We'll Work Till Jesus Comes

I recently gave a sermon on “Radical Giving to the Father” and have been thinking about one of my closing statements.  "Do we give till it hurts?"
Makes me think about how we do give. Is it sacrificial? Maybe it's of ourselves; our time and talent. We're all called to live for Christ, to be a living sacrifice. We’re to have a daily relationship with Him, to glorify and honor Him with our life and to shine the light of Christ for all to see. We're to seek the lost and share the Gospel at all times. Now that's just for the ones calling themselves "Christians" and I'm sure I've forgotten some things.
But what about the followers of Christ that have callings/ministries as well?
Pastors, ministers, deacons, worship leaders & teachers.
Yeah I've named the main ones but let's include the choir, the ones that play instruments, ushers, the ones coordinating mission projects/offerings, work the nursery, fix the refreshments, clean the church, visit the nursing homes, feed and clothe the needy. There are plenty of callings/ministries out there where we have an opportunity to serve our Creator.
During the revival I met an older lady that gathered plastic grocery bags and would make roll up sleeping mats for the homeless. I had an opportunity to see one of her mats she made. She seemed very experienced with it and excited about sharing her ministry but I imagine it was a lot of hard work and at times I'm sure her hands had to hurt from all the weaving and knots.

As a student minister I know that there will be hard times, there will be times where you feel like your ministry is overwhelming and the pressure will build. I believe sometimes we hear the voice of the great deceiver telling us that it's too much, that if it's too overwhelming, just quit; but hearing those words repeated by people brings me to the cross and what Christ endured.

Luke 22 Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Let me point out a few things on this piece of scripture.
1)      "Jesus went out as usual" - Life is full of ups and downs, so why do we just sometimes go to Him during the downs and throw out quick praises during the ups? Follow his example and make it a pattern to seek God daily no matter what's going on.
2)      "Pray that you will not fall into temptation" - He knew that they were about to get tempted and it was about to get real. Everyday we're tempted in our own ways and struggles. We need to pray for the strength to not fall into those temptations; to be able to stand for Him no matter what.
3)      "about a stone's throw beyond them," - He set the example by showing them and like a stone's throw away, He is always there.
4)      "not my will, but yours" - Yeah sometimes it will hurt to follow, to serve, to minister, to be a daily sacrifice. But thank God, Jesus Christ prayed for the Father's will.
5)      "strengthened him" - God knows when we need that extra boost to keep on going. Are we seeking Him daily to get it? Are we surrendering to His will for our life?
6)      "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." - When have we ever prayed so hard that we started to sweat? Honestly, I never have. But it also makes me think of giving till it hurts. We break a sweat in our ministry and we think we need a break. Really!? Christ carried that cross and didn't ask to pull over at a rest stop. I'm sure the cross was awkward, overwhelming and painful. I'm sure as the weight of cross pressed on him physically, so did the eyes of those around him and to top all that, the sins of the world were laid on his back.

1 Corinthians 10:13
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ could handle the cross.
As followers of Christ I believe we can handle more than we carry. 
I think when the pressure gets put on us we bail way to fast.
We push it away and tell God we can't handle it instead of seeking rest in Him.
Church when did we become the ones that know what we can and can't handle?
Set your eyes on God, Run the race with endurance and Work Till Jesus Comes.

O land of rest, for thee I sigh!
When will the moment come
When I shall lay my armor by
And dwell in peace at home?
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
And we'll be gathered home.
To Jesus Christ I fled for rest;
He bade me cease to roam,
And lean for comfort on His breast
Till He conduct me home.
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
We'll work till Jesus comes,
I sought at once my Savior's side;
No more my steps shall roam.
With Him I'll brave death's chilling tide
And reach my heavenly home.

Be The Moon

I read this quote the other day and wanted to share.

“The Son is getting harder to see and His road harder to find. The world needs Heavenly guidance now more than ever.”

So with that I say… Be the Moon and reflect the Son.

John 8:12               

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Not only do we need to have the Holy Spirit living in us but also through us. We may be the only Jesus some people ever see.

People are already so misled from the world or from being extremely religious  that they've missed Christ and what it means to live for Him.

