Tuesday March 16 - Day 28

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities
Seek God…to inspire a yearning for righteousness.
Seek God On Behalf Of Substance Abusers

Recently I read a book entitled Fasting by Jentezen Franklin, pastor of a large church in Gainesville, Georgia. Every year, at the beginning of the year, his congregation takes a journey of fasting for 21 days. I had never even gone so much as a complete day without food. (other than when I was sick) To imagine 21 days without food was mind boggling. But after reading the book, I decided to try it.

Oh, I haven't gone completely without food, I've drunk juice and eaten fruit and had a couple of partial meals along the way, but I wanted to seek God with my whole heart. In the midst of my experiment, I was at our school and the students had macaroni and cheese, lasagna and salad, and topped it off with chocolate covered donuts. They offered me one, and juices shot out into my mouth. I could hardly resist the temptation to chomp down one of those little round gems. This reminded me of our need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. The promise is that we will be filled.

We also need to hunger and thirst for those who struggle with substance abuse. May our prayers be as passionate for their souls as is their desire for a fix. Indeed, may Jesus be our addiction! When He is, we will need no other and our lives will flow like a river of righteousness into the lives of those who struggle for freedom.

God Bless,
Pastor Dave
7^th Day Adventist

Sunday, February 21 – Day 5

....to restore His People to fruitfulness

It's impossible to read John 15 and miss the father's heart. Like a good father he has big dreams for us - He knows what in is us and the potential we have because He put it there. The cool thing is we are not asked to bear much fruit. Its not our job, its not our responsibility. We are simply to "abide".

I struggled in ministry for so long trying to figure out how to produce - to make fruit. I was get depressed when there wasn't a good crowd on Sunday or our finances were low. I was obsessed with fruit. Our country is obsessed with results - the joy of our salvation is not enough. God's presence is not enough - so we fixate on the fruit - results we want for our lives. We plan, plot and fertilize hoping to bear much fruit - whether money, successful ministry, a relationship. Fruit has become our Idol!

But the Father makes us a promise that frees us from all this. If we would simply learn to abide. Like the prayer guide says in the prayer for pastors "that God will pour His Spirit upon them in power and humility, giving fresh intimacy with Jesus." Intimacy with Jesus is the core and essence of abiding. The Lord is preparing us for His presence. If we would simply take our eyes off the fruit and put them on His face - He will take care of the fruit!

Lord we repent - Lord I repent again for trying to be successful and bear much fruit instead of simply abiding and trusting you'll do exactly what your word says - make me fruitful.

Forgive us for forsaking prayer, NOT walking with you, NOT listening to your voice Father. Pull us again into your presence - let us make again Jesus our first love! Then as the top of this page says Lord - you will be the God who ..."restores His people to fruitfulness"

Amen

Caleb Plumb
caleb@encounterchristian.org