Happy Thursday Everyone!
We had such an amazing time at the end of Church last night… communion was amazing… everyone lingered as if they wanted to camp in the sanctuary till morning!
I thank God for the growing band of people in this little community who are strangely warmed. For more than 18 years, Emily and I have enjoyed the express privilege of cohabiting with so many God chasers! Even those who have become our enemies over these past 7 years… they all burned for God during the beautiful years we spent together and many of them seem to be still burning for him today.
On this past Sunday, I spoke of a time right after Emily and I gave our lives to Christ. Back in 1991, we were so happy to be snatched from the flames during those early days. Luke 7:47 tells us that the one who is forgiven MUCH, loves MUCH… and we LOVED MUCH!
One day, I was working with an older fellow at an insurance company. His name was Calvert Searson, a super guy! After I found out that Calvert had been a believer for longer than I had been alive, I got so excited. Calvert was a good man… very reserved and private about his religion. And so, whenever we paired up to work together, I would DRIVE HIM CRAZY with my EXPRESSIVE LOVE FOR GOD. There was nothing private about my religion, I was in love and I wanted the whole would to share in my joy!
Calvert would be driving us to the next appointment and I would be reading the Bible out loud and preaching little mini sermons from the things I was reading. If we saw someone in a car accident, or someone getting a speeding ticket, or just a person walking down the street… I would say, “Let’s pray Calvert” and I would pray out loud for everything that moved… firing off a few scriptures in each prayer!
On one such day… I must have been overly hyper as I can become at times. We were driving up Greenville Ave in Staunton, VA just past the old Correctional Facility… and I started praying for the inmates! Well, Calvert must have been going through something that day… and my passionate spirit was not helping matters a bit. I remember good ole Calvert GLARED over at me and grumbled, “Son… you’re still young in this… you’ll calm down one of these days!”
As you can imagine… I respectfully denied my new friends GLOOMY PREDICTION! LOL
Keeping that fire alive can be a real challenge at times. Life has done everything it can to make good on Calverts prediction. Yet, here I am… my lovely wife and I… 18 years later… with that VERY SAME 1991 FIRE! Oh yes, its expression has matured slightly and we’ve been refined with education and experience… but the FIRE IS STILL THERE!
I believe our fire would have gone out a long, long time ago… had we not been privileged to walk closely with so many legendary God chasers! We have always been in FIERY CIRCLES… pushing through the MANY opportunities to dismiss ourselves from the front lines. And today? We’re standing in the finest FIRE CIRCLE of our lives!
So right now, I want to say thank you to God, for placing me with people who love him like Emily and I do! I want to pray for each of my dear readers to be LED into their very own circle of fire… one that will rocket launch them into the greatest adventure of their lives! May none of you EVER ‘calm down one of these days!’
2 Timothy 1:6-7 “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
We love you good people… have a most triumphant day!
See what I mean!! These words come from a gal in my CIRCLE OF FIRE! No wonder I'm blazing…
As iron sharpeneth iron, so one man SHARPENETH the countenance of his friend! -Proverbs 27:17
:]
Pastor Chuck I can NOT imagine you in a “calmed down way”. I think I would be extremely concerned and would have to pray you out of it!!!
This blog today reminds me of not too long ago in Thurs night prayer meeting when Linda came in singing Johnny Cash’s song “A burning ring of fire” and explained how that concept has been placed in her thoughts while praying. Isn’t it so awesome how God speaks to His intercessors?
Your last statement about triumph also brings a thought to mind.
Last night Bo spoke on Spiritual warfare to the teens and on the subject of Victory one of the scriptures He used was 2 Corin 2:14
“Now Thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in triumphs in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of his Knowledge in EVERY PLACE.”
He told them there is no time and not a place in which we can not visibly share the triumph over satan’s kingdom. This is what YOU do everyday on this blog and as you live your life and lead our church. Thank you!
Pastor Chuck: Thank you so much for this CONFIRMATION! I have also been told I am “too wild and crazy” in how I worship and my enthusiasm and fire for the things of the Lord. I know that some people in my church are “embarrassed” by my actions and how I jump around in worship, etc, but my only concern is what God thinks of my worship. He has instilled the FIRE and DESIRE within me and if I was to squelch that I would not reep the blessing He has for me by being obedient in my worship and HONOR OF HIM. I have come to learn over the years and through my trials that “man’s” opinion doesn’t matter. God is the ONLY ONE I am here to please and satisfy and in that process if man is offended…oh well. They will have to answer to God, just like I will. I love that FIRE within you…don’t EVER let it go out!
CHUCK, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU!!! CHURCH WAS AWESOME AGAIN LAST NIGHT. I COULD FEEL THE LORDS PRESENCE AND I BELIEVE EVERYONE ELSE DID AS WELL. THAT MAY BE WHY THE ALTER WAS FULL FOR SO LONG AFTERWARD. I KNOW I WAS MOVED AND HATED LEAVING. I HAVE BEEN ON THE RUN ALL DAY BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE I LET YOU KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IT WAS FOR ME. WITH MUCH LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR YOU ALL, I CLOSE FOR THE NIGHT TO RENEW MY MIND, BODY, AND SOUL.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and may we remain how He wants us to be.