Amos 4

"I also withheld rain from you… Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the LORD" (v7)

 

Five times God tells of trials and tribulations He has laid upon His people and then laments…"Yet you have not returned to Me."  We often see the loaves and the fishes as a reflection of God's grace and His goodness, and they are.  However we many times do not consider that "God also hath sat the one over against the other" (Eccl 7:14)

 

Isaiah 26:9b says, "... for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." and remember Hosea 5:15b "...in their affliction they will seek me early."  Sometimes our trials are a reflection of God's goodness and mercy because they bring us back to Him.

 

When the Israelites went into captivity in Egypt they were nomadic herdsman and farmers.  However when they came out of bondage they had "such things as they required." It was in the years of captivity they acquired the skills and trades a nation required.

 

If the rain has been withheld from you, or there is mildew in your garden, or you don't have any bread to eat, consider you might be in the middle of the goodness and grace of our Lord – return to Him.

 

Jason Ouellette

Go Fish

When those who are called to fish don't fish, they fight.

 

When energy intended to be used outside is used inside, the result is explosive.  Instead of casting nets, we cast stones.  Instead of extending helping hands, we point accusing fingers.  Instead of being fishers of the lost, we become critics of the saved.  Rather than helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers.

 

The result?  Church Scrooges.  "Bah humbug" spirituality.  Beady eyes searching for warts on others while ignoring the warts on their nose below.  Crooked fingers that bypass strenths and point out weaknesses.

 

Split churches.  Poor testimonies, Broken hearts. Legalistic wars.

 

And sadly, poor go unfed, confused go uncounseled, and lost go unreached.

 

When those who are called to fish don't fish, they fight.

 

But note the other side of the boat:  When those who are called to fish, fish - they flourish!

 

Nothing handles a case of gripes like an afternoon service project.  Nothing restores perspective better than a visit to a hospital ward.  Nothing unites soldiers better than a common task or a relentless foe.

 

Leave soldiers inside their barracks with no time on the front line and see what happens to their attitude.  The soldiers will invent things to complain about.  Bunks will be too hard.  Food wil be too cold.  Leadership will be too tough.  The company will be too stale.  Yet place those same soldiers in the trench and let them duck a few bullets, and what was a boring barrack will seem like a haven.  The beds will feel great.  The food will be almost ideal.  The leadership will be courageous.  The company will be exciting.

 

When those who are called to fish, fish - they flourish.  Go fish!

 

Hosea 13

The equivalent of this chapter seems similar to the parable of the prodigal son. The writing here seems to be something the father would be writing as he sits everyday on the front porch waiting for the son to come home.

If there was such a letter, it possibly went something like this:

Son,

I have been with you every breath of your life. (vs 4) I have seen you when you rejoiced and comforted you in dark times. (vs 5) I was the one who saw you through every stumble, mistake and heartache. When you didn't know I was watching, I was watching. When you didn't think I cared or loved you, I've never stopped.

But now, you have seen yourself great; you have believed in yourself more than the hands that have put in you the ability to be great. (vs 6) I knew before you left there was nothing but desolation waiting for you beyond the boundaries I have set for you. In your wanderings you have destroyed yourself. (vs 9) There is no way you can survive there so I know you will not be there long. (vs 13) The consequences of your actions are mighty, there is no denying that. (vs15)

I sit here each passing second, longing to hold you in my arms. Longing to forgive you and bring you back into safety. I am daily, desiring your return; as I am the only one who can save you. (vs 9-10)

Love,
Dad

Men, have we ever kindled the anger of God because of our waywardness? Have we ever looked up and found ourselves in a state we thought was too far gone? Replace your name in the letter above where addressed to 'son' and read it again.

Regardless if this letter is for us in our current state, we can all, always cling to verses 4 and 9: 4"Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me."  9"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."

Tim Jacobs

1 Peter 3:7

"Likewise, ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered"

 

This chapter has given me so much to strive for in my young marriage.  I like to begin at the end.  "That your prayers be not hindered."  The way that we husbands deal with our wives is going to directly affect the way God deals with us.  So what do you say we get this right?

