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September 8, 2010 10:02 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Psalm 119:41-48
It has only been a few days since the Lord has so graciously taken Dee’s Mom Agnes home into heaven. As Dee and Kimmie described it to me when I arrived home Wednesday around 7:15, Dee said, “what a beautiful thing to see.” A moment they will remember for ever. Just being in the home for these many years and knowing how much Agnes truly missed her husband and son, her 5 brothers and her sister who all had gone before her, she being the oldest. I also know she was afraid of leaving her daughter and her grandchildren and great grandchildren who she loved deeply. So as we remember those years, months, days and even the last hours the merciful God we read about in His Word is so real as Dee and Kimmie described a wonderful smile that came across the face of Agnes Langston, a smile that had been held back for years, especially the last year. It was a smile that could only come to someone who at that moment actually saw Jesus Christ.
This week we remember the tragic events of Sept 11 when terrorists attacked our beautiful country. Sundays following the attack, so many people were searching for God; many believed it was the end of the world. Churches were full all denominations were deep in prayer. I believe we as a nation have forgotten what came from that tragic loss. I believe Dee and Kimmie will never forget that smile, we will never forget Agnes. However, since 9-11-01, today churches have more seats empty then filled, many church doors are closing due to the economy. Pastors are stepping out of ministry; God is no longer on our minds like it was on 9-11-01. It is time to remember His mercy, simply put; mercy is you and I not receiving what we deserve. It is time to remember His Word, which saves, it is time to remember to trust in His Word, hope in His ordinances, seek always His precepts, it is time for Christians to speak out and remember what He has done for you, remember to delight yourself in His commandments, the Bible. It is a time to remember to meditate on His Statutes. It is a time to remember, reflect upon, and seriously put our minds to work again on God, and as the Psalmist said, this Word, (the Lord Jesus Christ), in which I love. Wednesday Sept. 1st, 2010 about 7:05pm Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Agnes and Dee and Kimmie saw it with their own eyes, a beautiful experience during a sad time. It could only happen because Jesus Christ is real and alive today. Do you have a relationship with this Jesus like Agnes Langston did? Receive Him today, visit www.odcchurch.com bottom of the main page Do You Know Jesus? Click on it and your life will change forever and forever Psalm 119:44.
I pray today our nation remembers the peace and comfort that God brought to our country during those tragic days of 9-11, return to your church with a revived heart praising the one who has given you life and is ready to put that smile on your face at your appointed time.
Pastor Ron
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August 31, 2010 9:33 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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James 1:21-27
Such a wonderful scripture text for this morning I will encourage everyone to read it from your version of the Bible. With that said allow me to quote verses 23-24 “for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Since Dee’s mom has begun her final journey in life I reflect on how I see myself and my future. It has been a very challenging time for family as we have watched Agnes in her earthly body begin to shut down. I do believe without a doubt she will be blessed very soon to be in the presence of the Lord, (2 Corinthians 5:8) I ask myself this question this morning early, Ron how do you see yourself and your future? The Bible text for today speaks volumes about how we should see ourselves. Verse 25 was my answer, seeing myself as one who will always look into the Word of God for direction, hear what He says, and do it. Not forgetting what the Word, the Bible tells me to do, hearing it and doing it. The Bible says, “This one will be blessed in what he does.”
How do you see yourself? Many hear the Word, the one who says I read the Bible, go to Sunday school and church and hear the preacher. Now that is all good, but it is not enough. Agnes is now preparing to enter into a new a wonderful experience hearing from God and praising Him and walking with Him like never before. Why? Because she was a hearer on earth and a doer as she understood His word. The others who simply hear simply see only themselves as they look in the mirror. Not a doer, not one who gives their time talent and treasures. Church is not important, the world and all that is in it is most important, they allow the good things in their lives to squeeze out the important things, and when they walk away from the mirror just seeing themselves, they forget what kind of man or women they should be. A person committed totally to Jesus Christ first and always, He is the important.
The good news, the encouraging Word from the Lord today, listen to the Word, hear it, and do the work of the Word, and you will be blessed. Hear the Word of God today, verse 21 lay aside your sin, give it to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive His Word today which is able to save you and allow you to do as Agnes is doing, preparing for the greatest journey of her life into the arms of Jesus Himself.
Many of our loved ones have been apart of this experience, my prayer is they become that one who hears and becomes one who is a doer, serving the Lord. My prayer today is for you and you know who you are.
How do you see yourself, as hearer only or a hearer and a doer of His Word? Only you can answer that question.
Pastor Ron
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August 24, 2010 8:43 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good chear Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
After returning from a wonderful time away with family the first thing as the pastor of the Open Door Community Church on my busy desk was a financial storm had finally arrived. We did get through the summer drought only to find ourselves in a storm.
Paul had faced many storms in his ministry. The one here in the book of Acts has caught my attention today. The Apostle Paul always had a vision about his ministry in Rome. All that he had done prior to this event in his life after Acts 9 the Damascus Road conversion, he was a wonderful witness for Jesus Christ. A faithful man serving the Lord never asking why what or when. Now he finds himself again in a storm. Beaten and hated by the religious people. In fact it appeared that they wanted to tear him apart. He was becoming weary Paul a wonderful servant of God and he now finds himself in a another storm.
