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| Archive of Ray of Light articles |
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BLESSED
Who does not want to be blessed? We all want the blessing of God on our lives... in our activities... for our plans and future. Yet, it seems that we miss it - sometimes because we are not aware of how God is blessing us... and sometimes because we make choices that keep us
from God's richest blessings on our lives.
"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart..." Revelation 1:3
The words spoken to John about the revelation he received really do apply to the whole of scripture... if you want a blessing... read! If you don't want to read... hear! Whatever you do... expose yourself to the word of God... and then take it to heart.
Sometimes it is a challenge in our hustle and bustle, hurry and worry life to even find time... make time... to read or hear a word from God. It takes commitment... hungering and thirsting for living water... and life giving bread... but that is just part of it.
The blessing is for those who read... hear.. AND take it to heart. God's revelation of Himself and His will are to be life changing for us. When we approach the word with anything less that high expectation of God doing something... shaping and molding our lives... we cheat ourselves out of a blessing.
I want to encourage each one of you to commit to reading the Bible through in 2004. We will be reading through the Daily Bible, that is broken up in sections for each day, and it is organized in chronological order. Each Sunday evening message will be from the section we have been reading.
Do you want the blessing of God? Blessed are those who read...
Grace and Peace
Ray
Life Changing Experiences September 23, 2001
You heard it countless times in the last 12 days. Life as we have known it is forever
gone. Our lives, our nation, maybe the whole world was changed by the events that took
place on 9-11.
It really is not something new. We have faced events before that in some way
really changed us. It may have been something huge... it may have been something
that seemed insignificant. It does not matter what it was, our lives are constantly
facing change.
The question is not really will things change. The question I am asking is,
HOW will things change? On the world scene, the national scene, and many other
scenes that one is wide open. Many are speculating, speaking with “authority,” but
none of us really know how we will be changed.
So instead of focussing on, and being consumed by things that we have little
control over - I think we would do well to make two decisions.
Decide to pray more fervently. On the grand scale, there is not much any of us
can do to change the decisions and actions of those in power. On the much grander
scale, we may be the most influential people on the face of the earth. When we hit our
knees before God in prayer, the ONE who is in control LISTENS, and then He
ANSWERS! If you are concerned at all about the days ahead, let that concern be
evidenced in your prayer life.
Second, let us each decide that we will focus on how our lives will be changed -
by God, for God. We do not need momentary, short-lived change. We need eternal,
real, deep change. By God’s grace we will experience it! It is time for our world to be
turned upside down, or right side up - depending on your perspective. It is time for
people of faith to live their lives based on their faith. Whatever holds you back, let it go.
What’s going to change - WE WILL!
Ray
September 16, 2001
Questions Without Answers...
If you are like most people in our nation, you have asked some questions this
week for which there are no answers.
We have faced tragedy that affects every one of us deeply. Many have
friends who were closely involved. We all suffer the pain because we are all part
of the human family.
I think it is not a coincidence at all that this week’s message is about
doubting and asking questions of God. I planned this lesson for this Sunday
months ago. I’m just so glad that we have it this week. I pray that it will bless
your life, and encourage your faith.
You may be asking some questions that there seem to be no answers for.
Please do not feel like that is a faith failure. I am convinced that God wants us
to be so real that when we have questions, even hard, almost too far out there,
questions, that we will come to Him.
I have been reminded over and over again this week how grateful I am for
the God we serve. He does not change. He always does what is right. He is love,
so all He does is love. He is eternal. When our whole world is caving in, or
blowing up, God is still there.
I want this morning to be real. Instead of a “typical” upbeat, praise time,
I want us to be real, reflective, acknowledge our pain before God, and call on the
One who can heal us.
If we chose any other path, our questions go unanswered. But if we will
turn to God - we will find what we need.
Ray
July 1, 2001
Honoring One Another
One of the most important ways those in the body of Christ can honor each other
is in the matter of submitting.
Submitting goes against our whole culture. We want our way. We have our rights.
We should not let anyone run over us. You have to fight for yourself because no
one else will... You have heard it all, surely felt some of it, and even said it...
The way for believers is quite different. Our way is His way! His way was the
cross. The cross is death. Our way is to be death. We must die to ourselves and
live to Christ.
When we have differing desires, this is one of the most important opportunities we
have. We must not forget our call, we must not forget our direction, we must not
forget our leader. We must honor one another by submitting.
