Keeping your soul weed free

I really enjoy the challenge of keeping my yard green and weed free. It's sort of a hobby of mine. (I know I need to get a life) So last week I took a walk on the church property to check out our yard. From my office the yard looked farely green. But after a closer look I realized that the newly planted areas were being overtaken by weeds and the grass was sparse at best.

What happened, the landscape company came cultivated, fertilized and planted grass shouldn't it just grow? I was sort of disappointed, because I like lush green lawns. Then I thought about how much TLC I put into my yard, I have to constantly be working on it to make it look good. I have to thatch (rake out the dead grass) and aerate (poke holes to allow it to breathe) which makes it look really bad for a few days. I also fertilize and regularly check it for uninvited weeds that pop up. Keeping my yard healthy is an ongoing process.

It made me think about my spiritual life, I am like a yard. I must constantly be feeding my soul, thatching out the dead unnecessary stuff so that the grass that is alive can thrive. I always have to be on the lookout for the cares of this world that grow up in my soul that will choke me to death if I don't keep them plucked out. It is hard work but, God rewards our faithfulness.

Like our church lawn we as Christians can sometimes look good from a distance but when you get up close there are lot of weeds choking the growth that God desires. It takes a lot of commitment to have a keep our spiritual lives vibrant and growing, but the end result is a productive and exciting relationship with Jesus Christ that will be attractive to the people that we encounter on a daily basis.


Matthew 13:7-8 ( NLT )
7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Thanks Troyer Family

On March 14, 2009 we received a phone call from Arlin Troyer that his mother Laura had been in a very serious motorcycle accident in Morgantown WV. As Laura lay clinging to life we began hearing stories of how the first people on the scene, a nurse and a preacher ministered to Laura and how God miraculously spared her life.
In the days and weeks that followed it was amazing to see the outpouring of love from the church and community as family and friends did whatever they could to help the family. People all over this community, and the world were praying for Laura's recovery.

Over the next four months we saw God begin to do an incredible work in Laura and her family. We saw their faith in God increase, there love for each other and their family reach new heights. The faith they displayed has challenged everyone.

On Sunday evening July 19, 2009 many of us (approx. 500) witnessed the reunion of the three people who were brought together one Saturday afternoon on HWY68 in Morgantown WV. Their lives forever intertwined and changed by this providential meeting. What an amazing evening we experienced. We witnessed God using a tragedy to bring people to Himself, as a result of the powerful testimonies of John, Laura and Eric Clark.

John, Laura, Arlin, Brendon, and Amber we will never be able to thank you enough for the way you have challenged us as we have watch you grow in your faith for God and love for each other during this season in your life.

To hear John and Luara's testimony go to http://www.fmcapplecreek.com/

I would be interested in hearing how you have been impacted by Laura's story. Leave a comment and I will forward your response to John and Laura.

3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Giving up "Stuff"

While on vacation I read the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and was I EVER challenged. It's made me think about my commitment to Christ. Is He everything? Am I willing to give up stuff so that I can love Him on a more intimate level? What if he asks me to give up stuff that means sacrificing things I like?
Over the last month the Lord has been asking Verda and I to give up something that would mean sacrificing "stuff." God and I have had a few wresting matches over it, I think we're okay with it. Why is sacrificing stuff so hard when we know it is what He desires? Paul reminds us in Philippians that if we want to experience an intimate relationship with Him it will require sacrifice, suffering and possibly death. The beautiful thing is that we will one day experience the resurrection and eternal life with Him. Yes giving up stuff is well worth the sacrifice, that is what radical obiedence is all about.

Philippians 3:10 ( TMSG ) I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself.

Fool for Christ

I came across this blog post by Mark Batterson that is challenging. Am I willing to be a fool for Christ?

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The most important thing about you

What comes into our minds when we think about God in the most important thing about us. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high and low thoughts about God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at any given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. - A.W. Tozer

What is your view of God? How does shape who you are?

Answer the Door

Do I really love Jesus more than anything in the world? My response is always, well absolutely! But do I really? Think about it. What is the first thing you do in the morning when you get up, meet with Jesus or the morning news? What is the last thing I do at night? take time to talk with Him or let the TV put me to sleep? If I spend 5 min a day with Him do I really love more than anything else? If I can't find time everyday to spend with Him do I really love more than anything? Or is He not important enough to spend time with? He wants all of me or none of me!

Read Rev. 3:15 - 16
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

The good news is that He is always waiting for us to allow Him to come in and spend time with Him. Today when you hear Him knocking , stop put everything down allow Him to come in and nourish your soul.

19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.