I appreciate the Lord this morning. I had a good time with the HIM in my Ford pickup while going to work this morning. I had a gospel CD with a young male quartet that I had for a long time. It was still in a plastic case and sealed. It was given to us many years ago, as we had visiting groups to come in and sing every 3rd Sunday night.
Now many groups have the professional sound with the guitars and drums, and they had that on this CD, even on this first song. I thought, well, I will at least hear them out. But then, the sound got better and the song selection was great and what I enjoyed. They got to singing about the fountain and how there is a vast supply and how it will not run dry. Well, that's all it took for me . . . and I got HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY.
But I wondered, after I calm down a bit. What does a song like that mean to others?? I raised my hands in praise, of course I was at a stop light, but the songs moved me because I knew what it was ALL about. Also, I was raised on those songs and grew up listening to them. I saw many a christian shout with joy and shed happy tears. Particularly because, we rejoice in the fact that there is a fountain that has a vast supply and will never run dry.
You see, like the woman at the well, I was seeking and I found HIM, and now I want to share HIM with all. She thought, I want water for my physical thirst. But, Jesus had something to drink unto eternal life. The spiritual meaning it's eternal. And so it is with many today, they want and search for temporal satisfaction never considering the eternal or after life. WHAT YOU DO IN THIS LIFE SHALL PAST, BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS SHALL LAST !!
God bless you friend, I just wanted to share my happiness in Lord today at writing of this blog post. If you are lost, you need to be saved. Accept Jesus into your heart and life, confess yours sins and live for and with HIM.
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Eternity it to long to be wrong. Call on Him today.
May God Bless you,
RevDanSam
(ps. ok, happy, happy,happy is from Duck guy, but it describes what happened to me today)
:-)
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Musing 8-2-8
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
One day this week, I carried my son to work where he is doing an internship. As in the days of High school times, he wanted to have prayer time in the Ford F150 pickup truck. We usually have prayer time while the truck warms up and windows defrost. We have prayer and quote a bible verse. This particular morning I had him to quote Romans 8:28. And then I thought about that verse the rest of the day.
First, I thought many times that many will miss-quote that verse. For many will only quote only half of that verse for an excuse or justify something bad that has happened to them. But an investigation of the verse says first "to them that love God" a heart felt believing and trusting in God. The love that a true believer has toward God. Not mere head knowledge, but a heart knowledge too.
Secondly, the bible says "to them who are the called". Now many will confuse the call to service when God is calling them to salvation first. I think it's very consistent in the bible and taught through out the bible. From Adam to Noah, from Abraham to Moses, From the disciples to Peter and Paul. There was always a personal call to know Him first, then there was service.
I believe in the three Calls. The call of salvation, the call of service and the call of separation or sanctification. And many religions and many reason these in confusion. For one to be saved, he then becomes a child of God. But then he needs to separate worldly wisdom, words and ways out of his life and this is done through the word and the Holy Spirit. Then you can serve Him, then you will understand what it's all about. Saved, separated and then serve. And wait for His second coming, but that's another blog post someday. :-)
But truly, I am glad that All things work together for good, but it's for those who love God and those who are called. I can remember when He called me to salvation and I can remember when He called to service. And daily He calls me through His word and Holy Spirit to be separated or sanctified. But He's still working on me, To make me what I outta be. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God and conformed to the image of his Son,
But dear friend, answer the call, God works at different times and in different ways to get your attention. So hear ye Him while He is near, Draw nigh to the Lord and He will draw nigh to you.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Our unseen faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Heb. 11:1-3
One never knows when and what God will do to remind you of a spiritual truth as He did to us.
The other day, I ask my son to take out the trash. When he came back in the house, he said I have walked through a spider web. I feel it but I cannot see it. I instinctively said son that's just like faith. The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
It reminded me of the little boy who was kite flying. His kite was so high in the clouds and could not be seen. Another little boy came by his way, who was his neighbor, and he ask where's your kite and how do you know it there?? The boy said I know it's there because I feel the tug from the other side.
