Yearly Archives: 2015

The Lean Years – Wasted Moments

preach-it Based on Spurgeon’s Morning Devotion 7-3-2015:

“The ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven wellfavoured and fat kine.”
Genesis 41:4

Pharaoh’s dream has too often been my waking experience. My days of sloth have ruinously destroyed all that I had achieved in times of zealous industry; my seasons of coldness have frozen all the genial glow of my periods of fervency and enthusiasm; and my fits of worldliness have thrown me back from my advances in the divine life. I had need to beware of lean prayers, lean praises, lean duties, and lean experiences, for these will eat up the fat of my comfort and peace. If I neglect prayer for never so short a time, I lose all the spirituality to which I had attained; if I draw no fresh supplies from heaven, the old corn in my granary is soon consumed by the famine which rages in my soul. When the caterpillars of indifference, the cankerworms of worldliness, and the palmerworms of self-indulgence, lay my heart completely desolate, and make my soul to languish, all my former fruitfulness and growth in grace avails me nothing whatever. How anxious should I be to have no lean-fleshed days, no ill-favoured hours!

This message offers a most powerful indictment of the tends (tendencies) and chords that draw us away from task. While rest is an absolute necessity, how careful are we to watch for the leanness creeping in the guise of a blessed moment of peace? Appearing in the form of a blessing yet there is a startling difference and a dangerous persistence embedding itself.

In the passage there are two cows, both at work, but an important difference the lean worked to devour the fat. As Spurgeon espoused and the word informs of our leanness, slight indifference, our neglect even in the guise of rest – it works to devour all that is accomplished in his name while we traverse the lands of Egypt. Whether you fare as sumptuously as Joseph or as trodden as a slave.

While we’re here God is sustaining us. Yes you’ve been washed and reborn – regenerated into the promised land of Zion yet until the physical day you set foot in Canaan there is a vigilance to educate, to nourish the body as we share learn and discover the elements of faith. There is a vigilance that we need to go often to the well, to the rock – to the Word of God that it may always be as He said. My soul, Psalm 63:5 (HCSB) You satisfy me as with rich food ; my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.

Let us remember today and always the lesson of the dream and the dream itself.

God speaks that we may understand and DO! The dream doesn’t change situations it’s up to you to heed its thoughts and follow through.

The Finishing Touch

2nd Timothy 2:19-21

…In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Whether earthen clay, glass vessel or Gold or the finest bejeweled pot, all must go through the fire. Before you make it to the shelf to the users table you must be finished, hardened, prepared and proven in the flame (the furnace of affliction). Many see this as a time of anguish or suffering, the reality is a time for joy.

It’s the time! You’re nearest the end of a journey. It’s the moment before the rest when you’re proven and shown tetelestai! (It is finished.)
You are a work of art. You are worthy. God has declared you ready to GO!
Having endured the gathering, the shaping, the molding, the so strenuous process; now you’re come to the close. Now it’s time for the fire. The funeral pyre;
All impurities are burned away. All inconsequential doubt and unsureness is dissolved – consumed. This is the time to rejoice you’ve nearly arrived. This fire that threatens to engulf you encompass you, embrace it. Burn baby burn!
I know where my destination is
I’m going to the master’s house- to the master’s table. I am certified meat (good) for the master’s use.
That’s a better signature than Made in China, America or anywhere else in the world.

God’s Word concerning me- I’m done, I’m ready, I Am available
Thank you God! and
Hallelujah for the refiners fire!

New Years Blessing – The First Signs of Growth

Seeing The Promise of Bearing Fruit:

2014, I will confess, was full of labors. Everyday tasks with lifetimes of implications, if I were to minister to yesterday’s issues – 2014 was a work. Yet hearing and receiving in faith, I speak it today. The first breaths of a new year – Celebrate! Beyond the revelry and parties rejoice! I rejoice as in seeing the first blades of grass. The seed, the sweat, the stirrings and turmoil – 2015 has arrived and brings with it a booming harvest. Initiatives sown have taken root and now we’re seeing the first shoots of what’s to come. CN Life is bearing fruit.

The fruit of faith and perseverance; the dedication even wavering and questions – the choice to sow seeds is ready and producing a harvest. As we walk into a new year, you walk with us. We walk in agreement, in the power of faith. Today we celebrate!

Beyond Happy New Year, I speak and concur, with the blessing God has spoken over all life. Be Fruitful and Multiply!

Not merely addition, but swelling for the flight. I challenge you to take your faith and subdue the jungles that have not heard the word in your life. Produce!

Bear Fruit! Today is the first moments of an opportunity to see the hint of what God has promised and delivered. You will have the good of the land. The Good of the land is yours. Forgetting past ways, what do you choose to do with it today?

Receive the blessing of CN Life and Me personally in Faith! Be fruitful and watch God multiply!