SOME MORE MINOR PROPHETS

Well, it's cold outside.... burrrrr!  We are having winter days with frigid weather and snow and ice still on the ground.  This is the second blog I'm doing today to catch up for somehow getting so involved, I missed Monday's blog.  Today is Tuesday and I'm finishing up the Old Testament.  Here are a few paragraphs: 1) GOD IS WATCHING!  In Zech. 4:10, it says: "...the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth."  God is always watching us, watching over us, watching for us!  He is always with us.  Talk to Him today, be aware of His presence at all times.  He sees! 2) GOD ATTRACTS HIS OWN FOLLOWING- In Zech 8:23, we read:  "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you."  When we follow God, it attracts a following.  It is not us, but God in us that speaks to people.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in Heaven.  That is the key.  Live for God and others will notice and what to serve Him as well.  This is how God has used me to start and continue Grand View Baptist Church.  I am not a great preacher, nor a great theologian, but I do love the Lord and have tried all of these years to serve Him as best as I can, and others have followed that example.  Today, we have a great church with committed Christians.  God did the work, He just chose to use us as we followed HIm. 3) THE ROAD TO REVIVAL- In Malachi, God is setting the stage for the entrance of Christ into the World.  There are 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew, but much happens during that time.  In Mal. 3:1 it says: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:"  In verse 7 it says: "Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of host."  Now God is wanting the people to return to Him in order to revive His people and send His son.  So, the question is..... What does God now address?  Well, God talks about tithes and offerings in verses 8-11!  Why, because if God doesn't have our treasure, He doesn't have our hearts.  So He deals with the treasure in order to turn our hearts back to Him.  Are you tithing?  Do you give offerings?  Anyone who is ever greatly used of God gives generously to the work of God, knowing it ALL belongs to Him!!  Well, so much for today... Blessings upon you!  Pastor Mike Mutchler

MINOR PROPHETS

Well, I didn't get to blog yesterday, so I'm going to try to get two out today.  Here are a few thoughts from the Minor Prophets, while I'm waiting for the coffee to finish brewing. 1) GOD'S WORD WORKS!- In Micah 2:7 it reads:  "do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?"  In other words:  God's Word works!  If we follow the Word of God and love the God of the Word, then we will find out that God's Word works in our lives!  The test is not on God's Word to work, it is on us to obey and follow God's Word.  When we do our part, God always does His part.  Follow Him today! 2) VERSE FOR TROUBLED TIMES:  Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."  We all know that troubled economic times are awaiting the world, but the one constant in it all is that God will take care of His children.  We can trust God to watch over us in the worst of times, and when He is through with us, Heaven is waiting for us!  Look to the Lord, and depend upon Him during the trials that are ahead.  3) THERE WILL BE A DAY- Habakkuk 2:14 says: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."  There will be a day when God sits upon His throne, and the world bows before Him.  This is called the Millennial Reign of Christ. This 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth and we reign and rule with Him. 4) GOD HAS THE RESOURCES- I know that the biggest obstacle we face seems to be a financial one.  If we only had the finances, we could win a world to Christ (at least we think).  But the Bible says in Haggai 2:8- "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of host."  God owns it all!  We are to ask Him for the funds to do His work, and then we are to wait upon the LORD.  God has the resources, of that there is no doubt, but He has reasons and purposes we do not understand, and until we do, let us wait patiently upon the LORD.  Hope this is a help today.  May God richly bless you and yours!!  Pastor Mike Mutchler