Use Me Lord

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Don't you know that God can and will use you right where you are Today.

You don't need to do anything else for God to begin to use you now. You don't have to read another book, listen to another cassette tape, memorize another passage, plant another seed gift, or repeat another creed or confession. You don't even need to attend another church service before God can use you.

God uses willing vessels, not brimming or overflowing vessels. Throughout the Bible, in order to fulfill His plans for the earth, God used all kinds of people from all walks of life:

He used Matthew, a government employee who became an apostle

He used Gideon, a common laborer who became a valiant leader of men

He used Jacob, a deceiver and refugee whose' name became Israel and who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel

He used Deborah, a housewife who became a judge

He used Moses, a stutterer who became a deliverer

He used Jeremiah, a child who fearlessly spoke the Word 0 Lord

He used Aaron, a servant who became God's spokesman

He used Nicodemus, a Pharisee who became a defender 0 faith-

He used David, a shepherd boy who became a king

He used Hosea, a marital failure who prophesied to save Israel

He used Joseph, a prisoner who became prime minister

He used Esther, an orphan who became a queen

He used Elijah, a homely man who became a mighty prophet

He used Joshua, an assistant who became a conqueror

He used James and John, fishermen who became close disciples of Christ and were known as the "sons of thunder -

He used Abraham, a nomad who became the father of I112: nations

He used John the Baptist, a vagabond who became the forerunner of Jesus

He used Mary, an unknown virgin who gave birth to the Son of God

He used Nehemiah, a cupbearer who built the wall of Jerusalem.

He used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Hebrew exiles, became great leaders in the Babylonian Empire

He used Hezekiah, an idolatrous father's son, who became a king renowned for doing right in the sight of the Lord -

He used Isaiah, a man of unclean lips who prophesied the birth of God's Messiah

He used Paul, a self-righteous persecutor who became the greatest missionary in history and the author of two thirds of the books of the New Testament.

Thank you so much brother John L Mason for help in inspiring me to write and for blessing me with your wonderful book, "Enemy Called Average". Thank you for reminding me that this same God who use our brothers and sisters in the past is still using willing vessels today, therefore, He can also use me. I will never forget you.

Elder J Andres Vazquez

IN MY PREACHER'S MIND

In my preacher's mind I see a meeting going on. Only problem is, I can't tell you when this meeting took place. (Somewhere on the other side of the purple curtains of eternity) Why? Because it took place before "when" ever was. I can't tell you where this meeting was being held. Why? Because this meeting took place before "where" was given a place to be. This meeting took place before "when" was ever given time to keep, or before "where" was ever assigned an identifiable location from which to exist. I don't know when the meeting took place, and I can't even tell you where this meeting happened. Oh, but I do know Who was at the meeting. God was there. He was there in His tri-unity. What you talking about preacher? He was there in the person of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God was having a meeting with Himself. If you don't believe me you ought to turn your Bible to Genesis 1:26 where He said, "Let us make man I our image, after our likeness."

In my preacher's mind this is how I hear the meeting going. God the Father, Who is the supreme architect and creator of the universe says, "Let us make man." God the Holy Spirit, Who knows all and sees all says, "If you make man, he's gonna sin." But Jesus, Who is the Savoir of us, all steps forward and says, "If man sins, I will go down and redeem man from his sins."

And so it was agreed that as a part of bringing man into the world he would need to be redeemed and saved from his sins. So as the Son prepared to go down through 40 and 2 generations in order to redeem sinful man the Holy Spirit told Him when you get there you better show man some signs if you expect him to believe on your wonderful and holy name. The Holy Spirit said: "When you get there you better perform some signs, so they can know just Who you are.

When you turn water into wine, show them your mastery over quality and that salvation is by your Word.

When you heal the nobleman's son, show them your mastery over time and distance and that salvation is by grace.

When you heal the paralytic, show them your mastery over long- term infirmity and that salvation is available to all.

When you feed the 5000, show them your mastery over quantity and that salvation brings satisfaction.

When you still the raging storm, show them your power over nature and that salvation brings peace.

When you heal the blind man, show them your power over darkness and that salvation brings light.

When you raise Lazarus from the grave, show them your power over death and that salvation brings life.

Use all of these signs to reveal your deity, that you truly are the Son of God. Use these signs so that they might believe and have eternal life through your name."

My brothers and my sisters, the Good News of Miracles is that they have significance for us even today.

You don't have talk about the miracles that Jesus performed 2000 years ago; tell unbelievers about the miracles that the Lord has performed in your life. Tell unbelievers, “Jesus________”. (You Fill In The Blank!)

Time Will Separate

Not everyone who enters the House of Worship enters to worship God. Some come because church going has become habitual to them, others, because church going carries along with it a measure of respectability in the community. There are those who faithfully share in the activities of the community of faith because it is an excellent opportunity to make or secure business deals. Some come to see if they can get something started. Some come because they do not want to miss out just in case something does get started.

However, Time Will Separate . . .

The real from the unreal,
The walkers from the talkers,
The workers from the shirkers,
The promise keepers from the promise breakers,
The genuine from the counterfeit,
The saints from the sinners,
The faithful from the faithless,
The lawful from the lawless,
The sacred from the profane,
The credible from the corrupt,
The dutiful from the devious,
The virtuous from the vindictive

Time has a way of revealing the hidden and the unknown. As time passes, heated situations will arise. And the mask that so many believers attempt to hide behind can only take so much heat, and then it begins to melt.

Do More...

Today I will...

Do more than exist-live.
Do more than hear-listen.
Do more than agree-cooperate.

Do more than talk-communicate.
Do more than grow-bloom.
Do more than spend-invest.

Do more than think-create.
Do more than work-excel.
Do more than share-give.

Do more than decide-discern.
Do more than consider-commit.
Do more than forgive-forget.

Do more than help-serve.
Do more than coexist-reconcile.
Do more than sing-worship.

Do more than think-plan.
Do more than dream-do.
Do more than see-perceive.

Do more than read-apply.
Do more than receive-reciprocate.
Do more than choose-focus.

Do more than wish--':believe.
Do more than advise-help.
Do more than speak-impart.

Do more than encourage-inspire.
Do more than add-multiply.
Do more than change-improve.

Do more than reach-stretch.
Do more than ponder-pray.
Do more than just live-live for Jesus.