Mirrors

Norman Rockwell, prints always makes me smile, they also make you think.  James 1:23, 24     23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like the man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (NASB)  Have you ever done that?  I have to admit I have.  Looked at the mirror, walked away and couldn’t a-bit-more remembered what I saw than the man in the moon.  Sometimes I’ve stood looking at the mirror and thought what in the world was God think when He made that person. My wife Terrie, has one of though magnifying mirrors.  You can see every pore, ever crack, every hair.  She will set for a long time and “put on her face”, she calls it.

This scripture, to me, is saying.  When you read the word, what are you going to do with it?  Apply it, or disregard it?  After I was saved, my parents gave me the Bible I use today.  It has been one of the most precious gift anyone has ever given me.  My Bible, is the very words of God.   I have tried other versions, even other good study Bibles, but I always come back to this one to read.  The best way I know how to explain it is, when I got it, it was as though I was receiving a letter directly from God.  I have traced the steps of Jesus, I have followed Moses when he walked out of Egypt.  I have gone on a boat ride with Paul, I have seen the dead raised, and it was like I was there when it happened.  I have read and learned, and I have been distracted and forgot.  But most of all I have grown.  It has made me the man I am today.   Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;  for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Posted by Steve Waltrip         P.S. I’m not a finished product yet.

Dreams

When writing the articles for this Blog I use personal experiences.  I am not a Pastor or a Counselor.  I write from my  own Christian viewpoint.  I am not infallible, though I give much thought to what I share.  Twice in the last two years I have had something happen to me that, for me is quite remarkable.  The last time was only two weeks ago.   Joel 2:28 And it will come about after this.  That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind:  and your young sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.

About two years ago I had a dream about the rapture.  One minute I was standing, on earth, the next I was flying up to the clouds.  It was a dark cloudy day, but the clouds parted as I went through them.  The next dream a few weeks ago, I was standing in a crowd  looking at the people.  They, one by one, with a flash of bright yellow light streaked up.

Is this a fulfillment of scripture?  I don’t think so.  I do know that in my subconscious mind I thinking good thoughts.  Thirty years ago, when I was not a Christian, I had unclean thoughts and dreams about the opposite sex.   I haven’t had one of thoughs dreams in thirty years.  Proof positive to me I have made an inward change.  It’s very exciting to dream about the rapture.   Posted by Steve Waltrip

Testimony

Many years ago my dad and I had a conversation, about a persons testimony.  He had just attended a service where a man stood up and testified that he had been delivered from drugs and was serving the Lord.  And while I do agree that is a powerful testimony, I told him I thought a more powerful testimony was one where a man stands up and said, he was saved as a child and has been serving the Lord ever sense.

A few weeks ago Second Baptist Church participated in an event called ‘ Walk across Muhlenberg County for the Persecuted Church’.  One group of people that really touched my heart was a Sunday School Class of young girls.  Their teacher had impressed upon them the importance of being involved in missions.  They got together one Saturday and earned money for walking.  They took time out for one day to earn money for the Persecuted Church.  Mike and Cathy V. have a burden of training young Christians.  Thank you Mike and Cathy.  Girls thank you for your participation. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Tired and depressed

I look forward to the changes of the seasons, fall brings cooler weather, and beautiful colors from nature.   There’s a smell in the woods unlike summer.  You can smell dirt in the woods in the fall.  With all the foliage gone, you can hear things better, I think sound travels farther.  The sky seems clearer and the stars brighter.

I work at a power plant and during the spring and fall the demand for power is lower.  The board of directors, use this lull as a time to rebuild wore out parts in the plant.  This means long working hours, I’ve been on seven-ten hour days.  Last week I worked seven night, 4pm to 2:30am.  We do abnormal jobs that, we don’t normally do, so to say the least I’m very tired.  I hurt in places I did not know existed.

When your mentally and physically tired, your brain works over time.  Usually toward the negative, you take offence to things that you would normally just pass off.  Sometimes you say things you don’t really mean.  I do two thing to prepare myself.  The Bible say’s, Phil.4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. First, I don’t always trust what my mind is thinking, so I don’t (trust my mind).   Second, if what I’m hearing is true, but is not honorable, I just ignore it.  This may sound crazy to some, but it works for me.  I have a healthier out look during these times and I’m not flying of the handle at little things.

I have found that adversity is going to come in life, it’s how we handle these times that reveals Christ to others.  Do people see Christ in you?  It’s easy to be a Christian in the good times, what kind of a Christian are you when things go rough.   Posted by Steve Waltrip

Worship

Please don’t presume that I will tell you the proper way to worship.  I worship the way I think God would have me to.  But I will not tell you how you should.  I do know it is important that you do have time in your day to praise and worship God in some way.  Sometimes I worship on the way to work, while driving.  Or, I may feel the need to worship at work, while I’m alone.

Worship is a matter of the heart.  I can feel God’s presence at any given time and feel a need to worship His Holy presence.  Who do we Worship?  I looked it up in the Nave’s Topical Bible, and all I could find, was the Worship of God and Jesus.  I believe it’s the job of the Holy Spirit to usher in or encourage Worship and not to be Worshipped.

I Worship in every kind of instance.   By that I mean good times or bad.  I couldn’t always say that.   We tend to only give God credit when things are going good.  I have learned to Worship Him because of His presence in the good and the bad.  Much more during the bad because, that is when I know He is watching over me.

I have Worshiped standing, kneeling, laying prostate on the floor, hands raised, head bowed, and in bed before I go to sleep.  At sunrise, sunset, and in the rain.  Because a long time ago I read this scripture verse:    Luke 19:40  And He answered and said.  “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” I’m not havin some stone do my Worshiping!!    Hallelujah! Posted by Steve Waltrip