Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Use Your Communicator
God gives us certain people as a line of communication. Problem is for one reason or another (TOO PROUD, uncomfortable, etc.)we don't talk. STEP #1 to BREAKTHROUGH... ADMIT you're going through a storm.
One problem is that a lot of people feel that he MUST go to their Pastor. While many times this can be the case, Why would God allow you to interact and fellowship with Pastors other than your own?
Now if you feel a pulling that IS NOT of God, then you need to back off a bit and pray so you don't end up where you were not planted.
Use your various lines. Some can understand and relate more than others about certain issues. Surely, if you've been a Christian more than a year, you know who you can talk to about what.
They are there for a reason.
One last note. (Some may get the transition of topic, and others may not)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT OTHERS... The person you're cutting down may be the one God sent to help you through your storm.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Labeling Others
Don't label people... The direction YOU think their life should go could be farther from what God has planned than anything else in their life.
This is often true with Pastor / Preacher kids.
There was a pastor (he went home about 10 years ago) who took over a church, he (with God's leading) built it up to the point of moving to another location. He never got to hold service in the building that now stands (like Moses not getting to enter the Promised Land), but his wife was voted in as pastor (I believe, to carry on the vision). Their son was the Music Minister and did so VERY well. The son started a group, going around to different churches to minister and several years later felt led to another church. While there he continued his group for a while. The pastor that he was under resigned, and the leaders of the church (youth, kids, etc.) all stepped down also, as was their ordinances for that denomination. They appointed him "temporary" youth leader. He the felt the Lord call him to quit the singing group, and he was officially the Youth Leader.
Several years later I was speaking with another pastor who said: "It was a slap in the face to his father."
I wasn't really as wise (still not very wise) about such things at the time, but over the years (since that conversation about the son) have thought of what the proper response was for this accusation.
This pastor thought the son should have carried on. That son listened to the voice of God, as he had MANY times since he was called to minister in music (his early to mid teen years). The son was labeled "Future Pastor" of the church that his dad and mom built up. I was watching "A Snoodles Tale" with the kids the other day and this is what came to my mind. Granted the movie was talking in general about everyone labeling others, but it also points to this. If a person steps into a ministry he or she does not belong in they will DESTROY it instead of building it up. Do not label the pastor's son or daughter to carry on in the line that mom and dad are going down. Preacher don't always "begat" preachers.
We should be watchful and ready to help others when they fall or head down the wrong road, not there to criticize what we THINK they should be doing. God has a plan for each person. Sometimes children are given the same vision as their parents, other times God will lead them down a whole other path.
Listen to what GOD is saying to you, NOT what everyone else is telling you. That doesn't mean that He won't use another person to tell you something. That just means If it doesn't line up with what God is telling you, then you need to steer clear of the path they are trying to drag you on.
This is often true with Pastor / Preacher kids.
There was a pastor (he went home about 10 years ago) who took over a church, he (with God's leading) built it up to the point of moving to another location. He never got to hold service in the building that now stands (like Moses not getting to enter the Promised Land), but his wife was voted in as pastor (I believe, to carry on the vision). Their son was the Music Minister and did so VERY well. The son started a group, going around to different churches to minister and several years later felt led to another church. While there he continued his group for a while. The pastor that he was under resigned, and the leaders of the church (youth, kids, etc.) all stepped down also, as was their ordinances for that denomination. They appointed him "temporary" youth leader. He the felt the Lord call him to quit the singing group, and he was officially the Youth Leader.
Several years later I was speaking with another pastor who said: "It was a slap in the face to his father."
I wasn't really as wise (still not very wise) about such things at the time, but over the years (since that conversation about the son) have thought of what the proper response was for this accusation.
This pastor thought the son should have carried on. That son listened to the voice of God, as he had MANY times since he was called to minister in music (his early to mid teen years). The son was labeled "Future Pastor" of the church that his dad and mom built up. I was watching "A Snoodles Tale" with the kids the other day and this is what came to my mind. Granted the movie was talking in general about everyone labeling others, but it also points to this. If a person steps into a ministry he or she does not belong in they will DESTROY it instead of building it up. Do not label the pastor's son or daughter to carry on in the line that mom and dad are going down. Preacher don't always "begat" preachers.
We should be watchful and ready to help others when they fall or head down the wrong road, not there to criticize what we THINK they should be doing. God has a plan for each person. Sometimes children are given the same vision as their parents, other times God will lead them down a whole other path.
Listen to what GOD is saying to you, NOT what everyone else is telling you. That doesn't mean that He won't use another person to tell you something. That just means If it doesn't line up with what God is telling you, then you need to steer clear of the path they are trying to drag you on.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Train Up A Child?
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
What does this really mean?
I always thought it meant to teach the right from wrong, how to make decisions through life, and to have good morals. Yes, it does mean all of this, BUT THERE'S MORE!!!!
I have just recently started realizing a lot of what I'm missing in my training. I am starting to realize that I (not just the church, but ME) am suppose to also be SPIRITUALLY training them. I am suppose to be reading the word to them and allowing them to question me.
