Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday greeting everyone!
For all you FMCOGer’s I want to remind you that today is “fast-a-meal” day. If you will remember, I’m asking us to fast at least one meal each Wednesday in preparation for our June 28th Friend Day.
- Sonja and I will be fasting lunch today
If by now you’ve already invited someone or if you have a person(s) in mind then remember, you’re not just fasting, you’re fasting for someone. That will make a huge difference.
For all you that read this blog and are not a part of the immediate FMCOG family, please keep us in your prayers. God is doing something special in our church and we have a growing desire to be a church that is making such a difference in this world that we are an “essential church”. I’m afraid far too many Christians and Churches are just taking up space. They’re not essential. At best they are not in the way and at worst; they are a hindrance to fulfilling the great mission of every devoted follower of Christ and every Church – bringing the good news of the Gospel to every person in the world. That is not what we want to do at FMCOG! So join with us during this month of preparation for Friend day; that God will prepare us that we can share the Gospel, not with words only, but with power and anointing and great assurance (I Thessalonians 1:5).
Well, I know you are all busy and I’ll close for now. However, below I have updated the prayer of the day and quote of the day and I have included a great poem that describes what I hope happens to the people we are fasting for today.
Blessings everyone! I send my love, prayers and best wishes…
david l. kemp
11:16 a.m.
Prayer of the day…
- Father God, today as our entire church is called to fast a meal in preparation for Friend day, I am reminded that I must guard against getting an “I infection.” As a follower of Christ, I am a part of something bigger than my own interests, needs, and desires; I am a part of the “body” (Church). Today I lift up all my brothers and sister – both at the FMCOG – but also around the world. Please send your Holy Spirit in a fresh new way and anoint us and purify us that we may demonstrate with power and the anointing and with much assurance (I Thessalonians 1:5) the love of Jesus Christ.
- I do lift up my own family and church family today. Being a part of the larger does not mean that the “smaller” does not matter. I pray that your destiny and best will be fulfilled in my marriage, in my children and in my church. Please help us to give a good account of ourselves to You.
- I ask these things in the NAME of Jesus, to whom be all the praise and glory and honor both now and forever. AMEN.
Affirmation of the day…
My “Giving Covenant”
- I affirm God’s full ownership of me (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and everything entrusted to me (Psalm 24:1). I recognize that my money and possessions is in fact His. I’m His money manager, His delivery person. I will ask Him what He wants me to do with His money.
- I will set aside the first-fruits – starting with at least 10 percent – of all I receive, treating it as holy and belonging exclusively to the Lord. I do this in obedience to Him, desiring His blessing (Malachi 3:6-12). By faith I take God up on His challenge to test Him in this.
- Out of the remaining treasures God entrusts to me, I will seek to make generous freewill gifts. I recognize that God has entrusted wealth to me so that I can be “generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Realizing I can rob God by withholding not only the tithe but whatever offerings He calls upon me to give, I ask Him to make His will clear to me.
- I ask God to teach me to give sacrificially to His purposes, including helping the poor and reaching the lost. I commit myself to avoiding indebtedness so that I don’t tie up His funds and can therefore feel greater freedom to follow the Spirit’s promptings to give.
Two new affirmations to add to the list:
- Recognizing that I cannot take earthly treasures from this world, I determine to lay them up as heavenly treasures – for Christ’s glory and the eternal good of others and myself. Affirming that Jesus Christ is my Lord, I commit myself to lay out His assets before Him regularly – leaving nothing as untouchable – and ask His direction for what to do with and where to give His money. I’ll start with this question: “What am I hanging on to that You want me to give away?”
- Recognizing that God has given me my family, my friends, my church, and others in my circle of influence, I ask Him to help me share the Treasure Principle with them so they too may experience the greatest present joy and future reward. _Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle p. 91-92
Quotes of the Day:
- “No matter what job or profession I have, I’m not going to settle for anything less than the maximum expression of my ability. My primary concern is not going to be what my pay is, but what my effort is – how carefully, efficiently, and excellently I work.” _John MacArthur, Whose Money Is It Anyway? p. 17
- “Credit card experts say that once the average cardholder becomes eight hundred dollars or more in debt to his credit card company, the company has him or her for life.” _John MacArthur, Whose Money Is It Anyway? p. 47
- “The smallest act of kindness is better than the grandest intention.”
- “All the treasures of earth cannot bring back one lost moment.” _French proverb
- (Advice that Bud’s father gave to him before each race) “Let the rough edge drag and forget everything you’ve learned about racing. You’re never win a race driving safe.” _Thomas “Bud” Harris
Stories and other thoughts:
- (A picture of someone who does not know their mission in life) A little girl was diligently pounding away on her father’s word processor. She told him she was writing a story. “What’s it about?” he asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”
- I Met the Master Face to Face
I had walked life’s way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comforts and pleasures led,
Until one day in a quiet place
I met the master face to face.
With station and rank and wealth for my goal,
Much thought for my body but none for my soul,
I had entered to win in Life’s mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.
I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see
That His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me,
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day
While my castles melted and vanished away.
Melted and vanished, and in their place,
Naught else did I see but the Master’s face;
And I cried aloud, “Oh, make me meet
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet.”
My thought is now for the souls of men;
I have lost my life to find it again,
E’er since one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.
(Author unknown)
The ONE THING 