Mercy for Manasseh

So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. (II Chronicles 33:9 NKJV)

The account of Manasseh is one of the most amazing testimonies to the grace and long suffering  mercy of God found in the entirety of the scriptures. He was the son of Hezekiah and had been an eye witness to the power of God throughout his fathers life. Yet as 2 Chronicles 33:9 records he seduced the people of Israel to do more evil than all the nations God had driven out before them. He wholly departed from the ways of The Lord.

The Lord speaks to Manasseh and the people but they will not listen, and so he sends the armies of Assyria who capture him, put a ring in his nose and lead him away bound and afflicted. It is then we see the turning point in the life of this wicked king:

Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. (II Chronicles 33:12, 13 NKJV)

In the midst of this horrific affliction, Manasseh makes a choice. He turns away from his rebellion back toward God taking three decisive steps. 1.He implores the Lord his God. 2. He humbles himself greatly before the God of His fathers, and 3. He prayed.

To implore is to cry out passionately, to beg and plead. This proud and arrogant king acknowledges that God is his God, and the God of Israel and his fathers, then humbles himself and prays. It is apparent that he has not done so until now. But in the midst of his affliction he goes to the only source of true deliverance and God hears and receives his cries for help and delivers him.

What a merciful God! The most wicked king Jerusalem had ever known was saved, restored and transformed. Regardless of how deep we have fallen in our depravity our God's ears are ever open toward us, listening for our cry. When we cry out, He will hear and He will answer if we are truly repentant and willing to humble ourselves and pray.

This account of Manasseh's sin, failure, affliction and repentance give me great hope, for myself and for all who have been seduced by the allure of sin and taken captive by the god of this world. Our God the one true God is merciful. He is good and He is willing to forgive and to restore.

It gives me new insight into afflictions. I am more inclined than ever before to believe the truth revealed in Romans 8:28 that "all things are working together for my good." And also 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Jesus told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  When I struggle the most with my flesh and when I fail and fall the hardest, God is at work within me. He is using my struggles to bring about at greater strength, a greater confidence in His character and moving me toward a more powerful victory and new season of grace. He allows the afflictions to come but they are never out from under His control and I am learning to say with author of Psalm 119: Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. (Psalms 119:67, 68 NKJV)

God was merciful toward Manasseh and He will extend mercy to any who call upon His name, humble themselves in His presence and pray to Him as their Father. In the midst of our trial, as we bend under the weight of our afflicting circumstance, He is listening and He is near.

BARNACLES

Barnacles

Throughout our lives we will all be confronted with difficult circumstances, trying situations and relational conflicts that often go unresolved. These can stick to us and cause us great amounts of discomfort and trouble if we do not learn how to properly deal with them.

In the decades-long battle for naval supremacy that was fought between Britain and France at the end of the 18th century, the British fleet had a secret weapon. It was, as secret weapons often are, hugely expensive. But it paid off, giving British ships more speed, maneuverability and staying power than their French rivals. It was copper.

By covering the underwater parts of their ships' hulls with copper plates ... the British admirals stopped barnacles, mussels and burrowing clams from taking up residence. In fleets that were otherwise well-matched the result was decisive. France lost. The British Empire became the global superpower of the 19th century. And the world speaks English, not French.

Ship-fouling, then, can have rather far-reaching consequences. Even now, when naval supremacy is less of an issue, the problem is rife. The drag imposed by a heavy infestation of barnacles may push a ship's fuel consumption up by as much as 40%.^[1]

As believers in Christ and ministers of the gospel we are all susceptible to barnacles of another sort in our personal and ministry lives. The fouling of rejection, disappointments and betrayal we experience in pursuit of our calling to serve God and His people can leave us emotionally wounded, physically exhausted and spiritually drained. Just as barnacles on a ship’s hull diminish its efficiency and tax its resources, so the continual barrage of fiery darts from the enemy if allowed to attach themselves to us, will drag upon our souls, dull our vision, sap our energy, our strength, and threaten to sink our faith.