Romans 10:1-10

¹Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. ² I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. ³ For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. ⁴ For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. ⁵ For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. ⁶ But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth).  ⁷ And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).”  ⁸ In fact, it says,“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”

And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Vs 8 "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."

IS IT?

Yes we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, but is the moment you received Christ the only time you’ve done that? So is it on your lips? Shouldn’t that be a daily confession? And not just under your breath.

…and in your heart.

I’ve hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:11

I wonder if some have left it there?… “hidden”

In order to “reflect the son” we need to dive in, keep the message close at hand, on our lips and in our hearts. We need to apply it, let it mold us, chisel away at us, share it, preach it, live by it!

“The Son is getting harder to see and His road harder to find. The world needs Heavenly guidance now more than ever.”

This quote is so true in the world we live in right now.

God desires so much more…

Kidd Kraddick

Not many of you will know who or what I’m talking about when I mention the name Kidd Kraddick. Kidd was a radio DJ of a secular radio station that had a morning talk show “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” on WFMF 102.5.

I’ve been listening to this morning show since I started college in 2002.

This past weekend Kidd passed away. Why am I posting about this guy you might ask? Well the way things played out really just struck me on how we never know when our last breathe may be. Also the heart this man had for a thing call Kidd’s Kids. I’d like to tell you about both this morning.

This past week the show kicked off a bit called “Death Bed Confessions”. Yes, weird name and unless you’ve listened to the show you’re probably thinking… ”What?!”

They always had crazy bits like this simply to make people laugh. Yeah you may have had to have a crazy sense of humor but they were funny and made you laugh each morning. Each day one of the cast members would give their last words. They weren’t tear jerkers, just strictly comedy. Later in the week after one of the bits, Kidd made a comment to continue the show once he is gone. He said they could just prop him up in his chair and play one liners that he pre-recorded. As funny as it was and what a weird/crazy bit it was, no one realized what the following weekend would bring. This was no set up for what would happened, it just happened. Kidd was at a Golf Tournament in New Orleans raising money for his charity organization Kidd’s Kids when he was rushed to hospital and then passed away.

A lot of times we try to figure out why or how things happen in life. For this I have no answers but I know God is in control. We’ve all heard before that we’re not promised tomorrow.

But the question is how will people remember you tomorrow?

Kidd may have ran a secular radio station show but one thing that he had that showed his heart was a thing called Kidd’s Kids. If you’ve ever caught the show during the Kidd’s Kids trip in November then I’m sure you’ve teared up. The Kidd’s Kids trip was something that Kidd held dear to his heart and how his efforts changed so many people’s lives. Each year Kidd would raise the funds to provide a one week, all expenses paid trip to Disney World for chronically ill and/or physically challenged children and their immediate families. During the week you’d hear the stories pour out from these people on how this trip away from hospitals, doctors and the everyday routine has been a blessing just to see their children smile. For some this may be the last memory they’d have as a family and for Kidd it was his passion to give these families the time of their lives.

http://www.kiddskids.com/about/about-kidds-kids/

I know I haven’t bombarded this post with scripture and life application points but simply said…

When today is over, what kind of legacy will you leave for tomorrow?

We have a chance to impact someone’s life today.

Rather that’s through love, radical grace, forgiveness, mercy, a random act of kindness or throw them all together and share Jesus Christ with them.

Live for Christ today because tomorrow you may not have the chance.

Kidd Kraddick's signature sign off was: "Keep looking up, cause that's where it all is."

Faith, Patience, Waiting and Trust

I shared this with our Young Adults Ministry and wanted to share it with everyone else.

Okay so I know not many of yall are married but I wanted to share this devotion to all of you. In the past we’ve talked about our purpose in life, where we’re at in life, what we desire in life and what we’re pursuing, etc. Towards the end of the devotion you’ll see the statement “waiting is closely associated with faith”. We claim we have faith but honestly we can be some impatient people. We desire to know what God has in store for us “His Will” but are we truly willing to wait? We trust what we can see so we search and find life answers on our own. 
This isn’t Faith in God.

Faith: firm belief and complete trust in and loyalty to God (Webster’s)

Are we placing our lives, our trust completely in God’s hands?