When we are in a storm like our new financial storm here at ODCC, if we are busy doing what God has called us to do, yes the storms will come and try to disrupt our vision to not see clearly, as for Paul and as it has been for me, the SON will rise out of the storm and you will see clearly again. Verse 11 Jesus said Paul, (Ron, put your name here) be of good cheer. You have testified for Me in Jerusalem, (Ron at your prior church), so you must also bear witness at Rome, (Ron at Open Door Community Church). Paul always had a vision of his ministry in Rome, after a long struggle with the Lord for 2 1/2 years I realized my vision was to pastor a church. Sept. 18, 2005 Open Door Community Church opened its doors and many lives have been touched by the Lord. Yes we need your prayers and a financial miracle, but we are confident in Him who we have asked according to His will and Jesus said be of good chear you will be a witness for Me at ODCC,
Jesus was saying to Paul, to me and to you, what ever the storm is in our lives, be of good cheer, let this be a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ before the storm, during the storm and after the storm. Thank you Lord Jesus for your word this morning in Jesus name amen.
If this word of encouragement has touched you, thank the Lord for the storm that ODCC has faced and we continue to face with impact prayer, first praising the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If this ministry has been a blessing to you and you would like to give you may do this on line www.odcchurch.com thru paypal.
Thank you,
Pastor Ron
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August 2, 2010 3:59 PM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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How Does My Impact Prayer Start?
Luke 15:7 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
It is a great question how to I have or how to begin impact prayers. I believe we have two very important points to look at. 1. repentance, true pain and regret for a life that includes sins of commission, doing what we know is wrong as well as the sin of omission not doing what we know right. When we come to a point to say I must change my direction of life, change our conduct true repentance is the most important impact prayer a person can make. So the first answer, how to begin to be an impact prayer warrior, repent, 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This is how it starts, become a new creation our old self gone and we become new in Christ. 2. realize, it is not a prayer for you, it is now a prayer for the one sheep that is lost. If you read the entire story in Luke 15:1-7 you will see that out of all the sheep the shepherd attended to the one lost. People drift into the world and are lost without Christ as their shepherd. The impact prayer, what to pray? Lord send me to seek the lost sheep to bring them into the flock of God. It is not a prayer for 99 who are just, walking in way that pleases the Lord, they need no repentance. The impact prayer is seeking the lost, 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. It is choice to be made by individuals, God leaves that choice up to you and I, perish or repent. The impact prayer is first you saying yes, my choice is Jesus Christ, repentance. That is the start.
Next begin to seek the lost and share Christ and His goodness and love, and patience that no one should perish but come to repentance. When that kind of impact prayer takes root in the life of just one person, heaven has a huge party. That is impact prayer.
So my impact prayer today is for someone reading this blog and saying I want to repent and receive Christ, pray this simple prayer, please I beg you.
Dear Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner, a lost sheep, today I ask for the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ to come into my life and save me, thank You Lord for dying on that cross for my sins of commission my sins of omission, I repent today, changing my life from the world and walking with You, Holy Spirit make me a new creation, I pray in Jesus name amen.
Now if that is just one persons prayer there is JOY in heaven that is my impact prayer. Write me or call the church office I would love to rejoice with you. I would also be happy to share with you what is next, and then to watch your impact prayers and what God will do.
Be blessed today and remember to pray.
Pastor Ron
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July 30, 2010 9:04 AM
Posted By Pastor Ron
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Impact Prayer Ministry, Praise
Psalm 72:15 and daily He shall be praised.
This morning as I sit at my desk here at church, I find myself just praising Him. I am sure if someone would walk in my office in the morning they would say he is out of control, singing, which is not my best talent, hands raised, just praising the Lord. For me I am so blessed feeling His presence during this time of praise. Daily the psalmist says. He shall be, He will be praised, why not be a part of that praise. You feel so energized by the Holy Spirit, your day will be full of His abundant JOY.
Last night at our VBS here at ODCC, 33 lives have been impacted by His Spirit. All week long the staff has been on our knees and I truly testify we have been on our knees, a humble position, in agreement seeking God to supply understanding of His truth, drawing children and families to Himself. My God supplied, 33 lives changed receiving the greatest gift of all, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord for the abundance of grain in the earth. Praise the Lord for what He will now do in the lives of these children and the families. Church praise Him today for what He is doing, and trust Him, no matter what you are going through, praise Him, all men will be blessed, God who is the one who does wondrous things. My God the one who does wonderful, admirable, astonishing, and marvelous things. Those are descriptive words for wondrous things. Wondrous in the Greek, is such an extraordinary act, so difficult and marvelous we can not understand it. Further more it is beyond our power to accomplish. Supernatural actions that can only come from our Father. WOW, that settles it, praise Him. Those 33 lives have been affected by His touch; we have just been obedient to make ourselves available to share the truth. Thank you ODCC Family and most important our Youth Ministry as I observed God work supernaturally through you.
I love You Lord, praising You this morning for raising up Open Door Community Church to serve, pray and praise You. Thank You Father for the wondrous works You have done in the lives of those 33 children and families.
Pastor Ron
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