Want Someone to Leave You Alone?

At breakfast this morning there were a couple of people that thought they should talk to me while I tried to get some work done.  I didn't know either of them, and I really needed to get some of the work I had in front of me completed. 

The first person, an older man wanted to talk to me about Aaron's.  I wish I had thought about turning the conversation to a more beneficial one by something like, "The job with the best pay and benefits is my job at RBCS," but I didn't.  The man was annoying me slightly and I asked God to allow me to get past my desire to accomplish something of my work, and show me an open door to witness to him.  It didn't happen.

The second was a lady who works for the hotel keeping the breakfast area stocked and clean.  She talks to everyone about anything for long periods of time.  I wanted someone to witness to, and she seemed as good as any, so I made a comment about a 9/11 survivor who was being I interviewed on the TV not appearing to have any physical scars (she was burned over 90 percent of her body).  I didn't know where the conversation would go, but her response was to say the event was a tragedy.  Then she went on to talk about a shooting that had taken place this morning in a resteraunt and how you never know when your time is up.

Well, that was all I needed to begin speaking to her about eternity.  As I steered the conversation to things of eternity, including judgment, she jumped out of it.  That's right, I found out how to get miss, "I'll talk to anyone about anything" to quit talking.  To bad that wasn't my purpose.

Pressing on,

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

Unexplained Joy

I can't explain why I feel such joy and satisfaction in life.  I want to be able to pinpoint exactly what God has done through the day, but I am at a loss.  I can say that He has kept my mind much more closely stayed on Him than I have previously experienced.  It is somewhat like walking in a dream, only having more focus.

My fear in not being able to explain it is that I won't be able to repeat it.  I know times of temptation and trials will be coming.  How will I handle those times, should they come upon me as they did Job, when it feels like God is against me, rather than for me?  Even as I try to imagine it, I am filled with confidence that God will carry me through it and I will still have comfort.   Job did not have the Holy Spirit of God living inside him.  He could say, "I know my Redeemer liveth," but he could not say, "I know that my redeemer liveth in me, and I in Him."

Then there is the command that Jesus gave us to not worry about tomorrow because the evil of the day is sufficient for the day. He won't let me worry about it.  He has kept me from temptation through the day.  Not that no temptation came, but when it did, He reminded me of my goals and called me to Himself.  I was tempted to watch TV, but God reminded me that I want to be prepared to be used to reach the teens Friday.  He reminded me that I want to get Bible clubs going in the low income housing.  He reminded me that I want to have a much better understanding of His doctrine, that I want to be a true disciple, exercised in the discipline of His ways.  As He gave me the grace to press toward the mark, He has flooded my soul with great joy.

Perhaps that explains this tremendous joy I have felt for an extended period.

Pressing on,

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

Still 100%

We hosted a barbeque at my house yesterday.  Normally, we go to a park and have a cookout with a few friends on Labor Day, but since the forecast was for rain on account of another hurricane hitting our coast and folks backing out of going to the park, Nancy and I decided to have it at our house.  We began inviting people over, and by the time we had stopped to count the number of guests we were expecting, we were over booked.  Thirty people was well over the number we can hold.  I love a challenge!  Sunday night the calls were coming in: "The forecast is for rain all day tomorrow, are we still having the party?"  "Yes," I said, "I know God is pleased with this plan because I can feel Him smile inside my heart.  Therefore, I know His blessing will be in this gathering."  I had no doubt that God wanted us to go forward with the Labor Day barbeque.  

Monday morning brought the rain.  It was really nothing more than just a drizzle with short spells of steady rain, and moments of nothing.  I prayed and asked God to hold off the rain as He has done so many times before.  As I thought about it, I realized that God had answered my prayers about this particular thing 100% of the time in the past.  I told Him He had a perfect track record so far, and asked Him to keep it that way.  He did.  God proved once again that the weatherman has no idea what God can do, and He is more powerful than any weather patterns, including hurricanes.  God owns the weather, all of it.

There was much more that came of this little barbeque we had planned for.  One of the individuals who came used to think I didn't like him.  He is struggling with some things that are really dragging him down , and for some reason God has been comforting him, and calling him through me.  Its amazing and exciting.  Another is that our neighbors also came over.  It was a last minute invitation, but they loaned us the use of a couple much needed tables and some chairs (God provided once again), and Nancy invited them over.  We have always been cordial with each other, but there was never an open door to witness to them.  I had tried on several occasions,  but they turned cold when I brought the subject up.  God has used this this event to strengthen the relationship between us.  I believe the opportunity to share the Gospel with them will be forthcoming.

On a side note, we had a great time playing volleyball.  My team won every game.  Some think that's not true, but I have the unique position of being able to claim each guest as being on my team, and there were no losers yesterday.  

Praise God!

 

Bro. Mark


Youth Director, Children's Church Director
The Revival Baptist Church of Scranton, PA

Building Lives on Solid Foundations

2020 N. Main Ave

Scranton, PA  18509

570.963.9449

www.ScrantonRevivalBaptist.org

Mhebert@ScrantonRevivalBaptist.org

Ps. 16:11
Thou wilt show me the path of life;
In Thy presence is fullness of joy,
At Thy right hand are pleasures forevermore.

R.U. in His presence?

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