Maybe it’s time to give him complete control of your life’s directions and choices. And when you do wait patiently, it’s in those times that your faith has the chance to grow.

Hope you enjoy the scripture and short story below…

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD -- Psalm 27:14

Because of a set of unfortunate circumstances, my wife and I were living in a place and working a job that was not our long-term choice. I sought other positions. One opportunity availed itself. They made an offer, but it didn't seem right. So we turned it down, knowing that something more to our liking would present itself soon. It did not.

We continued to work and to wait for well over a year before another offer was made. This was a most difficult time. We tried to be strong and not lose heart, but it was difficult. We doubted our decision regarding the previous opportunity. We questioned God. We wondered when he would show up and do something about our situation. Our faith was stretched and pulled.

Many times, I don't like to wait. In some circumstances, I am not a patient person. Often, I am like a child at Christmas, eagerly anticipating the time to open presents. Each hour seems like an eternity. When the time arrives, I can't move fast enough to the Christmas tree so the presents can be opened.

Waiting may be the single hardest thing we have to do. In the Bible, waiting is closely associated with faith. Sometimes the words are used interchangeably. While we may not like it, waiting is a necessary part of the Christian life. What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for. Waiting is not easy. It may bring pain. It will try us and test us. It demands patience. It exacts a price.

Yet if we are patient, waiting may turn out to be our greatest blessing. Because I waited, God provided an opportunity where we spent the next fifteen years. His timing was perfect. Our part was to trust with a confident, disciplined, patient waiting for his will to be revealed.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 
–Proverbs 3:5-6

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Okay so I’ve used the excuse of “writer’s block” for too long now.

Besides…Writer’s Block is a figment of your…uh….uh….uh…

Yeah anyways.. lol… I’ll have to write my blog on my “Writer’s Block” at another time.

So if you’ve been in the news lately (which I haven’t, but I do catch stuff on the radio and internet) you’ve heard that the royal birth has happened. Yeah…what were their names again? (Sorry I had to look it up.) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince William and Kate and they introduced that they had a baby boy. 

So what was his name…? 

They didn’t have one yet.  Now I’m sure like any other parents the names have been talked about for a while and they were just waiting for a certain date to announce it. Not sure of the tradition but they finally came out and named him George Alexander Louis.  Sounds like a name of royalty to me. There was even some random guy announce the birth.

 Which makes me think of a name that was announced way before the birth of a child.

It was the name of a King. The name JESUS

Luke 1:28-33

²⁸ Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

July 22, 2013 people stopped as this royal birth was announced. Maybe you heard it and kept moving throughout your day. Maybe you stopped and re-tweeted it or posted it on Facebook. But I wonder how many stopped the day Jesus Christ was born, how many re-tweeted, forwarded an email or posted on their wall.

Did Jesus have a guy dressed up with a fancy scroll? No, he had even better.

Luke 2:9-14

⁹Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

And then the tweeting began… (Okay, they didn’t have Twitter back then but check it out)

Luke 2:15-20

¹⁵ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. ¹⁷ After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, ¹⁹ but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ²⁰ The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Our faith in Jesus doesn’t revolve around the announcement of His birth. 

We could go around and tell people all day that Jesus was born. 

But what really matters is that He’s ALIVE!

Have you shared that announcement lately? 
We're willing to share everything else... 

Does Jesus Christ dwell in your heart?
If He does then we should not be ashamed...

Can you boldly go through your day knowing that Christ is alive and lives in you?
If so,  then Make Him Known

Louisiana Life March 2013

This Saturday, January 12th we will be meeting at the church to head to Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Life March. We've taken a group for the past two years and its been a great experience to march for life through downtown Baton Rouge. We'll meet up at the church around 10:30am and go get lunch together before we go. If anyone would like to go with our group please let me know so I can get a head count. If you would like to see pictures from last year just check out my post from January 2012. http://www.matthewmccorkle.blogspot.com/2012_01_01_archive.html

New Years Party

Well I hope everyone is having a Wonderful New Year so far.

Here's some pictures from our New Years Party. We had a great time breaking in the New Year with family and friends. I have a pretty cool video of the fireworks that we had but will have to post it later. Enjoy!