Dependability

CitP blog, 3-24-19, Dependability vs Inconsistency

     A gorgeous day with beautiful sunshine, great temperatures, and a large turnout…amen! A very diversified group also…

     Once more the new phone app, SayHi, turned out to be a great help in communicating with some who speak very little or no English. Amazing!

     The handout for discussion and carry-home Truth was about “Dependability vs Inconsistency.” A good study. In fact, so well received we ran out of copies and some were asking for more to take to friends. Amen.

     There was one very sad word brought to the group by Greg (remember the guy on the bicycle?). He told us that a friend of CitP who hadn’t been in a while told him this past week that another guy who had been a faithful participant almost ever since we started in September, 2015, had a heart attack and passed away recently. I had many moments of personal contact with this man. He had a love for the Lord. He had been a guest in our home, eating with us. I will miss Bobby.

     Check out the blog and the new website (addresses below). And thank you for your prayers and support!

     I am heading to 9 Flags Coffee Roasters’ Monday night bible study in a short while…they provide gourmet coffee for the park ministry. Thank God for them and pray for them, please.

The handout…

     DEPENDABILITY vs Inconsistency.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:

and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”

Luke 16:10

Make no mistake about it, God declares the result of being dependable, and the result of being inconsistent. Dependability in small assignments (jobs) is the prerequisite (forerunner) for larger responsibilities.

God evaluates our work. Will He say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?

God looks to see if our hearts are purposed to do His will, no matter the requirement.

Being dependable speaks of our having a great reverence for God.

Being dependable speaks of our having a heart attitude of faithfulness.

Being dependable speaks of our being in harmony with the heart and mind of God.

Being dependable speaks of our dealing wisely with resources entrusted to us.

Being dependable communicates to others that we are healthy and have energy.

Being dependable is being truthful in that we say or do.

Being dependable will result in our being given greater responsibilities.

A dependable person will be protected by the Lord.

“O love the LORD, all ye saints:

for the LORD preserveth (guards, protects) the faithful.”

Psalm 31:23

The source of power for Dependability: God knows the power does not reside in us (humanly speaking), but comes from Him (abiding in us). It is through His faithfulness through us that we can be faithful and dependable to others. The Apostle Paul learned this…

“God said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I (Paul) rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,

in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Do we believe God? Do we trust God? Do we expect God to do what He says He will do?

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(web) leemccm.wixsite.com/lmcm

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Decisiveness

Christ In The Park blog, 3-17-19, Decisiveness

     Today we had the best weather we have had in a long time, and the lowest turnout. Guess everyone found some work to do. Well, amen.

     We did have a wonderful conversation with one of the older regulars. He doesn’t speak much English, but with a new app on our phones (SayHi) translation and communication has reached a new level! Check out that app…

     The handout for the day was really good. Once again, Bill Gothard’s Character study from past years proved to be very helpful…

DECISIVENESS vs Double-Mindedness

Now then fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in Truth:

…serve ye the LORD…choose you this day whom ye will serve…

but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:14-15

Decisiveness is choosing to do what is right based on accurate facts, wise counsel, and clearly

     defined goals.

Decisiveness begins with choosing whom we will serve with our lives.

Decisiveness involves keeping our focus on the destination, rather than on distractions.

Decisiveness does not let circumstances and others keep us from making right decisions.

Decisiveness involves making little decisions now which help determine big decisions later on.

The greatest hindrance to decisiveness is double-mindedness.

Do you seek wise counsel before making a decision?

Have you made a commitment to do what is right, regardless of the cost?

A double-minded man is unstable is all his ways…

James 1:8

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:

but he that heareth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 12:15

Hear counsel, and receive instruction,

that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Proverbs 19:20

“Difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be.”

George Muller

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(website) www.leemccm.wixsite.com/lmcm

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

3-10-19 was a special day

Christ at the Park, 3-10-19, yielded some surprising moments. In addition to one being a regular who brings his blower over BEFORE any of us show around 10am and he blows off debris and dust/dirt from the pavilion floor, two came who had not been there in a long time. Turns out they had both gotten jobs of their initiative to do whatever they could and been working Sunday mornings. Well, amen.

The topic for the handout and discussion this week was featuring "Creativity vs Underachievement." Wisdom, thoughts, planning, and inventiveness were highlighted. How better can one show creativity than to initiate coming over to the park to clear the pavilion floor before everyone shows up? Or, getting out there and scrambling to get a job.

