Paul thoughts on Saturday Afternoon...

Life is full of surprises but God is never surprised...
Family, Friends and Faith make everything better...
God's Word soothes the heart and soul...
Step where Jesus points you and be brave in Jesus...
I smile because Jesus is with me...
I know Jesus is with me always...It's His promise

Waiting for instruction..................
pp :)

Precious

I'm sitting here with Mr. Joe as Chemo is put into his body. Cancer is such a harsh word, a reflection of a harsh disease. It makes me angry. It confuses me too.

But in the midst of my anger and confusion, peace enters. She is so kind. She is so concerned for my friend. She rubs Joe's shoulder and gets him everything he needs to make him comfortable. She smiles!

Her name is Judy but lets call her Precious!

Thank you Lord!

Listen and obey

When God says, "Try" He's really saying "Trust." Don't allow the enemy to steal your victory. Claim Jesus, claim victory!
Just do it!

Sleepless

Tossing and turning on my pillow is never fun. In fact, listening to all those quiet noices of the night with my mind racing through senerios of the day past or journey ahead seems to make me a little angry. But sometimes during my sleepless and restless nights it is not unpurposed. My Father which art in Heaven is wanting my attention. Yes, God shakes my heart and mind, holds my eyes open, makes my pillow unconfortable, just to bring me close to Him.

Early this morning God did just that again. He wanted to teach me about prayer. I was encouraged and challenged. I want to be all I can be for God. Prayer is the place for me to prove it. So after the lesson I decided that I need to work on my prayer life. If I truly love my Father, I need to tell Him more. I'm praying I will become a prayerful servant.

Father, thank you for the lesson. You know my heart but You want to hear my heart. I'll work on it! Love You! Paul

Directions made easy

Google maps can tell me just how to get to my destination, even draws me a picture. But I still get lost along the journey?? Paper in hand and lost, just doesn't seem right for a "smart" guy like me.

God understands me better than I do. He gives me written directions in His Word with plenty of illustrations and real life experiences to help me find my way, yet i still get lost along the way sometimes. So when I cannot follow the directions, the Holy Spirit takes over. God really does understand me better than I do!

Father, lead me today by Thy Spirit and help me find my way, Amen!

Worship vs interest

"It's about getting back to Worship" has been the thought on my heart recently. "Who's first in your life?" has been the question I've tossed at the church. Worship is a personal and purposed decision. True unity within the body of Christ cannot exist without true Worship with the God of Heaven.

Is Worship lost? No, just misunderstood. Oswald Chambers says "Worship is giving God the best that He has given you." God gave Abraham Isaac and God said give him back. We are created for God's pleasure and God's pleasure is found only in the best. So the best I have to offer is myself! The best you have to offer is yourself. Worship is offering your best (yourself) to God.

Rev 4:8 says "they rest not saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come."

Father, help us to stay close to You through our Worship with You. In the Name of Jesus! Amen

Waiting

This morning I find myself in the church office waiting for what tomorrow will bring. Tomorrow morning, at the close of the Worship service, the church will vote for me as their pastor. It's actually the third vote on my journey here at Goshen FWB.

• The First occurred in may 2010 to bring me as an associate pastor.


• The Second occurred Jan 23, 2011 to call me as pastor. I had the majority vote but not the required 3/4 majority, so I was not called to be the senior pastor.


• The third vote comes tomorrow, Lord willing, after an interesting chain of events.

1. Jan 9 2011...Senior pastor retires from Goshen FWB


2. Jan. 23, 2011...My vote did not call me as pastor


3. Jan 24, 2011...members began to remove their membership from Goshen Church.


4. March...The attempt to formulate a pulpit search committee failed. There was only one volunteer.


5. April...General Board voted to submit to church the recommendation to re-consider yours truly as pastor.


6. April...Church voted to re-vote me as pastor.


7. Tomorrow, June 5, 2011, there's a vote pending to call me as pastor.

Today I find myself waiting...need I say more?

Yes!

Through this process to become the pastor of Goshen FWB I've been...

• tested


• tried


• trusted


• treated wrongly


• tempted to quit


• loved, encouraged, strengthened!!!