 

"Being heirs together of the grace of life" Peter reminds us often through his epistles that our motivation to show grace was met at Calvary.  The fact that we are partakers of Christ's redemptive plan is reason enough for us to show grace to all.  OK, so I show grace but in relation to what?

 

"As unto the weaker vessel" Some commentaries feel this statement replies only to the physical difference between women and men.  I dare say not.  The meaning of this statement is found in the previous statement and in the verses following.  Peter is reminding us that we must behave in a way that is not as easy for our wives.  That is why Peter reminds us to show grace and that God will hold us accountable.  In other words God holds us responsible to do that which He has given us the strength to do.  So let's get to it…

 

"Husbands deal with them (your wives) according to knowledge."  There are two main contributors to our actions: what we know and what we feel.  Women are emotional beings and men are rational beings.  As men we have a greater ability to separate our emotion from what we say and do, literally to act on what we know.  Peter is calling us to do just that.

 

We cannot allow undisciplined behavior to affect the prayers that we pray during this season of revival.  As men we must rule our home with the love and grace.  This world needs men that will "seek peace and pursue it."  "not render railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called."

Mother's Day

We had a wonderful service this morning. Sis McLaughlin planned and orchestrated a great time of reflection on Mother's and issued a needful call "Back to the Basics".

She really has a word to young mothers in our day. I felt the Holy Ghost in what she said about standing up for truth, discipline, parents taking authority and respect. It is so evident that she is a great example by her three children. They are Godly.

Donnie sang "The Basics of Life" and he did great as always. That song brings back so many memories... I have been listening and studying some teaching by Chip Ingram on Balancing Life's Demands and some of what was said this morning dovetailed nicely.

Life, mostly because of our misplaced priorities, has a way of running out of control. I know I truly need to stop seeking after what all seems to matter, and focusing on the things that I know do... Happy Mother's Day.

Same Kind of Different as Me

If you know me you know I am always looking for a great book to read. I found one recently in a memior by Ron Hall and Denver Moore called Same Kind of Different as Me.

One of the most poinient nuggets I have found in the book is Denver, who for all intents and purposes was a modern day slave on a cotton field in Louissiana, telling "Mr. Ron" about friendship.

He asks about "catch and release" This odd behavior white folk have with fishin, where they catch a fish... appreciate it for a little while and through it back. In contrast "colored folks" they catch a fish... they take it home, show it to everyone they know, they are proud of it, and even use it to sustain themselves.

Ultimately his protrayal leads to the him saying, “If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend…But if you is lookin for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”

I have been so blessed by friends that embody that statement. I know I certainly want to join them.

Have You Heard of This?...

I love Pandora. Now I don't know all the legal ins and outs of the musical industry or how they would apply, but I am glad that somehow this technological masterpiece is navigating those murky waters. And even though I am probably light years behind the times. I haven't blogged in quite some time, so I thought I would share.

How It works: Apparently some scientists with little better to do decided that they would create a scientific way of measuring music. Using tonality, lyrical content, instrumentation and other qualities they designed the Music Genome Project. Pandora (Internet Radio) picks songs to play to you based on those similarities. You tell the computer whether or not you like the song it picks and it uses that information to find another song you like. And yes, it works very well!

Happy listening!

The More I Seek You

The more I seek You,
the more I find You.
The more I find You,
the more I love You.

I wanna sit at Your feet
drink from the cup in Your hand,
lay back against You and breathe,
feel Your heart beat.
This love is so deep,
it's more than I can stand.
I melt in Your peace,
it's overwhelming.

I love this song. It seemed to be stolen from my heart tonight. As I was in the prayer room I felt Him put His arms around me and love me - welcoming me into that strong tower. Then Ryan Denard taught our C&C class and talked about mercy (God is really doing a work in that young man). It is so beautiful how the Lord loves us.

