I Can't! Can You?

A new preacher was walking with a, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do . The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do. the older preacher began to recite the following poem... It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design; But I cannot unfold the petals With these clumsy hands of mine. The secret of unfolding flowers Is not known to such as I. GOD opens this flower so sweetly, When in my hands they fade and die. If I cannot unfold a rosebud, This flower of God's design, Then how can I think I have wisdom To unfold this life of mine? So I'll trust in Him for His leading Each moment of every day. I will look to him for His guidance Each step of the pilgrim way. The pathway that lies before me, Only my Heavenly Father knows. I'll trust Him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose. ~ © Bryan T. Burgess

A Price to Pay

A Message from the Message Phil. 3: 15-19 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. 17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Paul could also boldly declare- Follow me as I follow Christ. All Paul knew was Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul understood following the cross came with a price to pay. I encourage you to continue to follow Jesus- Yes! It will cost you something. The laying down of self and picking up His cross but Friend it’s worth it! Jesus said.... Follow Me!

Follow Me! Where? When? How? Why?

Genesis 12:8 says this:  Abram followed God to a place that he knew not.  What’s happened to others when they followed God? Joseph- followed God- to a pit- a perpetrator-a prison and a then the palace Moses-  followed God- it lead him to a desert- back to Egypt and then the leader of millions of people - whom he was to get them- al of them  to Canaan land David – followed God – to the feet of a giant - he got to play the game dodging javelins or die, to a cave, a crown without a castle- and a traitor in his own house. Prophet Elijah followed God and suffered depression Pastor turned Prophet- Jeremiah- followed God to stocks, bonds, a miry pit of mud  - he sank into it and was left there. Prophet Hosea-followed God and told to marry a prostitute So many times we Christian lament at the price we pay to follow Him. We want to know the who, the what, the when and the how. God just wants us to follow Him wherever He leads Matthew 4:19 19And he saith unto them, Follow me Where did following Jesus lead them? John the Baptist- prison/ beheaded                                                             Peter- Prison/ Beaten/ Crucified upside down                                       Andrew- crucified   James the greater- beheaded James the lesser- beaten to death with a club  John- boiled in oil. Luke- hanged    Matthew- slain  Phillip- scourged,  crucified   Simon- Crucified Thomas- thrust through with a sword Barthlomew- cruelly beaten and then crucified Thaddeus- Crucified Mathias- stoned and beheaded Mark- dragged to death   Steven // Stoned Paul-  physical aliment unhealed// beaten// prison// beheaded by a sword.  Timothy- beaten  severely Polycarp- burned at the stake Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me:  ------Pursue me  Where He leads me -   I will follow – How about you? What if the path that God leads us on looks different than what we thought it would be? What if it is filled with heartache and pain?  Jesus said…. Follow Me What if it is filled with disappointment? Jesus said…. Follow Me  What if it is filled with a physical condition that God chooses for us to deal with rather than heal us from?              Jesus said…. Follow Me What if the twists and the turns keep you steadily unsure of what lies around the bend?   You know, a bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn Jesus said…. Follow Me Many times we say Why me God! What did I ever do to deserve this? Why? Why? Why? Jesus said… Follow me We should ask Why not me  God?  What do I need to learn? What do I need to share?  What God?  Because Jesus said…. Follow me Rev. 14:4 These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth