Using God as a good luck charm.

 1Sa 4:1 ¶ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
1Sa 4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
1Sa 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
1Sa 4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
1Sa 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
1Sa 4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
1Sa 4:8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
1Sa 4:9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
1Sa 4:10 ¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
1Sa 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

In this passage we see that Israel is, once again, at war with the Philistines. However, the Israelites are losing because they are not following God. We see, that in a desperate attempt to win the war, Israel takes the Ark of the Covenant and brings it into the battle. Now ,a funny thing happens, they still lose. You'd think that because the Israelites brought the holiest thing that they had access to that God would help them win. Sounds right doesn't it? Well, lets think about this, what do you do with a good luck charm? Do you wear it around your neck in the shape of a rabbits foot? Or do you keep it in your pocket in the form of a button? Or do you not use it until you need it in the form of prayer? To many people use prayer and God as good luck charms. I read in a book about a school who hung this sign in its lobby. "To whom it may concern: In the event of Atomic Attack all rules against praying in this school are indefinitely suspended." This is was rather difficult for me to read without bursting out in laughter. Then I thought , "Why am laughing, this really isn't funny. With America the way it is, this is normal." Prayer is not a tool to be set on the back shelf. God will answer prayer but he will not be our good luck charm. He deserves better than that. Considering everything He has done for you.







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Update

I am sorry for not posting but until recently I have not had access to a computer. VBS was a huge success 24 kids saved, the teaching was great, and the Heartland team was a huge help. Coming up we have teen camp!! So far from our church we have 12-15 kids going. The dates are July 28-Aug.1 The preacher hat week will be Bro. Tony Wood. Please be praying. On that note I will wish you all a wonderful summer.

Update!

I have finally gotten back to check up on you all. You will have to excuse my lack of posts recently, it has become increasingly harder to get on a computer that I can actually post on. Anyway, I have an announcement to make. Northwoods Baptist Church is having their third annual Vacation Bible School!!! Several exciting things will mark this VBS. We will be having Bro. Rick Mitchell come and preach for us, as usual. We are having a VBS team from Heartland Baptist Bible College come up and help us. Last but not least, we are having a five-day VBS this year instead of our usual three-day. For a church our size this is a huge endeavor so please pray for several things: for Bro. Mitchell and the VBS team for safety as they are travelling, for the supplies needed, and for the kids that they would allow God to speak to them this coming VBS. The date for this is June 2nd through the 6th so please be praying. Thats about it so I will check up with you all later. Hope you all have a good spring.

Faith that will move mountains.

Well, the snow is officially gone. The rain, however, just dealt its first devastating blow. Our road was flooded along with many others, Best of all, an old wish of the family came true. We suddenly had a pool in the backyard.  There is one thing, though, that never ceases to amaze me. Any church bus runner will agree with me that running in the rain is not exactly preferable. Now maybe its just because I've been at it such a short time but I have never had to do any running in the rain. This Sunday was especially cool. I woke up, and it was pouring, everything was already flooded. Everyone said I was going to get wet. I said "I've never had to run in the rain before, God will stop the rain." I just knew He had it under control. So we got in the car, and the rain stopped. We got to church, I ran my route, we got back to church with the kids, and it started raining. After classes I had to stay in the church for a few minutes, so I sent the kids out to the bus with the other workers. It was still raining. By the time I got out to the bus the rain had stopped. I ran the kids home and by that evening the rain started again. Not once did I have to run in the rain. Now you may call it sheer luck, but I think God was being mighty good to me and those kids. I had faith God would stop the rain in time to keep everyone dry and I think everyone reading this knows what faith can do. "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Mt 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mt 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mt 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mt 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mt 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Now, in no way am I bragging that I have great faith, it is actually quite the contrary. I struggle with my faith as much as the other guy. But I know what it can do. If you go through life trusting God with everything you have, God will bless you for it. That doesn't mean God won't take you through trials, but rather that he will give them to you as a way to increase your faith. Who's up for some faith exercises.

"How Much I Owe"

How Much I Owe

When this passing world is done,

When has sunk yon glowing sun,

When we stand with Christ in glory,

Looking o’er life’s finished story.

Then, Lord, shall I fully know ---

Not till then --- how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne,

Dressed in beauty not my own,

When I see Thee as Thou art,

Love Thee with unsinning heart,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know ---

Not till then --- how much I owe.

When the praise of heaven I hear,

Loud as thunder to the ear,

Loud as many water’s noise,

Sweet as harp‘s melodious voice,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know ---

Not till then --- how much I owe.

Even on earth, as through a glass

Darkly, let Thy glory pass,

Make forgiveness feel so sweet,

Make Thy Spirit’s help to meet

Even on earth, Lord, make me know

Something of how much I owe.

                     Robert Murry McCheyne

The effect of sin in your life.

WOW!! It is a relief to finally see a release of winters cold hand on our part of michigan. For the first time in to long I can see grass in our yard. However, If you look hard at winter you can learn a thing or two from it. Sometimes the cold of winter can be compared with coldness of our own hearts concerning the conviction of the Holy Spirit. After only a short period of time in sin, we can make the spirit of none effect because we won't listen to God's guiding voice. However, where there is cold there is a chance at thaw. We can always pray for forgiveness from God, confess our sins and start serving God again. Now I'm not at all saying that things will not be different. Concerning the sin, there is a chance you have ruined your testimony and are of little use to God. That doesn't mean you can't serve, it just means it will be an uphill battle, and he might not be able to use you like he could have.
If you look at the outcome it isn't worth even going in that direction, but God will always accept you back into his fold. Just remember, Your sin will always find you out.

Going Home

"Stepping Ashore"
Oh, think to step ashore,
   And find it Heaven;
To clasp a hand outstretched,
   And find it God's hand!
To breathe new air,
   And that, celestial air;
To feel refreshed,
   And find it immortality;
Ah, think to step from storm and stress
   To one unbroken calm:
To awake and find it Home.
                             Robert E. Selle

Beautiful, isn't it. To think of a day like that. Oh, to step from the sin and strife of this world to the calm of forever. To me this poem means peace, everlasting peace. From this vantage point its hard to imagine a world like that. A world of perfect peace in an everlasting state. Always being able to talk face to face with the most wonderful and awesome Friend that ever has been and always will be.
I think of the song "What A Day That Will Be" when my Jesus I shall see. Jesus gave us a glimpse of Heaven when he said "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 ¶ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Sounds great doesn't it? I can't wait.