Bill Gothard's Power for True Success character book provides us with weekly studies of ways for these folks to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God for bringing Bill Gothard into my life about 40 years ago!

Thank you for praying for Christ In The Park...

We are blessed

CitP blog, 11-26-18

This is the handout from Christ In The Park yesterday.  It was a day of celebration, giving thanks, and enjoying fellowship around Christ.  And…Barbara cooked a turkey, dressing, gravy, and added some cranberry sauce to the table.  And a friend, David Hansen (proprietor of Nine Flags Wood-Fired Coffee Roasters on Main Street in Nac) supplied the grounds to make coffee for all to enjoy.

God supplied His Word, His Spirit, and His Mind to grasp His work in the lives of Believers everywhere…especially at Festival Park this Sunday.

How Blessed Are We?

Matthew 5:8-9, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

One of the greatest mistakes that many Christians make is this:  they try to GET what they already HAVE.  Many long for a pure heart, wanting to see God.  Yet, God has already said that His kids have been given His heart, which is pure.  The “real” person of Christians ARE pure in heart.  And Christians are the only persons who SEE God.

Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you,

and a new spirit will I put within you…”

One of the greatest promises God ever made for His kids was the “new creation,” the “new you” He said He would make of those who trust Christ as Savior.  God has GIVEN a “pure heart” within every Believer.

Likewise, the Christ IN EVERY Christian IS a peacemaker.  That is the nature of every Christian.  Those who do not have Christ are the ones who know nothing of peace, and don’t “want” peace.  The kingdom of heaven ALREADY BELONGS to Christians.  God says so.

John 14:2, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so,

I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”

Philippians 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look

for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Who shall change our vile body,

that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body…”

We Christians are just abiding time here on earth, waiting to go to our real home, to live forever in peace.

How blessed are we?  Beyond measure.  Enjoy His peace this Thanksgiving, enjoy what is already ours…instead of trying to get it.

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

If There Be Any Virtue

This was a somber day at CitP…Big Bill (Freddie Gibson), one of our regulars, passed away this past week.  He loved being with everyone at the park on Sunday mornings, and made the effort to make his way (in his motorized chair) from his place about 2 blocks away.  Bill loved the Lord, loved the fellowship of the Saints.  He will be missed.

One great praise…Bill had asked Bobby to come stay with him and help him, only 2 days before he passed.  God gave Bobby an opportunity to be with Bill, even to have helped him dress and get ready to go the park last Sunday, just before God took Bill home.  We thank the Lord that He gave Bobby this ministry in Bill’s last hours, that Bobby experienced knowing God used him to be a friend and comfort in that time.

Our discussion this week focused on one more thought the Apostle Paul penned in Philippians chapter 4.  Even though there wasn’t much said, just being together and thinking about the things of God was a comfort to those in attendance.  See what you think about the handout.

If There Be Any Virtue

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren…if there be any virtue…

think on these things.”

     The Greek word for “virtue” means “excellency, being pleasing to God, in a moral sense what gives a person their worth.” 

     In the New Testament, virtue speaks of the force of energy of the Holy Spirit accompanying the preaching of the glorious Gospel of Christ, or in a person it is the courage or resolution the Holy Spirit brings to the life of that person.

     All along we keep speaking of Christ IN a Believer, and His Spirit (Holy Spirit) energizing “our life.”  It is really HIM living through us.  We are to keep our minds focused on this Truth…think on this Truth!

     Anytime we let our mind slip back to us having to “do,” we negate the energy of the Holy Spirit.

Bobby experienced this virtue, this Holy Spirit energy, ministering to Bill.  Bobby will always have the memories of Holy Spirit energizing his life when a friend he had known for many, many years was drawing near to stepping out into eternity and God was ministering through Bobby to that friend.  Thank You, Lord.

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Free From Impurities

CitP blog, 10-14-18, Free From Impurities

In another startling revelation for the folks at Christ in the Park, two different Greek words behind the same English word in two different verses give a whole different perspective on just what God says about things in their life from what they had virtually always believed.  Read the handout at the Park this Sunday to see if this helps you also!

Free From Impurities

Philippians 4:8, “Brethren, whatsoever things are…pure…think on these things.”

