Tuesday, March 16, 2010
I Love when the Holy Spirit speaks to me!
I laid in bed last night pleading with God to speak to me and this is what He said: So you know when people say "Ohhh ya only pray when you need something or when you're desperate." Well think about this! Do you really think God worries so much about why you pray to Him, or do you think just the fact you are praying to Him is important? I will step out on the limb and say that God loves a "good recession" or a "bad economy" or just desperate people crying their hearts out to the Lord Almighty, in the name of Jesus. I think there are times when the Lord's prayer is appropriate, not so much word for word, but for content. I would think that God is so overjoyed by the way the world is breaking the hearts of His children, we are crying out in desperation to our Father. We are taking pay cuts, getting laid off our jobs, losing our homes, seeing our savings dwindle. All of these things that are not supposed to matter to us so much, but the truth is they do. I am learning to realize that God is really the one in control and not the world around me. God has really shown me the last few years, how prayer has changed my Christian life. In my hour of need I've prayed in desperation, and wondered how I made it through my walk with Christ without really realizing how prayer can truly change the world around me. I understand now that God has protected me and my family, kept me moving in the right direction while He patiently waited to hear from me in my hour of need, knowing full well when that time will come. And has God ever blessed me and my family since I've realized the true power of prayer. I see how prayer has changed me and the world around me, the Holy Spirit is saying to me now, you know that desperation you felt, you know that passion you've had, you know how you've accepted guidance? Now....GET THAT FOR SOMEONE NOT IN YOUR FAMILY BUT IN MINE! AMEN!
Monday, January 12, 2009
So as far as religion vs relationship. It seems that men who started a religion or a church were inspired by God. Then the people followed. People are easily led by an inspired individual. The need to want what someone else has seems to out weigh the need to think for oneself, like it saves time and study, so all that needs to happen is to question “does it sounds right?” My wife says that we should listen to the teachings of our pastors, but their teachings should be taken to the Lord in prayer, to better understand how the Holy Spirit wants to apply the teachings to our lives. It’s up to us to listen!
Back to religion, while people who start the religion are inspired to think and do in a certain manner, a certain set of rules, a certain set of beliefs. While a church founders’ motives may be pure, the people who follow tend to do so just to be a part, and tend to get their eyes off the intended motives and more on following the rules and beliefs of the church. We do things backwards it seems, we tend to check out a church, then buy in to the rules and beliefs of that particular church and accept it as the truth. Whereas in retrospect, we should have gained our rules and beliefs through a relationship with Christ, then go a find a group of believers or a church that has common beliefs. I know I have bought into the teachings of High Desert Church and its been a life changing experience. I’ve yet to buy into everything taught, but I keep taking things to the Lord, establishing a better relationship, so maybe its really not so backwards.
But how can this be accomplished alone with out the guidance of the church? Although I would never limit the power of God, I tried it alone, not quite, but just me and God, I tried to make sense of things on my own, without the help from a group of believers or mentors that could guide me. And what a mess that turned out to be. The Bible gives example after example of how we need to be there for each other, surely God knew that we need Christ and the brotherly love of the church or group of believers to make sense of all this. We can not do this on our own. I wonder where I belong now?
Back to religion, while people who start the religion are inspired to think and do in a certain manner, a certain set of rules, a certain set of beliefs. While a church founders’ motives may be pure, the people who follow tend to do so just to be a part, and tend to get their eyes off the intended motives and more on following the rules and beliefs of the church. We do things backwards it seems, we tend to check out a church, then buy in to the rules and beliefs of that particular church and accept it as the truth. Whereas in retrospect, we should have gained our rules and beliefs through a relationship with Christ, then go a find a group of believers or a church that has common beliefs. I know I have bought into the teachings of High Desert Church and its been a life changing experience. I’ve yet to buy into everything taught, but I keep taking things to the Lord, establishing a better relationship, so maybe its really not so backwards.
