An Empty Vessel

I have been sick these last few days. Without getting too graphic, I have been emptied of all stomach contents. As my body was fighting this virus, I was amazed at all the "yucky" stuff that came out of my body. At one point, I started thinking how much more is in there! My body rebelled against the virus and reacted violently. I was being emptied.

During the emptying process, I started praying. Most of the prayers consisted of me saying, "Lord, can you please take the pain away...please,please,please." Afterwords, I had praise songs in my head, one particular song called "Those who trust in Lord". As that song rang out in my head, I started thinking about being empty and sick.

I was praising the Lord in my emptiness. I had to become empty to really rely on Him and praise Him. Even though my body was sick, I could still praise, pray and sing in my mind. In fact, the more I was sick the more I prayed and sang in my head.

Sometimes God uses the emptiness to fill us up with His presence. I learned something about empty. Empty can be a good thing. Empty can be the beginning of real praise. Empty can be useful in getting rid of the "yucky"stuff and make room for the good things. Empty makes me need the Lord more. Empty is knowing soon you will be filled up again.

Today, I'm better, but empty and I look forward to being filled with His goodness.

(By the way it wasn't a virus...I had food poisoning!)

"Single" is a bad word

"Single" is a bad word. Single is muttered under the breath. Single is a lonely ride. Single is feeling less worthy somehow. Single is not fitting in. Single is hurtful. Single is alone and on your own. Single is isolating. Single is scary. Single is not a blessing.

Have you heard it before? Have you felt that before? Do you think "single" is a bad word? I want to share some words of wisdom with you, not my own but the Apostle Paul's, he says:

1 Corinthians 7:32 -35 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

WOW! Have you ever thought of singleness in this way? Singles can totally be devoted to the Lord. Singles can do the Lord's work with out restrictions and distractions. I know it can seem overwhelming at first, but your singleness is a blessing! God has a purpose for you, He loves you and He wants the best for you.

"Single" is a bad word, comes from a deep sense that we should all be married. In fact, with over 50% of marriages ending in divorce (including Christian Marriages) then a some point there a lot of singles out there. Don't get me wrong I'm not anti-marriage, I'm just pro-singleness.

I want to say to you there is nothing wrong with being married and there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being single. I encounter so many who think "single" is a bad word, I just want to shake them and say, "Singleness is a Blessing!"

Don't miss the blessing the Lord has for you by being consumed with your singleness. EMBRACE YOUR SINGLENESS, ENJOY IT, BECOME A VESSEL FOR THE LORD, SERVE HIM, LOVE HIM, DEVOTE YOURSELF TO HIM.

I'm not telling you will never be lonely, sad or wish for a companion...I understand those feelings. What I'm saying is don't dwell on it. If your lonely call a friend, call me. If your sad go and serve somewhere like church, a homeless shelter or a nursing home. If you wish for companionship, build relationships with people, restore relationships with your family or offer your neighbor a meal. Just remember, you might feel lonely, but YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!

If you are single, I ask you to take a step of faith and join CPC's The Breakfast Club beginning September 27th at 10 am at Christ Point Church. We will examine together all the "BLESSINGS OF SINGLENESS".

I Met A Person

I met a person in the hospital last week...

I encountered a very sick man. I know the man he is my cousin, Gerald. We grew up together, but like so many times life happened, and we only saw each other a few times a year. My cousin was diagnosed with cancer, to be specific a malignant brain tumor. He had surgery last week and now he is recovering. He was in pain with about 40 stainless steel stitches on the right side of his forehead about 6 inches long. It was jarring to the senses watching him, a very healthy young man of 43, laboring in his sleep. I wanted to help, to be of comfort, to heal the sickness. I wanted to lend a hand to feed him to offer my time to his wife and children. It was scary as I watched him sleep. His arms and legs would twitch and then as if re-living the anguish of surgery he would moan and writhe in pain in a fitful slumber.

I met a person in the hospital last week...I was not referring to my cousin asleep in the bed. Who I met was God. The Lord was there with me. So many prayers have been offered up to Him in the last week, since our family got the news about Gerald's condition. And in my fear I stumbled into the Lord. He had been there all along.

The Lord sat with me and Gerald in that lonely hospital room. The Lord held my hand as I held Gerald's hand. The Lord was my strength, when I helped Gerald out of bed to use the restroom. The Lord was there as I asked Him to bless the meal I was about to feed Gerald. The Lord would send the comfort of family and friends. As I sat for 3 days in that hospital room with Gerald, I met the Lord and He met me.

I met the Lord in a hospital room...I don't often cry, but I had a lump in my throat, as Gerald's little girls filed in and gave their daddy "sugar" a little kiss on his lips. The Lord was there when those girls undaunted by the massive wound on Gerald's head with 40 stainless steel stitches said "I love you daddy!" and then proceeded to climb into his arms. In that moment I became acquainted with my Father and I told Him I love you Daddy and without fear climbed into His arms.

I met the Lord face to face this last weekend and I was blessed beyond measure, sitting in a hospital room watching my cousin sleep. It was a worshipful time, a prayerful time. It was one of the best moments of my life. I thanked the Lord often in the last week, but I thank Him most of all for meeting me in the hospital room with Gerald.

A lot of folks have asked me if Gerald knows the Lord and if he is saved. I could not answer them with any certainty. But this I am certain of, the Lord was there....because He met me there.