     The Greek word translated “pure” in this verse is hagnos.  It speaks of being chaste, free from defilements or impurities.  God is telling us that we are to think only of things that are free from the rudiments of the world, the things the world “thinks” contrary to the things of God.

     What is particularly interesting is that this is much different from the Greek word that appears in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”  Here the Greek word katharos, translated “pure,” is a word that means “clean, clear, and in a spiritual sense, clean or pure from the pollution and guilt of sin.”  Think about this, “clean or clear in a spiritual sense from the pollution and guilt of sin in heart.”  This narrows down the word “pure” here to a relation to salvation.  Whereas, “pure” in Philippians 4:8 is narrowed down to thoughts in our mind, what we are thinking about.  Big difference.

     The two differences shown in the previous paragraph show the importance and critical aspect of knowing what Greek word has been translated into an English word (and any other language).  The Greeks were more specific in their vocabulary than other languages typically are.

     Back to us in this day, and our text for the morning…”think on pure (chaste, free from defilements or impurities) things.”  Well, amen.

Over and over we find that IF WE DON’T KNOW THE GREEK behind the English (or whatever language) words, we can MISS GOD and His message to us.  I love it when God opens His heart in the Believers coming to CitP and reveals Himself in a special way to each one.  LIFE, His Life, comes in a marvelous way like they have not experienced before. 

I marvel at the faithfulness of the “regulars” who come Sunday after Sunday.  And I appreciate the faithfulness of Rick and Abby who are a great encouragement to everyone, and will be handling Christ in the Park on a couple of Sundays in the future as Barbara and I connect with family members for some special occasions.  Don’t you just love God’s provision in what He has initiated!

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

The Attempted Demise of Justice

CitP blog, 10-7-18, The Attempted Demise of Justice

Have you ever stopped to think WHY God has said, “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).  When you read the handout from Christ in the Park this morning (included below) and see the connection between “just” and “righteous,” it will almost BLOW your mind!  Think of how interchangeable these two words are.  And think of how critical it is that we Christians CANNOT let the enemies of the Cross of Christ change or take away the absolute exactness of God’s Words and His meanings.  Our enemies would cry, “You are not being ‘fair’!”  We will not be “fair,” but “just” and “righteous”!

For any who think we are simply having a “good time” at the park on Sunday mornings…think again.

Christ and HIS faith is being lifted up Sunday after Sunday...

Christ in the Park handout, 10-7-18

The Attempted Demise of Justice

Philippians 4:8, “Brethren, whatsoever things are…just…think on these things.”

     The concept of “just” or “justice” is one of God’s foremost operative principles.  And the enemy has been attacking this thought forever.  However, in America, we have seen this fight reach new levels.

     As is the enemy’s mode of operation, he has worked very successfully to exchange “just” with the principle of “fair” in everything.  Have you ever stopped to think, and admit, “life is not fair”?  What is “fair” about being born blind?  What is “fair” about being killed in a car wreck when one is just a baby?  What is “fair” about ____________ (all sorts of issue people face in life)”?  None of these are “fair,” are they?  BUT…they are “just.”

     In the Bible, “just” is God’s word for “correct justice, expected by the One Who sets the rules whereby mankind must live.”  It is applied to God, “O righteous Father…” (John 17:25).

        “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified by His grace

         through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  When God hath set forth to be a

         propitiation through faith in Christ Jesus’ blood, to declare righteousness for the

         remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: to declare, I say,

         at this time his righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which

         believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26)

     With God and the Bible, the word “fair” NEVER enters any declaration or discussion when considering whether something is “right or wrong” or “legal or illegal”…it is always “just,” “justice,” “justifier,” and “justified.”  And interestingly, “righteous” in John 17:25 is translated from the same Greek word as is “just” in Romans 3.  Incredibly, EVERY instance where we find the word “righteous” in the New Testament it is from the same Greek word that we get “just”!

     GOD IS NOT “FAIR.”  GOD IS “JUST”!  Thank God He is in all our dealings!

     No wonder, God wants us to “think on…just” instead of “fair.”

To receive each post to this blog, go to www.christinthepark.blogspot.com and register in top right corner.  Follow instructions to start getting an email of each post.  To look at ALL posts, look at LOG of posts on blogsite.

Christ in the Park ministry

a ministry of

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

(email) leemccm@gmail.com

(blog) christinthepark.blogspot.com 

(Facebook) Christ In The Park

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696