Who God Is

February 15 2010

Pastor Sonny Rice

WHO GOD IS! This is a good way to learn Who God Is, read and listen.

Slowly begin reading the pairs of Who God is and Who I Am. This is very different from speed reading. It is not scanning the headlines of publications destined for the recycle bin in less than 24 hours. Unfortunately, we are well-schooled in disposable reading. Let your full attention rest on each word, but don’t settle for words. This is reverential reading and listening for God to speak. Be aware of any particular words or phrase that grabs your attention in a special way. This is the name, word, or phrase that jumps off the page and grabs you, saying “This is for you today.” Open your favorite Bible and read the entire Scripture that contains the word or phrase that stood out to you. This helps you underscore that it is a message from God’s unfailing Word that does not return to him void.

Write the verse or passage in full from your favorite translation. There is power in taking the time to write it personally in your own handwriting. Cutting and pasting form your favorite Bible program is too impersonal. The verse or verses may visually evoke and idea or an image. It may connect with a sound or phrase, particularly a musical sound, or a smell, or a touch. Repeat the word or phrase, savoring it. Allow it to penetrate your inner world. So here goes.
He is above all.
Psalm 135:5, The lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.
John 3:31, The one who comes from above is above all.

I am a citizen of heaven.
Philippians 3:20,  Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there….

Jesus is abundant life.
John 10:10, I have come that they have life, and …more abundantly.

I have abundant life,
John 10:10, I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus is all and in all.
Colossians 3:11 Christ is all, and is in all.

I share in the divine nature of Jesus.
2 Peter 1:4 By that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises.

He has promised that you will…share in his divine nature.

He is Ancient of Days.
Daniel 7:9 Thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

I am not my own.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are your own….
Jeremiah 10:23 A man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

He is the balm of Gilead
Jeremiah 8:22 is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?

I am strengthened with power in my inner being.
Ephesians 3:16…out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…

He is the bright morning star.
Revelation 22:16 I am…the bright Morning Star,

I am rescued from the dominion of darkness.
Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…

Try this out and see what happens to you Spirit man.
Blessings, Pastor Sonny

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A Time to Learn

August 18 2009

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says; There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.

As we all know the season for education is upon us. Education is the second most important part of our life. The first of course is excepting Jesus into our hearts and making Him our Most High Teacher.

My daughter-in-law is a Jr. High teacher and she says that in order to be effective in the classroom the students have to have discipline. Discipline is a process that is taught starting at a very young age and goes on through our life.

Merriam/Webster dictionary says; Discipline is 1-Punishment, 2-a field of study, and 3- training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.

Discipline is hard, work. I have been told you have to do something for 21 days before it takes hold in your mind.  My grade-school teacher told us to write out our spelling list ten times over. That wasn’t cruel; she knew that combining different approaches to sensory input would imprint the words in our brains.

People learn in different ways. I have known some people to learn from rapping, not like some of the music people do, but from reading  Bible verses aloud two or three times, then trying to recite it without looking at the page.

Listening to audio tapes is a good way to learn. Today with books on tape and tape of the Bible you can have information going into the mind 24/7 if needed.

A few years ago when I was going through some difficult times, I write a scripture verse on a sticky note and tape it to my bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, the rear view mirror in my truck, or wherever I would be for most of the day. You can also get the verse cards from the Christian bookstore.

A person needs to set goals for learning what they need in their lives, whether it is school lessons or the Bible. Getting with family, friends or a study group and talk it over often leads to discussion and practical applications. Accountability can be fun!

Regardless of which method-or combination of methods-works for you, persevere. Periodically review what you have studied to keep things fresh in your mind.

Remember we’re not memorizing Scripture to look smart. God’s Word should affect our lives every day. As Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed” (John 8:31)

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Thoughts for Fathers’ Day

June 10 2009

Fathers you  are so special. You make children strong. You give them the courage to try new things.  Fathers give children a sense of identity and worth.  Dads, you are so powerful and influential over the next generation.

