What is your Jerusalem?

Posted on October 1, 2012 by pastorpstephens

I am almost through with another 8 week term of classes.  These two classes have been very interesting.  One is an evangelism class and the other is a global missions class.  I am glad that I have taken them both at the same time.  It has impressed upon me not just the importance of the Great Commission but sometimes how we as Americans don’t understand the fullness of the Great Commission.  In the Great Commission Jesus instructs His followers in Matthew 28:19 – 20 to go and

“Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Most folks who have been in church are familiar with this verse and typically relate it to evangelism and missions work.  Also, it seems that most folks in the church think of evangelism and missions only as going to a foreign country or sending money to missionaries to share the gospel with some other people group in another country or in some area far away from our home.  When one thinks in that way one does not understand the Great Commission in the fullness that our Lord intends.  Jesus repeated His instruction to His followers about “taking a message going in His power” Acts 1:8.  He said, “You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

It is great to share the gospel with other countries and other areas.  That should happen, those are the “Samaria’s and the ends of the earth” the Lord was talking about.  It is a good thing to send the word to those places.  For me, I guess Samaria is and the ends of the earth is handled the foreign missions involvement through my church.  I support the Great Commission in those areas by giving and praying.

As Jesus talked to His followers, He wanted them to know the fullness of the Great Commission also involved their Jerusalem.  But what is my “Jerusalem?”  For me, I think it is the workplace, the neighborhood and the community where I live and serve.  There is a community near my church that I am praying for the Lord to provide wisdom and insight on how to best reach for His glory.

I think that when Jesus instructed His followers to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, He was saying to spread the good news and minister in your backyard too.  Don’t forget about those around you.  Share your faith and let your light shine!  What is your Jerusalem?  Who is hurting in your backyard?  Who do you walk by who needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ?  Prayerfully seek the Lord’s advice and help.  He will show you your Jerusalem…and remember, He is with you, even to the end of the age.

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Living with Grandchildren

Posted on September 27, 2012 by pastorpstephens

Proverbs 17:6   “Grandchildren are the crown of old men.”

I have really enjoyed having my two granddaughters living with us during the last couple of months.  The oldest one is almost three years old and the youngest is about to turn one next month.  It has brought back many memories of when my own children were younger.  Prior to them staying with us it has been twenty years since I have cleaned cheerios from between couch cushions, painted over crayola markings on the wall or had to keep pens, pencils out of reach of little ones.  I have thought about writing a book called “You may be living with grandchildren if…”  So far, here are some of my thoughts:

You may be living with grandchildren if you wake up and find a rubber ducky in the dog’s water dish.

You may be living with grandchildren if you find yourself eating Apple Jacks again for the first time in 45 years. 

You may be living with grandchildren if all the apps on your I-phone have accidentally been erased and all the You Tube favorites are set to “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”

Yes, it has been awhile since I have had to clean up after toddlers and babies.  But I must admit it has also been over twenty years since I have had the blessing of teaching someone new words or had the fun of showing them how to make paper airplanes.  It has been almost two decades since I have watched in wonder as someone learned that you can draw a few circles on some paper and it can make a picture of Mickey Mouse.  I have had the opportunity to see my oldest granddaughter begin to express new thoughts and concepts.  I have been there when the youngest has started to crawl and I watched one day as she pulled herself up for the first time.  God’s word has it right when it says in Proverbs 17:6

Proverbs 17:6   “Grandchildren are the crown of old men.”

I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to clean the spilt milk, pick up the toys and enjoy all the blessings that come along with living with grandchildren.  The Lord has been good to me.  I pray that He will help me to have wisdom, patience and words of grace and blessing so that I can be an important part of bringing up these children in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and those you love.  Until next time, stay strong and keep the faith.

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Letting It Soak In – Prayer and Rain

Posted on September 21, 2012 by pastorpstephens

It rained all day last Sunday.  It was a slow rain, the kind that just keeps going and going.  It was what we call a “farmers rain.”  The water keeps coming down at a good pace, not so fast that it runs off but rather it is able to soak in to the ground.  And I have to say that we need the rain real bad in Central Texas.  We have had a drought for a few years and the lake levels are down and the aquifers that feed our wells and water systems are running real low.  When it has been dry for a long time, a hard, fast rain or two just won’t cut it.  We need some long, slow rains that come frequently and last a while.  With the society we live in we have become spoiled by convenience in almost all things.  So many times we expect instant gratification in everything.  When we are not doing so well, we want relief and answers right away.  But many times the relief we need does not come so quick or so easy.  The answers we seek are not automatic.  In Psalm 119 David uses the word “meditate” to describe the way we should seek counsel and relief from the Lord.  David says in Psalm 119:

Psalm 119:15  I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.

