This is a picture I found in the prayer notebook I mentioned this morning. This is my cousin James after God extended his life. It was taken at Thanksgiving, 2001 at my brother's house. After having a long period of relatively good health he was on the decline at this point and this was the last family gathering he was able to attend. During the prayer time this morning Maedell came to pray with me simply to thank God that she had been able to meet James and spend a little time with him. I felt that even though James is dead God is still working through his life ("And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Heb. 11:4). When we choose to live a sanctified life God works in wonderful ways for his glory. What greater goal can a person have for their life than to be used by God for his glory?
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing James' story (and the pic). I was personally a little surprised when you began to share his story. Homosexuality is so taboo in many church circles. I am very proud of you for sharing with us, many preachers would not have.
I just finished reading Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion. In it he often characterizes the American religious population as Gay haters etc. Mainly, I suppose, because it is the extreme right that makes the news. Homosexuality is a hot and taboo topic in today's Christendom. I pray that we are able to address it in a very spiritual, mature, ethical and biblical way. While I by no means endorse the homosexual lifestyle, I do question the mainstream Christian view(s) on the subject. Why can we continually accept other sins and sinners in our congregations (even while they are still battling these sins, aye, we all are still battling sins and if we deny it we are only deceiving ourselves) but homosexuals are so shunned and even hated. We are all sinners and we all struggle with temptations, what makes homosexuality so much worse than the other nine sins listed in the text of your sermon? Sorry for the soap box, but the treatment of homosexuals in mainstream Christendom USA does nothing but hinder the work of Christ through his body. I am reminded of the woman caught in adultery, perhaps we (including myself) have become a little too pharisaical for Jesus.
If you keep hitting me where I live, I might just have to start changing. Thanks.
This was one of the best sermons you have preached. They are all good, so this was amazing!
This really hit home with me. What does it mean to live holy, sanctified? I am having to really work on what this means in my life on a day to day basis.
Key phrases that I wrote down:
Self is the common foundation of all sin.
If we are changed then our actions should follow. If you think of yourself as saintly, holy you will act that way.
Who is in control of your life?
I just listened to the sermon beause I had Kid Praise Duty. This was a beautiful lesson.
What an incredible savior we have that allows us to pick ourselves up from wallowing in pig pens of sin and create for ourselves a new life life; a life where Jesus commands our destiny. Hope is a definite missing ingredient in a life without God and hearing about one life that was transformed by that hope was very powerful.
Thank you Byron.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
This morning, before leaving for work, Amanda wrote on the mirror in our dinning area:
How will I show the world
I am
washed
sanctified
justified
bought with a price
Just thought you might like to see your sermon in action. : )
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