Through course of life as we deal with people, it is inevitable that trials and offenses, weights and worries will come. The challenge for us is not to become fouled. If we are to "fight the good fight and lay hold on eternal life" then we must "keep [guard] our hearts with all diligence" and take up the weapons of our warfare which "are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds". We must deal with every known sin, renew our commitment to obey the Word of God in all things, build up our faith by praying in the Holy Spirit and boldly stand in the power of the cross through the blood of Christ.

The British triumphed over the French and went on to rule two-thirds of the world by keeping a small, seemingly harmless creature from attaching itself to hulls of their warships by covering them in copper. As we cover our hearts, lives and ministries in prayer, the Word assures us that we have been made "more than conquerors through Christ" who loves us. We have the promise of victory through the triumph of Christ, all the while remembering, we must keep our hearts with all diligence and not grow weary in well doing, but press on toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

@msmcreynolds 2013

---

^[1] Reducing the Barnacle Bill, The Economist Technology Quarterly September 3, 2011 http://www.economist.com/node/21527029

The Challenge

I want to share a post that my most amazing daughter-n-law, Casey wrote last week and sent to me entitled, The Challenge. It is really good an worth the read. May it challenge and bless you as it has me!

Michael

The Challenge

We are faced with a challenge...

Every day we have a choice, every day is full of moments where we have to make decisions and the choice is always up to us:

-Am I going to live for Jesus today?

-Am I going to be obedient?

-Am I going to selfless or selfish?

-Am I going to live for my glory or His?

I believe that what God has been doing in our church the last few weeks is that He has been making invitation after invitation to come to Him and be healed, restored, and filled - to get equipped to go out and be Jesus to broken and hurting people.

As God's people we need to get educated and informed - we need to know what's going on - ask God to give us eyes to see the bigger picture. We need to see through His eyes, outside of our bubble. We cannot bury our heads in the sand or let life distract us from what's going on in our country and around the world. The entire world is crying out for freedom and peace, but they don't know that it is only Jesus that can give them these things. We need a revival and that will only come by the power of God's Holy Spirit and by the prayers of believers.

*We are incapable of convincing people that the Bible is true and that its truth.

-The Holy Spirit has to reveal it to them and give them eyes to see.

*We are incapable of compelling someone to give his/her life to The Lord.

-Jesus has to draw them first before they will humble themselves.

We are capable of living as an example of righteousness and showing God's love to all people, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual preference. We are capable of praying people into the Kingdom of God and as believers we are responsible to do so.

The days of "playing church", checking the box, and patting ourselves on the back are over. If you aren't serious about serving The Lord, you're going to be gobbled up by everything that's going on in the world. You must know your Bible and God's voice, otherwise you just aren't going to make it - the rubber is hitting the road, we have to live out what we profess to believe in. We are living in a blind and deaf world, where the devil is plugging up ears, covering eyes, and hardening hearts - he is stealing, killing, and destroying.

I want to challenge you - to go deeper than you've ever gone before, to completely submerge yourself, your life, your family in the presence of Jesus, to live wholly unto Him and nothing else no matter what comes your way. When the Holy Spirit is moving among us, and you're at your seat, if you hear a voice that says "Oh, don't worry, you're fine. You're not like these people, they have real problems. Jesus doesn't need to touch anything in your life, you've got it all together," or "Don't even think about it, do you know what everyone is going to think about you if you ask for prayer? Don't bother, just keep it to yourself. God won't do anything anyways." - in those moments, you need to tell the devil and your pride to hush up and take a hike and you get to the altar, you go get prayer. We ALL need Jesus. We ALL need His touch and cleansing and His mercy.

I want to challenge you - to seek out what God's doing and partner with Him. We may not to be able to go to every place that has a need but we can pray for resources, protection, provision -  we can pray that the Holy Spirit would come in power and rescue the lost and the hurting. Remember that prayer is not a last resort, its not the last thing we do - it's the most important thing we can do for anyone and in any situation. Don't ask God to bless what you're doing, ask Him what He's up to and how you can help, because His work is already blessed. Join Him. Find out what's going on in the country and in the world and ask God how you can pray for those things.

