Proverbs 27:6-10

Friend day begins here at Open Door Community Church this Sunday during our Life Journey classes.  For the next several weeks the Pastors Blog will focus on the scriptures what the Lord says about friends. 

Recently, after visiting a long time friend who is in ministry Dee and I were treated not like friends at all, almost like we were never in their lives, and a sad feeling fell upon me.  Separation to serve should never separate us from love.  Friendship is built on the philia kind of love we spoke about in church recently.  Warmhearted affection for another person. 

Christians need to understand the Proverb as it points us towards a lifestyle to live a Godly life in this ungodly world.  Satan should never get a foot hold in our lives putting us against one another as friends.  Everyone needs friends.

Proverbs 27:10 do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend.  I often wonder how the Lord looks down from Heaven upon the Christian and when He sees us separated and dividing over things that have no importance in building the Kingdom of God, well Jesus Christ wept you know, John 11:35.  It hurts my heart when my children and grandchildren separate and argue about anything.  The Lord could very well weep when he looks down from heaven and sees how we Christian brothers and sisters, friends, treat each other.

Let us change today, agree with me, and say I will be  different and love my friends always. 

Proverbs 17:17 is pretty clear, A friend loves at all times.  

Today Pastor Ron has been going through a time with his back.  A local Dr. this morning approved by his cardiologist went forward with the first of 3 injections in two locations in the back.  The pain has been a little difficult to handle, however, the good news is the injection is a God given blessing and the pain will go away. 

I was asked this morning at a meeting did it remind me just a little about what my Savior went through.  My answer was in no way could I compare this little pain to what He did for me.  Because of what He did, one day I will need no more shots or procedure, thank You Lord Jesus I love You with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength.

We will have a follow up devotional later in the week.

Acts 15:36-38

The story we have here is important because we can see that even through disappointment and it will come in our lives, God is always on time and accomplishes exactly what He wants to accomplish in our lives and with lives.

Paul and Barnabas had decided it was time to visit the churches were they had been preaching the Word to just see how people were doing.  The first point I would like to make is Paul knew and so should the leadership in churches today, to know the importance of following up with those who we have touched in someway through the ministry.    If you have a church visitation program then praise the Lord, if not, start one.  Even if it is just a telephone visitation program, stay in touch with those who the Lord has put in your life. 

Paul and Barnabas were about to do just that, visit those they had previously touched.  Before they departed Barnabas said let me get our new young leader John Mark to go with us.  Hold on Paul said, you see it was not time for John Mark to be with Paul in ministry.  Paul insisted in Acts 15:38 that John Mark would not be going with them at that time.  Sometimes that is the way it is for us.  We feel as if God is calling us only to hear a more clear voice from our spiritual leaders say something like this, not at this time. 

If God is calling you into ministry, it will always be on time.   Even though Paul said not at this time, if God is calling you, in God's time it will come to be reality.  2 Timothy 4:11 Paul writes "Only Luke is with me, Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry."  When God is ready for you He plants in the minds of those in your life to confirm it is time.  It happened for John Mark, who I believe was disappointed when Paul said not at this time.  However, God as always is right on time.  Paul said get John Mark, God has called him into ministry.

If something is going on in your life right now as you desire to serve the Lord and it feels like you are not accomplishing what He is calling you to do, keep strong in the Lord, grow, do what you do to please Him and when the time is right God will accomplish what He wants right on time every time.

God is an on time God.

Pastor Ron

Ezra 1:1-4

A vision to a king, Cyrus king of Persia, to go and build for the people the House of God.  What followed is quite interesting.  verse 6 describes the people, all those who were around them "encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered."

The vision of the Open Door Community Church Pastor, staff and deacons is to build for the people in this community the House of God.  The vision was delivered by God to this Pastor stirring up his spirit just like it was for king Cyrus in verse 1.

I feel led to write this daily thought only after the Lord dealt with me last night after receiving word we were about to embark on a journey to find money from a fine Christian lender.  With some of the things that were said, I felt almost like they were in a very friendly way not really giving much hope to meeting our vision needs and I began to seek God.  God spoke to me through His Word here in the book of Ezra.  The vision was clear, people stepped up and wouldn't you know they faced opposition in Ezra chapter 4.  hired counselors, I believe these counselors could have been bankers and builders who just do not share in the vision.  We will accomplish the task by faith.  The building to the temple in Ezra stopped in 4:24.  I stand on what Jesus says in Matthew 19:26 with men it may appear impossible but with God all things are possible.  So we may face opposition, but we will not be satisfied with what man says.  Something else very interesting in the story because it was a vision from God to build this temple, which I believe it was a vision from God to build this church, all the people, businesses, other churches, neighbors, and the church began to supply all the needs to build.  In fact in Ezra 6:8-9 resources were to be given immediately that they not be hindered, what ever the needs, they are to meet them day by day without fail. 

Today with this blog we are reaching out to the same people all around us to begin to help the ODCC vision, given to us from God,  be completed as it was in Ezra 6:13 with the completion, dedication and celebration, as lives are changed for ever.

Any suggestion of any kind of assistance enter comments on this blog, let us see God do something great as He did with the Temple in the book of Ezra.

Pastor Ron