earthly discontent: eternal decisions

Revelation 20:11 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Jeff Lilley at Hume Lake mentioned this passage at a retreat years ago. He spoke about what a “sobering” thought it was that the earth and the heaven fled from the very face of God, but that we will all be there…and we will not be able to leave. I think about what it will be like on that day and I wonder about people that I know that would be cast into the lake of fire (especially those that I failed to share the gospel with). I think about this passage just about every single weekend, every single service. I think about this passage…during altar call. I look into the eyes of people and I wonder: do you know Jesus? Do you really know Him? I see the look on someone’s face as they contemplate the most important decision they could ever make. I pray that I did my best preaching. I pray for the Holy Spirit to move their heart. I pray for them to make a wise decision…and I pray that I will be more effective preaching next week.

Following Christ is a Daily decision!

Following Christ is a Daily decision!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

I believe with all of my heart that this is going to be the most exciting year in the history of Shepherd of the Hills! We need to call out to God and listen to Him to hear His plans for this amazing year!
Dave

Peter, Tozer and I

From Failure to Radical Transformation For all his faults, or perhaps because of them, Peter could do one thing superbly: he could shed tears of grief when he had offended his Savior. The ability to repent is a sweet treasure, and one that is rare among us these days. If we had Peter's penitent heart, we might go on to have his purity and his power. Should the contemplation of Peter's faults give aid and comfort to an impenitent heart, then that heart has only itself to blame. God never intended that we should hide our unconfessed sins behind the confessed faults of a saint. Peter's contrary nature drove him to God. Unless ours does the same, Peter will have lived in vain for us. Anyway, we are glad Peter lived, and we are glad Christ found him. He is so much like so many of us, at least in his weaknesses. It only remains for us to learn also the secret of his strength.
A.W. Tozer

What a great word about Peter. I am one that sees myself in Peter. Speak before you think. Act very quickly (sometimes for good and sometimes for bad). I see the Lord's mercy in how he dealt with Peter and I am encouraged that He also deals with me with the same love and mercy.

Our Life is in Christ
Certainly not all of the mystery of the Godhead can be known by man-but just as certainly, all that men can know of God in this life is revealed in Jesus Christ! When the Apostle Paul said with yearning, "That I may know Him," he was not speaking of intellectual knowledge. Paul was speaking of the reality of an experience of knowing God personally and consciously, spirit touching spirit and heart touching heart. We know that people spend a lot of time talking about a deeper Christian life-but few seem to want to know and love God for Himself. The precious fact is that God is the deeper life! Jesus Christ Himself is the deeper life, and as I plunge on into the knowledge of the triune God, my heart moves on into the blessedness of His fellowship. This means that there is less of me and more of God-thus my spiritual life deepens and I am strengthened in the knowledge of His will!
— By A. W. Tozer