Truly, in many times and in many ways, God works in the unseen. When we don't know how, that's when God steps in. It's like the wind. We can not see the wind but only the effects of it. But the wind feels good on a very hot day.
In our day that we live in now, many have turn away from unseen faith and desire the seen and practical. It instead of praying for twenty dollars, they want 20 dollars in their hand and they want it now. But God says to ask, seek and knock. Ask God, the reason we have not is because we ask not. Then we should seek God, and look for Him to work and see His workings. Knock really speaks of opening. Allowing God to open doors and ways for Him to work.
It's like the scriptures that say pray in secret and I will reward thee openly. We should live and work by faith.
"There is an unseen hand to me, that leads the way I cannot see, while going through this land of woe, His unseen hand will lead me as I go, I'm trusting to, His unseen hand, that leads me through this weary land and some sweet day, I'll reach that strand, still guided by the unseen hand".
Dear friend, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God bless you,
RevDanSam
One never knows when and what God will do to remind you of a spiritual truth as He did to us.
The other day, I ask my son to take out the trash. When he came back in the house, he said I have walked through a spider web. I feel it but I cannot see it. I instinctively said son that's just like faith. The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
It reminded me of the little boy who was kite flying. His kite was so high in the clouds and could not be seen. Another little boy came by his way, who was his neighbor, and he ask where's your kite and how do you know it there?? The boy said I know it's there because I feel the tug from the other side.
Truly, in many times and in many ways, God works in the unseen. When we don't know how, that's when God steps in. It's like the wind. We can not see the wind but only the effects of it. But the wind feels good on a very hot day.
In our day that we live in now, many have turn away from unseen faith and desire the seen and practical. It instead of praying for twenty dollars, they want 20 dollars in their hand and they want it now. But God says to ask, seek and knock. Ask God, the reason we have not is because we ask not. Then we should seek God, and look for Him to work and see His workings. Knock really speaks of opening. Allowing God to open doors and ways for Him to work.
It's like the scriptures that say pray in secret and I will reward thee openly. We should live and work by faith.
"There is an unseen hand to me, that leads the way I cannot see, while going through this land of woe, His unseen hand will lead me as I go, I'm trusting to, His unseen hand, that leads me through this weary land and some sweet day, I'll reach that strand, still guided by the unseen hand".
Dear friend, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God bless you,
RevDanSam
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The tragedy of a hidden gospel
2 Corinthians 4
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
So the message of the gospel is special to me. It gave me life and it was truly more abundantly. The message spoke peace to me. It spoke happiness to me, I am glad I got saved that day. Then after a while, the gospel gave me a mission to go on. I started to serve Him in every way of my life and being. I wonder sometimes, what would I have done, where would I have gone?? I would have gone down and away. I probably would have gone a drunkard's life. I would have when down. I am glad I got saved that day.
Now I have a desire to share that message, His message, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want others to hear and have the chance to received Jesus Christ into their heart and life. Especially when the gospel is being hid from a lost and dying world. That saddens me.
The gospel is hid by the devil. The enemy of God and the christian. He attacks the mind, just like he did in the garden of Eden. "Hath God said ??" as he purposefully does, to all. He did it to Adam and Eve and all / everybody since and this day.
My prayer, if you are a Christan, do not hide the gospel in your acts and activities. While trying to be relevant to the world. You should live by faith and trust that God's word will work !! What Christ did on the cross will work.
There are more to convert, there are more conversions needed. And if our gospel is hid, it will be hid from them that are lost.
Dear friend if you are lost, be saved, if you are saved you should be about the Father's business working and laboring for Him. For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel and after they are saved baptize them the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen !!