Submitting is not giving in grudgingly. Submitting is not reminding you how much
better I am because I let you have your way. Submitting is changing my will to
yours. Honoring you and your faith enough to forego my own desires.
In a week and a half our nation will celebrate independence day. May each of us,
as followers of Jesus Christ celebrate our
DEPENDENCE DAY!
Let each of us grow in our dependence on the Lord and on one another.
Ray
June 24, 2001
Get Real...
I remember both saying it and hearing it... someone would say or do something
and the response was... Get Real! The intention was to say that does not make
sense, there’s no way, come back to reality, etc.
Sometimes I need someone to say to me... Get Real! How about you?
There are times when it comes to faith that we live in such a way that faith and
“real life” have no contact. What a sad truth.
I do not want that to be true of me. I want all of my life under the
conviction and control of faith. For the next month our Sunday morning messages
will focus on one area I think we really need to grow in... Prayer.
The challenge will be to help each one of Get Real... About Prayer. As
Charles Hodge says, I don’t believe in prayer, I believe in God, so I pray.” Faith
in God is where it must begin. Our own inadequacy and deep need for him
naturally follow.
Too often I have paid lip service to prayer. I know it is important, but it
has not become a way of life. If you are there, bear with me, encourage me,
help me. If you are not, I pray that this month’s messages will be encouraging,
helpful, challenging... as we Get Real... About Prayer.
There is a book that was given to me as a gift by a good friend. It has
helped me a lot. I will be making many references to the things contained in the
book. If you would like one, sign up on the list in the foyer. It will help you... I
really believe it will.
It is time. I want to... will you join me as we GET REAL!
Ray
June 3, 2001
The Heart of a Disciple
This morning we begin a new series of messages from the Gospel of Luke.
I have entitled the series "The Heart of a Disciple." I am excited about the things
we will examine, the encouragement we will find, and the challenges we will face.
In our study of Luke in the past several months we have seen that Jesus
came to bring change. Not change on a small scale, but radical, life altering,
eternity determining change. Often when we think of change in our lives we focus
on external things. Jesus did not focus on the external, but on the internal. If real,
lasting, powerful, important change is going to take place in our lives it must start
there.
The next series of messages were from Luke 3 and 4. We focussed on our
need to live in the wilderness. We cannot live the life we have been called to on
our own strength. It is absolutely necessary that we spend time, every single day,
with the Lord. Dealing with Him, allowing Him to lead us, to instruct us, to mold
us.
As important as those things are, it is not enough if we do not take the next
step. Our lives are all about walking with Jesus. Understanding everything there is
to understand is of little value if it does not change the way we live. Our lives need
to be about being His disciples. I pray that this series of messages will encourage
you to step out in faith, and follow all the way.
I found this and thought it was appropriate, "It is not enough just to know
your next step. You must take the First Step, then keep on Walking, no matter
what the Cost!"
Ray
March 11, 2001
Worn New
This is an article from my preacher when I was in Jr. High and High School. He makes an excellent point. Read it. Think about it. Do it!
It’s hard to give up my old shoes. They fit. They’re comfortable. I’m used to wearing them.
Sure,
they’re ugly, worn, and scuffed, but they feel just right.
I love my old jeans. So what if they’re worn, patched, faded, and soft. They fit me perfectly. I can
slide them on and instantly feel at ease.
I love my worn Bible. It’s a familiar friend. I remember where things are located on the page. I
have highlighting and notes in it, with many of my own cross-references. Yes, it’s worn, the pages
frayed, but it’s both a place of new discoveries and a refuge of familiar comfort.
We like familiar things. It’s not just that we’re creatures of habit or stuck in our rut, but with so
much rapid change in our world, a few old familiar things are such a comfort. We can relax and settle
in to them for a moment, feel at home, relax a bit, and go away from wearing or using them a bit
restored.
So let me ask you a few very personal questions: Where is your Bible most worn? What pages
have you traversed most often? Where is your center of nourishment, refreshment, and comfort?
When you look at the outside edges of your Bible’s pages, where are they frayed, discolored, or
worn?
For the past twenty years, and more, I’ve had a personal mission to
encourage people to make the Gospels* the most worn places in their
Bibles. It’s not that I dislike the Psalms; they’re a great source of
great comfort, confession, and worship for me. I don’t dislike the
writings or Paul, Peter, James, Jude, or John; they are full of practical
truths for life as God’s people. I love the prophets; they convict and
encourage me. The great story narratives of the Pentateuch and the
historical books is thrilling, motivating, and sometimes sobering.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon give me spicy tidbits of
wisdom for daily life.