What A journey this has been! It's been amazing in every way possible!

I know God is in control of my life and ministry no matter how tomorrow's vote turns out. God has proved Himself to me in many ways this past year. Praise to my God in Heaven!

"Thank you" to all those who have encouraged me and are praying for me still!

Grateful indeed!

Pastor Paul

FaithFriends are the BestFriends

Cake and "50" flaming candles......

Yes, today's my birthday. Yes, I'm 50! Yes, I'm beginning to feel my age a little... Yes, I made it down the hall this morning. Yes, Yes, Yes...it's all good!

Why? Because I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me!!!
Why? Because Jesus turned my life around and upside down!
Why? Because Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.

YES...Why? ... Because! ... Jesus!

Living certain...

Jabez prayed "that the hand of God might be upon me..." (1 Chronicles 4:10) Certainly Jabez understood and believed that God was with him and that God could do all things. No doubt in his prayer! Might points to the very real possibility.

Pray with Expectation!

Value

It's amazing those things we consider to be of value. Our cars and houses, our IRA's and diamonds, our pets and yes, our children...the list goes on and on. But what about God's Holy Word?

A few weeks ago, I decided to begin studying Biblical Characters in our Wednesday Night Prayer Service. Already, our people are realizing the value of study. There's real life lesson to be learned and applied to our lives.

ADAM --> Don't blame God!
CAIN --> Check your heart attitude!
ABEL --> God "respects" the faithful
NOAH -->Determine to say true til the end!

Yes, there is much value in God's Word!! (and Prayer)

Father, help us to have a desire to learn from Your Holy word, to want to know You more and more, and to want to be found faithful to You. Bless our church as we study Your truths together. Bless us Lord Jesus. Amen

Hope to see you Wednesday! (Abraham)

Golden Rule

Influence people to be an influence on you...

Matthew 7:12 is Great advice to live by!

Lord Jesus, I want to be a reflection of You and Influence other to be like you too. Amen!


PS: Around the kitchen table at the Gillikin's house we say it this way...

"Do unto daddy as you want daddy to do to you..." (We're still working on that!)

God Bless!!!

protected

A heart protected is a heart held in the Hands of God!!

My prayer today is that your heart rest in His palms. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Sound Advice

Words of Wisdom........

"RESPOND, don't REACT"

Lord Jesus help me to always Respond to You will and not React to mine. In jesus' Name. Amen

Thanks Kerry!

Speaking from the Heart

Last night at our Church PM service I asked the people to speak to me from their hearts what they believed to be God's will for our church and how they could be used of God to accomplish His will. I wanted to find out if the church and I are on the same page spiritually speaking. I know that God is working through many of our church family. I see the hand of God directing and guiding. I also know that when the will of God is being completed that there is an enemy wanting desparately to divide and destroy. In Ephesians 2:2 we read, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." The enemy is not man or children, but the evil one; the Deceiver. So we as believers and the Church of Jesus Christ must stand firm and be of one accord according to God's will.

The service was touching and challenging. Those that spoke spoke of unity and love and outreach and growth and forgiveness and committment and participation and obedience and grace and "Grasping hold to God" and apreciation and Christ-like love. A real blessing to me!

Interestingly enough, there was no discussion about music or clothing or hair or piercings or the preaching (praise the Lord) or any of that other legalistic stuff. Just family wanted to unit and share the love of Jesus.

As we seek and do God's will, let us always remember the words of Jesus...
"...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

Christ is our STRENGTH!

Father, bless us through Your Son, our Savior. Strengthen us for Your GLORY! Amen!

Prayer Rest

Bring your blanket and pillow to the alter and stay (pray) a while. Sleep is allowed too.

What a Friend we have in Jesus!!

the Storm Whisperer

Remember friends, When the storms of life; the rain and the wind and the waves and the hail, and the thunder and lightening, surround you and threaten you and attempt to consume you, remember that JESUS is the STORM WHISPERER. Hold fast to HIM!

Matthew 8:29 "...Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a GREAT CALM"

And All God's People Said............AMEN!

Lord Jesus, Hold us close, protect us and smooth out the storms of our lives. Be Your peace over us. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen!