Month: October 2011

The Lord’s Prayer (paraphrased)

On October 25, 2011

Father, You are beyond the realm of my imagination, everything I perceive to be beautiful and true can not compare to You. There is none like You. You are beyond the scope of my expression. My earthly words can not contain You. May this world experience the joy and majesty, and the peace and prosperity of Your perfect truth. May Your glory fill the earth with the light of Your love and awesome power. May we live each day completely satisfied by the power of each and everyone of Your words.

O Father! have mercy upon us sinners. Teach us with each passing moment to love mercy and to be more merciful, till judgment is no longer a part of our being.

Father, guide us in Your ways. There are many traps and pitfalls here set by our Enemy. Deliver us from Satan for we have can not contend with him in our flesh.

Everything is Yours! Everything, now and forever are Yours! Everything!

It Is Better to Obey

By Marshall Mabry

On October 24, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Many times I feel upset and frustrated because I do not get my way. I go off and pout for a while, then eventually, with the passage of time, the ill-feelings go away and I seem to get back in my normal mood. This way of handling my difficulties is all wrong. God’s truth teaches us to confront our frustrations, reason with Him, and come to an agreement that is open to the Light and brings closure to the concern. Anything that disobeys the truth and is not done in love — is “sin.” Sin takes you out of alignment with our Holy Father and places us at the mercy seat of Christ. Amazingly, if we quickly “repent” we can get back within the grace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

When we feel we have been wronged our innate defensive mechanisms kick in and the “fight or flight” mentality begins to deal with our alleged offense. We either go off and pout (maybe even drag a few reluctant friends along with us) or we put up our fists and begin to bang away.

God’s Word says that our righteousness is like filthy rags. The more I think I’m right, the more I realize how much I’m not. It’s about “grace.” It’s all about our Heavenly Father’s amazing grace! I don’t have to be “right” anymore! Jesus did it all. He was God’s righteousness veiled in flesh. He was the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God. Jesus didn’t run away and pout when He was wronged and difficulties came, He faced them head on. Not with fists clenched, but with open hands filled with salvation, mercy, and love. He was obedient to His Father’s will all the way to His death on the cross, not for His sake, but for ours. I believe He told us the reason for His grace on the cross. “Father! Forgive them! For they do not know what they are doing.”

Forgive me, my Lord Jesus! I have failed You so many times. In my selfishness I have brought darkness in this world. Yet, Your grace remains. You have created me from the beginning to be salt and light. Help me to be obedient to Your commandments. My desire is to love Your commandments even more than I love this life. I will always sing of Your mercy and grace. Amen.

Bigger Is Not Better

By Marshall Mabry

On October 18, 2011

In Praise and Worship

The definition of “Organization “ according to Webster Merriam dictionary is “an administrative and functional structure (as a business or a political party); also : the personnel of such a structure.” Many churches have become, what I call, “maintenance organizations.” They are more determined to maintain their existing membership than minister to a broken and dying world. They placate members with topical antidotes (and sprinkle the name of Jesus) like “Marriage Conferences” rather than send their members out to minister to real broken homes. They defend their indolence to the perpetual urgent call of the Gospel by developing occasional, extravagant outreach programs that yield little at great cost. Their appearance is liken to a fat, well groomed, diamond studded, lazy cat awaiting its next meal. Dazzling programmed entertainment, comfort and accommodation fill the services. Messages are laced with video enhancement, encouragement and comical pith’s to tickle the listener’s ear. The church is ran just like the world’s business’ with myriads of redundant meetings. These meetings develop policies and action lists creating more work to maintain it’s machinery; it’s organization. Making the overall environment one of extreme “busyness.”

Jesus said in Luke 10, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

“Only one thing is needed…”

God’s Greatest Glory From Us

By Marshall Mabry

On October 10, 2011

In Praise and Worship

As children of God and followers of Christ our greatest impact to His glory in this world is our testimony through suffering. That is where He receives the greatest glory. It is when we praise Him through our storms – our valleys. His word says, “It is impossible to please God without faith.” Unwavering faith through suffering is the strength of our testimony. Love is important. But, loving people who love you does not bring glory to God. Jesus loved us even though we despised Him, hated Him, beat Him, cursed Him, and crucified Him. We need to love each other through the hate and the hurt. That’s the kind of love He has commanded us to present.

This may be hard to accept, but if you are comfortable, relaxed, and have many pleasurable activities in your life, you are not a good candidate for “Kingdom work.” If you fear God above all things and are faithful, humble, merciful, rejoice in truth and righteousness, confident and loving, excited, free, willing to sacrifice and ready to fast – Jesus is calling. The cross that each of us has to bear weighs differently for each believer. Some are called to poverty and destitution as their witness, even greater still, some are called to martyrdom. It is a price that every follower of Christ must be willing to pay the moment they make Jesus lord of their lives.

Doing great things for God require great sacrifices! Children of this world are willing to sacrifice a little, but not enough to bring about personal suffering. The “Me Equation” must not enter into any action or decision for a kingdom worker. It must be God’s way or “be still and know!” I believe our Lord gave a great warning to His ministers and pastors in His parable in Luke 12; “47 “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” This is the sacrifice “Kingdom” work requires.

Adrian Rogers said a faith untested is not trustworthy. Suffering tests and strengthens our faith in Jesus. David said it best in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I believe David’s faith was tested up until the day he died. He suffered, he cried, he mourned, he stumbled but through it all he trusted the Lord to deliver him. Not only did Jesus deliver him but he also exalted David as an icon for His true worshippers.

The Narrow Road is Freedom

By Marshall Mabry

On October 6, 2011

In Praise and Worship

...the Truth shall set you free. - John 8:32

Many people even Christians believe that choosing the “narrow road” forfeits a life of freedom for one of total servitude. Every choice we make in life has consequences. They can have a huge impact on our lives or they can be barely noticeable. Jesus said in order to follow Him we have to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow.” If you live a life filled with selfishness, then “Yes!”, your freedom of choice has been severely limited. But at what sacrifice or exchange? Every commandment our Lord gave us was for freeing us from bondage. Our sin and selfish choices has only led to death and suffering in this world. Christ’s commandments lead to the prosperity found in true freedom, contentment and peace found in any circumstance, and true joy found in the simple, ordinary things within day to day living. God opens our eyes to the things that really matter — that have true everlasting beauty, not a passing fancy or fad. You may not remember the day you got your first Ipod, but you remember the moment you first fell in love. Christ lets us see beauty in the ordinary, greatness in small matters, potential in the trivial, and freedom in service.

In this day and age we have limited, personalized definition of freedom. Among many other factors, it is subjective to our culture, financial and political views. In truth, freedom is only found in our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the narrow way. He said, “I am the Truth” — “and the Truth shall set you free.”

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”