Psalm 119:148  My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.

David understands that good things take time.  You can’t bake a cake in 30 seconds, and you don’t read God’s word all at once and understand it all.  It would be like dumping too much rain on a parched field…some would soak in but most of it would just run off.  We need to spend time in His word, meditating on the precepts and promises.  We must spend time in His Word and allow it to nourish and fill up the reservoirs of our soul.  I find that He doesn’t give me all the answers or the relief too fast because when He does I stop searching, I quit seeking, and I quit letting His word soak in.  Shame on me.  When I let Him take His time, He always fills up the reservoir and the well never has run dry.

I hope that you have a chance to spend some time soaking in His word this week.  I hope that you know how much the Lord loves you.

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Fighting the Good Fight

Posted on September 10, 2012 by pastorpstephens

I hope that you are having a good day.  I hope that you are feeling good and that your mind is clear, your body is strong and your spirit is steadfast in the hope and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I have had a good week but it has been very busy.  I have two friends of mine who have been fighting cancer during the last 3 years and the fight is really tough right now.  Both of these men have had wonderful attitudes during this time and have provided an excellent testimony of the grace and strength that God gives us to face the trials and tribulations of this life.  This week I received a concerning word from the family of one of these men.  I was told that my friend was tired of going to the hospital for treatments.  He is sick and tired of being sick and tired.  The cancer he is fighting has been waxing and waning in strength off and on during the last two years but it has not gone into remission.  The chemo and radiation treatments he is undergoing are taking their toll on him physically and emotionally.  With the way he is feeling, my friend says that he is just not sure if he wants to go back to the hospital or see the doctors for any more treatments.  I will visit with him this week to pray about this decision.

My friend has fought so hard and been so courageous throughout his battle that I was caught off guard by this news.  However, I have seen the strain that chemo and radiation treatments can have on someone fighting cancer.  I also know that cancer itself takes a heavy toll on an individual.  As I continue to pray for and with my friend, I ask you to pray with me.  I do not know how God will lead him and his family in this decision.  Perhaps my friend will be encouraged and strengthened and decide to go back to the doctor for treatments.  This will take courage.  Perhaps he will decide that the treatments are no longer something the Lord desires for him to do.  This too will take courage.  Please pray for my friend and his family.  Perhaps the Lord will see fit to work a miracle and grant him healing and deliver him from this disease which has attacked his body.  Perhaps the Lord will bestow upon my friend the ultimate healing and call my friend home to be home with Him where there is no suffering, no pain and no need for chemo or radiation.

I know that whatever my friend decides he is still walking in faith for he believes in  God the Father and has trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord.  Paul spoke of giving our best and trusting the Lord in 2 Timothy 4:6,

2 Tim 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

My friend has been fighting a good fight.  I do not yet know if he has finished the course.  But I know that when he does there awaits for him a crown of righteousness.  This same crown awaits all those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Until next time, may God bless you richly.

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Be Diligent

Posted on September 4, 2012 by pastorpstephens

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.”

Too many times Christians face a battle or an obstacle in life and they determine that they are going to just trust in the Lord and they just sit back and wait Him to do something.  Which means that they are going to do nothing.

Doing nothing oftentimes allows the enemy to gain the advantage.  Now I know that sometimes the Lord does call us to just wait on Him.  Sometimes He does speak to us and say, “Be still and know that I am God.”  But even that stillness is not characterized as doing nothing.  That stillness is filled with devotion, prayer and the calm assurance that God is in control.  That stillness is never filled with a sense of entitlement.  God does not want us to just be spiritual couch potatoes.

Trusting in the Lord does not mean rusting in the Lord. We need to remember that our God who protects and provides for us often also allows us to participate.