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Lad and Dad Day
When I was a young preacher, I was very hard, when preaching, on my fellow Christians. I heard an elderly preacher say, "young preachers are like a pack of young hunting dogs, they will just bark at anything and bark because other young dogs are barking" It is very humorous now, in my mid fifties and over 30 years of serving Him, but I still appreciate the zeal of a young preacher, and, I hope they will stay with God. (the god of this world can blind their eyes)
But as a young independent fundamental missionary minded preacher boy, I was hard on my fellow Christians and questioned their love and devotion in attendance and activities to the church. Of course that was when I was a young single man. Family and children changes things. Although many years later, I had a great realization in my life, if I missed a couple of Sundays or Wednesday nights, I still 50 other Sundays or Wednesday nights to attend. And if I had members there, at church, 50 times a year it was alright. (especially these days) :-)
I heard an evangelist say many years a go, that God first established the HOME, House of God, then human government. And just in that order, first the home (family) House of God (worship & fellowship) Human government (rules & laws to live by) And the devil attacks and is still attacking each one today!! It is very sad to see the down fall of the home and house of God. Also human gov but that's another blog post, someday.
So the lad and I will spend time to together this weekend. Another model train weekend. We will pray and we will play. Or execute the proper train load and composition of freight cars in the era of our models. :-) (maybe he will remember the good times)
But dear friend, the bible seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
(song, I'd rather have Jesus)
But as a young independent fundamental missionary minded preacher boy, I was hard on my fellow Christians and questioned their love and devotion in attendance and activities to the church. Of course that was when I was a young single man. Family and children changes things. Although many years later, I had a great realization in my life, if I missed a couple of Sundays or Wednesday nights, I still 50 other Sundays or Wednesday nights to attend. And if I had members there, at church, 50 times a year it was alright. (especially these days) :-)
I heard an evangelist say many years a go, that God first established the HOME, House of God, then human government. And just in that order, first the home (family) House of God (worship & fellowship) Human government (rules & laws to live by) And the devil attacks and is still attacking each one today!! It is very sad to see the down fall of the home and house of God. Also human gov but that's another blog post, someday.
So the lad and I will spend time to together this weekend. Another model train weekend. We will pray and we will play. Or execute the proper train load and composition of freight cars in the era of our models. :-) (maybe he will remember the good times)
But dear friend, the bible seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
(song, I'd rather have Jesus)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
How to draw all men
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32
I am amused and interested in the things in which today's modern church will do to bring the lost in to the church. So Pastors are numbers men, they are always wanting and going for the large numbers. And I understand their argument for doing it. The more you get, is the more you win. And some will say this is what Jesus did, then use the numbers from the Feeding of the 5000, to back it up.
Some are into name changing. You don't call it church, you call it a Family Center. you don't call it Sunday school, you call it Bible study or small groups. And you definitely don't mention denomination such as Baptist or Methodist. And I want to say, that I am not throwing rocks here, just making a friendly observation. We should be laborers together with Him. :-)
But if you use secular ideas to draw them, then you will have to use secular ideas to keep them. If you use entertainment to draw them, you will have to use entertainment to keep them. If you use music to draw them, then you will need music to keep them. And so-on and so-forth . . .
Jesus used healing, helping and happiness of truth to gain His multitudes. Those who were healed and many of their family members followed Him. Those who were helped and their family members followed Him. Those who were so happy about His great and loving truth that He taught followed Him. His miracles, mission and message is what He used in that day.
In my half century life, of which 37 years was spent serving and following Him, I still think the cross will work, the cross will still draw men. It touched many hearts and will continue to touch hearts. The gospel is the net and can still be used today. If we lift Him up to the world see a loving sacrificial savior, then He will draw all men. If you use the cross to draw them, then the cross with keep them.
So let us be laborers together and work for Him. Followers of Christ make followers of Christ. Go ye into ALL the world. If each one could reach one. The church would double tomorrow.
But dear friend, if you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, you need to do so today. Now is the accepted time, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believes in Him shall not perished but have eternal life.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
I am amused and interested in the things in which today's modern church will do to bring the lost in to the church. So Pastors are numbers men, they are always wanting and going for the large numbers. And I understand their argument for doing it. The more you get, is the more you win. And some will say this is what Jesus did, then use the numbers from the Feeding of the 5000, to back it up.