Davis Merritt Mathews

C&C

We have started teaching on doctrine in our College & Career class. Tomorrow we will continue to talk about sin. More specifically on how it lies waiting at the door.

The more I prepare the more I am reminded at how much I need to be cleansed. I don't ever want to find myself in a place where I refuse to repent: to plead and accept His mercy for my righteousness which is as filthy wrags...

I love the old song so much. I wish the verses wouldn't paint the picture that only those far away from Him need to be washed...

I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
I need a cleansing from the fountain.
My soul is hungry. I've got this aching within.
I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Ode to Chick-fil-A







What does an ode have,
how is it written?
How can the World it tell
I love this chicken?
Chicken Mini's, Chicken Wraps,
Carrot and Raisin Salads.
And of course the Original
deserves it's own ballad.
Sweet Tea so perfect and who
doesn't love the cows
The Chicken Biscuit I adore.
My ode to Chick-fil-A.

Every year on the week of Valentines Texas Music Educators Association holds their annual conference in San Antonio. Last year we started a tradition I think we wont soon abandon. Julie attended the conference while I worked and Friday afternoon flew down to be with her.

This year we did the same and it was such a blessing to me. We got a great rate on the Double Tree hotel where we ordered in room service and spent the night enjoying each other's company.

In the Love Dare I found a list of 20 questions for your spouse and I think we got through 6. :) It is such a blessing to be married to someone that I can talk to. God is so good.

Afterwards we joined my Uncle David Ouellette and his wonderful family and will go to church with them tomorrow and continue a great time. Julie even got to meet my cousins Candy and Darren Murphy who were visiting from the pitiful state of Illinois :)

I will miss being at home and seeing God move, but my heart will be there. Happy Valentines!

Mario

Every now and again life gives us pictures. Some are pictures that take our breath away; I will never forget pulling the car to the side of the road to gaze at the majestic Pikes Peak while on I25. Some pictures warm your heart; I almost kidnapped a little girl in Wichita Falls one day because she heard my name and greeted me with it so enthusiastically when I was walking away. Other pictures never cease to make you laugh; YouTube "woman falls through floor."



I thought I would share one of those neat pictures with you. Some time around 1998 a man named Mario im'ed me. He had been searching profiles on AOL (if you can remember that world) and saw that I was studying Spanish in the United States.



"Mario from Portugal" as I would come to know him said that he was studying English, and asked if I would like to be his email pen pail so we could both work on our foreign languages. I consented and for about three months I kept up a correspondence.



But an interesting thing happened. I stopped emailing Mario quite some time ago, almost 10 years now, while he continued to email me. Every week or so an email will pop up in my inbox with the subject "friend" and Mario will tell me about his week (in much improved English) and sometimes throw in a devotional.



I have discarded more of these emails than I have ever opened, and regretfully I respond so infrequently. However, if and when I do respond the next day Mario has replied right back. Regardless of my silence Mario types on.


Now isn't that a neat picture?

Look Well

"The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." – Proverbs 14:15

 

I feel like much of America has not looked well to our going.  I feel like we are economically headed in the wrong direction.

 

In the Oval Office Barack Obama passionately railed on executives that make too much money in bonuses in a "time like this".  Well though I could not agree more, what I don't agree with is the principle that he has any right to do anything about it.

 

The government has no clue what the value of goods and services are in a free market, because they can't.  I no more want the government dictating what Steve Jobs or Gary Kelly make than I want to talk on a government issued phone or fly on a government issued plane.

 

Oh but of course the problem is those bonuses came from government issued funds.  And that just is the problem.  When the government bailed out companies that were poorly managed and inefficiently run it could certainly not have expected those children to about face and behave properly.  Furthermore, the fact that they had not the foresight to prevent such misgivings and poor conduct are proof enough they have no business in the market.

 

And so today our fine looking president sternly warned congress of an impending irreversible economic crisis that would require a trillion dollar bailout.  How misguided could we be?

