If you think God can’t use you remember…

The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember…
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate locusts.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene was, well you know.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small. Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer…
Lazarus was dead!

And God isn’t finished with you yet.

How Precious Life Is

Today I taught on the sixth commandment. How important it is that we have a complete understanding of what this commandment speaks about. More than anything I believe it shows us how important life is to God and that we are to hold a view of life that is just as precious as His view. Only God gets to govern when a life could be taken. You and I don’t have that privilege. Because of this it is very important that you and I be on the forefront of such debates as embryonic stem cell research, which just recently got a big boost from our new President.

I used to be a deer hunter and probably one of the biggest rules of hunting is to make sure you know what you are shooting at. There have been many deaths because hunters have guessed when they should have waited. Scientist tell us that they don’t know when life begins. To me it only makes since that until they know then it makes no sense to destroy what many consider to be the beginning of life. For me I believe it starts at conception. Because life is precious to God you and I should be very concerned with this whole stem cell debate. We cannot take a passive stance.

Though I totally disagree with the recent killing of the abortionist in Kansas, I believe he church has taken a silent stance on the whole abortion issue. It reminds me of the story I heard that took place in Germany. It is told that there was a church near the rail road tracks and many times during the Sunday services they could hear the train come by filled with Jews on their way to the concentration camps where many of them would be killed and all of them would suffer. It is told that the minister would just tell the congregation to sing a little louder when the train would pass. I think sometimes that is what we do as a church. We just sing a little louder while babies die in abortion chambers. We like to think it isn’t happening, but sadly it is.

I was saw a video of an ultrasound of an abortion. I made myself watch it. By the way have you ever noticed they never show such videos on TV. Oh they will show a heart surgery but not an abortion. Why? Pro abortion advocates know that you would be horrified. That is why. I made myself watch this video. I saw the baby go to the other side of the womb. I watched the baby scream as limbs were being ripped off. What a tragedy.

Why is this so wrong? It is because each and every one of those little ones are created in the image of God. That is why life is precious. That is why Christians cannot stand back in silence.

The Bible tells us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. That includes the little ones who are guest in their mother’s womb. That includes the embryos that have been frozen that now scientist wish to use in their studies.

Will you speak of for them. I just did.

This blog is not just my opinion…it is based on Scripture. If you don’t like it take it up with your Creator.

Here Is What I Think

I told you I would be telling you what I think.  What I think is that I have a wonderful wife who has continued to stand by me through thick and thin.  She has learned what true forgiveness is.  She has a desire to know what God wants for her.  I’m very thankful for her and I look forward to spending the rest of my days here on this earth with her.  I have not idea what God has planned for us but I know that Satan is fighting hard to not see it come to pass.

Allow me to brag on her just a little bit more.  She is an AWESOME teacher.  She has a very gifted way of communicating to her students bringing out the best in them.  I’m very PROUD of her.

My focus is on pleasing the Lord and living each day focused on being the best husband that she could have. That is what I’m thinking today.

This Is Where You Will Find Me

I recently cancelled by facebook account.  Why?  Well I had some personal reasons but probably one of the largest is that facebook had become an obsession to me.  I wanted to be on it whenever I had an opportunity.  Instead of doing somethings that are important I found myself sitting down at the computer wasting away precious time.  

I plan to start blogging again.  This is where you will find me.  If you want to know what I’m thinking well then you will have to come and see.

I want this blog to be a blessing and not a curse.  I want it to be a place of encouragement to you and I place of accountability for myself.

 

So this is where you will find me.

I Just Can’t Believe That God Would Do This

The last several weeks have been awesome to say the least.  I got offered a job working for AAA in their insurance department.  I love it because it is salary and not commission.  I will never be rich at this job but I will provide for my family and it is a steady flow of income.  One of the best parts is my manager is a Christian.  He is a good man and I’m very impressed with him.  I have to drive one hour one way to get to my job but it has allowed me to do a lot of thinking.  God has blessed me and my family so very much.  It is unbelievable what he has done.  Thanks to all that prayed for me.  I’m including a video to a song that has spoke to me over these past few weeks.  It is my testimony.

It won’t let me embed it so here is the link.  Please go take a look:

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

I’ve been teaching through the book of Exodus and it has been amazing to see how the Lord has spoken to me and my family during this time in our life.  Sometimes it is really hard to understand what God is doing in your life.  Israel had a hard time figuring God out whenever they finally got the go sign to leave Egypt.  At the end of Exodus 13 and the beginning of chapter 14 we see some truths that have been a help to me and I thought I might share them with you.  I know that many of you who read my blog are facing some hard times right now.  This economy is hurting us all in one way or another.  Your struggle may be in your family right now.  It may be with your spouse.  I have no idea what it is but this is what I know.  I know that all of us struggle at times to understand what God is doing in our lives.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10 that He wrote down the Exodus event for our instruction.  He wrote it for us so let’s scoot our chair up to the table and let God instruct us in Exodus.