Some are into name changing. You don't call it church, you call it a Family Center. you don't call it Sunday school, you call it Bible study or small groups. And you definitely don't mention denomination such as Baptist or Methodist. And I want to say, that I am not throwing rocks here, just making a friendly observation. We should be laborers together with Him. :-)
But if you use secular ideas to draw them, then you will have to use secular ideas to keep them. If you use entertainment to draw them, you will have to use entertainment to keep them. If you use music to draw them, then you will need music to keep them. And so-on and so-forth . . .
Jesus used healing, helping and happiness of truth to gain His multitudes. Those who were healed and many of their family members followed Him. Those who were helped and their family members followed Him. Those who were so happy about His great and loving truth that He taught followed Him. His miracles, mission and message is what He used in that day.
In my half century life, of which 37 years was spent serving and following Him, I still think the cross will work, the cross will still draw men. It touched many hearts and will continue to touch hearts. The gospel is the net and can still be used today. If we lift Him up to the world see a loving sacrificial savior, then He will draw all men. If you use the cross to draw them, then the cross with keep them.
So let us be laborers together and work for Him. Followers of Christ make followers of Christ. Go ye into ALL the world. If each one could reach one. The church would double tomorrow.
But dear friend, if you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, you need to do so today. Now is the accepted time, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believes in Him shall not perished but have eternal life.
God Bless you,
RevDanSam
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Something I will never forget
1985 was an interesting year in my life. I was on Bible College at night, preaching on our local radio station on Sundays and very active in my home church, while holding a 40 hour a week job at an electronics company. Our church had a grown to a 300 member church and my Pastor wanted to take us to another level spiritually. "Campmeeting" Some churches and Pastors had met in the North Atlanta area had gotten together to form a large co-operative choir and booked local pastors and evangelist. The newness was great. The worship in singing, shouting and sharing was great.
The church where we had the actual meeting was in Norcross Georgia. It was a little less than one mile from my office where I worked. And for a week and half I was able to take my lunch hour during the day services, for we had day and night services. And I was able to experience that each day at lunch time, something that I would never forget.
There was a sweetness about those morning services. Some days I would come in and there was hard preaching going on and another time I came in there was testifying and worshipping going on in the services. Like I said before, just another level of spiritual worship. For we had revivals, and they were good, we had mission conferences and they were good. But the camp meeting worship was another level.
I met people that year that have been friends for life since that time and now I still worship with them. That meeting in 1985 ran it's course and a couple of years later we had our own camp meeting which became an annual event for us and many years to come. But I will never forget that year that I got to go to church, that is, go to camp meeting during my lunch time.
But dear friend, God may be speaking to you. Do you hear Him while He is calling you?? Accepting Him today, in you heart, will be a something that you will never forget. Call on Him today, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, for whosoever shall call on the name of Lord shall be saved.
God Bless you and have a great day,
RevDanSam
The church where we had the actual meeting was in Norcross Georgia. It was a little less than one mile from my office where I worked. And for a week and half I was able to take my lunch hour during the day services, for we had day and night services. And I was able to experience that each day at lunch time, something that I would never forget.
There was a sweetness about those morning services. Some days I would come in and there was hard preaching going on and another time I came in there was testifying and worshipping going on in the services. Like I said before, just another level of spiritual worship. For we had revivals, and they were good, we had mission conferences and they were good. But the camp meeting worship was another level.
I met people that year that have been friends for life since that time and now I still worship with them. That meeting in 1985 ran it's course and a couple of years later we had our own camp meeting which became an annual event for us and many years to come. But I will never forget that year that I got to go to church, that is, go to camp meeting during my lunch time.
But dear friend, God may be speaking to you. Do you hear Him while He is calling you?? Accepting Him today, in you heart, will be a something that you will never forget. Call on Him today, trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, for whosoever shall call on the name of Lord shall be saved.
God Bless you and have a great day,
RevDanSam
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