SATURDAY'S BLOG

Some of the Saturday's blog came out in some strange computer language, yet on my screen it came out perfectly.  So, I want to share it again for the sake of those who did not get it clearly. Saturday, February 5, 2011 I Chronicles Today is Saturday.  It has been a good week, but a challenging week.  I have seen the lives of several members affected and found out that a few have fallen by the wayside.  That always hurts the heart of a pastor, for their sakes.  The Church will go on with or without us, but we will not be going on much longer without the Church.  Our salvation is settled, but our victory is fragile.  We must stay faithful to be fruitful, we must be engaged to be victorious.  This morning, I have a Mens meeting and then we have our outreach.  It is my prayer that God uses it for His glory!  I am in I Chronicles, and here are a few jewels I want to share: 1) A SOUND OF A GOING- I cannot pass up this truth no matter how many times I read God's Word through.  In I Chron. 14:15, David asks should he go up against the enemy.  The answer in verse 14 is no, but go up against the mulberry trees.  And, in verse 15 it says:  "And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle:  for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines."  The "sound of going" was the sound of the wind, or a sound like an army was passing through, in the tops of the mulberry trees.  It was the sound of the LORD of Host, passing before the army of David to fight the enemy.  Oh, how we need to wait on God until we hear the sound of going in our midst.  I'm not looking for any external manifestations of God's presence, I have His Word on that!  But, I am aware of the fact that without God's presence leading the way... we are destined for failure.  We should never just go through our lives thinking God is leading just because God is with us.  His leadership, is for those who follow Him.  Oh that God would grant us a heart to listen, and will to follow!  How I long for that sound of going today, and everyday! 2) DAVID'S PSALM- David was the Psalmist of Israel.  He wrote many Psalms and according to I Chronicles 23:5, he made all of the instruments he had the Levites play before the LORD.  In I Chronicles 16:8-36, we have a sweet Psalms of David written out for us.  It is a beautiful song of deliverance and praise unto God.  David wanted singing to God done every morning, and every evening.  We too ought to sing unto the LORD.  Ever since a few months ago, when I saw so many references to singing in the Psalms, God spoke to me about it.  Now, I when I wake up, I do not get out of bed until I have sung a song or two of Praise unto the LORD.  Now, I don't sing out loud, but I do sing unto the LORD.  I hope you will join in a similar practice for the Lord as well. 3) THE GIANTS FELL- In I Chronicles 20:8, it says:  "These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."  Each generation has giants to face and conquer, but the good news is that the giants "fell".  They did not succeed in conquering the men of God, but God used the men of God to conquer them.  You can face your giants with the same God that David has.  He is the source of victory, not our strength or abilities.  Let us look to HIM as we face the giants in our lives. 4) ARISE THEREFORE, AND BE DOING- In I Chronicles 22:16 we have this command of David to his son Solomon.  "Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee."  The key to God's presence is the activity in His service.  Or, you could say, His presence promotes activity in His service.  Either way you look at it, you must be on the move to have the blessings of God upon your life.  "Be doing" was the command of our Savior as He left us.  "Occupy till I come".  God is on the move!  That is why He is likened to "wind" so many times.  The still air is not wind.  Wind is on the move and you can feel it's presence.  We too must be on the move to feel the presence of God.  So, arise and be doing!  LORD, please move in my life to day.  Let me hear the sound of going in my midst and let me go forth as You lead.  I love You this morning LORD, and my thoughts are toward You, I hunger for You and so desperately need You in every moment of each day.  I am Yours.  I want to so live my life today that You know that to be true.  Take my life and use it for Your glory.  Let me go where You are going, let me sing Your praises throughout the day.  Let's fellowship LORD.... I know you are willing.... so am I.  Amen. Have a blessed day in the LORD!  Pastor Mike Mutchler

I & II Chronicles

Today is Sunday!  I'm so looking forward to seeing what God will do.  Sundays encourage me.  Sunday morning services remind me that God is still on His throne, He still speaks to hearts, and His Word is just as powerful as it has always been!  I need Sundays! Today, I finished reading I Chronicles and started into II Chronicles.  Here are a few items I want to share: 1) GOD IS SEARCHING- In I Chronicles 28:9, it says:  "..:  For the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:  if thou seek him, he will be found of thee;"  God is searching the hearts and imaginations of hearts to see if someone is seeking for Him.  IF that person is seeking for God, they WILL find Him!  God reveals Himself to those who seek!  Are you looking for God this morning in your heart and imagination?  He is standing ready to be found by you.  2) INSPIRED DRAWINGS- In I Chronicles 29:19, David is talking about the temple drawings and here is what he says:  "All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern."  That sounds like inspiration to me!  And, what God was inspiring was the drawings of the temple. (the blueprints) God can inspire not only His Word, but our actions, His purposes, etc.; even down to the drawings of the temple.  What a great God we serve! 3) I LOVE CHURCH!  David said in I Chronicles 29:3 "Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house."  Because David loved the house of God, he gave to see God's house built.  His treasures went where his Heart was!  Yesterday, I was struck by this verse but didn't have time to comment upon it.  I Chronicles 22:14 "Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance:  timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto."  The thought is that David said:  "In my trouble", I did thus and thus.  David's heart was for the house of God in good times and in bad times.  In days of ease and days of trouble.  He still did what he knew to do to be a blessing to God's house.  I hope that we too do the same! 4) THE BONUSES OF WISDOM- In II Chronicles 1:10, Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding to judge the people of God.  These came with the bonus of Riches, and Honour.  God gave some bonuses with the wisdom Solomon asked for.  Isn't that just like God to give more than we ask for?  Jeremiah 33:3 says:  "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and she thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Well, so much for today.  I hope you have a wonderful day at Church.  Let God encourage you and bless you!  He wants to. Pastor Mike Mutchler