But how can this be accomplished alone with out the guidance of the church? Although I would never limit the power of God, I tried it alone, not quite, but just me and God, I tried to make sense of things on my own, without the help from a group of believers or mentors that could guide me. And what a mess that turned out to be. The Bible gives example after example of how we need to be there for each other, surely God knew that we need Christ and the brotherly love of the church or group of believers to make sense of all this. We can not do this on our own. I wonder where I belong now?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
FOUR MONTHS SINCE MY LAST BLOG WOOOOOOWOWOWOOWOW! How time flies! Next weekend we are off to our church's anual Men's Conference. Man this year flew by. I wonder what Christ thinks of me at this moment? I've learned so much this year, about my life, the Word, my relationship with Christ, my wife, my family and life.
Before the Men's Conference last year, I felt as if I had spent forty years in the wilderness of life. Knowing I was a Christian, not really growing, getting by with my personal believes, some biblicle, some "marclicle", none really involving my relationship with Christ. What made the difference this year? What things are different now in my life or those around me?
I think I will start with what I've learned from the word.
1. Salvation can not be lost.
2. The moment a person receives Christ, a FULL portion of the Holy Spirit dwells in the new Christian's soul. The Holy Spirit is permanent, never will leave a Christian, and a Christian does not need more of the Holy Spirit, one just needs to listen.
3. The Holy Spirit speaks for Christ and should never be the center of attention or much less build a religion around the Holy Spirit. The focus should always be CHRIST.
4. Terms like "spirit filled", "speaking in toungues" or "heavenly language" are interpretations of the word that some Christians believe are praying in the Holy Spirit's language; Speaking in tougues is a spiritual gift that one can receive merely by asking God for the gift. But all Christians are "spirit filled" long before one ever asks for any of the spiritual gifts. Understand you can not receive any of the spiritual gifts until you become a christian and the holy spirit fills your soul. When you receive a gift you know it. And if Christians know it? I say lets let them believe it. Its not going to keep a Christian out of heaven. The bottom line is all Christians are spirit filled and there is no spirit in a church building or in a place or someone's home, but get a couple of Christians in a anywhere and its time to have church.
5. The overused term of "MAN'S FREE WILL" changes once man receives Christ. Before Christ the question is to become a believer or not. After receiving Salvation, the question of "MAN'S FREE WILL" becomes does one listen or not. Once a person receives Christ, that person is owned by God and there is nothing man can do to seperate oneself from Him.
6. Christians have a greater influence on their Oikos than they think. Christ is revealed through a Christian's relationships on a day to day basis
7. God's plan for all Christians is to: Love God, Love others, Follow God. This call never changes.
Finally I know that Sean, Myke, Jeremy, Jessie, and Ross are ALL IN!
Before the Men's Conference last year, I felt as if I had spent forty years in the wilderness of life. Knowing I was a Christian, not really growing, getting by with my personal believes, some biblicle, some "marclicle", none really involving my relationship with Christ. What made the difference this year? What things are different now in my life or those around me?
I think I will start with what I've learned from the word.
1. Salvation can not be lost.
2. The moment a person receives Christ, a FULL portion of the Holy Spirit dwells in the new Christian's soul. The Holy Spirit is permanent, never will leave a Christian, and a Christian does not need more of the Holy Spirit, one just needs to listen.
3. The Holy Spirit speaks for Christ and should never be the center of attention or much less build a religion around the Holy Spirit. The focus should always be CHRIST.
4. Terms like "spirit filled", "speaking in toungues" or "heavenly language" are interpretations of the word that some Christians believe are praying in the Holy Spirit's language; Speaking in tougues is a spiritual gift that one can receive merely by asking God for the gift. But all Christians are "spirit filled" long before one ever asks for any of the spiritual gifts. Understand you can not receive any of the spiritual gifts until you become a christian and the holy spirit fills your soul. When you receive a gift you know it. And if Christians know it? I say lets let them believe it. Its not going to keep a Christian out of heaven. The bottom line is all Christians are spirit filled and there is no spirit in a church building or in a place or someone's home, but get a couple of Christians in a anywhere and its time to have church.
5. The overused term of "MAN'S FREE WILL" changes once man receives Christ. Before Christ the question is to become a believer or not. After receiving Salvation, the question of "MAN'S FREE WILL" becomes does one listen or not. Once a person receives Christ, that person is owned by God and there is nothing man can do to seperate oneself from Him.