It is important for Christians to remember to make use of the resources, skills, experience, and gifts that God has given them. My grandfather told me one time, “The Lord feeds the sparrows but He doesn’t drop the worms in the nest.” We need to be diligent and be good stewards of the resources God has given us.

The plans of the diligent do lead to advantage.

 

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Praying for the Missions Field

Posted on August 31, 2012 by pastorpstephens

I have a book that I am currently reading which deals with global missions.  It contains reports and stories about the history of missions and ongoing efforts in various countries throughout the world. One thing that has impressed me as I have read this book is the enormity of the task and that I can definitely pray more regularly for those who do not know Christ – across the world and even across the street.  While our church prays every Wednesday night and Sunday morning for missionaries and I pray for them as I look at my prayer list during the week, there are definitely some specific needs I can be lifting up.  I have been impressed that I need to pray specifically for others to have the courage to speak to their family and pastors about answering God’s call to go to the field.  I know that I should also pray for very specific needs for those who have already been sent.

Somewhere today a missionary is struggling to come up with the right words to say to the class he or she is about to teach.  Somewhere a missionary is wrestling with helping a person share with their family why they are moving away from the traditional gods their family and culture have always served.  Somewhere a missionary is concerned that they have not seen signs of any spiritual growth in a long time and they are worried that they are not making a difference.  I would ask that you let the Lord lead you as to what specific needs you might pray for.  I know that God will use our prayers to strengthen those missionaries and encourage them in the call they have answered.  In 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Paul said:

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified.  2 Thess. 3:1 

I am thankful for the books that I have been able to read lately regarding missions.  I pray that God will help me to learn more about evangelism and missions and that He will help me to better support the work that He is doing through those who have answered the call to go to the mission field.

Until next time, may God bless you and your loved ones, and His work in the missions field.

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At the Right Time

Posted on August 20, 2012 by pastorpstephens

My morning began with a sense of urgency.  I have a new employee who started on our team today and I had to get her computer set up and started for her before she arrived for her first day on our team.  Due to some difficulties with processing her transfer her computer was late arriving and it did not show up until late Friday after I had already left the office.  I came in early enough today so that I would have time to unpack it and get it plugged in and set up the monitors, keyboard and the other items that go with it.  Or at least I thought I came in early enough.

The process of setting up the new computer and boxing up the prior employee’s old one and shipping it back to the central warehouse took about an hour.  There was a lot of paperwork to complete and then I still had to call the help desk about the new computer.  I had run into a bit of a problem as the pre-set password given to me did not work.  The technician with the help desk was finally able to get a new password assigned after verifying that I was who I said I was and that I was only trying to access a computer for someone on my team with benevolent reasons.  That phone call took 20 minutes.  I was beginning to think I did not come in early enough!  But things worked out okay as I had the computer signed on and ready to go just as my new team member walked into the department to begin her first day.    The timing was just perfect.

As I reflected on how things worked out I thought about how often God works things out for us and gets the timing just right.  A friend of mine always says, “He may not come when you want Him to, but He is always right on time.”  When the Egyptians were closing in on the Israelites as they left Egypt and began their journey to the Promised Land, God came at the right time and divided the Red Sea so they could get across. When the people were hungry and had no strength to go on, God sent manna from heaven.  When they were thirsty and needed refreshing, He sent water forth from a rock.  God always does things right on time.  The Bible says in Galatians 4:4-5

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

At the right time God sent forth His Son to be our Redeemer and to make atonement for our sins.  God always does things in His time and in His way.  And when He does them it is always the right time and the right way!  I hope that you have a great week and I hope that you take the opportunity to spend some time in His word and in His presence.

If you would like to know more about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, feel free to email me directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com  .

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Remembering the Basics

Posted on August 14, 2012 by pastorpstephens

This is the last week of the last summer term and I am on track to make an A in both of my classes.  Both of the classes were very challenging but the Lord was gracious and helped me to complete all of the assigned reading and to do well on the tests.  In one class I had a B+ the entire time and felt fortunate to be receiving those grades.  On the final exam which I took a week early, I prepared extra hard and was blessed to receive a perfect score.  This allowed me to squeak out a 94.8 average – just over the 94% needed to get an A.