The first thing that we see at the end of Exodus 13 is God’s kind providence.  Instead of leading Israel through the shortest route to the promised land He led them in a different direction. The short route would have taken only 2 weeks and the longer route would take much longer.  God even lets us in on why He chose the direction that they were to take.  The short route would have been full of dangerous armies right from the start.  God knew that this would break the spirit of the Israelites and that they were not ready for such a battle so he sent them  different direction and the direction he sent them would take much longer.  We are not a patient people.  Have you ever considered that when God sends you in a direction that he is saving you from something else.  Many times we complain because we feel that the way that God has led us in is long and difficult.  You have no idea what God has saved you from.

One of the neatest events of the Exodus takes place also at the end of chapter 13.  Moses and the Israelites remember the promise that they made to Joseph and dig up his bones and place them in a box to carry to the promised land.  Whenever Joseph died he remembered the promises that God had made to Abraham.  When God spoke to Abraham he told him that the children of Israel would spend 400 years in captivity.  Joseph died knowing that his descendants would spend many years in Egypt but eventually they would leave out.  He made them promise when he died to take his bones to the new country.  He died knowing that God would keep his promise.  As they children of Israel went on the longer path I’m sure they were filled with uncertainty.  What was uncertain was the fact that God keeps His promises and the box of Joseph’s bones was a constant reminder of that.  Our lives may be filled with difficulty my dear friend but the Lord keeps his promises.

Chapter 13 ends with a sign of God’s presence.  By day He would lead them with a cloud and by night a pillar of fire.  They would always have God’s presence.  So do we.  He has given us his Holy Spirit to live in us.

As you finish chapter 13 you immediately start to think that the journey is beginning.  I mean they have God’s direction, God’s promises, and God’s presence.  All should be well but just as soon as you open chapter 14 you see some changes.  God gives them a change of direction, Pharaoh changes his mind, and the Israelites change their attitudes.

God gives them a change of direction for the moment when He tells them to back up and camp next to the sea.  The directions didn’t make sense because it placed them in a dangerous position.  It put them between the sea and an oncoming army.  In verses 1-4 God lets Moses in on what He is doing.  Exodus 14:4 says: “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.”  God’s whole purpose in placing them where He did was so that He would get glory and all would know that He is the Lord.  Do you ever think that what is happening to you is really not about you.  That what God is doing to you is way bigger than you.  He is doing something for His glory and so that His name will be exalted.  We just like it to be about us.

Well Pharaoh changes his mind and sends his army after the Israelites thinking they are wandering around and are helpless up next to that sea.  The Israelites change their minds and turn on their leader Moses and tell him that they wish to return to slavery.  We always give the Israelites a hard time here but please remember that slavery is all that they ever knew.   They never knew what a life of freedom could be like.  I think sometimes Satans wants to keep us in bondage too with our old life.  That is another blog post though.

The most amazing thing happened here and you see God’s goodness truly coming out here.  He gives them he instructions of what he wants them to do.  He says:

Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV)
¹³ And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Wow!  He first tells them to “Fear not.”  Did you know that was one of the most popular commands in the Scriptures.  It was one of the first messages of Christmas.  The Puritans used to say:  Fear God and you will have nothing else to fear.  So true.

He tells them to stand their God.  Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord.  God was going to fight for them that day.  They were to weak to fight so God fights for them.  I love that last line. “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”  Being silent is might hard for some of us.  He tells them to be silent and just watch.  Isn’t God good.

So what do you do when you are between a rock and a hard place or an army and the sea?  Well you first need to know that God is sovereign and He is in control of your situation.  You may think that your way is difficult but God just may be saving you from something even worse.  Don’t forget that His name and His glory is more imporant than your name.  I know that is hard to do but you must do it.

Second, never forget God’s promises…never forget His presence.  Dear Christian never forget is covenant love that He has for you.  Every day that you wake up you can rest assured knowing God is for you.

You just obey God in what you know to do.  Let him fight the battles that are bigger than you.  Remember this that if you die in the fight you still have won because His name was brought glory in the effort.

Merle Ivy

Merle waiting to catch an airplane with me.

Today a very dear friend of mine is being laid to rest.  For over three years I was her pastor down in Pascagoula.  She was on the pulpit committee that led the call for me to become the pastor of that church.  She gave me great support while I was there.  Merle taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served as Treasurer, served as Women on Mission leader, served on the Budget and Finance committee, and chaired the Daycare Committee while I was there.  She did all very faithfully.

