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The rooster crowed three times... Then another three times and another three over the period of 3 hours this morning! Sound like a great first morning to a vacation? He started at about 4:30 am and didn't let up until he had everyone wide awake. It was amazing to me how fast a rooster can crow three times! I guess they are really like little "sets" of three. The rooster was making his rounds and would cover his territory with at least three different occasions over the period of a few hours. Despite being initially annoyed by this rooster this morning I was quickly reminded of Simon Peter in Matthew 26:34 of how...despite his noble intentions and self proclaimed loyalty and die hard devotion to Jesus Christ, he would quickly be faced with the reality of his human condition. Peter betrayed Jesus... not once, not twice... three times. This was the disciple that Jesus named "Peter" the rock!" Matthew 16:18 It was on that rock Jesus would build his church. Now here he was face to face with his condition...even being forewarned and he still betrays Jesus three times. That rooster this morning is a powerful reminder to me of how absolutely dependent I am on God's grace. Friends, despite our best efforts, self-sacrifice, or personal service to the church and ministry, we all fall short and can't save ourselves from the penalty of sin. Romans 3:23. We are saved by grace alone! Thank you Jesus for showing us that even as strong and loyal a man as Peter was- he was desperate for your forgiveness and mercy. I believe we are never more close to God as when we are face to face with the reality of our own betrayal. Oh that the sorrow would compel us to accept his amazing grace and forgiveness! Can we truly accept the gift, the grace and the pardon if we don't see our desperate condition and need? This morning that rooster would have lost his voice if he would of crowed every time I have betrayed my Lord. I am so grateful for his willingness to take up that cross and die for a sinner like me! Thank you Jesus! Thanks for letting me share. Randy Young
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Where are you in the mission? Make no mistake about it... You are on a mission. God in his infinite predetermined intelligent design has given you and me a mission. Our life's purpose should be to carry out that mission that he gave us. We each individually have been equipped with specific gifts, tools and talents for that mission! Jesus had a mission when he came to this earth born in a manger. (John 3:16) It is amazing to see how the "mission" was always front and center to him even until the very end. I was reflecting upon how the Devil is out to get us off the mission of God and focused on this world. Think about how he tried to tempt Jesus off his mission. He tried to lure him away with promises of fame, power, etc. He distorted God's word and tried to use it to disrupt the mission Jesus was on! Jesus responded with the truth of the Word of God and recited scripture.( A great case study of how we should respond to the temptations of the Devil. ) Friends, our biggest threat as believers in Christ is to take our eyes off the mission! The devil still uses the same temptations to lure us away today as he did with Jesus. Where are we in our mission? Jesus was at the very end of his earthly mission where we read in Luke 22:39-46 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus was keenly aware of what he was about to endure... Yet he knew the mission that he was there to do. So he calls out to God for strength and yields to the will of God. God comforts him by sending an angel. Friends Jesus is saying to you and me the same thing he said to his disciples..."Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Why did he say that repeatedly to his disciples? So they stay faithful to the mission for his name sake! Help us Jesus to be faithful to your mission and to have your perspective. Thanks for letting me share. Randy Young  Are you battle ready? Are you fit for war? Are you a soldier who has pledged your devotion and sworn your allegiance to your king? Are you suited up, ready and awaiting your orders? Or are you on a furlough? Taking a little “me” time? Trying to determine whether you want to take a stand in this conflict? Maybe you want to buy some time, entertain some other possibilities, check out all your ...options, etc.? I spent too many years of my life wasted drinking, smoking, goofing off on a “furlough.” Friends, if I can be so bold…STOP it! Enough is enough, we are in a battle and the heat is on! You can deny it, hide from it and even choose to ignore it, but if you do, beware, because your indecision is actually your decision. Jesus says you are either for me or against me in Matthew 12:30. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 4:2 to be prepared in season and out of season! 1 Corinthians 16:13 “stand firm in faith and be courageous; be strong…” Paul is using military language here to capture our attention. There is a battle between truth and lies. There’s a battle between good and evil. There is a constant assault being waged for the hearts and minds of the youth. Those of us who stand up and fight back against the depravity that is rampant will be labeled “extreme”, “fringe”, “intolerant ,etc. Yet we must stand up and speak the truth and not exchange the truth for lies. Paul is saying for us to watch against evil, watch for opportunities to do good and receive good, watch over each other in love and watch that none may lure you away from the belief and unity of the Gospel. We are to be strong, to be continually on our guard, lest we be surprised by our enemies, another words; keep our scouts out! Tonight, during this battle that is all around us are you in a good place? Are you in a safe place? Are you shackled in a cell of addiction? Are you lost in a relationship that is destructive? Have you exchanged the truth for a lie and been led down the path to destruction? It’s not too late. Right now Jesus Christ will snap those chains and illuminate a darkened heart with transforming light. Call on him right now, ask him for help. There are temptations and dangers all around us. Don’t be lured away by false doctrines, political correctness, pluralism, perverted expression, insinuations, and teachings of seducers and the friends of false doctrine. If you have not chosen yet and drawn a red line…now is the time. Joshua 24:15 Choose this day whom you shall serve! As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.” Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior and since he is really my Lord…that means I am ready to serve him at all times. I am following him each moment of my life to hear his direction and meditate on his word. Yes, we may lose a battle here and there, but we know who will win the war! Until we are called home we must continue! The apostle Paul gives us the picture of a battle ready soldier in Ephesian 6! Take a moment to read that again when you can. Thanks for letting me share. Randy Young