But, the center of my life, the basis of my hope, and the focus of
my discipleship is Jesus. I meet Jesus most clearly in the Gospels!
Each of the Gospels is a window into the heart of God. Each tells its
own distinctive story of Jesus so we can know him, his faithfulness to the Father, and his heart for
people. If we’re willing, we can smell the charcoal fire, feel the grit of Galilean dirt in our sandals,
smell the sacrifices of the Temple, and feel the terrifying spray of the sea with Jesus in the Gospels.
As I’ve spoken in a number of different places, I’ve often asked how many people find their Bibles
most worn in the Gospels. The answer is, “not many.” It’s interesting to me that we call ourselves
Christians, yet Jesus’ story goes largely neglected and his life remains unstudied. It’s bewildering to
me that so many of us call him Lord, yet don’t have a clue what he taught and how he lived. Aside
from the Christmas and Easter stories, and maybe a few stories of Jesus we learned when we were
children, Jesus remains a stranger to too many of us.
So, I want to challenge you to do a little walking with Jesus between now and Easter. Read his
story several times in the different Gospels. Use different translations so his words jump off the
page at you in new ways. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to touch your heart and mold you into
someone who will know and follow Jesus more passionately. Build your whole year of Bible reading
around the story of Jesus so that he will come alive in your life. Get to know Jesus better by
hearing his word, watching his life, and seeking his will. Make your Bible most worn, and find yourself
most comfortable, in the Gospels.
An amazing thing happens when our Bibles get worn in the Gospels. Not only do we get to know
Jesus better, we find ourselves refreshed, encouraged, and renewed. Make your Bible worn in the
Gospels, and you will find faith and life made new!
by Phil Ware
Ray
March 4, 2001
It is only a Quarter
Several years ago a preacher moved to Houston,
Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had
occasion to ride the bus from his home to the
downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered
that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter
too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself,
you better give the quarter back. It would be wrong
to keep it. Then he thought, "Oh", forget it, it's only
a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?
Anyway the bus company already gets too much fare;
they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God
and keep quiet."
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the
door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and
said, "Here, you gave me too much change".
The driver with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new
preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about
going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see
what you would do, if I gave you too much change."
When my friend stepped off the bus, he literally
grabbed the nearest light pole, and held on, and
said, "O God", I almost sold your Son for a quarter".
Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.
Ray
February 25, 2001
Spirit
I don’t know if you have noticed it. I have and it thrills me. There is a
beautiful spirit that just keeps growing among us.
Our assemblies have
been a real blessing to me, the time in praise, joining together in prayer,
really focussing on what Jesus has done and will do for us as we
commune with Him, your response to the messages about living 24/7
close to Him... Our attendance has been good, our honoring God by
contributing to the work here has been good...
As good as all of this is, and the list could go on and on, I just have
to wonder. How much more will go do through us? We can join with Paul
in saying more than we ask or even imagine!
We really need to be aware of those God lets us come into
contact with everyday. We need to be aware of their needs and their
NEED! God gives us opportunities each day to minister the Gospel.
Whether it is sharing our faith with someone who does not know Jesus,
encouraging another believer, helping someone who is in need... there
are opportunities all around us.
Praise God for what He has done. Watch God as He works now.
Seek God for what He will do through us to His glory! I cannot wait!
Ray
February 11, 2001
Ambassadors
In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul tells the church that our lives are new, the old
man of sin is dead, and we are living a new life in Christ. As those living
this new life, Paul wants believers to know that it is not just an awesome
blessing, it is also a mission.
It is our mission to be ambassodors for Jesus. It is His life we
are living. We have chosen to die to self and to live for Him. This
means it is important for us to live each day in such a way that those we
come in contact with are touched by the life of Jesus in us.
What an awesome blessing - to be the agent of Jesus the Christ.
What an incredible responsibility. Every time we meet with someone we
are to touch them as Jesus would. We are to minister as Jesus would.
Our lives, God’s concern, is really about us being the people of the
cross, living for Jesus. We are ambassadors for Christ, Paul says God
is making His call to the world through us! Everyday we need to look at
ourselves, at others and at what we do in light of this truth. God is
accomplishing His work in saving, touching, chaning lives in great part
through His church - so live as an Ambassador!
