Dethroned by Grace

So glad you are feeling better and pretty much kno...

2012-05-12T19:36:51.061-07:00

So glad you are feeling better and pretty much know what your problem is (gallbladder). My heart breaks for you concerning your fight with the weight, I have been there..... but by the grace of God, the educated hands of Dr. Waldrep and my daughter-in-law,I won the fight. I would surely be in a wheel chair if not dead. So I will keep praying for you,like the old saying goes..been there-done that! Much love.

Thank you Dave!

2011-09-01T08:31:19.130-07:00

Thank you Dave!

Thank you Steve.

2011-09-01T08:10:07.652-07:00

Thank you Steve.

Good stuff Steve. Sin management indeed...sin can...

2011-08-03T09:10:34.523-07:00

Good stuff Steve. Sin management indeed...sin can never be managed, it must be put to death, quickly, swiftly and given no ground. Thanks for this.

I will check it out Dave. Start looking at the go...

2011-06-06T13:21:34.575-07:00

I will check it out Dave. Start looking at the gospel presentations and see how they leave out repentance. Then we wonder why we are struggling.

Steve, you are right on the bullseye here. I have...

2011-06-06T12:24:57.456-07:00

Steve, you are right on the bullseye here. I have been thinking similar thoughts along the same line. Reading a good book about how Jesus has a lot of fans, but few followers...because it cost to follow Jesus, but you can still play in the mud and be a fan. The book is called, "not a fan" by Kyle Ileman...you should check it out...good read.

you are invited to follow my blog

2011-04-26T11:59:02.501-07:00

you are invited to follow my blog

Thank you Laura for your kind words! God bless!

2011-04-21T09:37:49.740-07:00

Thank you Laura for your kind words! God bless!

Steven that is beautiful. Very well written. I h...

2011-04-21T08:46:52.193-07:00

Steven that is beautiful. Very well written. I have a hard time writing a paragragh. You are a true friend and I am proud to know you. Your Church family is very fortunate to have you. Bless you.
Love, Laura

Conflict. You either just got out of one, or you&...

2010-12-08T08:54:35.899-08:00

Conflict. You either just got out of one, or you're in one, or you're headed for one. Most Christians have memorized
John 3:16. I think maybe we should start memorizing 1 John 3:16: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

Good stuff Steve.

Dave

Thank you for sharing, I like it worth reading.

2009-12-23T09:02:14.655-08:00

Thank you for sharing, I like it worth reading.

hello pastor steven-

wanted to ask your per...

2009-03-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

hello pastor steven-

wanted to ask your permission to use your illustration of Van Gogh in a message this weekend or next...

let me know.

thanks,
jeremy self

Marla, I humbley hear your words and see your enco...

2008-08-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Marla, I humbley hear your words and see your encouragement. I appreciate and respect your wisdom that you have gained through many years of a walk in faith, YOU I would walk on glass for!!

I'm not angry anymore, my anger subsides to hurt very quickly, but having said that, I need to learn to use the words of Christ to combat the enemy's attacks. I'm a work in progres and I will be for a long time. :)

Romans 5:1-5.....brilliant, I will store that and won't forget it!

Thank you for your perspective.
I do love you my sister in christ!

Amen, sistah friend! Preach it, baby, preach it! ...

2008-08-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Amen, sistah friend! Preach it, baby, preach it! Check out MY blog post at A Peek At My Bookshelf...you'll find a sister of the heart there, I do believe!

My Dear,
You are merely experiencing the low i...

2008-08-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

My Dear,
You are merely experiencing the low in the life of one who serves and "gets it." I too experience the lows of witnessing the shallow, self-centered falleness of the flock. It hurts, it is shameful to the term Christian, and yeah, I'll say it--it flat sucks.
What I am saying here is meant with the best intentions, as I have coached myself (or rather the Holy Spirit in me has) out of similar thinking more than once. I do not mean to undo your righteous anger, as it is also the Lord's honor over which you are angry. It is discouraging at times to serve passionately and dare I say sacrificially, especially to those who don't "get it." HOWEVER...
1) As "they" are fallen, so too we are fallen. I can't point to much of anything that I do that is not motivated by my Self--accolades for me, God's approval of me, the admiration of my peers for me...the list goes on. So who am I to point to someone else's ignorance or even rebellion? I deserve everything "they" deserve, because any righteousness resulting from my deeds is not my own.
2) Surely, I too hold something back from God that is already his. As "they" hold back time and sacrificial service, I just know that there are things I am not doing for Him. I may not even be aware of what I am witholding. Or much worse, as a "mature" Christian I do know better, and am aware what I am withholding.
3) People like Paul did not always get to see the fruits of his labor. Not written for us are the times when Paul may have turned his attention elsewhere where "they" refused to obey the gospel call. No, what has been preserved for us are his records of perseverence, encouragement and self suffering for the sake of Jesus. I can't think of a time where Jesus said, "C'mon guys, wait until you see them glorify the Father!" Never, that is until he spoke of His return...