About ten or eleven years ago (before I even started THINKING about moving towards being a preacher. I knew that's what I was suppose to do, but didn't think in terms of doing it yet) I had a girl in our youth group come to me (ME. A person who was in the same age group, no leadership abilities, nothing) and asked me to help her pray that she would receive the Holy Ghost. I blew it. I went to one of our youth leaders and told her. She of course went and prayed with her (I had NO IDEA how to do it) and we walked away. That young lady was not filled that night (haven't heard from her since we quit going there, so I am unsure if she ever did) and I wasn't really content with the outcome myself.
Now that I have yielded to the calling and have been filled with the spirit myself, I still think back on what I should have done differently. I NOW know that she didn't mean right then and there, and that she was confiding in me to pray for her as she was seeking.
Now I realize that I MUST TRAIN UP MY CHILDREN with the knowledge of God. They MUST KNOW that Jesus loves them and came to earth to die so that we could be free from sin and make heaven our home. The MUST KNOW of the gift of the Holy Spirit and how it empowers us to make it through life, to be witnesses, and I MUST TRAIN THEM TO SEEK GOD AND TO BE AVAILABLE TO PRAY WITH OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE TRULY OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE FULLNESS OF THEIR CALLING.
What are you doing to train up your child? Do they know of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit? SURELY THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO TRAIN UP A CHILD!!!!
What does this really mean?
I always thought it meant to teach the right from wrong, how to make decisions through life, and to have good morals. Yes, it does mean all of this, BUT THERE'S MORE!!!!
I have just recently started realizing a lot of what I'm missing in my training. I am starting to realize that I (not just the church, but ME) am suppose to also be SPIRITUALLY training them. I am suppose to be reading the word to them and allowing them to question me.
About ten or eleven years ago (before I even started THINKING about moving towards being a preacher. I knew that's what I was suppose to do, but didn't think in terms of doing it yet) I had a girl in our youth group come to me (ME. A person who was in the same age group, no leadership abilities, nothing) and asked me to help her pray that she would receive the Holy Ghost. I blew it. I went to one of our youth leaders and told her. She of course went and prayed with her (I had NO IDEA how to do it) and we walked away. That young lady was not filled that night (haven't heard from her since we quit going there, so I am unsure if she ever did) and I wasn't really content with the outcome myself.
Now that I have yielded to the calling and have been filled with the spirit myself, I still think back on what I should have done differently. I NOW know that she didn't mean right then and there, and that she was confiding in me to pray for her as she was seeking.
Now I realize that I MUST TRAIN UP MY CHILDREN with the knowledge of God. They MUST KNOW that Jesus loves them and came to earth to die so that we could be free from sin and make heaven our home. The MUST KNOW of the gift of the Holy Spirit and how it empowers us to make it through life, to be witnesses, and I MUST TRAIN THEM TO SEEK GOD AND TO BE AVAILABLE TO PRAY WITH OTHERS WHEN THEY ARE TRULY OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE FULLNESS OF THEIR CALLING.
What are you doing to train up your child? Do they know of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit? SURELY THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO TRAIN UP A CHILD!!!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Points of Observation
Would there be any point in me spending time "debating" whether or not there is a God or anything else of the nature? I know this is a serious question and must not be taken lightly. The way I see it if you have to debate about it then you question your own beliefs. So if you claim one thing, but question something else, be willing to open up and try what you are given.
I will not give a direct answer, for the answer you must find on your own. I can only point you in the direction that I know. Philippians 2:12 says "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
I was raised in church. My parents were saved when I was very young. After years in church my dad went and got his preaching license. He hasn't preached for about 15 years now, but I know that I must pick up and carry on.
NOW... I read a blog entitled How Can We Be Pentecostal Without Freaking People Out?, and in this blog, the writer states that he saw through the eyes of the "un-churched" couple. There are those with the ability to do this. I have trouble in this area. Granted it wasn't until the past few years that I've started to move toward the direction that God wanted me to, but I cannot say that there was a time that I was not around some kind of "religious" music, tv, or other stuff. Even when I wasn't going to church, I was never truly un-churched.
There are those that are not raised around church. Maybe your typical CMEWFF (Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter, Wedding, Funeral, Food) people. These cannot truly see through my eyes. They don't feel what I feel, they don't have the same knowledge that I have. I have a confession to make... I'm not the brightest bulb in the box. I don't have knowledge about sports, politics, or video games. Another confession.. I can't really tell you very much about the Bible. I am still learning more everyday. I only know what I have been through and what God has done for me, and what He continues to do.
I asked in my previous blog - "How many times have you truly searched for Him? Did you go to church once or twice, not really wanting to be there, just so you could say you went and didn't "FEEL" anything?"
If you go and sit on the pew trying to feel nothing... then that is exactly what you'll get NOTHING. Don't question, try to debate, or prove anyone wrong. Just go and open yourself up. If you want to ask anyone to prove something... ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will even direct you to the right place.
