My Church moves me!

1 Timothy 3

 ¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.


I know I have bragged about my church several times. I'm about to do it again! Today our Senior Pastor gave his vision of where our church is going. It isn't really his vision, it's Gods vision. The vision he shared today is not about our Senior Pastor, the Church Staff, or the members. The vision is the working of the Holy Spirit. 


I have been deeply touched and amazed at the happenings at County Line. I have seen the movement of God in this church for all 5+ years we have attended. God has drawn together a great staff at CLCG. He has drawn together members who have a real heart for service. He has drawn together members that act upon the movement of the Holy Spirit. From Worship, to missions, to community service, to saving the lost, God is in the center of every activity at our church. 


I, myself, have been personally affected by this church. Over 3 years ago, I was prompted to serve the motorcycle community through CMA. That didn't come from within me. It came from the prompting of a new church mission, presented by our Senior Pastor, prompted by the Holy Spirit. My Church has moved me to action for God. Can you say that about your Church?


I don't want to be critical of specific churches, but if your church doesn't move you to act for God, why even go?We are not meant to attend church passively, once a week, for our own blessing. We are called to serve the Lord and the call, the prompting, is delivered by the Holy Spirit through the church. Worship should take place in every action we take. If our Faith doesn't prompt us to action. If your support group,(the church), does not encourage you to serve, Find another church!


  Praise God for County Line Church of God. May we follow Gods mission. May we serve as he would have us serve, not just in 2012 but beyond! Be with us as we take your blessings and use them to serve others!

Sorrow is good!

2 Corinthians 7

 ⁸ Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 


How much pain have you seen in your life? How much sorrow has hit you, directly? Has any of your sorrow been permanent? Sometimes God is okay with hurting us. It's not pleasant. God has the big picture in mind for us. The "end game" is repentance and salvation. When pain and sorrow come our way, we should flea to God. The quicker we make that move, the better. Pain is only temporary. Sorrow does not last. With repentance and salvation, we will overcome.

We see so much sorrow in our daily lives. Even if I'm not the one in pain, I know people who are. Whether I am the one going through it or someone close, we are deeply affected by sorrow.Take heart. Trust your Heavenly Father. He might be doing it intentionally, for your own good. No matter how tough that is to hear, it could be true. Yet, God still loves you. His love never fails. His Love is forever, the pain is not!

My Ladies!

1 Timothy 2

 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

My life is filled with women. I have 3 fantastic daughters, 4 granddaughters, and a beautiful wife. So if any man can speak about women from experience, I can. I'm not saying I'm an expert. God certainly knows I'm not (I'm not sure anyone can be!) 

I don't know too many women that don't care about what they wear. All women want to look nice. Some put a lot more value on fashion than others. One of the things I love about my "Ladies" they are ALL smart and have great common sense. This is true in everything they do, including their fashion. Like all young girls, they've had their fashion "moments". I remember one Christmas McKenzie had to have a pair of Lucky Jeans. I think they cost $90. That's crazy. Lindsae has been addicted to shoes! Kelley has also had her Fashion moments. But, as they have matured as women and mothers, they have become much more practical. I am so proud of them because they put more emphasis on what goes in their hearts than on their bodies. They have a great love for the Lord and that's what they pass on to their kids. 

There is nothing more important in a family than a Godly woman. There is nothing more important in a family than a Mom that sacrifices everything at her won expense. She doesn't have time to spend Adorning herself, or extravagance. She's too busy worrying about everyone else first! It's Mom that really sets the spiritual tone of the family. Sorry, Dads! It's the Praying wife or mother that has more of an impact on the path a family takes. The Dad might be the spiritual leader, the CEO, but it's the Mom who's the General Manager and gets things done. 

When people read these verses they always concentrate on the negatives, what women can't do. But, the women in my life have their priorities exactly the same as these verses instruct. I think if you'll look around, All Godly women do!

Learn from your Grandkids!

2 Corinthians 6
 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Every grandparent loves there grand kids.i can't get enough of them. I am looking forward to retirement just so I can spend more time with them. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids also very much. But, a bond with your grand children is a special bond. They show such unconditional love for me and their grandmother. They love to spend time with us. They withhold nothing when it comes to affection. They still give kisses and hugs and I literally melt when I receive them. It feels so good to be with them. I am truly blessed with the greatest grandkids in the world.(if your a grandparent, I'm sure you would understand how I can say that)

We need to share Love with people like our grandkids do. They open their hearts to us. We should open our hearts to others in that same way. We can learn a lot from our kids and grandkids. One of our barriers to sharing Gods Love, is our own "guarded hearts". Building relationships is what it's all about. You can't do that without exposing your heart.

Dear Lord, help us to open our hearts like little children, to those who don't know your love. Amen!

1 Timothy 1

 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

It's so common for parents to claim coaches show favoritism. Coaches play little Johnny because his last name is ___________! (you fill in the blank) they might say coaches or teachers show favorites. You know what? Coaches do show favorites. Their favorites are the players who give 100%. They show favorites to those kids who work hard, listen to what the coach says and does it. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? God shows favorites too! God loves those who humble themselves, submitting to his teaching.

With the Lord it's not who you know or what family you were born into that matters. It's not who you know, but what you know that's important. That's why you have to continually study God's word and pray without ceasing. If you don't, you'll end up just like the people of this passage. Your wisdom is developed through faith, a pure heart, and a good conscience. How can you speak of Gods work if you do not really know him? Why would people accept your witness without love. Do you want to be a teacher of Gods law or a teacher of false doctrine. If you have departed from God's ways and turned to meaningless talk, you need to change. Open your heart to the creator and he will grant you the wisdom of the ages. Then sharing will be a complete joy. Stop ACTING like you know it all and come to the one who holds all the wisdom.