My heart was bitter:  theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , ,

Psalm 73:21-23
New Living Translation (NLT)
“Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.  

I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.   

Yet I still belong to you;  you hold my right hand.“

The psalmists prayer, then my own.

While struggling with my pride, conceit and imaginations. 

I look up, and realize that the problem is me.  

While I misunderstood, bitterness and envy  were tearing me up inside.

I was a wounded animal, lashing out in pain and frustration.

Yet, You were there, holding my hand.  

I was embraced and inclosed, by Your love.  

Forgiven.   Thank You.  Amen



You art and offence:   theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , ,

“Thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.​”

This was Jesus speaking to Peter, after Peter contradicted what Jesus had just explained.

Peter was reacting, thinking, speaking from the Natural, Human perspective.

Jesus had expounded on the Spiritual.  We still do it today.

Galatians 3:3
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

So many of us get saved, a Spiritual experience.  Then learn, recite and preach by our Natural abilities.

Some do this well, others, not so much.   Most do not realize they are trying to do a Spiritual task, by fleshly means.

They speak the right words, believe the truth, but do not have a clue, how to live it, never mind how to share it in Power.

I understand why…  I do it myself.   I’ll take it from here, Lord, is much easier then, Lord, draw me close to You, never let me stray.  Show me Your way, Oh Lord.

If you want a larger congregation, dump your plan, draw close to Him, let Him have His way.

His way is higher and better, the results and praise are His, you are just the vehicle used for His Glory.

Lord, make me a vehicle, I pray.   Amen

That we might:  theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , , , , ,

That we might,  a powerful promise, that  expresses  permission, liberty, probability, possibility….  

We have permission, the freedom, the ability to become, or attain the following:

“that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”

We might be the vehicle the Lord uses to bring someone to the knowledge of salvation.

“that we might live through him.”

We might find our peace, joy, comfort, guidence and direction throught Him.

“that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

We might be holy, sanctified, justified, forgiven, even blameless as we live through Him.

“that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

We might, and we have been adopted.

“that we might be justified by faith.”

It is just as if I never sinned,  I am justified.

“that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Jesus is our wisdom and righteousness.

“that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Too many never receive this promise, they do not understand the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and never receive the fullness of the Gospel.   So Sad…

“that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

Again, another missed opportunity for many, we bury the gifts instead of increasing the church through them.

“that we might work the works of God?”

What is the work of God?  To know God is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

When we refuse much that the Lord would have us to have, we end up with, powerless preaching, terrible teaching, problematic prophecies, pointless prayer.   Your choice.

We might, OR MIGHT NOT.

IT IS UP TO US.

  

Today, I am Jonah:  theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , , ,

Jonah 4:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.


Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Today,  I am Jonah.  I am exceedingly displeased, and very angry.  

Why?

Because, I have yet to learn, how to submit to, and obey the Lord.   I am full of pride, selfishness, and ego.  I am not humble, teachable, pliable…  

I am not a useable vessel for the Lord.

“Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”

If I am not yet a useable vessel, will I ever become one?

Jonah was sent to preach repentance, to a people who had fallen away.  He claimed to know better, that they would repent and therefore, there was no reason for him to go.

Truth is, he didn’t like those people, and really, who cares if they get  destroyed?

I believe I was sent to this UMC, to bring them into an understanding, that God is bigger, more personal, more powerful, more relevant in our lives.

I have fallen in love with this people, I want them to know the blessings of walking with the Lord.   The peace that passes understanding, the joy unspeakable and full of glory.

I am a failure.   Take me home Lord.  It is better for me to die than live.

Do I mean it?   Sometimes, but I get over it.  I repent, ask forgiveness, turn to the Lord, and cry help.

Someday, soon I pray, the Lord will see fit to allow me the pulpit, to share what He has taught me.

To grow His body, the church.  Aparently, my compassion is lacking.   lol

Pray for me, please.

Neglected Caroline – 7/23/16

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote ABANDONED CAROLINE, Neglected Caroline , , ,

Neglected Caroline –

My friend Bruce wrote:

Think about detailing in your Neglected Caroline series:

After a few shots they start to look like real estate photos from Joe’s used house lot, of houses that probably won’t sell. If you key in on some feature of the house (rotting wood and peeling paint do some interesting photographic things with light) it makes it more “arty”. The shot above is of a warehouse building in Cambridge that by itself would be kind of boring, but by keying in on the brick and stone against the sidewalk and modern buildings in the background it gives it an arty, farmable feel.

*framable – something you’d frame, not farmable – something you’d farm.

I took a photography course a few years back.
What do you think?

Because thine heart was tender; theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , , ,

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord.”

Is your heart tender?  Are you listening?  Have you humbled yourself before the Lord?

Do you understand where we are headed?  A country, that once revered Godly principles, morality, standards…  now, turning its back on the Lord.

Embracing sin, rejecting truth, denying  the Holy One and His love.  

Listen and live:

Kings 22:19
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.”

The Lord will hear and answer the prayers of the righteous, the humble, those who plead for the lives of others.

Jude 1
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.   

And of some have compassion, making a difference:   And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

We must pray for our country, that we would be led by Godly leaders, that they would walk in wisdom towards those without.

That they would lead us toward the Lord, instead of away.   

We may just delay the date of destruction,  we may be too far gone…  We must try, for our children and grand children.

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord,”

We must hear, the Lords cry, and pray.

She hath done what she could:   theunfetteredpreacher

bill theunfetteredpreacher cote serving God, Spiritual living , , ,

Mark: 14. 8. 

“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”

She had brought an alabaster box of precious ointment, anointed Jesus with it.  There were some who were indignant at the waste of money.   (It could have gone to the poor).

She did what she could.   Have we?   She gave what she had, a treasure, precious, expensive, probably not easily replaced.   

What have we given?  He doesn’t want much, just our all.  He expects our tithe, a tenth of our earnings as His due.   Not because He needs our money, but so we receive the blessings of giving.

What He really desires is our life, given for  His pleasure, in Praise, Worship and obedience.   Building His body, walking in Faith, believing His Promises.   Speaking that which is not, into existence.

Abram, had his name changed to Abrahem, (Father of many Nations), before he received the promised child.  He would tell people his name, and speak it into existence.

He was willing to sacrifice, (kill the child), to be obedient to the Lords command.  Believing that the Lord could and would, raise him from the dead if need be.

He had this testimony:  “He believed God and it was counted for him as righteousness.”   Also when Sodom and Gomorrah were destinded for destruction the Lord said:  Genesis: 18. 

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;   Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?   For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

“For I know him“….  Abraham gave his all also.

How about us?   Have we given our best?    Our all?   Has it cost us to serve the King?