Fire on the altar

The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out.
Leviticus 6:13 GW
http://bible.com/70/lev.6.13.GW

Lately i have been thinking a lot about this verse.  I have to wonder how many, who call themselves followers of christ (disciples), still have a fire burning on their altar.  How many weep when they see the evil that is overtaking this world, beleivers, even churches.  Entire denominations are sliding backwards from the truth that is contained in  the word of god.  Certain passages or entire chapters are being ignored.  We have become comfortable going to church one day a week, for an hour and a half, as long as it doesnt interfeer with our lives.   Where is the weeping, the devotion to the word of god.

We need to make ourselves desperate before almighty god.

We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy. Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⌊letter of⌋ recommendation. So if the Good News that we tell others is covered with a veil, it is hidden from those who are dying. The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. As a result, they don’t see the light of the Good News about Christ’s glory. It is Christ who is God’s image. Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake. We are his servants because the same God who said that light should shine out of darkness has given us light. For that reason we bring to light the knowledge about God’s glory which shines from Christ’s face. Our bodies are made of clay, yet we have the treasure of the Good News in them. This shows that the superior power of this treasure belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up. We’re persecuted, but we’re not abandoned. We’re captured, but we’re not killed. We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our bodies. While we are alive, we are constantly handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that the life of Jesus is also shown in our mortal nature. Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:1‭-‬12 GW
http://bible.com/70/2co.4.1-12.GW

In fact our lives are much better together as one body, than we ever are alone.  We need each other.  NOBODY is an island adrift in the sea of this world.  What would happen to this world if we ALL as the body of christ really took time to not only be stilland know he is god, but to pray fervently.  I mean really pray.  Puddles of tears on the alter kind of praying.  What would happen if we took 30 days and really prayed.  What would happen if we stilled ourselves in the midst of this noisy world and intentionally saught the presence of almighty god.   

Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing. Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you. We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other. We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this. Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. Don’t despise what God has revealed. Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil. May the God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May he keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. In the Lord’s name, I order you to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. The good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:1‭-‬28 GW
http://bible.com/70/1th.5.1-28.GW

- keep your fire stoked. If you do, it won't go out and leave room for evil to enter

So i ask today, how is your fire?  I dont write this out of hate or fear, but out of concern for fellow disciples. 

Live ready, live prepared.  Work for the night is coming.  It is almost upon us...be ready.

Community

There is no christian community without christ.  We may exist as individual beleivers without community, but really what good does it do to go something alone?  We all need someone sooner or later.  Even in the garden of eden we had community, adam, eve, and god.  Later on when moses was leading his people out of egypt, there was community.  He (moses) tried to hide alone in the desert, but still there god found him.  We are better together. 

20 Bible Verses about Community

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 | NIV | second coming encouragement equipment

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:4-5 | NIV | Jesus dependence

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1 | NIV | friendship family

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Corinthians 1:10 | NIV | family transformation blameless

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20 | NIV | Jesus prayer

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8 | NIV | humility neighbor compassion

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 | NIV | love blameless

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:16 | NIV | humility dependence

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:11 | NIV | love God

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
Acts 4:32 | NIV | materialism

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.
Romans 15:5 | NIV | encouragement patience comforter

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3 | NIV | Spirit peace

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47 | NIV | worship food

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:28-29 | NIV | Jesus understanding

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Romans 16:17 | NIV | holiness evil

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
Romans 14:1 | NIV | faith

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 | NIV | purify sacrifice

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:14 | NIV | prayer

Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.
John 13:20 | NIV | gentleness Jesus

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1 Corinthians 12:13 | NIV | baptism Spirit

over your head?

It's been quite a while since i've written on this blog.  Call it life, call it busyness either way it's been some time.

Earlier this summer my family and myself went for some much needed time at the beach.  While there I decided to get up early and go watch a sunrise.  I asked my wife and both of my daughters to go, all declined but one.  So Ali and me got up early one morning and proceded to leave all the others sleeping and go watch the sun come up.  It was probably the best day I've ever had on vacation.  We chatted about stuff on the three mile ride to the water.  As we approached the water the conversation shifted from random stuff, to talk about god. We sat on the beach and talked some more, I read from psalm 46 and we listened to the following song.  As it played we both sang along, as the waves crashed onto the shore.    The lord certainly met up that thursday morning well before many were awake.  I still am moved when I hear "In over my head - by bethel."

I have come to this place in my life 
I’m full but I’ve not satisfied 
This longing to have more of You 
I can feel it my heart is convinced
I’m thirsty my soul can’t be quenched
You already know this but still 
Come and do whatever You want to

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where never been
I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come teach me who You are again 
Take me back to the place where my heart was only about You
And all I wanted was just to be with You 
Come and do whatever You want to

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours 
Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
And You crash over me, I’m where You want me to be
I’m going under, I’m in over my head

Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
Whether I sink , whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head

So I ask tonight are you over your head?  Have you let your cares and worries go to the only one who can take them?  It comes down to surrender, either hold on, or let go.  I for one am "beautifully in over my head"




In Over My Head - Bethel Music