Flashes of Light

We have been given a light to shine,
This Light is not mine, but Thine.
We are living in a world of dark,
And we have a journey on which to embark.

What we reflect is of great importance,
Be a guiding Light in this world of ignorance.
We are spotlight on Your stage,
And You are the words on our page.

If we shine our own light,
We direct in a direction that is not right.
Yours is the light of our life's path,
Because You saved, we have escaped Your wrath.

Let the flashes of light that they see,
Guide them to Your gift that is free.
For we should not this Light hide,
Because You are our Shepherd and Guide.

-Wade Jinright

Who Are We?

Are we out to help people in need or are we out to help our selves? We are so often looking out for number one, and we are so blinded in the process of taking care of ourselves. We need to take time to notice the unnoticeable. They are in as much need of care as we are. The needy, the hungry, and altogether lost need to be given a helping hand up. Even those of ill repute need our help. We like the religious elite in Jesus' day tend to take up stones to cast at the sinner. We are once in a sinful state like the lost, but at a point in time we have accepted the gift of salvation that Jesus offered to us. I am not saying that we are made sinless, but we are covered the blood of the sinless One. He has forgiven our sins. We can show others the way to salvation. They are in just as much need of Savior as we are. Don't ignore anyone, because we are all going to be in eternity either in Heaven or in Hell.

Who are we to determine if someone lives or dies? Who will be lost or who will be saved? God determines these things. He has given us a choice for our eternity. Do you want to spend it with Him or do you want to end up in Hell with Satan? I have made the choice to accept His gift of salvation so I know where my eternity will be spent.

Drop the stones you hold in your hands,
Spread the Word across the lands.
They need a hand from out of the mire,
And pulled out Hell's eternal fire.

The grace by which we are saved,
Kept us from being eternally enslaved.
Our life is not our own,
We will by Him be known.

Give the lost a helping hand,
And show them that they can stand.
We once in their place,
But now we know His saving grace. 

Who Is at the Forefront? (Cont'd)

We will continue to talk about who is at the forefront of your life.

I had a dream that I was captain of my soul.
(If we think that we are in control, we are sadly mistaken. I know 
that we want to have control of things in our life, but no matter
how hard we try, God controls everything.)
I was master of my fate, lost control, and then I sank.
(When we keep hold of the reins of our life, we steer ourselves 
in the wrong direction.)
So I don't want to take the lead Cause I'm prone to make mistakes. 
(A perfect God needs to have the leadership in our lives because
we are a sinful people and prone to make mistakes.)
All these folks that follow me gon' end up in the wrong place. 
(We need to follow after God, because He knows the only way
to get to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, His Son.)
So, just let me shadow You, and just let me trace Your lines. 
Matter of fact just take my pen. Here, You create my rhymes.
(He has given us the words to speak, and we are responsible to
speak words of edification. We need to speak His words to
guide people to Him.) 
Cause if I do this by myself I'm scared that I'll succeed.  
And no longer trust in You, cause I only trust in me. 
And see, that's how you end up headed to destruction. 
Paving a road to nowhere. Pour your life out for nothing. 
You pulled my card, I'm bluffing You know what's in my hand. 
Me, I just roll to trust You, You cause the dice to land.
(Anything we have done is known by God. It is all under God's
control.)   

I'm in control of nothing. Follow You at any cost. 
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is You the boss.  
And man I'm so at ease. I'm so content. 
I play the background like it's an instrument.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/background-lyrics-lecrae.html#ixzz1xaw9mNCW
Let yourself be used of God, even though it may be the background part. He deserves to be at the forefront of your life.

A Father's Legacy

It is what we do and what we have done before our children that directs them how to live. It is a godly example that leads our family in the right direction. If we are not leading according to the Word of God; then we are leading our families down a road of destruction and disarray. I have seen the importance of a godly example and how we all need to make a commitment to our family and their well-being.
Make a legacy worth following. I want to follow in the footsteps of my Heavenly Father, and set an example worthy of Him. My children are gifts and they mean so much to me, and if I don't set a godly example in front of them then I am failing them and only hurting them. I want to bring them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

A father is given a place to lead,
He is given a purpose and a need.
A purpose to live and to love,
And a need to ask for strength from above.

We cannot take this role lightly,
For we must grasp His Word tightly.
For His Word holds the key to eternal life,
So pass it on to your children and your wife.