6. Christians have a greater influence on their Oikos than they think. Christ is revealed through a Christian's relationships on a day to day basis
7. God's plan for all Christians is to: Love God, Love others, Follow God. This call never changes.
Finally I know that Sean, Myke, Jeremy, Jessie, and Ross are ALL IN!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
I BELIEVE..........
I believe that all mankind are sinners and that we need Christ for forgiveness and redemption. How wonderful that I live in a county that allows me to believe in God in a way I want to believe! I give thanks to GOD, my country the USA, and my fellow AMERICANS that have made this FREEDOM possible. I pray for OUR CHILDREN who are fighting the war on terror, and I hope everyone of them will return home safe and sound.
Monday, June 2, 2008
How can God allow this?
The Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11! ManTalk has peaked my interest in this subject. It is true that God is the creator of all things, so one can conclude that God allowed this to happen or God did nothing to stop these terrible deeds. The truth in the matter is that God has tried for ages to keep the world's evil away from his followers, God uses His people to try to bring sense to all this kaos. Its so easy to blame GOD! This is the very evil that GOD has been putting up with for 1000's of years.
The political sense, we as a nation were asleep at the the wheel, especially 9/11. We saw what happened in OKC bombing and 9/11 still occurred. This is the evil God rejects. God is leading us now on a campaign to keep the fight out of this nation. Yes I did say God and not President Bush, President Bush is only a servant to our Lord and he's been chosen to protect God's people from senseless violence on the innocent.
The common sense, no one has attacked us since, thank you God, our prayers are being answered. And I thank every son and daughter of this great nation that is protecting the ones I love at this very moment.
The religious sense, thank GOD president Bush is a Christian! This is a Christian Nation, no matter how hard we try to separate the church and state, or maybe better put the people who run our nation, the majority are Christians.
God is not a co-conspirator with the evil that man does as a point of fact (just read His Word) and certainly not in these two events! As always, God was able to rally this nation in the aftermath of these catastophies. More and more people came to God and asked why, and people were saved, and people, GOD's people mourned for those we have never even met, and Christ brought comfort. As Christians now its our job to bear "much fruit". We must keep raising Christian Children, we must support our Missionaries, we must support those who protect us and above all we must pray.
The political sense, we as a nation were asleep at the the wheel, especially 9/11. We saw what happened in OKC bombing and 9/11 still occurred. This is the evil God rejects. God is leading us now on a campaign to keep the fight out of this nation. Yes I did say God and not President Bush, President Bush is only a servant to our Lord and he's been chosen to protect God's people from senseless violence on the innocent.
The common sense, no one has attacked us since, thank you God, our prayers are being answered. And I thank every son and daughter of this great nation that is protecting the ones I love at this very moment.
The religious sense, thank GOD president Bush is a Christian! This is a Christian Nation, no matter how hard we try to separate the church and state, or maybe better put the people who run our nation, the majority are Christians.
God is not a co-conspirator with the evil that man does as a point of fact (just read His Word) and certainly not in these two events! As always, God was able to rally this nation in the aftermath of these catastophies. More and more people came to God and asked why, and people were saved, and people, GOD's people mourned for those we have never even met, and Christ brought comfort. As Christians now its our job to bear "much fruit". We must keep raising Christian Children, we must support our Missionaries, we must support those who protect us and above all we must pray.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
TEMPTATION
Sometimes I don't always recognize temptation til its too late, boy, I'm glad I'm a Christian! I know God is carrying me through these times. I am in his hands when the sin in me rises up from the very nature of my soul. I just need to listen. Time and time again I've been witness to the fact that Christ offers a way out of every temptation. I just need to listen.
The bible says that Christ' followers recognize his voice. That little voice that says DON'T DO IT! That is really Christ. It's not me! I've surrendered my life to Christ! If you're not a christian and you hear that voice you're just darn lucky we were all created in God's Image, made to be perfect, til the sin of Adam. Go ahead keep gambling with eternity.