I’ve been thinking of words to describe Merle and there are many that come to mind.  The problem comes with actually putting them on here in a meaningful way. 

Merle at a McDonalds in Odessa Ukraine

Merle had a big heart.  HUGE!  Even this past year though I was not the pastor at Calvary she sent my son and daughter a Christmas/Birthday happy.  She was one of the most giving people that I know.  Even in the last couple years she helped mentor and teach literacy.  Merle was faithful.  You could always count on her if she agreed to serve.  Merle had spunk.  She was a go getter.  Nothing slowed her down.  Merle was a woman of prayer.  Merle continuously grew in her relationship with the Lord.  Merle would also tell you if she disagreed with you but she would always do it with tears in her eyes.

Probably the greatest experience that I had with Merle is

Merle felt a great deal of love when this poor lady gave her such a beautiful scarf.

when she and I went with some others on a mission trip to the Ukraine.  Even though Merle had been a leader in missions at our church she had never went on such a trip.  I was so surprised when she told me that she wanted to go.  Then I was just excited.  While in the Ukraine I believe that she touched more lives than any because they knew that she had gone through great effort to get there.  She would walk the streets of those villages until she just literally gave out and had to sit in the van.  I will never forget the testimonies that she shared while there.  I also will never forget having to help her with her luggage on that trip.  I laugh because Merle was the Queen of the souviners.  She bought something everywhere she went and I had to carry it through all of the airports for her.  Even in our last stop

Merle sharing her testimony with an interpreter.

before home she was STILL BUYING.  She wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of.

I love Merle Ivy.  I have missed her so much since we moved to Tennessee.  I would include her into a list of the top five people that I have met in my life.  See you in Heaven Merle!  I’m not carrying your luggage up there!

This is Merle and Robyn Dupree with the wife of the host family where they stayed while in Ukraine.

This is the whole mission team in front of the Black Sea.

This is us in Vienna on our way home.

God Is So Good

I’m sure just the title of this post got you humming the song.  “God is so good.  God is so good.  God is so good. He’s so good to me.”  I sung that as a kid like many of you if you grew up even close to a church.  I must admit though that I sang it without putting a  whole lot of thought into it.  While reading and meditating on some Scripture in 2 Chronicles I took notice of something.  When the priest were bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the temple for the very first time they were singing a song.  It was a song that would drive some people nuts in our churches today.  They call them 7-11 songs…seven words that we sing eleven times.  They dont like some of the new worship choruses that are sung today.  Well the song they sang is found in:  2 Chronicles 5:13 (ESV)  and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,”  After Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple they sang it again in 2 Chronicles 7:3.

I think that is something that Satan wants you and I to forget as Christians.  He wants us to doubt the goodness of God and the fact that God has a steadfast love for us.  Now let me stop and give a disclaimer.  This steadfast love that is mentioned here is God’s covenant love that He has for his children.  This is a promise for the children of God.  Dear child of God I believe that Satan wants you to doubt God’s goodness especially when suffering comes.  Satan’s very first attack in the garden was an attack on God’s goodness.  He wants us to believe that God is duping us.  I believe he especially whispers it in our ear whenever the road that we are on is paved with suffering.

That fact that you and I suffer does not change the fact at all that our God is good.  Not at all.  In fact what we find is that God even in our deepest time of suffering is still good and yes, He is being good to us.  Honestly folks we don’t want God to be fair with us.  We want mercy and grace and everyday that we exist is filled with just that.  All of God’s actions are filled with His goodness towards us.  All of them.  I think of that hymn that says:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Now please don’t just read those words above just think how cute those words are.  It is so filled with truth…truth that we need to hear and believe.  Take courage in that cloud that is over you right now.  It may seem like a terrible storm is big in mercy and evevntually will rain blessing upon your head.  Probably my most favorite line in that song is “Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.”  Every action of God is so filled with His goodness.  He is at work to make it good in you.  God maybe breaking you right now.  He may be burning off the impurities in your life.  He is doing good to you.  Never ever let Satan tell you any different.

My Hero

She didn’t do anything but just go in and teach her class.  That is all that she does and because she does that former students want to come back and just hang with her.  That is all that she does but she does it consistently without fail.  She does it when she feels sick.  She does it when he pressures of being a mom and a wife is more than one can handle.  That is what she does.   And this past week it got her put on a list.  Not just anykind of list.  She got placed on some girl’s “hit list”.  A list which wishes harm to someone.

Someobody told her that she must have really been getting on her #$@ for that to happen.  Nope.  All she did was teach her class and maintain order in her class room.

After she made the list she didn’t go to the police and press charges.  She didn’t call the press and complain.  She didn’t have a case of victimization.  She just went back and taught another day because she loves her students.

She is my hero because of the consistent example that she sets for me in her career.  She is the most awesome teacher that I know.  But this week she stepped up in my world because after making this “list” all she did was go back and teach another day…and another.  She has handled herself with such dignity that I couldn’t help but take notice.  I just want you all to know that I love her and that she is my hero.

She is my hero for many other reasons but this blog doesn’t have enough memory for me to type them.  Plus I’ve got a Sunday School lesson to study for.

GOD IS IN THE HOUSE

I totally recognize that my blog is not typical.  I mostly use it to place my devotional thoughts that come to me in my quiet time.  In some ways it becomes my journal.  I don’t talk a lot about politics on here nor do I speak of crazy drivers who cut me off.  I mainly just want to talk about God and what He is doing in my life.  I know and realize that may not be what you want to discuss.  I tend to get more comments when I put pictures about my family or tell a story about how I nearly died on an appointment.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my family and right under God they are the most precious part of my life.  But when I speak about God on here very few comment.  I see too that my blog doesn’t make it on everyone’s blogroll and that is cool.  Not everyone makes mine either.  I’m trying to be careful who my blog connects to so that my witness and testimony is protected.  You are free to blog about whatever you want.  It is your blog.  This is mine.  But I don’t want it to be about me on here but God. 

God has a way of making us feel uncomfortable doeesn’t He?  I mean we love to talk about the grace and love of God but when it comes to his holiness, his justice, or his wrath he shut up.  We say, “Well that is not how I perceive God to be.”  Well that is how He perceives Himself to be.  That is the God of the Bible.  Ligon Duncan once said, “There is the God that is and the God that we want and the two are not the same.”  He went on to say, “There is the God that is and the God that we underline in the Bible and the two are not the same.”  Hey guys we don’t get to choose characteristics of God.  We don’t get to pull God down on our level.  He just won’t do it.

This morning I got up and prayed.  I went down into my study to think about my sermon tomorrow but before I did, I wanted to spend a little time thinking on the Scriptures myself.  Today I read 2 Chronicles 5.  Solomon has built the temple and is now bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the temple.  On top of the Ark was a place known as the mercy seat.  The mercy seat was considered the throne of God and when Moses met with God his presence would be known on this seat.  The Ark was special.  Very special.  The one thing that hit me was this:  2 Chronicles 5:6 (ESV)  And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.  Why were they sacrificing so many sheep and oxen?  They knew that they were a sinful people.  They knew that they needed a sin covering beause God was coming to the temple.  They recognized the holiness of God and when they compared their sinfulness to their holiness they knew something had to be done.  So they sacrificed all of these sheep and oxen so that these animals could stand between them and this holy God.  They recognized just how holy God is.  Do you?

I think that most people see God as this passive being who is passive when it comes to us.  They see Him as one who has made this earth for us to play on and it is our job to play hard.  When I read 2 Chronicles 5 that is not the God that I see.  I see a holy God who desires holiness in His people as well.  I see something deeper.  Dear friend you are a sinner.  You know that.  Because you are a sinner this holy God cannot and will not let you into Heaven because He is holy.  He is so holy that He must judge that sin in your life.  You are just like Solomon and the Israelites here.  You need something between you and this holy God.  Well God has sent something better than a lamb or oxen.  He has sent his only begotten son and He has sacrificed Him.  Jesus Christ was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world.  Jesus faced my judgment and the wrath of God that I deserved.  Why?  So that I can have a relationship with God and be given Heaven one day.  It is only because I’m resting and believing in Christ that this is possible.  I know that Christ is the only way.

You may say that you are believing Christ too.  Well that is good but let me ask you this?  Is this relationship that you have with Christ changing your life?  Because the Scripture tells us that those whom God saves He gives a new heart…a heart that desires holiness…a heart that is changing us and conforming us into the image of Christ Himself.  Dear Christian if you truly are one.  God desires your holiness more than your happiness.  You see they were making all of these preparations because God was coming to the temple.  In the last verse of that chapter it says that the presence of God was so evident that the priests couldn’t function in the temple.  Dear Christian you are that temple today.  If God is living in your life then He is desiring holiness in you.  Jesus died so that you could be changed.

I’m begging you.  Please don’t be passive when it comes to God.  Please know that you too are sinful.  You need Christ to stand between you and this holy God.  Look to Him.  Trust Him.  Believe in Him.  Cry out to Him.

My name is Johnny Beaver and I approve this message.