When you are deciding where to go to feel Him and you think about one church but feel you should go to a different church, that is simply Him guiding you and you should go with it. Once again, I simply give you this, open yourself up to hear, receive, and listen. You can hear noise, or you can listen to music. You can hear someone talking, or you can listen to what someone is trying tell you.
In Christ,
David
----------------
Now playing: The Bishops - When You Change Your Mind
via FoxyTunes
I will not give a direct answer, for the answer you must find on your own. I can only point you in the direction that I know. Philippians 2:12 says "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
I was raised in church. My parents were saved when I was very young. After years in church my dad went and got his preaching license. He hasn't preached for about 15 years now, but I know that I must pick up and carry on.
NOW... I read a blog entitled How Can We Be Pentecostal Without Freaking People Out?, and in this blog, the writer states that he saw through the eyes of the "un-churched" couple. There are those with the ability to do this. I have trouble in this area. Granted it wasn't until the past few years that I've started to move toward the direction that God wanted me to, but I cannot say that there was a time that I was not around some kind of "religious" music, tv, or other stuff. Even when I wasn't going to church, I was never truly un-churched.
There are those that are not raised around church. Maybe your typical CMEWFF (Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter, Wedding, Funeral, Food) people. These cannot truly see through my eyes. They don't feel what I feel, they don't have the same knowledge that I have. I have a confession to make... I'm not the brightest bulb in the box. I don't have knowledge about sports, politics, or video games. Another confession.. I can't really tell you very much about the Bible. I am still learning more everyday. I only know what I have been through and what God has done for me, and what He continues to do.
I asked in my previous blog - "How many times have you truly searched for Him? Did you go to church once or twice, not really wanting to be there, just so you could say you went and didn't "FEEL" anything?"
If you go and sit on the pew trying to feel nothing... then that is exactly what you'll get NOTHING. Don't question, try to debate, or prove anyone wrong. Just go and open yourself up. If you want to ask anyone to prove something... ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will even direct you to the right place.
When you are deciding where to go to feel Him and you think about one church but feel you should go to a different church, that is simply Him guiding you and you should go with it. Once again, I simply give you this, open yourself up to hear, receive, and listen. You can hear noise, or you can listen to music. You can hear someone talking, or you can listen to what someone is trying tell you.
In Christ,
David
----------------
Now playing: The Bishops - When You Change Your Mind
via FoxyTunes
Friday, April 10, 2009
Have You Really Tried HIM?
How many times have you truly searched for Him? Did you go to church once or twice, not really wanting to be there, just so you could say you went and didn't "FEEL" anything? Jeremiah 29:13 says: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV)
Many times we go to church and aren't really interested in knowing this Jesus that a few, compared to the rest, seem to be obsessed with. But a question that never seems to get answered is, "Why are YOU so afraid to be a christian?"
How many times do you feel something, but are afraid of what your friends will think if you "give in?" I will admit, it's not easy trying to be a christian and have to work, live, and spend everyday life around people that aren't. But if you ask Him, God will help you through your everyday life.
I know a man who had to work around a guy that liked to swear all of the time and he said to God one day, "Lord if you don't shut him up I'm gonna have some testimony tonight" and when that guy tried to swear around him, the other guy couldn't even talk when he wanted to swear. I'm Not saying make that your prayer, but if you pray about the situations you are having to face, HE WILL HELP YOU.
James 5:16 says "....The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
How many times have you actually took a problem to God and let Him take care of it, and if things went different then you expected, thought "Oh well, I must not really be saved, because my prayer didn't get answered." I heard a friend make the statement one time that God doesn't say "NO"... He say "Yes", "Not Now", or "I Have Something Better". Don't Give up... Keep on SEEKING HIM. He is the only one that can really help you. You never know when He will send the answer.
If you give up now, you might miss your chance tomorrow. So keep pressing on, God WILL BLESS you for your work.
God Bless You for reading,
David Pate
Many times we go to church and aren't really interested in knowing this Jesus that a few, compared to the rest, seem to be obsessed with. But a question that never seems to get answered is, "Why are YOU so afraid to be a christian?"
How many times do you feel something, but are afraid of what your friends will think if you "give in?" I will admit, it's not easy trying to be a christian and have to work, live, and spend everyday life around people that aren't. But if you ask Him, God will help you through your everyday life.
I know a man who had to work around a guy that liked to swear all of the time and he said to God one day, "Lord if you don't shut him up I'm gonna have some testimony tonight" and when that guy tried to swear around him, the other guy couldn't even talk when he wanted to swear. I'm Not saying make that your prayer, but if you pray about the situations you are having to face, HE WILL HELP YOU.
James 5:16 says "....The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
How many times have you actually took a problem to God and let Him take care of it, and if things went different then you expected, thought "Oh well, I must not really be saved, because my prayer didn't get answered." I heard a friend make the statement one time that God doesn't say "NO"... He say "Yes", "Not Now", or "I Have Something Better". Don't Give up... Keep on SEEKING HIM. He is the only one that can really help you. You never know when He will send the answer.
If you give up now, you might miss your chance tomorrow. So keep pressing on, God WILL BLESS you for your work.
God Bless You for reading,
David Pate
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