  We come up short, and He loves us.  We refuse Him, and He loves us. From the beginning, before we were known, He loved us.  His love doesn't stop.

And anyone who loves us always wants the best for us.  Whatever has interfered with that realization, its time to step past it.  It's a lie.  God does not want to see our destruction.  What He wants is our restoration in full relationship with Him, through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Today, breathe deep and accept the Father's love.  Every need met.  Every prayer answered.  Every step ordered. Every loss comforted. All things working together for good.  

No matter what, the Father loves us.  

Philippians 4:19

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Whatever you need.

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.youarechosen.net) 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.

Dancers Have Ugly Feet

James 5:16

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

We once had someone come over to our house and remark "Oh, your stove looks like new. You must not cook often."  Truth is, we cook at home everyday.  But the sentiment was a true one...things that are used usually look worn.  Effort changes the appearance of things and people.

You can tell the difference between the saw of a carpenter and the saw of someone who only picks it up a couple times a year.  If you ever look at the feet of professional ballerinas, they look awful.  They move with grace, but their feet are calloused and bruised from their efforts.  You can tell when someone works out regularly, because it shows in their physical appearance.  

It's funny that the best outcomes take the same input.  A recent study came out that it takes 10,000 hours to master a subject, whether that's a musical instrument, or exploring physics. Regardless of the talent of the person applying the effort, it still takes time to get to the point where the operation just flows. You can be born with a gift to play a guitar, but you still have to build up callouses in order to play well for a long period of time.  And those callouses only come from actually playing.  You can't study them into being.  You can't believe them into being.  Your gift is real, but so is the work.

This is true in our spiritual walk too.  Our salvation is a gift of God.  But our relationship, like all relationships, requires work.  It takes time, communication, and effort.  When we accept Christ, our salvation is a matter of fact.  We are sealed until redemption.  But that walk in Christ is a lifestyle that is perfected over time.  It has to be a daily choice and effort has to be expended.  Jesus is not a genie.  He's not a lucky charm.  He is the door of restoration to relationship with the Father.  

The door is open and the work is before you and I.  The effort is ours to expend.  It's time to put in the work.  It's time to wear the knees in prayer, the eyes in study and the heart in pursuing the Father.  It's time to put on the gear and do the work as called, and to expect exactly what the Father intends and not try to bend His will to ours.  It's time to get the stove dirty, put the saws to use and break in those shoes.  All effort towards God is valuable just as effort against Him is futile.

And don't worry about your feet.  God said the feet that carry the Gospel are beautiful.

Romans 10:15 

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

James 2:17-26

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Joy to you.

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.youarechosen.net) 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.

Light from Nothing

Genesis 1:1-4

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Light from Nothing

I was listening to a report on NPR this morning about a resource program in Michigan for those suffering from severe depression.  One woman interviewed had wrestled with depression for many years.  She had tried to take her life regularly through those struggles.  She described her depression as darkness that would overcome her and pull her into more darkness.  She said she would try to make the pain stop by taking her life.  

I was reading another article that talked about the downside of bariatric surgery.  The article sited statistics about the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide following surgery.  The patient interviewed in that article said there was so much focus put on her body and her weight that no one told her how to cope with life's other issues when she couldn't bury them in food.

Finding light in a dark world is difficult, if not impossible, on our own.  We are not equipped to pull light out of darkness.  It is easy to understand the Michigan women's description of depression over taking her and pulling her into the void.

But...

Those of us who have been born again are literally of a linage where the impossible is possible.  Luke 1:37 sums it up nicely, "For with God, nothing shall be impossible."

And it is that simple.  When our faith is in God and His Love and His Power...when we rely less on our own capabilities and recognize the fullness of Who He is and that His love of us is true, and thorough and pure...when we take Him at His word for provision, protection and for setting us on a path meant for our redemption and not our destruction...when we turn to this God, there is nothing that can be withheld.

This God is the one who turns mourning into dancing.  This God is the one who speaks into nothing and creates light, dark and life.  This God is the one who made all things good for man, and in light of us making wrong choices, set a process in motion that would restore us to right relationship with Him without possibility of reversal.  This is the God who loves you and loves me so much that He sent His own Son, the embodiment of Himself, to pay the penalty for all sins committed, and that would be committed.  

There is the possibility of light from nothing.  Whatever we face, no matter how painful.  No matter how destructive, there is a way out.  There is redemption.  There is joy.

As you face whatever seems impossible today, remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible.

Psalm 30

30 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Joy to you.

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.youarechosen.net) 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.

Looking For God, Not At Him

Matthew 2:9-11King James Version (KJV)

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

The wise men, looking for the Child who's star they followed, came to Judea, made their way to Bethlehem and found the Child with his Mother.  They presented him with gifts and worshiped Him.  They were on a mission for a while, looking for the King of the Jews who had been prophesied.  They came expecting to find Him, prepared with tribute and in an attitude of worship.

They didn't find Him in a palace.  He was not surrounded by servants or an army.  They found the Child in a house with His mother.  They saw the sign, the star resting over the place.  They didn't question the choice of vessel, but worshiped this precious gift from God.  They were looking for God's gift, not at the container.

Too often, we let circumstance and packaging determine our willingness to accept what God has given.  We get like Naaman when looking for a healing from Elisha (2 Kings 5).  Elisha gave him a relatively simple task to do in order to be healed.  Because it wasn't extraordinary and because the prophet wouldn't tell Naaman directly, Naaman felt like it wasn't good enough for him.  He was willing to keep the disease because the healing wasn't packaged in a way he thought was appropriate.

So it can be with with us.  Sometimes we can get caught up in how the message or correction or conviction is delivered and we miss the point of the message, the visitation or the blessing.  Our discipleship requires that we learn to look past the presentation, and sometimes, even our own experience with people and focus in on God and following the Holy Spirit.  That may not be easy, but it is moving in perfection.

Christ was not what most people expected in His earthly ministry, but He was exactly what we all needed.  God may choose to address 'that' area in your life or my life in an unexpected way, but it will end up being the exact right answer...if we can get past the packaging.

Open the present.  Receive the gift.  Don't worry about the box or the paper or how it got delivered.  When it comes from the Father, it is exactly what's needed.

James 1:17 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Peace and blessing to you.

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.youarechosen.net) 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.