God has so much for all of us and He's waiting for us to step up and take hold of it. We have a choice to receive everything He has for us or not. God is gentleman, He is never going to force Himself on you. He isn't going to make you take anything from Him. What The Lord gives, He gives freely out of love for us as His children. Living for Jesus does come at a cost to us, its ourselves - our selfishness, and its a small price when compared to what Jesus gave up to give us life and reconciliation. He died to restore us to the Father, purely out of the love He has for us and to bring back wholeness to the relationship between God and us - not because of how great we are or because of anything that we do, but because of His unselfish love. God's grace is a gift that is given to each of us in unending abundance, so what are you waiting for?

Dive in. Go after God with all that you have and don't look back. Press on to attain the prize - live with an eternal mindset, see through heaven's eyes. Give all that you are to God and see if He won't do something amazing with you.

Are you up for the challenge?

  

Casey McReynolds

6/2013

Successful Hunt

Well here is turkey #1 for the 2013 season! Last week was hard hunting with crazy weather but the time and effort paid off. Thursday evening I called this big gobbler in and made the shot. For you turkey hunters out there he weighed 28lb. with a 9 3/4" beard and 1 1/8" spurs. Beautiful bird and are great first gobbler of the season! Looking forward to heading back out to Menard county in a week or so and trying again.

It's been a while...

Seems that quite often I return to my blog to write about how it has been a very long time since I have written anything on my blog. Yes, it's that time again. Perhaps I should just delete this and move on? At any rate, I have returned for another post even if only to sign off for another six months to a year. The blog-a-sphere is really not where I choose to spend much time, especially as the warmth and sunshine of springtime waft their seductive temptations through my window. Oh, and it's almost turkey season. Can't wait to call in a gobbler and but him on the table!

 

Ambition verses Surrender

Ambition can never be satisfied for it finds its fulfillment in accomplishment. In success, possessions and achievement which only foster the need for more of the same.

Surrender to God brings us to the place where we can be totally out of control and can relinquish everything into the hands of our God. With our surrender to God comes the truest freedom. Whether we succeed or fail, prosper or come to poverty, enjoy health and long life or sickness and a premature death it is of no importance for our eternal destiny is held securely in the heart and hands of Jesus Christ.

Humbled By it All

    For the third year in a row our church volunteered to help at our cities celebration of the National Night Out. Once again we had over thity volunteers come out to City Park in 100 degree + weather to serve others food and cold beverages. It was amazing to watch as we had more helpers than work to be done but our folks jumped in and got invloved. I am so impressed, blessed and humbled to be affliated with them and to serve them as their pastor. When I expereince what I did tonight it makes me remember why I do what I do and honestly, I am overcome with gratitude for the privilege to work alongside the people that I do.  I am believing the Lord for a new level of influence and grace to be released through the lives of our people in this community. I am also beleiving the Lord for souls to be saved and the city to be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ being lived out before them.

   Thanks Church on the Hill, you guys are more than awesome! #ILoveMyChurch

   Pastor Mike

Degas - melancholy indeed.

It has been a really long time since I have posted anything here and the best reason I could give for that is simply that no one is reading it! So much of the "cyber-life" that is lived in the blog-a-sphere goes completely unnoticed by those who are living life with out the addiction to social media, the internet and the digital reality. Not meaning to sound cynical but I guess I am.... Gee, I wonder if followers would change my opinion? Yes, I am sure they would.

Number One LSU Fan

George Rodrigue is a Louisiana original and this is his "Number One LSU Fan!" Featured in "Blue Dogs and Cajuns on the River:  George Rodrigue from the New Orleans Museum of Art and other collections" from July 23 to September 18, at the LSU Museum of Art in the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, LA, artist George Rodrigue now starts a campaign to benefit arts and education in Louisiana. Check it out at http://www.arts4education.org/

I love it, thanks George!
Geaux Tigers!