 

Romans 13:1 urges us to "submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established."  I think sometimes we as Christians forget that we are the established authority in our country.  God has ordained a country governed by the people.

 

I know that I am praying for our country and it's leaders.  I plead for you to join me. I also ask that we would "look well to our going" and take hold of the authority that God has ordained in us by being active in what ways we can. 

“A man with a testimony is never at the mercy of a man with an argument”

This anonymous author never argued with my brother. Seriously though, one of the qualities that I admire in Joseph James Ouellette is his unrelenting hold on truth. My brother is true to his Lord, true to his family, true to his church… he passionately holds to what he knows to be true. And speaking of passion, there are few who are spend themselves for the things they love and believe in like my older brother. I am so proud to follow him.

And so since today is his birthday I thought I would follow his lead and share a few interesting facts and fun memories that you may or may not know.

1) Joseph got REAL passionate one year in front of the Tabernacle at youth camp when a kid unloaded a packet of salt on his head. He literally (I am not exaggerating) picked the kid up by both cheeks and pinned him against the tin wall.
2) Joseph has not always been as skilled in the culinary arts as he is today, but yes he has always been adventurous in them. At the age of six or so he decided that he could cook on the gas space heater in our only bathroom and made chocolate chip eggs. Oh Joseph those tasted sooo bad. Thank the Lord you kept trying!
3) One summer while playing King of the Dock (kind of like King of the Hill, but on a wet slippery dock, (yes only boys…)) Joseph slipped and fell, hitting his head along his eyebrow and split open his skin very well. When we arrived at the Hospital in that small town, Joseph was very unimpressed with their presentation and fought my parents as to whether or not he could wait to drive all the way home to get the stitches sewn in civilization.
4) Perhaps his superior musical ability is somewhat akin to the fact that every week he would memorize his memory verse in a song. (Why didn’t I do that?)

My brother has blessed me my entire life. As a toddler he taught me his school lessons to ready me for school. As a child he would hold me when I would cry. As a youngster he protected me from neighborhood bullies. As a young man he told me with tears in his eyes how proud he was of me for letting God use me. As a man he has lead our family through years of adversity and shouldered loads that I could not bare. Happy Birthday, Joseph. I love you.

"Most people overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they
can do in a year" - Somebodya

I heard this recently and kind of latched on to it for a personal moto this year. Every now and again I get a day off of work and I always think of a thousand things to do on that one day of freedom. Sometimes I accomplish a great deal. Other days so very little.

But in thinking on the above, I know that I can accomplish so much more in a year than was accomplished last year, or possibly even the previous two. To think in a few days 1/12 of 2009 will have already passed. I have accomplished a little of what I wanted for this year, but much more to go.

This quote came to me this morning around the altar. I let my mind melt it into a spiritual mold and a thought was cast: I have often overestimated what spiritually occurs in one trip to the altar and underestimated what is done through my daily relationship and communion with God.

I know that God has already spoken so much to me this season of life. Oh, how I want Him to continue. I want Him to find in me a lent ear, and a heart set to follow. I want to look back over this year and say WOW, look what God did in a whole year of days and hours speant truly seaking His voice spoken in my life.

"... but the people that know their God will be strong and do great exploits" Dan 11:32

a Google revealed this quote was probably originally speaking of a year and a decade rather than a day and a year. I prefered the former, and regardless could not find an author.

"This Book is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold on me." –Martin Luther


Words seem so inadequate to describe the wonder of the Bible. Some men of the church have started a Bible study on Wednesday mornings. We come together and read, giving room for any or all to share their thoughts, encouragement, even frustrations. Every week we have found Him true again. We draw near to Him and we are met and ministered to by Him drawing near to us.

Reading through 1 Peter has truly laid hold of my heart. It is devastatingly adverse to me to rejoice through struggle and trial, though wrongly accused or harshly spoken to, but oh the depth found in those pages. The truth and strength that I have been able to taste by just striving to fulfill His word. What a wonder!


"Nobody ever outgrows scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years" –Charles Haddon Spurgeon