So in those moments, when rationalization of sin creeps in, Christ is speaking to us, giving us direction, so recognize his voice. Christ says HIS sheep recognize his voice and listen to him.
OK SHEEP, ARE YOU HIS?
The bible says that Christ' followers recognize his voice. That little voice that says DON'T DO IT! That is really Christ. It's not me! I've surrendered my life to Christ! If you're not a christian and you hear that voice you're just darn lucky we were all created in God's Image, made to be perfect, til the sin of Adam. Go ahead keep gambling with eternity.
So in those moments, when rationalization of sin creeps in, Christ is speaking to us, giving us direction, so recognize his voice. Christ says HIS sheep recognize his voice and listen to him.
OK SHEEP, ARE YOU HIS?
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Hey Small Group
Pastor Todd was on the ball this week!
We are about to embark on Jesus' mission for us. Jessie and Bernadettes's (The Lees) Oikos! We get to meet them and enteract with them. How will the Lee's Oikos recognize Jesus in us? This is the oppurtinity that I've been praying for since we started this study of John. This study of John is the the Ultimate WWJD. OK I'm praying for the Lee's Oikos. I'm praying that we can be a shining light that Jesus would be - if he attended this Celebration. Time to plant the seeds of salvation, people. ARE YOU UP FOR THE TASK?
We are about to meet face to face the Lee's family that know they are Christians, and they may be skeptical like Jesus' own family was.
We are about to meet the confused, that will say what kind of church is this HDC that the Lee's attend.
We are about to meet the receptive that love the Lee's and only wish the best for them, but like Nicodemus, will need proof the the Lee's and our small group - are we really the Christians that we say we are.
Our small group must show the Lee's that we are behind them in every aspect of their lives, their marraige, their family, and their oikos.
What can we do special for the Lees at this Celebration?
Pastor Todd nailed this one for us, Our mission is to provide the means of Salvation to the Lee's Oikos and Demostrate undenying Love to Lee's Oikos.
Marc and Deb
We are about to embark on Jesus' mission for us. Jessie and Bernadettes's (The Lees) Oikos! We get to meet them and enteract with them. How will the Lee's Oikos recognize Jesus in us? This is the oppurtinity that I've been praying for since we started this study of John. This study of John is the the Ultimate WWJD. OK I'm praying for the Lee's Oikos. I'm praying that we can be a shining light that Jesus would be - if he attended this Celebration. Time to plant the seeds of salvation, people. ARE YOU UP FOR THE TASK?
We are about to meet face to face the Lee's family that know they are Christians, and they may be skeptical like Jesus' own family was.
We are about to meet the confused, that will say what kind of church is this HDC that the Lee's attend.
We are about to meet the receptive that love the Lee's and only wish the best for them, but like Nicodemus, will need proof the the Lee's and our small group - are we really the Christians that we say we are.
Our small group must show the Lee's that we are behind them in every aspect of their lives, their marraige, their family, and their oikos.
What can we do special for the Lees at this Celebration?
Pastor Todd nailed this one for us, Our mission is to provide the means of Salvation to the Lee's Oikos and Demostrate undenying Love to Lee's Oikos.
Marc and Deb
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Oikos! My spirtual family
So my life has been pretty much planned out by me, Marc Shivers, pretty much making decisions and fitting God into "my" plans for my life. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! So what's wrong with this picture? Well Pastor Tom has tasked our small Group with stepping out and asking about our oikos "what kinds of breads do people in your oikos seek so they can satisfy their spiritual hunger." Suprisingly, I did not know my oikos well enough to answer. I have a vague idea, based on their actions, but the fact remains, I have not been interested enough in their soul to notice. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! There's still something wrong with this picture. God get me on your road, and I'll fit my life into your plans for a change.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
FOR MY SMALL GROUP - A Gift from GOD!
Today people have a hard time believing the message of Christ. They accept that Jesus is the son of God, but they lack the experience, the personal experience! People don't think they need the hope that Jesus offers.
So when we talk about the body of Christ (the church body), we are the backbone, we are here, seeking Jesus, living salvation, studying the word, experiencing a personal relationship with Christ. So when the non-church goers and the unsaved need help, we are there, we are ready.
