This is my brother-in-law, Mark Sharpe, singing, Surely Goodness and Mercy, at his church, Emory Pike American Christian. He is the song leader there. I think he does an outstanding job. The words of this song are so great. Of course they are from the 23rd Psalm, where David declares: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Last Sunday I was honored to preach at Emory Pike American Christian church. I had an appointment to preach there since June 15th. I really struggled with the perfect message to bring. I prayed from the moment I was invited until the moment I stepped behind the podium in the pulpit. The Sunday morning I was to preach, I woke up very early feeling so discouraged. I guess it was the devil trying to mess with me. He was making me doubt my ability to stand and preach the Word. It kept running through my head, "you are going to be a miserable failure today." As I studied and prayed, a song starting going around in my head, "The God Of All Comfort."
It's been a while since I've posted on here so I thought I'd catch everyone up with what's going on right now.
My sister, Jennifer (who is going to kill me when she sees the pictures I've posted of her on this post!) has been in town this week and I've really enjoyed that. Her husband, Jon, preached at our church this past Sunday evening. His sermon was titled, "Lord, if..." I always love to hear him preach. Jennifer also sang and played the piano. I have to constantly fight back tears every time I hear her sing. The Lord really uses her talents for His glory. I wish they didn't live so far away, they would be so great for our church... but I'm just dreaming I reckon.
The Family of God!
This week at Emory Pike American Christian church where my brother-n-law (and lifetime best friend) is the pastor, they are having revival. I've only been able to attend one night thus far, Tuesday night. The Rev. Boyd Myers is doing the preaching and doing a wonderful job of that. As I sat on the pew Tuesday night and looked around the congregation, I couldn't help but notice nearly half of everyone in there was related to me. There was my mother and father-n-law, Harry and Helen, my sister and brother-n-law, Sandra and Wayne, my sister and brother-n-law, Kevin and Martha along with their children, Nathan and Jared, my sister and brother-n-law, Mark and Susan with their son, Ryan, and my son Matthew. All except for my son, are related to me by marriage. Then I got to thinking, you know, everyone else in the church that has accepted Christ as their Saviour, is also related to me by marriage, they married into the family of God! It makes me think of that Bill Gaither song that we sometimes sing in the choir; The Family of God:
"I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God."
I see so many times in church where there are divisions among the people. One group won't associate with the other or they hold grudges against one another. I see people with huge chips no their shoulders just looking for some reason to get "hurt" by somebody and to "hurt" them right back. One itty bitty thing doesn't go their way and they are ready to just sull up and cry like a baby. The worst part is those types of people get on the telephone and start calling up anyone that will listen and infect them with their misery. "Oh poor me, old brother so-n-so said this about me or he didnt' shake my hand or he didn't do this or do that." You can see it in their eyes when you look at them. They sit in their pew and smile and put on this big show of "righteousness" and then as soon as you walk past the smile leaves and they spend the rest of the time wondering how they can dig the knife into you. I've seen churches split, friendships ended, and crimes committed all because of some "hurt" church member. My friend it ought not to be so, because in 1 John 4:20-21 the Bible says:
"20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
That is pretty clear to me, how about you? We can't just pick and choose the commandments from the Bible that want to follow. If we believe one of them, we have to believe them all. I think we all need to make a new commitment to love one another as much as we do ourselves. If everyone would just follow that one simple commandment from God's Word we wouldn't have so much misery and heartache in this life. There would be no wars, no crime, no hatred, it would be paradise!
Praise God there is a day coming when we won't have to worry about all of the stuff going on down here. If we are truly saved and have trusted Jesus, we will be spending eternity in Heaven with Him. No more chips on the shoulders, no more whispering, no more gossiping, no more finger pointing, no more divisions, all of that stuff will die with us and be left for Satan and his crowd. Which is where it should be left today, and not amongst God's people.
So, next time you sing that song, The Family of God, think about this little post and ask yourself if you really mean what you are singing about. Be honest with yourself. You might as well be because God already knows the depths of your heart. Why not get on your knees and ask God to give you love for your fellow man? Turn things over to Him. He's the only one that can fix it for you.
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