Sister, continue the march! Serve unto our Lord Jesus himself, though those whom you serve may spit on you and presume to claim the same Lord. Rejoice in our high calling--that of being a trusted shepherd to guide the flock to safety and green pastures.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that TRIBULATION BRINGS ABOUT PERSEVERENCE; AND PERSERVERANCE, PROVEN CHARACTER; AND PROVEN CHARACTER, HOPE; and HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT WITHIN OUR HEARTS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WAS GIVEN TO US. --Rom 5:1-5

What an excellent post! There is a lot of things ...

2008-07-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

What an excellent post! There is a lot of things here to think about and the biggest being our witness. People are watching and we have all but abandoned this thought in our ‘walk’. We need to listen to Paul when he talks to the Jewish followers in Roman, when he says, “As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." It’s a charge to us all; we all fall into this category. People see our actions and Christ is blasphemed. Again great post!

As it happens, I am currently writing a proposal f...

2008-07-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

As it happens, I am currently writing a proposal for the new discipleship "program" (I dislike that word) for the church I attend. As yet another seeker friendly church, we have lots of revisions to make to our church ministry model in order to take seekers to believers, and believers to disciple makers , who are willing to lay down their lives for the sheep and for the gospel. Yeah, I know--a monstrous, God-sized task. My partner in this venture shares Steve’s concern for "what if no one comes? How do we get people to want to come? How do you make people change their focus?" My answer is, “it's not my job to fill seats, but to serve and follow Jesus—that is, to heed His call.” If God calls me to create and lead a discipleship ministry in our church, he already has something in mind and there will be people hungry for more. If God is calling in your heart of hearts, Steve, then it is your duty to heed the call. If you can’t change the mind of the collective church and make disciples that way, then you take 2 or 3 with you “as you are going (Mt28:18-20)” and make disciple makers out of them. I see a trend in my reading and in the hearts of believers in my paths of travel—God is turning his church in America back to discipleship. Keep an eye and an ear out for this, friends, and let me know what you observe.

So what do you think is the answer? How do we cha...

2008-07-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

So what do you think is the answer? How do we change years of 'build' up. How do you re-boot the entire church and afterwards how many people will still be with you. This is the real challenge, but I think God is waking up an entire generation to this fact, we are not disciples.

Steve, same here! Our youth is at a World Changer...

2008-07-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Steve, same here! Our youth is at a World Changers and last night I challenged them with the fact that our number 1 task is to make disciples. Christianity with now desire for Lordship is not discipleship. That is consumerism.

Steve,

It seems as if the Lord is leading u...

2008-07-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

Steve,

It seems as if the Lord is leading us down the same road. Discipleship is lacking in many churches, and I'm afraid we are raising a generation of Biblically illiterate believers. We need to get back on our knees, back to the Book and then back out on the street.

Dave

Thank you! I'm very proud of him, but most of all...

2008-04-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you! I'm very proud of him, but most of all it gives the church an opportunity to put a face to missions. This could have a great impact on our entire church. Thank you again, for everything you and Don do.

-ps

2008-04-20T18:55:00.001-07:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Awesome service today, Pastor Steve. The music wa...

2008-04-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

Awesome service today, Pastor Steve. The music was great and inspiring and the sermon was very real, you could tell you were speaking from your heart. How excited you and Sharon must be about the decision your son, Josh has made to go to Chechoslavakia to bring the word of God to the people there. We will pray for him.

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is ver...

2008-04-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Celular, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://telefone-celular-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.

Lynda, Thank you for the kind and encouraging word...

2008-03-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

Lynda, Thank you for the kind and encouraging words. I haven’t written much this year…but your email might help change that.

In His service together…

Steve

Dethroned by Grace

So glad you are feeling better and pretty much kno...

Thank you Dave!

Thank you Steve.

Good stuff Steve. Sin management indeed...sin can...

I will check it out Dave. Start looking at the go...

Steve, you are right on the bullseye here. I have...

you are invited to follow my blog

Thank you Laura for your kind words! God bless!

Steven that is beautiful. Very well written. I h...

Conflict. You either just got out of one, or you&...

Thank you for sharing, I like it worth reading.

hello pastor steven-wanted to ask your per...

Marla, I humbley hear your words and see your enco...

Amen, sistah friend! Preach it, baby, preach it! ...

My Dear, You are merely experiencing the low i...

What an excellent post! There is a lot of things ...

As it happens, I am currently writing a proposal f...

So what do you think is the answer? How do we cha...

Steve, same here! Our youth is at a World Changer...

Steve,It seems as if the Lord is leading u...

Thank you! I'm very proud of him, but most of all...

Awesome service today, Pastor Steve. The music wa...

Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is ver...

Lynda, Thank you for the kind and encouraging word...

hello pastor steven-

wanted to ask your per...

My Dear,
You are merely experiencing the low i...

Steve,

It seems as if the Lord is leading u...