I am a son of my Heavenly Father,
I will bring them in His love together.
My sons and daughter listen well,
And hear of Him and you, He will not fail.

Who Is At the Forefront?

I have heard this song by Lecrae, "Background", and it reminds me that I need to step out of the spotlight and let Christ be the main event. I have been given a gift and I need to share it. I am not the one that saves people, but I can direct them to the One that died for my salvation. Are you the one in the spotlight, or is Christ speaking through you to others?
Lets us take a look at verse one of Lecrae's song, 'Background'.
 
It's evident You run the show, so let me back down.
You take the leading role, and I'll play the background. 
(A life given to Christ has changed the roles on the stage.) 

I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines I'm sticking to Your script, 
And I'm reading all Your signs. 
(We are not perfect, and so we do make mistakes. God gave us His Word to live by, 
and that is the only way to live.)
I don't need my name in lights. 
I don't need a starring role. 
(The world has the wrong idea of popularity.)
And why gain the whole wide world, if I'm just gon' loose my soul. 
And my ways ain't purified, I'll live according to Your Word.
(Nothing compares to knowing that you have God's Word and His salvation.) 
 I can't endure this life without Your wisdom being heard. 
So word to every dancer for a pop star,  
Cause we all play the background, but mine's a Rock Star. Yeah.
(He deserves every word of praise, and He leads me everyday.)
So if you need me I'll be stage right. 
Prayin' the whole world will start embracing stage fright. 
(Christ, You are the Leader of my life.)
So let me fall back and stop giving my suggestions 
Cause when I follow my obsessions I end up confessing.  
That I'm not that impressive, matter of fact I'm who I are.  
A trail of star dust leading to the Superstar. 
(It makes you feel miniscule when you think about it. I am thankful
that God considered me to be used of Him.)
 http://www.metrolyrics.com/background-lyrics-lecrae.html#ixzz1xRgrQXwa
In the next of couple of days I will talk about the other verses of this song and what they mean to me.

Remember

Yesterday I saw a comic from a newspaper, that aptly describes most people on Memorial Day forgetting why we have celebrate this day. We celebrate it because of those that have stood against the enemy and have retained our freedom. We take for granted so often the freedoms we do have. I am thankful for the freedom to worship God. So much to be thankful for in the way of freedom.

I am glad that I am part of the military, and I am able to serve my country. If you have the opportunity to serve your country, do so.

Who stands for us when all seems lost,
Who gives their lives at any cost.
Our battles are not won because of might,
But by our willingness to fight.

Our will is not broken,
But affirmed in our pledge spoken.
Back them up with your support,
When the enemy begins their tort.

You may have someone that has served,
And because of them you have better than you deserved.
So remember this day,
And those that with their lives did pay.

What We Have Been Called To Do

We have all been called to do something as believers. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:11,12) God called many people throughout the Old and New Testament to do certain things, and many we would not consider qualified to the jobs that they were called to do. In ministry, it calls us to do things in service to our Lord, but these things that we do are not of our own power. We are there to minister to people and their needs. We are not discounting the needs that we have ourselves, but we know everyone has certain needs. We have been equipped to meet certain needs. God calls us to use what He has equipped us with to minister.
The one thing that people are getting out of sorts over is where people are getting better equipped to serve the people that they have committed to shepherd. The most important thing that people need to be concerned about is that they are living by the Word of God, and preaching and teaching in Jesus' name. When you make a fuss about something as insignificant as where somebody got their education in preparation for ministry; you have lost sight of what God has called the pastor to do. I understand taking care of church discipline when it is needed, but in a situation like this it is wrong. When re-establishing (how you minister to the congregation) a church that has stood the test of time, you must maintain the biblical principles it was founded upon. If that person has maintained those principles; he has done his job. So many people have gotten their education in various places, and yet you don't see them getting questioned about the jobs they do based on their education. I have come from a family that for the most part received our education from Bob Jones University, and I am not questioned about what I was educated upon. Does that make me any less equipped to minister? Others speak of where they got their education, do you question them?

Called am I to go and do,
And with His Word, I will follow through.
Speak the truth in love,
And know that God sees from above.

Speak and with His Word do edify,
And do not let a soul pass you by.
For all is precious in His sight,
And with His Word we prepare to fight.

We have all been given things to do,
And we have all been shown the way through.
Do not argue about where you have been taught,
But know Christ's Death, salvation wrought.