That class had been so challenging from the beginning that I had told my wife that if I received a “B” in it I would be very happy.  She reminded me that if I did my best and received a “B” in any class I should be happy.  She then went on to say that no matter what grade I received as long as I did my best I should be happy.  I know those things but it is hard to embrace them when you are working hard to get the highest grades possible in your classes.  Some things are pretty basic and simple, but they are easier said than done.

I find that it is that way with much of what I learn in the Bible.  We usually know the principles that we need to embrace but sometimes even though we know them very well it is hard to put them into practice.

Just like most people agree with “do your best and the grade doesn’t matter” most people would agree with “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.  Most people would agree with “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth except such a word as is good for edification”.  Most people would agree with concepts like “be kind and forgiving just like God through Christ Jesus has forgiven you.”  There are a lot of things that make sense and a lot of things which are basic which we know we should do but sometimes we just don’t find ourselves doing them….at least not until someone we love gently reminds us of the right things to do.  It is good to have accountability partners to gently remind us of the things we should do and the standards we are to follow.  The Bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:11

Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

It is good for us to encourage one and help one another to remember the way we should walk.  It is good for us to encourage one another and help one another to remember the words and the ways of the Lord.  I hope that you have some good accountability partners in your life who love you and encourage you.  I also hope that you are a good accountability partner who loves others and finds time to lovingly encourage them.  Have a blessed week and know that anything God asks you to do He will help you to do.

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Nothing is Hidden

Posted on August 10, 2012 by pastorpstephens

I am still having some challenges with kidney stones.  I had an x-ray a couple of weeks ago and that x-ray only revealed 1 kidney stone present.  Because the location of that kidney stone did not explain the nature and location of the pain I have been experiencing the doctor sent me to get a cat scan.  I have had kidney stones before that did not show up on regular x-rays…lucky me.  The cat scan revealed that I have 3 kidney stones total and 1 of them is hanging out between the kidney and the bladder.  The location of this stone which did not show up on the original x-ray explains the pain and the infection that I have had during the last couple of weeks.  The good news is that the stone should pass sometime in the next week or so.

It is ironic that some things which trouble us or which can give us problems just are not apparent to the naked eye and are not revealed to us except by certain ways.  It is that way with other areas of our lives as well.  Sometimes there are things going on in our lives which trouble us or which can cause us grief and nobody else sees them.  Sometimes we not even aware of them ourselves.  The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

God’s word is able to discern and reveal things to us which would otherwise go unnoticed in our lives.  The word of God is able to point out those things which could cause us trouble and able to indicate those things which are currently troubling our relationship with the Lord.  The word of God goes beyond just pointing out problems though; the word of God offers solutions.  The word of God reveals to us the grace, the mercy, and the power of Christ to do a good work in us and through us.  The author of Hebrews who says that all things are laid bare unto Christ also points out that Christ is our great High Priest who longs to give us mercy and grace in our time of need.  What an awesome Lord we serve!  How great is His word which reveals marvelous things unto us!

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Praise on Bad Days

Posted on July 23, 2012 by pastorpstephens

I have continued to have some challenges with some kidney stone problems the past week.  It has caused some discomfort and some nights where I have not slept too well but that has not kept me from thanking the Lord for all the blessings I have received from Him.  I have a wonderful wife, some wonderful kids and grandkids, a good job, a supportive church and many other reasons to get out of bed and praise the Lord each day.  The Bible says in Psalm 118:24

“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24  

I know that it is easier to rejoice on some days than it is on others.  It is easy to rejoice and be happy when things are going good.  It is easy to praise and offer thanks when the birds are singing, when we feel well and when people are treating us nice. It is not so easy on the cloudy days when the birds stay in the nest and we don’t hear their songs.  It is not so easy to rejoice on the days when others are not treating us right or when we do not feel well.

Perhaps those are the days when we need to praise the most.  The Bible says in Psalm 22:3 that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people.  When we praise Him it is easier to get through some of the seasons of discomfort and times of stress in our lives.

Yes, this day I am tired and I don’t feel 100%.  But this is the day that the Lord has made.  He has given it to me.  He has bestowed favor and grace upon me.  He has loved me in magnificent ways.  I may not feel as good as I could but I will accept this day for what it is…. a gift from the Living God.  I will be glad and rejoice in it!

Until next time may God bless you and those you love.  Until next time, stay strong and keep the faith.

In Christ,

Pastor Phillip

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