Tim Spickler

Entry for May 15, 2008

Thu, 15 May 2008 14:33:24 GMT

Challenged->Confused->Chaos

In the book of Acts in Chapter 19 there is a section where Paul is teaching and preaching in Ephesus. While preaching and teaching there, a silversmith becomes antsy about Paul and his teaching. He is antsy because Paul is threatening his business of making idols for the people in his community. Here Paul was teaching about the true God and the silversmith was producing man-made gods for the people to worship. This was a threat to him. The silversmith then causes an uprising in the community and chaos is the result. What happens is the people were challenged in their belief system and in return there was confusion and then there was chaos because they did not want change or to believe what Paul was saying was truth. As I read that passage out of Acts 19:23-32 I realized that this is the "normal" response that people have toward change. When people are challenged they become confused and when people are confused they tend to create chaos in their life and the lives around them. As Christians we need to be trusting of our God. If we are challenged in our lives we need to turn to the Word of God for wisdom, not move toward immediate confusion or chaos. Too many times I tend to be challenged and then I become defensive or embarrassed. I believe that is the "norm" for many. Then after that, we create confusion and chaos around us. WE MUST NOT DO THAT! We must look to God. We must look to truth! We must trust God and His leading. Is something challenging you today? If so, do not become confused- go to God. Are you already confused? If so, trust God and do not create chaos. Have you already created chaos in your words and actions? REPENT! Then trust God and His leading by the Holy Spirit. God is too good to live in chaos. Unfortunetly, many people like the "excitement" of the chaos..... To that I say "get behind me Satan!" I don't want chaos in my life! Don't have it in yours..... God bless!

Entry for May 14, 2008

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:45:16 GMT

Commitment

I was finishing up my devotion time and thinking about what to write about today. Nothing was really coming to the front of my mind, although there is a lot running through my mind today. But, I looked at my calendar here in my office and saw a Scripture that lays it all out for us. It is from Psalm 37 and it says "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalms 37:5-6 (NIV) Simply put, commit to God today and He will be there for you. Have you committed to Him today? We tend to be committed to all kinds of "stuff", but today I encourage you to commit yourself to God! Trust Him today.

Entry for May 13, 2008

Tue, 13 May 2008 15:01:31 GMT

Healing

Today is a big day for many people. Today Glenda Turner (Our Senior Pastor's wife and my wife's mother) will be having surgery today to remove a possible problem area. Also today a wonderful lady from New Life will begin chemotherapy to help in her cancer recovery. There are also others who are dealing with sickness and disease that need our prayer support. Jesus tells us "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness " Matt 10:1 (NIV) Today I am calling everyone who is reading this blog to pray! Pray hard for Glenda, Brenda, and any others who you know of for healing! This is your opportunity to see God work in amazing ways. It is your opportunity to share in a mighty work of God! You have the authority to heal every disease and sickness Jesus tells us. Let's all make this our goal and direction for the day! Pray! Pray! Pray! Lift up the ladies I mentioned along with Beth Diehl in China as she deals with the tragedy there. Pray! Let's all make a Kingdom Difference today!

Entry for May 12, 2008

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:29:07 GMT

Honor

Sunday I preached about honoring our mothers. I mentioned how the word "honor" has been in front of me and on my mind lately. I had a lot of time over the past week to read while on the airplane and while waiting for the airplane on my trip to Baltimore and back. The book I have been reading is called Honor's Reward by John Bevere. One of the Scriptures that stuck out to me is in I Samuel 2:30. It says "Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained "1 Sam 2:30 (NIV) I actually like the Bible In Basic English version where it says "I will give honour to those by whom I am honoured, and those who have no respect for me will be of small value in my eyes "1 Sam 2:30 (BBE) Simply put, those who honor God will be honored. I believe many Christians have lost honor for God. They believe in Him and want to trust Him for salvation, but do not honor Him. They do not honor Him in their lifestyle or speech. They actually dishonor God by their actions. Other religions and even cults are willing to show honor to their leader/god than many Christians do to the REAL GOD, our God. Many times we wonder why our life is confused or screwed up and we question God. The answer is not to question Him, but to honor Him in all you do. Doing that will cause honor to come to you. That is what the I Samuel verse is all about. It says honor God and He will show honor or value to you. How have you honored God today? Take time today to honor God and give Him praise!

Entry for May 10, 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 20:17:04 GMT

Baseball, workday, mowing and Prom?

Today is a busy day. A lot going on. I will be preaching tomorrow on Mother's Day. Don't miss it! God bless you all.

Pastor Tim

Entry for May 8, 2008

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:11:04 GMT

Tracey and Scotty two days after Tracey donated his kidney to his nephew Scotty! Praise the Lord!

