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three Nail Thursday 12/9/2021

A Song that I listened to.

“Angels We Have Heard on High” – Melissa McKinnies with SIWC Worship Band. From the SIWC Christmas Album “Twas a Holy Night”  (click to listen) 

This song written by James Chadwick is one of my favorites. It’s the words of the Gospel of Luke as Luke recorded the story of that “Holy Night”!
Heaven’s announcement to those shepherds living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks is a great truth that needs repeating. The most significant announcement in history was announced first to those that were the least regarded. The shepherds were also a great distance away. It wasn’t announced first at the palace; it was first announced in the pasture. It was a good tiding of great joy, and it still is. To those distant and the least regarded in our society, this announcement is undoubtedly still for you; there is a Savior who is Christ the Lord. However, it isn’t just for you; it’s to all people; hear what the Angels announced, there is a Savior born to you! Since He came to you and for you, we then pick up the song’s words that began with Angels, and we now sing, “Gloria, in Excelsis Deo.” which means “Glory to God in the Highest.” This song began by coming down from Heaven towards Earth, and now it’s from the Earth towards Heaven. Glory to God in the Highest, for we have “Heard the Angels Sing.”

A Scripture that made me think.

James 1:22-25

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

In verse 24 of this text, we see this line, “for he observes himself.” So the question should be asked in the season that we are in, what do you observe about yourself? Just beyond this Christmas season is where people make resolutions to improve their lives somehow. Meaning there is an area they have observed and found to be needing improvement. Therefore, they resolve to improve. 

More often than not, we look at the areas of our lives that we feel insecure about and work to improve those areas to elevate our self-worth. But, unfortunately, observing ourselves and judging ourselves has become a motivator for many, motivated more often than not into more insecurity. So, let me redefine insecurity from a spiritual perspective. 

Insecurity is often dissatisfaction with God’s provision. You are not satisfied with what God has provided to you or for you.

Insecurity is often nothing more than grumbling for better manna, just as the children of Israel did. 

We like them get tired of adequate nourishment; we want extraordinary flavor. We don’t like what God has given—money, position, appearance, personality and then we grumble for something better. 

We believe that something better will cause us to like ourselves or our life more. We believe that better things create confidence. This pursuit of confidence in the flesh ruins our view of God; it causes dissatisfaction with God and His provision in our lives. In our pursuit of “stuff”, we are displaying discontentment. Such discontentment is a snare of “many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Our dissatisfaction with ourselves and the “stuff” of our life is often nothing more than our dissatisfaction with God. 

Insecurity often reveals that our confidence is found in the approval of others. We want other people to like us, love us, and judge us worthy, at the expense of what God, and how God views us. God doesn’t care, what you drive, what you wear, what you have, or what you don’t have. We all know this, and we understand that. However, we still care! We care because they still care. We care more about the things that make us worthy of a like on social media than what will make us worthy to stand before Him. 

Improve your view of God, and your picture of yourself will automatically improve as well. 

Psalm 139

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

.

A Quote that I read.

“Confidence isn’t walking into a room thinking you’re better than everyone; it’s walking in not having to compare yourself to anyone at all.”

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Three Nail Thursday 11/18/2021

A Song I listened to.

It is well with my soul – David Phelps (Click the title of the song to listen) 

This coming Sunday is Hymn Sunday at our church. This old hymn is one that our worship team will be singing. It’s long been a favorite of mine. Here is the back story to the song. 

Horatio Spafford knew something about life’s unexpected challenges. He was a successful attorney and real estate investor who lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Around the same time, his beloved four-year-old son died of scarlet fever.

Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join them after finishing some pressing business at home. However, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was involved in a terrible collision and sunk. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of Horatio Spafford’s precious daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to her husband that began: “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Horatio immediately set sail for England. At one point during his voyage, the captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, summoned Horatio to tell him that they were now passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred.

As Horatio thought about his daughters, words of comfort and hope filled his heart and mind. So he wrote them down, and they have become this well-beloved hymn:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll—
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know
It is well; it is well with my soul.

My prayer is that each time you pass by the places of your trouble, tumult, trial, or tribulations, you’ll remember the words of this song. It is well with my soul! 

A few Verses to remind you.

This week, I wanted to give you scripture that backs up the great truth: when trouble comes our way, we can say; It is Well. 

“When Peace Like A River…”

Isaiah 66:12 (NKJV): Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees

“It is Well with My Soul”

1 Thessalonians 5:23–25 (NLT): 23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 

“And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,”

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 (NKJV): So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV): 2 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known

Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, “I am ; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

‘The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,”

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

“Even so, it is well with my soul.”

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

A quote that challenged me.

It can be one day or day one; the choice is yours. (Unknown)

Hesitation and procrastination are the great enemies of accomplishment. We can say that we will do that one day, or we can make today the day we start taking the steps necessary to realize our dream. Then tomorrow, you can say, I may not be where I want to be, but I am not where I was yesterday.

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Three Nail Thursday 11/11/2021

A Song I am Listening to.

Worthy of It All- CeCe Winans (Click here to listen)

I’ve loved this song for quite a while. Then with CeCe Winans is singing it, makes it all the better.
Indeed, God is worthy of it all. The scripture tells us that from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, He is worthy of all glory and honor. Glory and Honor are forever due to His Name.

See Psalm 113 and Psalm 29

A Bible Story that made me think.

(Genesis 11:1-10)

Today’s date is 11/11/21. 
The number 11 traditionally speaks to disorder, chaos, and judgment. For example, in Genesis eleven, humanity began to have unrest against God and His commands; they then built the tower of Babel. When the Lord came down to see what man had built and the desire of man to “make themselves a name,” he confused them by removing the ability to speak the same language.
As man imagined and then determined that they could be “god,” confusion followed.
The determination of the people to build a tower called Babel, which means “Gateway to God,” became confusing. While it may not seem very technologically advanced to us, bricks and mortar were quite an advancement for Genesis eleven.
Man manufactures bricks; they baked them and then mortared them into place. Ultimately, bricks chip and crack easily. God builds with stone. The King James Version of Genesis 11:3 states they had slime for the mortar.
Would you mind looking at the world we are in currently compared to this story in Genesis Eleven?
Man tries to be “god” in many ways, life, health, and sexuality being significant areas. But, unfortunately, we are using technology to alter the practices of God. We are cooking things up technologically to build life the way we want it versus how God designed it. This led to confusion in Genesis, and it’s bringing chaos now. In Genesis, what held all the bricks together was slime. I think there’s a lot of junk (slime) putting and keeping all these manufactured ideas together; in the end, it brings chaos.Doesn’t it? 

 

A quote that challenged me.

“The Glory of God always comes at the sacrifice of self.” – Tozer
The story of David bringing the glory back to Israel depicts this, we humbled himself to bring the glory back.
Jesus’ entire life was about humbling Himself so that we might be partakers of His glory.
As we humble ourselves, He reveals Himself.

Less of me and more of Your Glory. Day and Night, Night and Day let praise arise, for you are worthy of it all. 

 

I pray for you to have a tremendous rest of your week. For those of you still battling in your health, may the Lord strengthen you and heal you. 

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Three Nail Thursday 9/9/21

Three Nail Thursday

Welcome to Three Nails Thursday! It’s a weekly bit of items that have helped me through my week. Thursday is my Friday, as my work schedule is Sunday through Thursday (Normally). Considering all that is happening, I need some inspiration to keep me focused on the task at hand. So I’m sharing with you three things that keep me grounded, focused, and inspired throughout my week. Here are the three nails! 

Here's Three Things that helped me this week!

A Song I'm listening to...

With a readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness, that’s gratitude!

Brandon Lake wrote a wonderful song called “Gratitude”! Our worship team has sung this song a couple of times. Each time the emotions that run, the depth of thought, and the appreciation this song creates inside of me are humbling.

It was cliche when I was younger when you couldn’t go to sleep, were stressed out, or fear would be coming in; people would say just “count your blessings”! They meant it as a way to calm yourself down, quiet the mind, ease the anxiety!

When I begin to “count the blessings” of the Lord, the last thing that happens is a mood of sleepiness. Instead, “counting my blessings” has the opposite effect. It causes me to be ready to show appreciation and somehow return the kindness that has graced my life by God.

Then, there is a realization that there is nothing that I can do for God that could be enough to return the kindness. That’s why this song speaks to me so much! Of course, it’s a line of a song but should be the ready position of the heart; “I throw up my hands and praise you again and again, ’cause all I have is a Hallelujah!

That’s all I have to return to God for the thankfulness for His kindness to me, are me and my heart of worship. The song says it best; “I’ve got one response, I’ve got one move, with my arms outstretched I will worship you.

Make gratitude the position of your heart. Then, be ready to make your one move as a return for the graciousness of God.

This week, I’ve included two ways for you to be able to listen to this song. First, here is the link to Brandon Lake’s recording (Gratitude”); this song is included on the Three Nails Thursday Spotify playlist.

Also, since I am biased and believe the worship team that leads me every week, led by Evan Milby, does it better. Therefore, I’ve included a video of the worship team of SIWC singing “Gratitude.”

Get ready to make your one move!

Playlist

1 Videos

A Verse that has spoke to me...

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV

What is hope? Hope is the absolute expectation of coming good. Hope is the antidote for divisiveness and defensiveness. When we stand in hope, people want to hear how we stand in a position of expecting good. The world is expecting the worst, we the people of God, are expecting the good. Peter would tell us we should be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us (1 Peter 3:15).