Ray
February 4, 2001
Sausage Over Souls
I was reading in the Bible the other day in Luke 9 about that
phenomenal miracle of the madman at Gerasene. This man was
bound by demons for so many years, scaring people, living in
graveyards, tormented. But he was set free by Jesus Christ.
Now, here he sits in a stable frame of mind, serene, listening to
the Lord. "Amazing!" the people of the neighborhood say. That is,
until they realize that this miracle in his life has cost them their
pigs!
You see the demons that left the man went into the pigs, causing
the pigs to run into the water and drown. And then these same
people turned on Jesus and said to him to leave the country -- it's
just too much change too fast!
They valued their sausage more than their souls. It's sad to think
that folks values can be so earthly. Sausage over souls?
---------
(c) 1998, Paul Faulkner.
January 28, 2001
Quantity or Quality?
I started teaching a Freshmen Bible Class this week at LCU. In spite of my
regular weekly commitments, and taking 3 classes, I just could not turn down
the opportunity of teaching. Tuesday as I drove to Lubbock I thought about
what teaching will cost.
Teaching this class means there are more demands on my time each week.
I thought about the possible costs to my family and to our ministry. Then I
thought, “well Ray you will just have to be sure that the time you spend in
each activity is quality time”
Quality time... that is the answer! Since your time is limited just be sure
to give quality time. Make the most of the opportunities.
Then another thought hit me. You cannot have quality time with out
quantity time. To have quality family time requires a quantity of time. To
have quality time with God requires quantity time. To have quality time in
fellowship with other believers requires quantity time.
Anything that is important... anything that we want to flourish and grow
will require not just our effort in the time to make it quality, it will require
our quantity of time to make it quality.
I am grateful that Lubbock is 72 miles away... if only for this reason - As
I drove Tuesday I learned something very important. You cannot have
quality time in any relationship, unless it is important enough to receive
quantity time!
January 21, 2001
One of my favorite observations is made by Charles Swindoll. It is something I read
frequently. I hope it blesses your life as it has mine.
Attitude
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.
It is more important
than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances,
than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say
or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.
It
will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The
remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the
attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past...
we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
We
cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the
one string we have, and that is our attitude...
I am convinced that
life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it
is with you... we are in charge of our our
Attitudes.
January 14, 2001
Who Is My Neighbor?
Do you remember the question? Jesus has just shown a “smart religious” guy
what really matters to God. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your mind and with all you soul and with all your strength, and the second is
love your neighbor as yourself.” Then the man asked, “Lord, who is my
neighbor?”
It is an important question. It is a question every believer in Jesus Christ
should remind her or himself of frequently. In Ray revised the response is
simple. Your neighbor is any person you see that is in need.
Jesus has called each of us to be His. We want our lives to be conformed
to His life. That means that we are striving to do what He did. So we need to
have our eyes open, looking for those in need. Then we need to take action.
It is not that someone has to be destitute to be blessed at the hands of
Jesus through you. That is too limiting. What we need to be aware of is any
opportunity, great or small, to minister. That is what we are, ministers of the Lord
Jesus Christ. It is our God given blessing to be used by Him to touch and change
our world.
Every time you see a person in need you have the opportunity to serve
them as Jesus would. But it is more than that. You also have the opportunity to
serve Jesus. The kind word, the hand up, the glass of water, the meal...
whatever it is - it is done for Him, because of Him and to Him.
January 7, 2001
Living New This Year...
The power of new is amazing. Something can be just fine until the thought of it
being replaced by something new... then it is easy to find everything that is
wrong with it. It really does not matter what it is - the power of new is broad. It
could be a new car, new clothes, new “toy”, anything new really affects us.
It is true of new years also. Nothing really changes at midnight January 1. But
just the idea of it being a new year means so much to us. It is the opportunity to
start over. No matter what has happened in the past, or how much of it continues
to affect the present, we feel a sense of new ness.
The problem with all things new is that they lose that “newness.” With a little
time, and a little use the new becomes the old. The problem is we lose that sense
of urgency, appreciation, and commitment.
This year live a NEW year all year long. Live it every day. Do not let the new
become old. How? Live each day as new. Remember the steadfast love of the
Lord is new every morning. Give yourself to Him each day. Renew your
commitment to draw near to God every morning. Resolve to live your life the
way that brings you closer to God and conforms you to the Son.
It really is simple. Living this New Year for God means that we Live New This
Year... we do that...
...by living New Every Day
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