Beyond Honest

CitP blog, 9-3-18, Beyond Honest

     One thing we can be certain of: ever so often the Greek words behind some of our English words in the Bible tell a different story from God than what we typically think He is saying.  And today at Christ In The Park we encountered one of those occasions.

     Last week we started a discussion of Philippians 4:8, a most exciting verse full of good direction for our minds to travel.  After looking at “think on whatsoever things that are true” last Sunday, this week we looked at “think on whatsoever things are honest.”  That sounded pretty easy on the surface. 

     However, the Greek word translated “honest” is semnos.  And it has a very different meaning from what we would ordinarily give to “honest.”  It carries more emphasis on “reverence” and “worship.”  Think on things that are “from heaven,” we might say.  Think on things that are “majestic.”  Not just thinking about truth or honesty.  It has the significance God gave through Paul to the Saints at Colossae: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2).

     It was sweet to see the response from the “unchurched” to this discussion of a Word from God.

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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

Think on Truth

     It is so much fun to be able to share some Truth that God can use to encourage as well as affect the lives of the folks at Christ in the Park in their day to day living.  And this Sunday we started a look at the great verse in Philippians where God gives eight (8) “things” to THINK ON.  This is a very interesting proposition…  Each week we will look at one.

     It is not surprising God begins by telling us to be thinking “on truth.”  Without Truth (Jesus) there is no Life.  Everything else is a lie.  Everything else can bring death to the situation.

     We discussed how Truth can not only improve their lives, but also bring God’s power into their issues. 

     There was one person in attendance that has not been in quite a while, needing God to bring His power into their life.  I can’t share a name, but let me ask you to pray for that priceless victory from the unfathomable riches of God’s grace for this person.  God is the God of miracles.  They need one.

     Well, you can see how important your prayers are, and the support you give this ministry.  May the Lord pour out His grace on you also.

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

God has a plan

     God always has a plan.  Isn’t that wonderful!  He tells us in several places in the Bible that “man makes plans, but God directs our steps.”  When something happens unexpectedly from our plans I always remember our friend Michael Wells’ statement: “God permits what He could prevent, and He prevents what He could permit.”  Nothing happens without the hand of God on it…one way or the other.

     Two things changed directions for me this weekend.  One I will share here, the other I will share on my personal ministry blog: leemccmviews.blogspot.com

     What I will share here: today at Christ In The Park we were having one discussion, then the whole thing changed to another.  And it did so because of who was there, and who was not.  That in itself is always interesting each Sunday!  The end result today was that God took our thoughts and words to a discussion on bible texts, translations, and word meanings.  There was no end to the discussion, which is perfectly fine.  But, one thing is certain, every Christian I have ever known who really is interested in communicating with God has a desire to hold in their hands THE Word of God (written) and to speak to & hear from The Word (Christ) of God.  So, it is important that all Believers do due diligence to search for Well, amen.

     The temperatures have been very warm.  The fellowship just as warm.  Thanks to God’s presence each and every Sunday.

     p.s. be sure to go to the “views” blogspot…I promise you it will be a huge blessing for you!  And besides, I will give you some info on a prayer need I want to share with you and ask you to share with as many as you can.

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

Every CitP participant a minister

What a great day for gathering in the park…cooler, comfortable weather with a nice breeze.  And warm fellowship sharing Christ with each other.

This is the handout from Christ in the Park this morning.  Does it speak to you?

Every Christ In The Park participant a minister

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Our God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

He comforts us in all our tribulation.

So that we may be able to comfort others who are in any trouble…

Every one of us has been comforted by God, or experienced His mercy.  We now are ministers with a ministry to go tell someone else how they can experience the same from God.  It begins with recognizing and accepting that YOU are a minister according to God.

Go share!

     Moving forward we are challenging ourselves to “be” ministers and be accountable.     We discussed that each Sunday we will give an account of how we have been “ministers” in sharing the mercy and comfort God has given us…that we shared with someone God brought across our path that needed His mercy or comfort.

     Pray for these folks to become MINISTERS of God’s mercy and comfort!

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

CitP 3rd Anniversary!

     It was a beautiful morning at Festival Park in downtown Nacogdoches, and it was the 3^rd anniversary of Christ In The Park.  Wow!  3 years of lifting up Christ in this public setting.  And as usual, the diversity of participants was one of the most beautiful aspects of this celebration.

     This was an excellent day to talk about three things “we must do” in our walk with God.  (It is not very often that we use that phrase!)…

BELIEVE GOD, TRUST GOD, EXPECT GOD to…

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

     It is a must that every time we read a verse the first thing WE MUST DO is BELIEVE GOD.  God has said it, we must believe it (Him).  Period.

     The second thing WE MUST DO is TRUST GOD.  Trust Him with all our heart.  The “heart” is the mind, emotions, and will acting together.  For Christians, we get to operate in Christ’s Mind, with His emotions, and His will to lead us.  We must trust God with these three in agreement.  What we don’t do is lean on our understanding in our natural mind.

     The third thing WE MUST DO is EXPECT GOD TO do what He said He would do.  God has said what He would do, we believe Him and trust Him…then expect Him to do it.  Doing the first two, He directs our paths.

     So, God has told us that like THE GOOD SHEPHERD He is, HE WILL DIRECT OUR PATHS.  Believe Him, trust Him, and expect Him to do so.

     See how easy it is to live as one of God’s sheep.

Well, amen!

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