What causes the rage? Where does the anger come from? I asked those questions to God during some quiet moments of prayer recently. You see, despite my best efforts to be “godly” and tempered and measured…every now and then I just blow it big time! It’s wrong and frankly I am tired having temper tantrums, like a little child. I am reminded after those times just how blessed I am to have a merciful savior who died on the cross for a wretched sinner like me. Although I know I will never be made perfect until I am with Him in glory… I want to reach farther and be more like him and mature in my faith each day…to take on his character, his temperament and be more like Jesus. John 3:30 says “I must decrease and He must increase…” The Lord was faithful to answer my questions and even woke me up to lay it on my heart, “what causes the rage and anger?” The answer…? One word… disobedience. What causes the rage and anger? Disobedience! You see the Lord is so faithful to lead you and me as a good shepherd and speaks to us through His word and with a still, small voice. Think about that for a minute, the God of the universe not only wants you to pray to Him…he wants to speak to you! Are you listening? What kind of relationship would we have with our spouse or significant other if all they ever did was talk and never listened to us? For many of us we are waiting on the Lord to answer us and he already has. We just didn’t hear him or if you are like me who didn’t like the answer… so I ignored it. As a result of this disobedience… we become angry and out of harmony with his will. People ask, how do we know if it is God speaking or our own imagination or even the Devil himself? First of all, God will never contradict his Word (the Bible.) Secondly, a voice that requires a selfless act of faith and trust in Jesus wouldn’t come from yourself or the Devil. That narrows it down does it not? Think about this… if you have a thought that comes into your mind…that brings glory to God, requires you to take a step of faith and isn’t self- interested…it more than likely is inspired by God. What I have also noticed is that the second thought that comes into our mind is rarely from God, yet it is the thought we usually listen to. The devil is the counterfeiter and usually is twisting God’s laws, thoughts and word. So once God says something, the devil comes in and tries to thwart it or cast doubt on it. So here I was, I felt I heard the Lord telling me not to go on a business trip I had planned. I heard him and thought…that’s silly I need to go and I have obligations, etc. The first voice I heard said “don’t go right now it won’t be good for you or your family.” Then the second voice came in and said: “that’s silly you need to handle business and that wasn’t God you heard that was your own “worry” speaking.” I proceeded and bought my tickets and scheduled my trip…I ignored the still, small voice and as a result of disobeying him, I was out peace, anxious and irritable for days. Friends, the night before my trip I had a migraine headache and was asking God to please help me feel better as I had a plane to catch in a few short hours… and he reminded me…that he told me not to go. I stopped…paused, and I finally said “okay Lord I won’t go” and guess what? Peace fell all over me and I was instantly healed of my migraine and my intimacy with him was restored. I don’t know why I wasn’t supposed to go on that trip, however, my most important job is to follow my shepherd. John 10:27 Jesus says “my sheep hear my voice, I know them and they FOLLOW me.” There is no greater joy than to be in the center of his will and in the palm of his hand. Thanks for letting me share. Randy Young
When God is asking you or I to write a check... we can be sure he has deposited more than enough to cover it! Recently I had to write some pretty big checks in my business.. new equipment, taxes, and other misc items, etc. When I was looking at the total due and writing out each check...I started to panic a bit. I thought to myself, why so much?! How can this be?! I admit I got a little worked up for a minute! I had thoughts like "maybe I need a new accountant?" Or "maybe I am being ripped off..". etc. You see my focus was on the wrong thing... It was on what I had to pay... Not on what I had to pay it with! Hear me out on this, I looked at my balances in my accounts and had a surplus! I had more than enough to pay what was due! Yet I was miserable because of what I had to pay! What's wrong with this picture? How can a man complain about having to pay more taxes than the year before? It means you made more money than the year before! Our thoughts need adjusting! We don't like paying the price... Yet God funded our account so we can pay it! What trial are you under right now? Are you upset because of the cost? Check your balance friends... God has given you everything you need you to draw from. I am reminded of many times in my life when I was between jobs and barely scraping by... I knew that my Jesus was my provider and I wasn't in a vacuum. That gave me boldness in knowing I was taken care of! Tonight, maybe you feel like Moses who had a speach impediment and God said..." Moses I am using you to deliver my people! "Ouch! Moses must of been petrified...thinking I dont have what it takes to do this. Friends...don't focus on the price, the cost, the trial, the bill, the debt, or even the problem, rather rejoice for God has already provided the resources to handle it all! Where he guides he provides! You will never ever get a returned NSF check when you write checks from His checkbook! Amen? Thanks for letting me share. Randy Young  |
Randy YoungQuiet Moments Archives
March 2014
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