"I Cry - God Answers"

Have you ever experienced a dark night of agonizing soul searching, attempting to touch God?

Have the heavens ever seemed as brass when you cry out your prayers?

Have you searched in your dark of night for the hand of God?

This poor cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34

More than 400 times the Bible repeats - “I cry” / “I cried”.
More than 400 times the Bible repeats - “Deliver / Delivered”.

HAVE I GOT YOU INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE?

Go to the Sword & Trowel Link and read the complete sermon... be blessed!

"PREPARE FOR GLORY!"

To “The Band Of Brothers” beginning to develop in Osoyoos.

In spite of all of our technical advances men are still God's method of choice to advance His church. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The dispensation that heralded and prepared the way for Christ was bound up in that man John. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. The world's salvation comes out of that cradled Son.

When Paul appeals to the personal character of the men who rooted the gospel in the world, he solves the mystery of their

success. The glory and efficiency of the gospel is staked on the men who proclaim it.

What the Church needs to-day is not more or better programs, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer.When the gospel is put into the heart and lifeblood of the man, it is set aflame and empowered by the fiery energy of God’s Spirit. Once again men should with loud voices proclaim, “Freedom!” Once again men should lead their families in preparing for glory!

The gospel of Christ does not move by popular waves. It has no self-propagating power. It moves as men of God move. Hearty, heroic, compassionate, fearless martyrs must the men be who take hold of and shape a generation for God. If they be timid time servers, place seekers, if they be men pleasers or men fearers, if their faith has a weak hold on God or his Word, if their denial be broken by any phase of self or the world, they cannot take hold of the Church nor the world for God.

It is not great talents nor great learning nor great preachers that God needs, but men great in holiness, great in faith, great in love, great in fidelity, great for God -- these can mold a generation for God.

Why should I worry or fret? My God has never failed me yet!

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!

From The Back Pew XII (Part 2 of 3)

God’s word promises in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…..”

Even though it’s somewhat of a mystery, God not only forgives, but in fact “blots out” and forget the sins of His children.

Friends there is a hard part in this passage, at least for most of us “if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

The word “forgive” here means to bestow favor unconditionally. As Christ “forgave” you, so you must do!

God wants us to forgive those who have wronged us the same way Christ has forgiven us - no matter how bad that wrong has been. But God, we cry out, how can I forgive that person - you don’t know what they have done to me!

Yes, He does - and He still wants you to forgive them “just like Christ forgave you.”

Friends, I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t always come easy for me. I some how want them to pay for what they’ve done…. Yet, a true Christian will always treat the offending party graciously! ALWAYS!

In Matthew 18: 21-22 Peter asks Jesus how often should I forgive people? Up to seven times? Jesus said, ‘Not up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Now Jesus in this passage is not telling Peter that once you forgive your brother 490 times you can treat him anyway you want. Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a starting line for “digging up bones.” He says we must forgive - without limit!

Dare I be so bold as to point something else out…. Although we are commanded in the Word of God to repent of our sins and ask forgiveness - Jesus never add that condition.

Jesus is asking us to forgive those who have offended us without limit.
no matter what their attitude might be
no matter whether they’ve made restitution or not
no matter whether they’ve repented of their offenses or not
no matter whether they’ve told us they are sorry or not
no matter whether they continue to offend us or not!

I know this is tough but with God all things are possible.

Give Me A Break!

There are several debilitating statements that drive me nuts. The “There is nothing to do!” statement in particular, mainly because it has developed into an attitude of “There is nothing I can do”.

Folks, there is always something you can do. My parents are in their late seventies, yet each year they travel from Ontario to Texas, Florida and BC. No, not to vacation, but to build low income housing. Sure they have their ailments like everyone else, but they have worked on correcting any negative attitudes regarding those ailments. They like many others have repented of self-centeredness and self pity. They have dumped the “Poor Me” and do not expect everyone to understand what they are “going through”. We too must challenge the sin of self pity and self criticism.

Far too many of us are held back by self imposed barriers of fear. If you dwell on your fears you will avoid forming relationships and withdraw further into the wasteland of loneliness. II Timothy 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear.

“Reach Out & Touch Someone”, is far more than a slogan for a telephone
Service. We must take the initiative to reach others. Proverbs 18:24 For
a man to have friends he must show himself friendly.

I heard a wonderful story regarding the days shortly after the tragic events at Virginia Tech. An elderly woman took her two dogs to the campus. Young people would stop her and inquire if they could pet the dogs. “Yes dear, of course, that is why we are here”, was her reply. It seems she wanted to do something for the students in the wake of the mass murders. All she could think about was how her dogs gave her comfort. So off she went. The sign she posted beside her said, “Need love? Please pet my dogs.” You see, there is always something you can do!

Relationships do not just happen. They take time and effort. Yes they are risky, but it is a risk worth taking. The creator of Peanuts said, “Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.”

Finally why not volunteer to help out in the community. Strange but true, you find yourself by giving yourself away.

If you are given the chance to sit it out or dance… I hope you dance!
Pastor Ed Brouwer, The Gathering Place