Building and Planting

Jeremiah 1:9-10

Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said
to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. "See, I have appointed you
this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

GBC is about building and planting. We are trying to build a conference that is, in turn, trying to build a community, that is going to plant a seed, the seed of the gospel, in the greater world. That communiy will build influence, in God's name. And from where does all this flow? From God putting His words into our mouths.

As you pray for GBC today, ask God to in habit all involved, to give the the words, and energy, and vision to make this a great conference, one with influence that will spread far beyond it's time and space limitations.

The Church Universal

God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Found this little liturgical prayer and thought it most appropriate for GBC. Join me in this prayer, please.

Enjoy Adversity?!

Putting GBC togehter has got to be a trial for those doing it. Hard work, done invisibly. I ran across this from Oswald Chambers the other day.

We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.

You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" (Philippians 4:19).

Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.

Let's ask the God to provide this attitude for those planning the conference, and to bless them richly with His grace.

The Foundation Has Been Laid

Ezra 3:10-13

10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel. 11 And they sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy; 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.

I read this passage in worship a few weeks ago and as I was reflecting on it, it occurred to me that a foundation has been laid in GBC. Both a foundation for this year's conference and this year's conference as a foundation for the future. We should respond to that as the Israelites did, with songs praises and thanks. Let's do that today in our prayers.

GBC's Success Rests Here

My friend Scotwise found another great quote on prayer. This time from J.H. Jowett.

"It is in the field of prayer that life's critical battles are lost or won. We must conquer all our circumstances there. We must first of all bring them there. We must survey them there. We must master them there. In prayer we bring our spiritual enemies into the Presence of God and we fight them there. Have you tried that? Or have you been satisfied to meet and fight your foes in the open spaces of the world?"

How true that is, and how vital that makes the prayers that flow from, through and around this blog. Your prayers matter. Please offer them like they do.

The Glory Of The Lord Filled The House

2 Chronicles 5:11-14

11 And when the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions), 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets 13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying,"He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting," then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

That's quite a vision, isn't it. Suppose GBC ws brought to a standstill becaus the Glory of the Lord filled the place? I think that would change the world. I'll settle for the Lord's glory filling the blogs. Would you pray for that with me?

Over My Dead Body

One of my blogging friends Scotwise posted a while back on prayer and quoted Charles Spurgeon:

"If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one GO there UNWARNED and UNPRAYED for."

What a great sentiment! Not that going to GBC is anything like damnation, but I really think everyone involved, planning, attending, teaching..should be covered in prayer as urgent as that called for in the quote.

Apologies....

I have been away dealing wiht a death, I apologize for the lack of posting on this blog.