Teague Bible Church

I Single-Handedly Found A Solution For World Peace; Correction; Swirled Peas

I would have a word with all who make lists. I think it is a good thing. Aim at nothing and that is what you get, every time. Let us discuss “when” we do our list.
I notice I feel compelled to make “mental” lists, about the time I decide to carve out time to pray; first thing in the morning. I did not plan to make a “mental” list at that time, but I might as well, I thought, because the wonderful, godly, important things seem to get on that list. It never occurred to me that my enemy would love for me to do this wonderful thing, just about the time I get ready to pray.
You have an enemy. His motto is, “Anything but prayer!” If he were a soldier it would be his repeated motto. It would be on his helmet, and on his gun, and on his locker and on his clothing. Not for himself would it be written; but printed out to remind him of what to do to you. To keep you from prayer.
So back to the lists. When I pray I remove all distractions. But my enemy brings to mind all the things I need to get done on that day. It happens every time I pray. So I keep a paper and pen handy.
The devil really does flee if you resist him. And this list-ready paper and pen will help you as it helps me. I am amazed at how wonderful my list is! How subtle the enemy is, to want me to think on the most self-sacrificing, loving, powerful and wonderful things to do; but he wants me to do this to keep me from prayer. The mental lists that comes up in our minds is not bad, it is just the wrong time to think about it. A lot of sin is acted out by doing a good thing at the wrong time. Did you really catch that last statement?
So I keep that paper and pen handy. I stop for no more than a minute, write down the good things, which may really be from God, then back to spending time with God in prayer. He keeps reminding me I am a human “being,” “becoming” something wonderful in Christ, and not just a human “doer””
of lists. As one man told me, ” We worry about our ‘to-do’ list and not our ‘to-love’ list.
My list have solutions for world peace, poverty, reversing the second law of thermodynamics, how to have changes in my life by doing absolutely nothing to get those changes, how to look awake but be totally asleep, how to swirl peas in mayonnaise and not crust a one! I bet your list is even better.
“Anything but prayer.” Know your enemy. No, it is not Mr. McDougall down the street, it is a subtle voice that says, ” Do you really have time to pray with all the good things you need to do today? Look at that great list! You can pray later!” JWP

” But He would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5: 16
Luke 6:12, 9:18,28, 11:1, 18:1-8

PSALMS 139 WHAT IS MY MOTIVE

Please join us in today’s word. And let us know what you think….either in our comment section or in person at our next service. Join us every Sunday at our new worship times–9:30am for Sunday School and at 10:45am for Worship Service. We’d love to see you here!

PSALMS 2018 Various selections

Please join us in today’s word. And let us know what you think….either in our comment section or in person at our next service. Join us every Sunday at our new worship times–9:30am for Sunday School and at 10:45am for Worship Service. We’d love to see you here!

Please join us in today’s word. And let us know what you think….either in our comment section or in person at our next service. Join us every Sunday at our new worship times–9:30am for Sunday School and at 10:45am for Worship Service. We’d love to see you here!

I knew a man who wanted to leave his two boys something to remember him by, years after he was gone. So when the boys were older teenagers he bought them both very expensive handguns. Both guns had their own fancy cases,both of the guns were chrome- plated with scroll work along the sides. Neither of the boys had done any hunting or shooting in years, but I knew what this father really wanted.
This man said that the boys appreciated the gift, but did not seem all that thrilled about it. He ask me why that was. I told him it was because no part of his life was “living through” those guns. “Nothing in those new guns reminded them of you,” I said.
I told him about a man I knew in Texas who had lost his father. The Texas man and I were just beginning to talk about things he remembered about his dad. He stopped abruptly in mid-conversation and said, “Let me show you, instead of just tell you.”
We go into the garage and there hanging on the wall was an old hand-saw, something from the 50’s. It had a broken handle, kerf- poor from wear, dull as a lying politician, and all taped back together.
He said, “This is what he left me.” At first I assumed he meant that statement as a slight against his dad for leaving him so little. As I looked into his eyes I realized he meant something totally different. He began to cry. And as all men know, when one man is crying ,other men do not look him in the face, or be too quick to comfort. We stood silent for a while.
He said, “Put it in your hand.” I did so with reluctance, realizing I was on holy ground. “What do you notice?” He said. “Well, I realize this thing is deeply embedded with someone else’s hand.” He said, “Yea, but it fits my hand perfectly! It was meant to be; it fits my hand perfectly! ”
He continued to tell how his dad was a carpenter. How the sound of that saw working, in his father’s hand, strengthened him just to hear it in action. How that sometimes, after his father had passed, when no one else was around, he would put his hand into that saw and cut a piece of wood, just to remind Him of his dad.
I said, “This is not really about a saw at all, is it?” He said, “No, not really, it is just a symbol of all the encouragement and grit my father transferred to me even if I did not know what he was doing, or how he did it. My dad knew, the whole time, I mean the whole time, he knew what he was doing! He used this thing to example to me many things about life. He wore himself out in life just for me. He gave and never ask me to give back to him, but rather to give to others. My dad knew what he was doing.”
That last statement stuck with me. “My dad knew what he was doing.” Your Father knows what he is doing. Even when you are not doing so well in your walk, still things are being caught by you, from your Father; because He knows what He is doing in your life. Philippians 1:6
If we want to know God’s will for us this year it will take us becoming like our Father. Spending time with our Father. That means spending time in the Word. Learning what His heart is like, instead of always seeking our own misguided, short-sighted attempts to find happiness apart from the Father. We have to trust His heart for our good, and not our own heart for our good. He is asking us to walk where Jesus walked, in our daily experience. Our hands were made to fit into His hands.

ROMANS 8:14-16 ” For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

ROMANS 15:1-6 ” Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written,’ THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU, FELL ON ME.’ For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” JWP