This is our mission! To be prepared when God brings us an extended mission. So if you feel we are not doing enough, that is satan and guilt. The mere fact that you are here, growing in his word, you are being prepared for your extended mission.
So lets pray as a group that God will bring us an extended mission, a mission that will put us face to face with non-believers. Lets be obedient and look where Christ is leading us as a group. Lets not look so much at what I can do by myself, but what we can do together. Lets pray in earnest as a group that we can be prepared for what Christ needs done and lets take the step of faith, whether we think we are prepared or not, to accept a MISSION FROM GOD!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Gifts
I've been praying for the gift of faith, you know that faith that is God-given. For decades, I've been relying on the "my own" faith in God to get me by. Well I just did get by, now that my God-given gift of faith is in me, I know now that Christ is in me and always will be no matter what. When I'm weak and not feeling very spiritual, God is there actually carrying me through my despair. God gave me a word for our Bible Study Group, how exciting! Another wonderful gift that I didn't ask for, God is Good! I can't wait to share with em.
Monday, December 17, 2007
'TIS THE SEASON
We are learning in the book of John why Jesus would perform the miracles he did. As humans we get so involved in what we want at the moment, that we tend to forget about furthering the kingdom. As I go through the day, I will use my job to further the kingdom. I'm not sure how I'll do that yet, but I'll let God show me the right time. As a real estate agent, I speak to many people, I think I'll answer my phone with Merry Christmas. Since Happy Holidays is politically correct, people will know I'm a Christian by this greeting. I wonder how I can further his kingdom, next week, after Christmas.
Its nice to drop off gifts, and bring presents for the needy, after all, 'tis the season. How will these things further his kingdom, we need follow up. In 2008 eight we should follow up with these folks we have helped during this Christmas season and ensure their hearts are with Jesus. We need to know if these folks will need help again next year.
Its nice to drop off gifts, and bring presents for the needy, after all, 'tis the season. How will these things further his kingdom, we need follow up. In 2008 eight we should follow up with these folks we have helped during this Christmas season and ensure their hearts are with Jesus. We need to know if these folks will need help again next year.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
THE SECRET?
I watched the movie of the secret today and I really enjoyed how the makers of the film described how "the secret works". The film explained the use of positive energy in today's world to achieve all that you can imagine.
I couldn't help chuckling under my breath as the film makers scientifically explained the "truth". Yes they tried to hide the miracles of Jesus with scientific data and expert opinions from MD and NMD, DO's, philosophers, but.....they had known Christians in the film too that you could kind of tell that they just wanted to bust out and say Jesus knew "the secret", in fact Jesus is the secret, and always has been and always will be.
Our study of John at HDC and the message of Jesus is eerily similar to the message of of this film, in fact as I watched, things would be said that I had just studied in John. The film gives us practical ways to focus our "energy" or in my case the Holy Spirit, along with the truths to receive all you ask for. Yes this film did a good job of explaining the secret. Guess what Jesus is no secret. He is in the hearts of every christian on the planet, and the the real TRUTH, the real ANSWER to life's joy.
The film talked about the entire universe being energy, energy that is being transformed, then released, well guess what, the film explained scientifically a power far greater than we are and in everything and everywhere, always has been there and always will be, undeniable proof of God's existence. If you didn't believe in God before watching this film, you surely would by the end.
This film is a must see!
worship
Our study of John has been so eye opening to me. The full court press our Pastors at HDC are employing is really taking its toll on me. Ive heard the accounts of the samaritan women at the well so many times in my life, but now i'm listening. I'm listening to Jesus saying stop relying on the Church to feed you, spiritually speaking of course. Jesus told the women that the time has come to worship and have a spiritual relationship with him, the truth! The women could only think of her religion and the fact the Jews claimed Jeusalem for themselves, so no samaritan could go to worship. So typical of us humans, blame someone else for our lack of spirituality. JESUS, I GET IT. I NEED TO WORSHIP YOU EVERY DAY, no matter how i feel, no matter who has said something to me, about me or whatever worldly problems I'm having, NOT JUST ON SUNDAYS.
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