Holy Spirit Conference

In April First A/G is conducting its second annual "Holy Spirit Conference." Evangelist Tim Enloe is the guest speaker. Tim and his wife travel the country teaching the church about the Holy Spirit. Their mission statement is "Our calling is to introduce and connect people with the vibrant person and power of the Holy Spirit!" You can learn more about their ministry at www.enloeministries.org.

I am also excited to announce that Ryan Delling will be our guest worship leader. Ryan grew up in Henderson. His father was the previous pastor at First A/G. Ryan is now a missionary with Eagle Wings ministries. Ryan will lead worship at all the services.

The dates are April 4-7. The evening services begin at 7:00 p.m.

Courting in Marriage

Rick Warren has a great quote, "If there was more courting in marriage there would be less marriages in court." Isn't that great? I believe it to be true. Today Cathy and I drove to Grand Rivers, KY and ate lunch at Patti's Settlement. It was great. We enjoy driving together and the food & atmosphere is wonderful. It was a good afternoon.

When was the last time you courted your spouse? Dating doesn't stop when you say I do. It is just beginning.

Yesterday I read that a high profile TV evangelist' wife filed for divorce. I never want that to be me. It is my choice. I choose to continue to date Cathy. I will invest in my marriage. I encourage you to do the same.

February 19 Devotional

Scripture
Psalm 37: 18-19 "Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive a reward that lasts forever. They will survive through hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough."
Observation
God will take care of the innocent, blameless, forgiven. This does not mean perfect but that when I sin I confess them before God and pay restitution towards others. I am not perfect but blameless. God promises to take care of the blameless. He promises to
1) give them a reward that last forever.
2) they will survive through hard times
3) even in famine they will have more than enough.
Application
I want to be blameless before God. I desire to have my sins forgiven. I want to be in a right relationship with God and people. I can live with a confidence that even when things are tough, God will take care of me. I am in his hands.
Prayer
Make me blameless before you. Search my heart and remove any offensive way. I trust my life into your hands. I know you will take care of me and mine.

February 18 Devotional

Scripture
Psalm 37:4 "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires."
Observation
1) I delight in God.
My greatest desire is to give God pleasure. I want to give God a reason to smile.
2) God takes pleasure in fulfilling my dreams and desires.
When I make pleasing God my greatest desire, God makes pleasing me His desire.
It is a relationship. We desire to please one another.
Application
Love God. Desire to be pleasing to him, not to manipulate or control him but out of my love for him. When my desire is to please him, he will fulfill my desires.
Prayer
I love you. I desire to please you. I trust my needs and my wants in you. You are my God.

February 17 Devotional

Scripture
Psalm 36:5-6 "Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths."
Observation
I forget how majestic God is. I can become too familiar with him and lose my sense of awe. He is God. He is the creator of the universe. He is Lord of all. He is majestic.
Application
I have to keep my sense of wonder of God. He is worthy of all praise, honor, and respect. He is worthy of my worship. I give him glory, admiration, and awe
Prayer
Help me to keep my wonder of you. I desire to give you the worship and glory you deserve. Do not let me become too familiar of you. I want a sense of awe and wonder. You are God not a man or an object. You are deity.

February 16 Devotional

Scripture
Mark 1:38 "But Jesus replied "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them too, because that is why I came."
Observation
After an extended time in prayer, Jesus knew what his mission was. There was no confusion. The Father revealed his will in a time of prayer. Jesus knew without a doubt that he was 1) go on to other towns and 2) preach to them. The Father revealed His purposes and plans. Jesus' responsibility was to obey the Father.
Application
God still reveals his will to me in prayer. I have to humble myself and ask God for his direction. I seek him and he will reveal his will, purposes, and plans to me. God is not playing hide and seek with me. He is a God who answers prayer.
Prayer
Show me what to do. I ask that you reveal your will to me and then give me the faith and courage to obey. I don't want to mess this thing up. I want to please you by obeying you. Reveal your purposes and plans to me.

February 15 Devotional

Scripture
Mark 1:20 "He (Jesus) called them too, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with him.
Observation
1) Calling. Jesus called the disciples. The call was to become a follower of Jesus Christ.
2) Leaving. In order to follow Jesus they had to leave someone and something. They left their father and the family business. There is a cost to following Jesus. Many times people refuse to follow Jesus because they are unwilling to leave something or someone behind.
3) Following. They went with him. Before you can do something for God you must spend time with God. Being with Jesus is your first calling and number one priority. The disciples went with Jesus.
Application
What is there in my life that I need to leave behind? Jesus continually ups the ante. He calls me to greater commitment. He calls me to greater assignments but with every calling comes greater sacrifice. What is there that keeps you from following Jesus?
Prayer
Jesus I desire to follow you. I want to know you more. I desire to be with you today. Teach me. Change me. Use me. Reveal to me what you want me to do and what I must leave behind. Give me the faith and courage to obey.

Haiti Update

It has been a long time since I updated my blog. My laptop got a worm and it took me awhile to get it fixed. Thankfully Louis Amiet helped me.

I went to the District Mission Directors meetings in Mexico last week. I received an update concerning the relief efforts in Haiti. I am convinced that Convoy of Hope is the best disaster relief agency we can give our money to. Here are the figures as of Thursday, February 11.

1) Deaths- 200,000 and climbing
2) Meals distributed by Convoy of Hope- 3 million and climbing
3) Monies given to Convoy of Hope through Assembly of God sources- 5 million.
4) Monies given to Convoy of Hope through non A/G sources- 5 million.

5) Convoy of Hope is developing long term plans to distribute the monies in the most effective ways. They are using A/G missionaries, local A/G churches and national pastors, and Latin America Child Care schools.

6) Biggest concern is the rain season is coming. People are unable to go back to their homes because the rains will soften the ground and cause a shifting of buildings. They expect more buildings to collapse when the rains come. People are sleeping out in the elements with no safe place to go. Sickness and disease is a concern. This is a long term problem that needs a long term commitment.

Continue to pray for Haiti. God can use the tragic to build his kingdom. I believe a new Haiti will rise from the rubble.