Chuck

Chuck, the goat, died of bloat! 

Chuck was our goat.  

Yep.  Chuck was a Miniature French Alpine goat.

One day Chuck got out and broke into the feed barn...poor ole' Chuck.

Bloat ...now there's an interesting word. (...and right about now you are saying ...and how is this going to make my day? ...) ...and  now you are saying...What is bloat?  ...and I am saying...bloat happens when livestock eat so much that the stomach expands and will not allow the lungs to inflate, in essence the animal suffocates.

I wonder if "bloat"  exists in the church...  I wonder if the disciples had any issues with bloat?  I wonder if we get a little .... well ...bloated...

Habakkuk 2:4 - The Message 

“Look at that man, bloated by self-importance — full of himself but soul-empty.
But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing
    is fully alive, really alive." 

How is it that someone can know so much about Jesus and we never share that information with a lost person? 

Is it biblically correct to know about the Scriptures but never share that knowledge with other people?

Real Biblical Christianity is not an academic exercise; it is a living faith...it is faith living through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I’m not opposed to the study of the Word of God, however there is a strange disconnect when someone is full of knowledge but never applies what they learn, and they never give what they know away.  

Do we become like a bloated goat...in danger of dying?

As Christians, we could take a lesson from Chuck...

For the most part the modern church has everything it needs to exist. We have have nice facilities in which to meet. We have skilled people, decent preaching and organizing for the work of the church.

Most churches have money they need to do the things they must. Many churches have all the people they want to fill up their pews and to do the jobs that need to be done around the church. 

But, I wonder if most churches are so bloated that we  lack what we need most: The power of God and the willingness to GIVE it away!

The scripture says -- "Freely you have received ...freely give!"

What if you and I ... what if our church was to say...

 “If you need God, we can help you get to Him. If your life is broken, we can show you how God can fix it. If your family is coming apart, we can show you how God can put it back together again. If you are lost, we can show you how to be saved.”

Yep ... you know the drill ... i'm Just Sayin'.

Kelly

Pillows

Pillows are like people ...they come in all shapes and sizes.  Do you remember when, no matter where you went, you had to take "your" pillow?  Some of you and you know who you are still take "your" pillow.

On occasion we travel and stay in a hotel.  On that hotel bed there are 3,000 pillows and none of them are right ... not one!  But if I have "my" pillow ...all will be o.k. for the night.

My pillow is like a brick, in fact, the colder the weather the harder my pillow becomes ...but...the minute my head hits the pillow it begins to "conform" to my head.  In the middle of the night, well you know ...the middle for me is like 11:00...  That time when you're tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable spot and you reach us and flip your pillow over ...and ... then ...ahhhh .... the pillow conforms and all is again right in my world.

That word conforming is interesting isn't it and it leads to this question, “What’s required of us as Christians?" Are we supposed to conform...like our pillow?

Romans 12:2  (NIV)

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The standard, for all that we think, say or do, must become, “Is this consistent with Scripture?” -or-  “Is this what God wants?”

There are quite a few Christians, some churches and even denominations, that go along with worldly standards.   If we don’t accept the Bible as the authority, we have nothing that enables us to to stand against the pressure to conform to what the world sees as normal. 

If we stand on the truth of Scripture, we have a solid to resist the pressures of the world. 

If we do not stand on the truth of Scripture, then there is little reason not to go along with every popular movement and teaching.

This may take courage. It is hard to resist peer pressure and when we resist, it may lead to confrontation, to mocking and ridicule, to rejection and other consequences. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6  (MSG)

...we don’t live or fight our battles that way —never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

During our ordinary lives, we tend to compartmentalize things, to put some things in a “church” category, some things in a “work” category, some things in a “home or life” category, and some things in a “recreation” category. 

But Scripture tells us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to pray constantly. Everything we think and do should be dedicated to God. 

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

..and..

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) and praise

... fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We must conform ourselves to the image of God.  We need to feed ourselves with Scripture, prayer, study and praise. Our primary focus needs to be on the eternal things of God.

When we do, hopefully, we will help some of our  fellow Christians stand firm in their faith no matter what happens. We cannot do everything, but by the grace of God, what we can do, we will do.

Now...grab your pillow and take a nap!

...just sayin'...

Kelly

Where's God

You're sad ... you seek comfort.   You're troubled... you pray. You're distressed ... so you cry for God to answer you.  Then you listen...

But all you hear in reply is silence--a silence so deafening it drowns out every thought but this: God isn't listening.

Psalm 77:7-9  

“Will the Lord reject forever?  Will he never show his favor again?  Has his unfailing love vanished forever?  Has his promise failed for all time?  Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Sometimes we forget that God is near. Sometimes we forget that we are not alone. Sometimes we forget that when we are sad, scared, confused, or disappointed, He is right there.

Have a look at this...

Isaiah 54:7-8

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back...I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.

God's compassion for us is deep. He draws near to us with passion. He is watching, not from a distance, but with intense concern and attention to every detail of our lives.

Our every thought, every emotion, every word, and every act is the subject of His passionate interest. He feels our pain, and He delights in our joy.

... And He is kind...

He brings us back when we don't deserve it. He keeps us through all our stops and starts, all our double-mindedness, all our misguided efforts. 

God never leaves us, and, really, He is never angry with us, even though we are sometimes angry at ourselves. 

God's kindness carries us through the most difficult circumstances. 

God's kindness draws us back whenever we get off course. 

God's kindness let's us know that we are His chosen, that we are never without His love and care.  

His kindness says, "You are not alone!"

and you know ...I'm just Sayin'

Kelly