Thanks 09/20/2011
 
I just wanted to thank everyone who enjoys reading my articles.  I enjoy writing them.  Yet, more importantly, I hope God uses them to benefit His kingdom through you.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Hello everyone

I wanted to share an e-mail my boss sent out to our work staff.  In it he, basically, shares how important it is to have Christ shared to others.  God has been a wonderful blessing to me and my family.  I am happy to glorify God through the kind words of another.  Thanks Nathan.

Yesterday at Greenlawn church there was an unusual event. The sermon was on testimony and witnessing.  After a brief introduction many Greenlawn elders came forward with prepared cardboard signs.  Each sign held by each elder [. . .] had their sins or struggles written on one side.  They presented this to the audience in silence one at a time from the center podium.  Then they flipped the sign over and written there was the change God had done in their lives.  For me, it was a powerful example.

The preacher then asked everyone in the pews to pull out a comment card and do what the elders had done.  We were to write struggles and what God had done on opposite sides of the card.  We were supposed to do it right then and the service paused for five minutes.

Some of the girls in cottage [. . .] and John and Crystal Reeves sat behind my family and I during the service.  I had kept on eye on the teen girls, as always, and noticed that, as always, they were drawing pictures and reading books and writing notes.  One was studying her softball playbook. They do this respectfully, but generally unaware of the sermon.  They are teenagers.

However . . . apparently the elders action got their attention.  I was able to read one of the girls notes afterward, offered freely.  On the "Struggles" side of the note it said 'don't live with parents'.  On the "What God has done" side it said 'God gave me two godly foster parents who love me'.
 
In case anyone forgot, what we do here matters greatly.  We do it in the shadows it seems, and get very few pats on the back or big awards or recognition.  Jesus tells us "Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  I have a hunch that the secret rewards will be worth the wait.
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2011 01/01/2011
 
Choose today and tell me who you would serve and be humbled before the Lord.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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Happy New Year 12/31/2010
 
Be humble before the Lord and you wont regret it.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.'  But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.  He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.  So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD" (Jonah 1:1-3). 

If you have ever studied the book of Jonah then you know of the difficulty Jonah has in carrying out the commandments of the Lord.  Have you ever had similar failings in following the commandments of God?  Have you ever wanted to "run away" from godly tasks.  Please humble yourselves before God in all ways.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).

"but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord" (Philemon 1:14). 

"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:  shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:1-3).

There are those in the "Christian" world that promote tithing.  Is this accurate?  Is this teaching false?  Compulsary serving is something that God does not promote among His people.  On the contrary, everything God wants from His people  is to be done willingly and from the heart.  This includes giving, leading, and serving.  I wonder how God views those who teach compulsary Christianity?

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
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