People do not desire hopelessness, which is all that division will bring. Instead, they desire hope. Hope is most often referred to in conjunction with the coming of Jesus Christ. 

When we focus on Jesus Christ, His work, and His soon return, hope begins to build; unity becomes the norm, and disunity and defensiveness subside. When we focus on Christ, things that divide soon disappear, and unity is a place of commanded blessings (Psalm 133:1-3). When we have hope, hope creates unity, and unity commands a blessing. Suddenly all that divided us fades away, replaced with the Joy and peace that comes from the hope we have. 

“A tourist approached a farmer in Iowa and said, “Don’t you think all these fences ruin the beauty of the fields out here?”

“Yep,” said the farmer—”until the corn starts growing. When the corn starts growing you don’t even see the fences.” –Jon Courson.

A Quote that has challenged me...

“An empty vessel makes much noise.” English proverb

The Bible warns us against talking too much or being overly talkative. The Bible says that a fool can be recognized by his many words (Ecclesiastes 5:3). Ecclesiastes 10:14 adds that a fool “multiplies words.”

Further, the Bible speaks about using too many words when a few words will suffice. 

Proverbs 17:28 states: Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Have you noticed that those screaming the loudest often have the least amount to say!

Lord, put a guard before my mouth and a stop before my fingers. (Psalm 141) Mckinnies Readers Digest Version. 
 

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Three Nail Thursday 8/26/2021

Three Nail Thursday

Welcome to Three Nails Thursday! It’s a weekly bit of items that have helped me through my week. Thursday is my Friday, as my work schedule is Sunday through Thursday (Normally). Considering all that is happening, I need some inspiration to keep me focused on the task at hand. So I’m sharing with you three things that keep me grounded, focused, and inspired throughout my week. Here are the three nails! 

Here's Three Things that helped me this week!

A Song I am listening to...

A few days ago, I officiated the funeral of a young man taken way too soon. All I could think about the whole week-long was all the times that God has kept me. So many times throughout my life, I could have been taken as quickly and as early as him. But, instead, it served as a reminder that I want to ensure that my calling and election is sure. 

While driving to Texas, these two old songs spoke that message loud and clear. If you want to ensure that you will be ready to meet Jesus, then keep oil in your lamp. Stay prepared, stay vigilant, for the Word of the Lord records that “day” shall come as a thief in the night! May this serve as a reminder to be ready. If you’re not, get ready! 

Keep Oil in Your Lamp – Mississippi Mass Choir

I’ll See You in the Rapture – Mississippi Mass Choir

 
The second verse of “Keep Oil in Your Lamp” says this. 

Mothers and Daughters
Father and Sons
Sisters and Brothers 
Enemy and friend 
You need to know that once he comes
There will be no oil to borrow or lend
Seek ye the Lord while He may be found
Once the wedding begins 
The door to the church will be closed
Never to open again 

 The words are inspired by the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13.) 

I’ve created a playlist that will include all the songs that I share with you. Click here to follow along and enjoy. 

A Verse that has spoke to me...

A verse that has kept me rooted and grounded since the unexpected passing of my father. When I would pray about what happened in March of 2018, the Lord gave me this verse. I have used it more times than I can count, and it is requested by so many people that hear me use this in a sermon.
I was listening to Zig Ziglar, trying to get motivated, when God dropped this on me. I didn’t realize the tragedy that the Ziglar family had faced with their young daughter. Then he quoted a portion of the scripture; I immediately went to my Bible and found it. This verse is highlighted in my Bible and my mind so clearly.
The verse is in Isaiah 57:1-2 (NLT)

1 Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
2 For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.

I realized that God was protecting him. I didn’t and still don’t fully understand it all. But, I do understand that God’s ways are much higher than mine. God sees the end from the beginning; we view it far differently.
God knew what was coming and saw to it that my dad remained protected. I viewed my dad’s end here as the finish; it wasn’t.

I struggle to get angry with God over events, circumstances, or trials that I find unfair at the moment. But, unfortunately, I’ve witnessed far too many people get mad and leave serving God long before God is done working. Regardless of how we view it, God isn’t finished working yet! What we view as an end is just a beginning. God often must ensure that the next phase happens according to His will by intervening in the previous one.

Just ponder that for a moment!

A Quote that has inspired me...

“People need to be willing to sacrifice eloquence for revelation. People don’t want pretty words; they desire to know the heart of God! Eloquence is not your friend; revelation is!” Pastor Marcus Brecheen

This quote was about 5 minutes into a session about preaching. It hit me hard; I often feel the pressure to preach to make it tweetable, shareable, and marketable. However, those moments often fail to root and ground God’s people to His Word. When it’s all said and done, our effectiveness won’t be judged by the tweets, posts, or clicks. Instead, it’ll be shown by those who give an account before God on what I have given to them from the heart of God.