Discipline Needed

All right.  Prayer time went well this morning.  As I prayed, and God impressed on my heart some specific individuals to pray for, I felt His presence.  My Bible reading time did not go so well.  I was distracted through almost all of it with my own thoughts.  I allowed myself to get carried away with distractions that I actually caused.  I got a slide presentation of videos going on my Touchpad and paid attention to the great memories that those shots represent.  That's all it took to loose the discipline.  God, make me a true DISCIPLE with all that entails: all that it means giving up, and all that it means gaining. Amen!

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

A Prayer...

I don't often write my prayers out as I pray them, but this one I did.  It may not make sense initially, and may seem like so much gibberish to many who read it, but for what it's worth, here it is as it flowed out of my heart to God.
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Lord God, my Father in heaven; Thou hast given me much joy throughout the week, and started this week off in grand fashion.  Thou alone art worthy of all praise, and all glory, and all honor. As wonderful as the last seven days have been, Lord, I am so tempted to crawl away and sink into a negative attitude of disbelief.  I think it is laziness, Lord.  Whatever it is Oh my Father, please give me victory over it, and, Lord, I am willing - even desirous to share this with the church tonight: especially because as I presented this problem to Thee, Thou didst flood my soul with assurance and joy! 

Thank You, Lord! How I want to live in Thy immediate presence, drawing ever closer to Thee! Make my life as Enoch's was oh Lord, my God: walking with Thee ever closer until he was not, for Thou didst take him.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Visiting With God

I slacked on the entry for yesterday.  It's the last day of the week and it was capped off in grand style.  I had one of my teen boys out with me while I did some visits.  It was one of those times that, while visiting I had great liberty while we were out to stop and talk with folks that we walked or drove by. 

One man listened intently, and asked questions, but in the end he would not ask Jesus to save him.  He, like so many people, was not ready to give up something in his life. Later we drove by a home where a young man and a lady were outside talking, and I felt pressed to stop and speak with them. By the time I got there, the lady had left, but who I thought was the husband was still there.  It turns out he was a teenager boy.  In my defense I saw only a quick glimpse of the pair, and that was from a distance. I had a great conversation with him, and he did pray and ask Jesus to save him.

The teenage member of my youth group wasn't the only One who was with me.  PRAISE GOD!  HE IS AWESOME!!!!

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Kick Off!

Today has gone wonderfully. I had a great time teaching the Sunday School lesson, and although the hurricane had people scared to come out (it was really just a low grade rain shower with a little wind) the kids who did make it were very attentive and participated well. Then, we went upstairs for the message.  That's when things really got good!

There was a noticeable point when God turned the heat up on the message and really took it a different direction.  It was fantastic how God spoke to me in the message, then arranged events inside the church to bring Pastor to focus the message on paying attention to God, and intentionally give up those things that distract us from Him.  It was great, and timely!  Praise God!

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Seeking More

Okay, the week is almost over and I had MORE blessings!  Pastor and his wife hosted a teen bonfire at their house and one of our men delivered the message.  It was an awesome night of games, preaching, singing, and fellowship.  Several of the teens sought spiritual council and many made decisions to burn son.e bridges to sin that they don't want to cross anymore.  Pastor and Kathy are a couple of the most gracious hosts I have ever had the pleasure of being blessed by.  GOD has given me all this, yet I want more of Him, and He has promised to give it, "If thou canst believe; all things are possible to him that believeth."  Lord, I believe!  Help Thou mine unbelief!

GOD IS AWESOME!

Oh Lord God; our most gracious Father in heaven, thank You for the work You have done and blessings You have given through this week.  Thank You, Lord for the visitors that You brought to tonight's activities, the message, the fellowship, and the decisions that were made tonight.  Please cause them to stick and replace those things the kids have given up with Thy presence.  Please be with them in power as they seek to serve You and draw closer to You.  Bless them, dear Lord, and encourage them that they might not stray from Thy path.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

It Just Keeps Getting Better

WOW! Have I had a fantastic week!  I know its not over yet, but thus far God's blessings have been every where!

• My wife and daughter got to travel with me for a while, and it was a great blessing having them near when I got off work, and when I went to work.  I miss them already.
• I was able to visit a friend (and his wife) I met just a few months ago at a youth camp and spend some time with one of the boys he had brought with him, and was treated to great hospitality from them.
  
• God has given me some wonderful time in meditation of His word both through my morning reading and while meditating while driving.
  
• I have been able to be productive at work and get better at multi-tasking without losing focus.
  
• My relationships with those with whom I work is strengthening, and they really appreciate the time I spend with them, even though I don't always have compliments to give them.
  
• My attitude when faced with adversity, especially from people, has been positive rather than confrontational.
• My relationship with my wife and daughter has been strengthening.
  
• My relationship with my Saviour, and my God has been growing much sweeter and lasting much longer recently than I have had the pleasure of experiencing before.
  

Yes, God is GREAT!  

  

Mark Hebert,
Christian
Psalm 16:11
"Thou wilt show me the path of life,
In Thy presence is fullness of joy,
At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."

R.U. In His presence?

Multiple Blessings

WOW!  What a fantastic day!  Bible meditation time was great.  Prayer time was ok, but only because of the lack of time I put into it.  I had a hard time leaving my wife's side this morning.  Early in the day God reminded me that I have a friend in a town just an hour away from where we were staying, so I called him up, made sure he was going to be there for their church services, and made plans to meet him and his family, and then go to dinner.  He called me back shortly afterwards and asked if it would be alright if his wife cooked dinner for us.  What a gracious offer!

I was looking forward to the night with great anticipation all day, and was not disappointed.  The message was great, and the fellowship was even better.  I was given a tour of the church building they had acquired just four years ago at a fraction of the value of the building, and a history lesson on the remarkable things God gas done to give them the building and make the necessary improvements to it.  What a treat!

Then came dinner.  The food was really good, but I had to stop after my second helping for fear of being a pig.  The fellowship during and after dinner was, of course the best part.  Nathan and his wife Leslie were wonderful hosts and God is giving us a solid friendship.  The only danger is that I will try to schedule too many trips to Newark each year.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Preplan Tomorrow | Stay Focused On...

Preplan Tomorrow | Stay Focused On Task | Daily Journal | Speed Reading | Stay One Day Ahead
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I just got done eating lunch with Nancy and Kali.  After lunch Nancy read my devotion from this morning, "Hope for the Hopeless".  She liked it, and that was encouraging, but on the way back to work I began thinking about the great blessing of God revealing His truth to me in His word and got excited agin.

It's absolutely wonderful how all of our fears, worries, pain, tears, sorrows, and sadness disappear in the presence of God.  The cause of all these things may still be there.  In fact, it most often is, but gone is the sorrow from it.  Even more amazing is the joy God gives in its place.

Oh, Lord!  Let me not ever forget this truth.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

In All Things Give Thanks

I typically eat oatmeal for breakfast.  Since I am frequently traveling and staying in hotels, I generally have instant oatmeal.  Have you ever tried making instant oatmeal with lukewarm water?  Yuck!  Jo wonder God said he would spew lukewarm Christians out if his mouth.

That's what I had today.  Lukewarm water to make my instant oatmeal.  I must say, I was greatly disappointed.  Thank God for the tradition of giving thanks before eating a meal.  As I bowed my head I thought about the fact that I was not truly thankful, so I regrouped and thought about what I had.  As my attitude changed, God assured me that the water was the perfect temperature for me to eat the oatmeal quickly, as I had very little time.  

I thanked God with true joy in my heart, and when I took that first spoonful, found it to be perfect in taste and temperature.  

IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS!

Mark Hebert,
Christian
Psalm 16:11
"Thou wilt show me the path of life,
In Thy presence is fullness of joy,
At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."

R.U. In His presence?

Preplan Tomorrow | Stay Focused On...

We had a great time at Knoebol's amusement park.  By the way, amusement pretty much means thoughtlesness. It comes from the word "muse" which means to think. Placing the "a" in front negates the muse so amuse means to not think, to not engage your brain.

God gave my family and I some much needed time together, and He blessed that time with great fellowship. Kali brought a friend along, but still wanted her dad to tag along on the rides.  Pretty good stuff for a fifteen years old girl.

Now it's time for a little reading, a bowl of ice cream, and bed.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?

Fw:

Mark Hebert,
Christian
Psalm 16:11
"Thou wilt show me the path of life,
In Thy presence is fullness of joy,
At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."

R.U. In His presence?

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad

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From: Mark Hebert <lvn2srvchrist@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 19, 2011 11:00 PM
Subject:
To: Mark Hebert <lvn2srvchrist@gmail.com>

We had a great Youth activity.  I broke the kids into teams of two and got them set for a relay race.  Before the contestants could go, they had repeat a memory verse.  Once done, they had to run to get a weight (anywhere from five to 45 pounds) and run back to the starting line.  Then their teammate could go after reciting the memory verse.  Before they could pick up the weight, they had to read of what was written on it.  This ranged from TV, Video Games, and friends, to pride, anger, and bitterness.  It drove the point home of what things may hinder them in their walk with Christ.  The memory verse was Acts 8:36b "See here is water, what doth hinder me from being baptised?"  I then preached on "What Doth Hinder Thee?"  Several of the kids raised their hands for prayer at the invitation. 

Mark Hebert,
Christian
Psalm 16:11
"Thou wilt show me the path of life,
In Thy presence is fullness of joy,
At Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."

R.U. In His presence?

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad

Basking in Blessings

I am sitting here getting ready for sleep and enjoying the peace and quiet of the evening being broken only by the uplifting old time hymns of THE faith I have streaming from the Internet.  As I sit here contemplating the fact that I don't deserve even this small pleasure, my heart is lfted in praise to my God and Saviour, Jesus Christ who bought me with His own blood, for His own joy, to shower me with His love.  WOW!  It's so sad that people actually choose not to enjoy God.

Thank You, Lord God, my Father in heaven for taking me out of the pit I was in and making me to know thy great love.  Please use me to put on display Thy great love for all the world to see, that some may get saved.

Pressing on,

Mark Hebert
Psalm 16:11 - R U in His presence?