Entry for May 8, 2008

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:10:22 GMT

Curtain

Back in the Old Testiment in the book of Exodus, it tells of the curtain that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Holy of Holies is where the presence of God was. This curtain was in place and only people that could go beyond the curtain were the High Priest and that was only once a year. In Matthew 27:51 it tells that at Jesus' death the curtain was torn into two pieces. Later in Hebrews 10:20 it tells us that because that curtain was torn we now have access to the most Holy Place through the Blood of Jesus. Okay, now that we have all that set into place, let me explain what I God showed me on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Tuesday I flew out to Baltimore MD. to see Tracey and Scotty Garst. Tracey gave a kidney to his nephew Scotty and the surgery was at Johns Hopkins Hospital. (Both Tracey and Scotty are doing well- I will write mroe about them later today or tomorrow when I hear more about how they are doing). On the way to Baltimore in noticed something most people have seen before while flying, the door closes and the flight attendant flings the see through mess curtain that seperates 1st class from economy on the plane. During my two flights dinners were served to first class while the rest of us got a Coca Cola. Now I was not hungry or jealous. I just noticed that when the flight attendants were serving, people were watching through the mess curtain. I sat two rows behind the curtain and you could smell the food. (not that it smelled good ) Many of the people watched as they were served and I thought is this how some people look at the church. People are watching us. Actually there are people all over the place watching our church and us personally. They are the ones who ask questions about the church and say, "Someday I will come out and check out your church", but never do. They are the ones who know something special is in your life and church but do not know what to do with it. Here is what I see... I think we have to take down the curtain! Be ready to share about what God is doing. Invite those who are watching! Jesus' Blood tore down the curtain into the Holy of Holies, it is time to take down the curtain that causing people to just watch what is going on. Jesus is calling us all to 1st class! Who can you open the curtain to and invite into the 1st class!

Entry for May 6, 2008

Tue, 06 May 2008 18:46:24 GMT

Coming Home

The Dominican Mission Team are on their way home as I write this. They are in Miami waiting for their flight. I am excited to hear from them.

Today we also want to keep the Garst Family in our prayers. Tracey is GIVING a kidney to his nephew today. Please keep Tracey and his family along with Scotty in your prayers. God bless.

Entry for May 5, 2008

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:40:42 GMT

Testimony

A couple of weeks ago Randy Carnock gave his testimony of how God was working in his life. It was awesome. I am praying that more people would have a wonderful testimony of what God was doing in their life. Today as I was reading scripture I saw a verse in Psalm 66 and it says "Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue". Psalms 66:16-17 (NIV) It reminded me of two important parts of our walk with Jesus. One is to tell others what God has done in our lives the other is to always have praise on our tongues. Too many times we are more interested in tell others what "I" have done and not what God has done. We also tend to have negative speech patterns in our lives. We tend to focus on the negative and not keeping our tongue full of praise of our God. What's your testimony? What do people hear coming from your mouth? Tell the world what God has done in your life and give Him praise!

Entry for May 4, 2008

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:13:19 GMT

Comfort...

Shelly and Ashley (along with the other wonderful ladies who went to the Dominican) will be back Tuesday night. With Shelly being gone, a couple people have wanted to "comfort" me, Justin, Jared and Lindsey. Curt and Linda Knapp had us over for dinner on Saturday night for a great dinner. Linda cooked an amazing dinner that was awesome comfort food. Today after church mom and dad had us over for lunch. They grilled us steak along with baked potatoes and other great stuff. I thought to myself, it doesn't get much better than this.... All I could have asked for to make it better would have been Shelly and Ashley to be there. It is interesting to see what comforts you. We all have different "comfort" ideals. Today, being at mom and dad's with the kids and dog was an ideal comfort day. As I thought about it I thought about the promises God makes to us about His comfort He provides. In the book of Isaiah it says "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you;" Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) That Scripture is comforting to me because it says, God will handle it! He will sustain us which means He will bear our burdens. Do you have burdens today? If you have been reading my blog lately, you probably have figured out I have.... We need to take comfort in the promise God has made to us to sustain us and carry us! God wants to hold you close during your tough times. These are the times He can hold you and teach you. Do you remember when one of your kids fell when they were really little. They would run to you and want to cry on your shoulder. They depended on your comfort. I tried to use this time to comfort them and encourage them. It was a teaching time. I would tell them it would be ok and that it would get better. I feel God wants to do the same thing. He wants us to come to Him when we are hurting and He wants to carry us and encourage us that it will be ok. Do you need comfort today... Run to God! Let Him hold you and take the burdens. Let Him tell you it will be ok. God is great and worthy of praise!