Text from l Samuel 21:1-9-
David was fleeing from Saul and went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. David lied to him and told him he was about the king's business. The priest decided to go by the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law, and he gave David the old bread that he had just exchanged for new bread, even though it was not lawful to do so. He determined that it was more important to help the desperate man than to follow a doctrinal position. He chose relationship over rules.
David asked for a weapon and the priest gave him the sword of Goliath, which David had used to cut off Goliath's head. It reminded David of God's presence in His life and helped him face his present fear because of his past victories with that same sword.
We come to church to be given bread for the day and a sword for tomorrow.
The bread we receive helps us through a present crisis of abject hunger and the sword helps us face our crucible and move on.
What is the fear that you face that keeps you from moving on?
What is keeping your life and calling on hold?
Your children are waiting for you to get beyond this.
Heaven is cheering you on and saying, "You can do it."
It's time to grow up and move on.
We cannot be coddled forever.
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There is a time to confront a sinner and make them face the lie that is attached to their sin.
There is a time to shake the dust off of our feet when someone refuses to hear the truth.
How long do we allow someone to eat from a pig's trough?
How long do we wait for them to come to themselves?
When do we comfort and help and encourage?
When do we rebuke and expect a change?
These are difficult questions for those who are responsible for the thriving of our souls.
God help them and give them wisdom.
Jesus poured His life into twelve men, and one man absolutely betrayed Him and another denied Him. We are bound to be hurt and betrayed by those we have poured our lives into. We cannot allow the fear and the pain of betrayal keep us from pouring our lives into others.
(I read one time that we will not truly know how to minister to others unless we have felt the sting of betrayal.)
When people come to church, they do not have to clean themselves up first.
The purpose of the church is to help people in their desperation.
The purpose of the church is to feed people with the Bread of Life and give them a sword to face their fears.
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Sunday, April 5, 2009
God TV
I was listening to Benny Hinn on God TV.
He said two things that were new thoughts to me.
He said that there is something Jesus cannot do that we can do and this one thing we can do is the greater thing He was referring to when He said, "Greater things will you do than this." What can be greater than healing the blind, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, and forgiving sins?
This is what Jesus cannot do.
He cannot say, " I once was lost but now I'm found.
Nor can He say, " I once was a sinner but now I am saved."
These are only things that you and I can say.
This is the gospel that we preach.
We can attest to His forgiveness of sins, His Resurrection, and His ascension.
We have a story to tell that He cannot.
We call Him 'Blessed Redeemer", "Wonderful Saviour", "Spotless Lamb of God that was Slain."
And this is the gospel we preach to the ends of the world.
Which brings me to his second point.
Before the second coming of Christ, there will be earthquakes, famines, and troubles. Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. (Mark 13:7-10) Mr. Hinn said that we have always had these in some degree or another.
But, the phenomenon that is occurring around the world is this:
The Gospel is being preached to all nations.
Before Jesus comes back, this must be fulfilled.
Through satellite and TV, etc. this is happening.
Even as we see all the terrible things taking place around the world,
we can be proactive and support the work of those who are taking the gospel around the world.
All nations will be given an to opportunity to choose to believe in Him.
We can now see how this can be done.
Even so, Lord Jesus, come.
He said two things that were new thoughts to me.
He said that there is something Jesus cannot do that we can do and this one thing we can do is the greater thing He was referring to when He said, "Greater things will you do than this." What can be greater than healing the blind, raising the dead, cleansing the leper, and forgiving sins?
This is what Jesus cannot do.
He cannot say, " I once was lost but now I'm found.
Nor can He say, " I once was a sinner but now I am saved."
These are only things that you and I can say.
This is the gospel that we preach.
We can attest to His forgiveness of sins, His Resurrection, and His ascension.
We have a story to tell that He cannot.
We call Him 'Blessed Redeemer", "Wonderful Saviour", "Spotless Lamb of God that was Slain."
And this is the gospel we preach to the ends of the world.
Which brings me to his second point.
Before the second coming of Christ, there will be earthquakes, famines, and troubles. Nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. (Mark 13:7-10) Mr. Hinn said that we have always had these in some degree or another.
But, the phenomenon that is occurring around the world is this:
The Gospel is being preached to all nations.
Before Jesus comes back, this must be fulfilled.
Through satellite and TV, etc. this is happening.
Even as we see all the terrible things taking place around the world,
we can be proactive and support the work of those who are taking the gospel around the world.
All nations will be given an to opportunity to choose to believe in Him.
We can now see how this can be done.
Even so, Lord Jesus, come.
April 2-5. 2009-Hertzler Doings
April 2nd-Pastor Josh came to have lunch with Susan at school. I think he is doing that with all of the Kingdom Kids. He enjoyed playing basketball with the 6-11 grade boys and with Dr. Hubler. I went to town to run errands and be with Lindsay and the girls. We walked to the Longwood Cafeteria, pushing the girls in the stroller in the midst of drizzle. Every time I walk in the college street area, my heart is stirred again, and I remember the dream I had about Jesus walking on a college street. I am pretty sure I know which of those building stairs I was sitting on when He walked by.
Emma had a potty training accident in the cafeteria. It was a long walk to the bathroom for her. Lindsay would like to skip this part of child-rearing. It's a good thing her diaper bag had a built-in ziploc bag. I stayed with Adi while she entertained the college students with her ability to walk around and be so little. It was drizzling hard on the way back home and Lindsay put some of my clothes in the dryer and I snuggled with Emma under a blanket. She fell asleep on my lap and when Lindsay went to move her so I could leave, she'd cry out, "No! No!" I rearranged my schedule in my mind because I've been wanting to snuggle with them when they nap for quite some time. So, Lindsay and I talked while Emma slept and Adi fought sleep and we got excited thinking about mentoring and the positive effect it would have on the women at church. Adi didn't want me to leave either and it was all very pleasant. It was so hard to leave them and go to Walmart, but some things have to be done. That eve. Susan and I tackled the egg business in a big way. We made our last cream filling and rolled and froze the last eggs for this year, please Jesus, as my friend, Mary would say. We've made 5-600 eggs according to my calculations.
April 3-Went to 'The Promise', in the evening. Our church puts on an Easter and Christmas musical every year. Phil played Pilate. The other night, I asked him to sing me his part while we were snuggling in bed. He complied.
As soon as 'Jesus' (Pastor Rob) came out on stage, I began to cry. It seemed as if Jesus Himself was there. PR not only looks like Jesus, he acts like Him. I think it must be so humbling to play this part. I don't think you can play the part and not feel His heart for humanity. It was my favorite performance of 'The Promise' so far.
April 4-Philip took Susan turkey hunting in the morning. She shot but missed. Philip was beside himself. Freeman worked for Mike all day. Michael worked at the Loy's vineyard. Susan and I worked on filling all the orders for the eggs. We had some minor glitches which felt like major ones at the time. But, we are finally finished. Tomorrow, we will make the final deliveries to the teachers at school. Susan took me down to the river to have some time to myself. She went and got some watercress from the creek and came back to clean her room, while I listened to the water and got some semblance of peace back to my soul. We watched a movie together that night-'What a Girl Wants.'
April 5-Went to church this morning a bit late. A smaller cow had a calf and it died. Phil pulled so hard to get the calf out that he had to sit down and put his head between his legs. I met a deaf lady at church today. She was excited that I knew some sign language. I am really rusty. I have a deaf nephew and my sister and her husband both interpret as a livelihood. We came home and ate some chili. Phil and I slept and Freeman and Alli went for a walk to the river to see the bluebells. Phil went back to church for the last performance of the musical and the others are watching some kind of panda movie. It's fun listening to Alli laugh. She sounds like a bubbling brook. I have not felt well since yesterday afternoon when I tasted some butter cream egg. My throat swelled up and it's been hurting ever since. Slept so little last night from the pain and the difficulty of swallowing. This should teach me not to eat sugar and chocolate ever again.( P.S. Medical diagnosis on Monday was 'acute bronchitis')
Philip, Zach, and Chad put the kayaks in at our river and Michael picked them up later, with Philip's truck, down by the bridge. Cell phones are really useful for this kind of thing. I just got one in the last few months, but I keep forgetting that I have it and the charge runs out.
Emma had a potty training accident in the cafeteria. It was a long walk to the bathroom for her. Lindsay would like to skip this part of child-rearing. It's a good thing her diaper bag had a built-in ziploc bag. I stayed with Adi while she entertained the college students with her ability to walk around and be so little. It was drizzling hard on the way back home and Lindsay put some of my clothes in the dryer and I snuggled with Emma under a blanket. She fell asleep on my lap and when Lindsay went to move her so I could leave, she'd cry out, "No! No!" I rearranged my schedule in my mind because I've been wanting to snuggle with them when they nap for quite some time. So, Lindsay and I talked while Emma slept and Adi fought sleep and we got excited thinking about mentoring and the positive effect it would have on the women at church. Adi didn't want me to leave either and it was all very pleasant. It was so hard to leave them and go to Walmart, but some things have to be done. That eve. Susan and I tackled the egg business in a big way. We made our last cream filling and rolled and froze the last eggs for this year, please Jesus, as my friend, Mary would say. We've made 5-600 eggs according to my calculations.
April 3-Went to 'The Promise', in the evening. Our church puts on an Easter and Christmas musical every year. Phil played Pilate. The other night, I asked him to sing me his part while we were snuggling in bed. He complied.
As soon as 'Jesus' (Pastor Rob) came out on stage, I began to cry. It seemed as if Jesus Himself was there. PR not only looks like Jesus, he acts like Him. I think it must be so humbling to play this part. I don't think you can play the part and not feel His heart for humanity. It was my favorite performance of 'The Promise' so far.
April 4-Philip took Susan turkey hunting in the morning. She shot but missed. Philip was beside himself. Freeman worked for Mike all day. Michael worked at the Loy's vineyard. Susan and I worked on filling all the orders for the eggs. We had some minor glitches which felt like major ones at the time. But, we are finally finished. Tomorrow, we will make the final deliveries to the teachers at school. Susan took me down to the river to have some time to myself. She went and got some watercress from the creek and came back to clean her room, while I listened to the water and got some semblance of peace back to my soul. We watched a movie together that night-'What a Girl Wants.'
April 5-Went to church this morning a bit late. A smaller cow had a calf and it died. Phil pulled so hard to get the calf out that he had to sit down and put his head between his legs. I met a deaf lady at church today. She was excited that I knew some sign language. I am really rusty. I have a deaf nephew and my sister and her husband both interpret as a livelihood. We came home and ate some chili. Phil and I slept and Freeman and Alli went for a walk to the river to see the bluebells. Phil went back to church for the last performance of the musical and the others are watching some kind of panda movie. It's fun listening to Alli laugh. She sounds like a bubbling brook. I have not felt well since yesterday afternoon when I tasted some butter cream egg. My throat swelled up and it's been hurting ever since. Slept so little last night from the pain and the difficulty of swallowing. This should teach me not to eat sugar and chocolate ever again.( P.S. Medical diagnosis on Monday was 'acute bronchitis')
Philip, Zach, and Chad put the kayaks in at our river and Michael picked them up later, with Philip's truck, down by the bridge. Cell phones are really useful for this kind of thing. I just got one in the last few months, but I keep forgetting that I have it and the charge runs out.
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