During the message yesterday I used my pen to write down some notes. It is a good thing to do as I can go back now and review in my mind and in the Scriptures the things I learned from the Word. It is a good thing to do everything possible to sow the Word in our hearts and review is a good tool. The next step is to share it with someone else and let them be blessed too. What will you do with what you heard yesterday?

As I prepared and preached yesterday's message, I couldn't help but wonder just how much of my Christian life is "ought to" but seldom "roundtoit"??? Does anyone else have that problem in your Christian life?

Prayer is as simple as talking to God. It is so true, we know the Scriptures about prayer, we repeat the clichés about prayer, we gather weekly to pray, we hear of big and little answers to prayer, and know we ought to, need to, want to, could, and should pray but for so reason we don't. Is God wondering "why doesn't he just talk to me?" Let's stop making prayer so complicated and just have a little talk with Jesus.

"Take it or leave it" was a saying I heard when I was growing up. In yesterday's message we discovered that the believers as well as Paul, Silas, and Tim did things just a little differently. They received the Word in an attitude of "take it and live it". In last night's message we were reminded that this is the reason a life house doesn't fall down in the storms of life. Both builders had the materials for a solid foundation (they both heard the Word) but the successful builder was the one who "did" it, as we said had the life action motto "take it and live it". So as you got up this morning was it "take it or leave it" or "take it and live it"?
Don't comment (you can if you want), just let me know if you read this. You vote counts.

The very best sequel to the Word of God is to do what the Word has said and the Holy Spirit has taught us. The devil wants to take it from our hearts before we act on it or stir up the things of our life so we soon forget it. Let's make an effort this week to show to those around us a work of faith, a labor of love, and an endurance of hope. If we do these three things our neighbors will be talking about us and the opportunity to share the Word will be easier. As I often say about the Word - "Try it, you'll like it".
By the way, if you do, share in the comment section what you did and let a brother or sister try it your way.

Last night we were blessed to have a living example of a "Berean" believer. That is, as we saw in the morning message, a person above the average. More noble are the words God uses and were able to witness such a person. As Mike Spencer shared his testimony it was evident - the determination to do God's will, the dedication to accept challenges and changes. The delight of seeing God at work in the lives of the African people, and the desire to continue to serve God to the end was a cut above the norm. What a joy to see such a one!
Yet I've known Mike most of his life and realize that he isn't of himself this way. He is just an average guy who chose to let God have first place in all that matters and so he is making choices and doing things that the average Christian doesn't. It does make him a little unusual but a refreshing blessing to all who come in contact with him.
Couldn't this be true of all of us? With a little more of a desire for God and His people we could have God raise us above the "norm". Just think, how soon it would be before the average would be raised? Are you willing?

Yesterday's message was from Acts 17 and the beating that the believers in Thessalonica had to take for believing in Jesus. We're blessed, I think, in America since we don't suffer persecution because we believe. I said, I think, because maybe persecution could deepen our faith and trust in the Lord. Like everyone, I don't wish to suffer for my faith but realize that if I did it might reveal just how important Jesus is to me. Think, maybe, that's true?