As I look around, I see that we have so many great dads in our church! Dads who are faithful to their families. Dads who work hard to provide for their families. Dads who stand in the gap for their families, their church, and their friends. Dads who help each other grow stronger in the Lord.  And I wondered why? Why are we so blessed? It’s because our dads seek the Lord and hear His voice.

As a man grows in his relationship with the Lord, he is gradually molded more and more into the image of Christ, who is the image of the Father. Joseph, the dad to Jesus, must have been an awesome man of God. Father God entrusted His only begotten son into Joseph’s care. Was it because Joseph was exceedingly wealthy in money? Probably not. Did he never lose his temper? Was he never impatient or frustrated? Probably not. He was, however, a man who honored God in all he did. Can you imagine being in his position? Your fiancé is with child, but you KNOW it isn’t yours? Surely he felt anger and betrayal. Surely he felt the desire for revenge. Yet, he chose to deal with mercy towards Mary, even though he had the legal right to have her put to death. He prayed for direction and when he heard from the Lord, he was obedient, and still married her. Can you imagine what his family and friends were telling him? Surely they didn’t want him to be merciful. Certainly they were offended and outraged when he went on and married her. And aren’t we glad he did!?!

So dads, I encourage you today. You have something precious and of great treasure to give to the next generation. They are so hungry for what you have. Affirm them. Lead them by your example. Jesus had a great example of listening for God’s voice.  Show them that men seek the Lord, and find Him, and hear Him.

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Thoughts for Mothers’ Day

April 12 2009

As you know this magazine comes out for the months of April and May, as I sat and prayed and thought about what would be good to put in this article. The Lord gave me this. M is for Mary. M is for mother and M is for May. So with His help, I will bring all of these M’s together.

I’ll begin with Eve, the very first woman, the mother of the world. We know Adam was given supervision over the creation, but God declared that for him to live his life alone was not good. From the man’s rib God created a woman and presented her as a wife to Adam, climaxing His creative work. Eve was not an afterthought or happenstance but an indispensable part of God’s plan. Both Adam and Eve were made “in the image of God.” They stood as His representatives in the world to care for all He put under their dominion.

Purity and innocence were shattered, however, when the serpent entered the scene. Eve chose to believe Satan’s lie. She was free to put her will above God’s will, and she did. When she offered the fruit to her husband, he, too, disobeyed. In the New Testament, Paul clarified their actions, saying that Eve was deceived, whereas,  Adam ate with full knowledge of wrongdoing. (2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14).  Not only had they broken their relationship with God, but they also had broken their relationship with one another and with all the generations to come.

Eve stands as an archetype of womanhood. Although created in God’s image, she exercised her will to disobey the Creator, daring to challenge His authority. Disobedience was not in itself a motive but presupposed the motive. Her temptation was not merely to disobey but ultimately to have her own way or to get possession of what she wanted. As her daughter, every woman bears her likeness. Eve voices an early warning to every woman to follow the path of obedience and a resounding note of hope for women when they fail; she encountered God’s justice, but she also experienced His grace.
Mary, on the other hand, being the mother of Jesus Christ, knew the awesome concept of being obedient. Mary’s spirit of total trust earned God’s pleasure.

Intertwined with spiritual insight, Mary had anxieties. At the age of twelve Jesus failed to join the family as they returned from Jerusalem. She was concerned for him during His ministry and horrified at His Crucifixion.

Mary and Joseph were also the parents of other children. Mary probably experienced early widowhood. When Mary appeared in public, standing at the Cross and praying after the Lord’s ascension, she demonstrated her courage to the world. She was marked as “one of His,” liable for persecution along with the disciples.
The unknown maiden from the despised Galilean town of Nazareth illuminates for all time the basic nature of womanhood, entrusting to the next generation the message of God’s faithfulness, whether through the rearing of one’s own child or through the task of spiritual nurturing that might extend beyond the family circle. Not only was Mary God’s sovereign choice to bear the Christ Child, but she was also a devoted and humble follower of her Messiah.

So all you Mothers that read this we say “Happy Mother’s Day”.

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