Jeremy Meier Ministries

The Truth, Not "Doctrine & Covenants"

2009-12-28T00:10:00.002-05:00

A couple days ago I had the opportunity to speak with a person that I work with; he is a new convert to Latter-day Saints (Mormon). It was a friendly discussion about LDS v. Baptist and there was no declared “winner” or “loser,” but I feel that there was a great opportunity to share the “reason for the season.”

Our conversation started with me quipping about something that this person used to find humorous. When he didn’t laugh, I asked him what was going on and hoping that my beginning dialog didn’t offend him in some way or another. He began to talk about his new found religion and how he’s proud of himself for going to church for two months straight. I was impressed. Of all people, he was one of the last people I ever thought would say something like that. When I asked him where he was attending, I was intrigued when he told me that he was now attending a Latter-day Saints church. I first had three thoughts: why did he choose a LDS church; what exactly do they believe; and this is going to be an awesome opportunity to share the TRUTH with this individual.

One of the biggest issues that was brought up was the fact that he said that baptism was the literal washing of sins. I told him that baptism doesn’t save you or forgive your sins. Baptism, I explained to him, is the outward sign of one’s obedience to God, symbolizing a believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. When I asked him where the LDS got their basis for baptism, he cited John 3:5 in which Jesus says, “…I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

The LDS is taking the Scripture out of context which was a very common thing that I found as I continued my discussion. Jesus is speaking of two different things; neither have anything to do directly with baptism. First, “born of water” is referring to the literal birth of a child from his/her mother’s womb. When you and I were born refers to our birth of water. The second thing, “and the Spirit” is referring to our reborn life when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The LDS took the verse out of context because it says “water” in it, and therefore must mean Baptism.

This post could be several pages if I wrote about everything we discussed so I will finish with what the LDS believe happens when one dies and where they go. I believe that when someone that has received the gift of eternal salvation dies, they go to heaven to be with our Lord. According to the LDS, there are three different kingdoms, first and highest, Celestial, second is Terrestrial, and third is Telestial. Before I go too deep into this discussion, I will start by saying that the LDS support these three “kingdoms” with “Doctrine & Covenants” rather than actual Biblical Scripture references. Doctrine & Covenants are basically LDS scriptures. They are not the infallible Word of God but rather written and inspired by man to concoct a story in line with a belief system.

The Bible clearly tells us that we have all been born in sin and that the only way to get to the Kingdom is to put our complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Although it is not revealed in the Bible as to what happens to people that haven’t reached the “accountable” age (history says it is 13 years old, though the Bible doesn’t specify this) at the time of their death, we are under the impression that they are covered under God’s grace by way of Jesus’ death and will reach heaven with eternal life.

The bottom line is that I cited actual Biblical references during my discussion and the LDS individual I was talking with couldn’t. He continued to make claims that he (and the LDS) believed in the infallible Word of God but he continued to contradict what the Bible said compared to what the LDS Church says. It was a great discussion and I believe strongly that although he may not have changed, he most certainly is thinking twice about his decision to be just a follower instead of a follower of CHRIST.

Let me close by saying as we wrap-up the holidays that we should be celebrating CHRISTmas every single day of the year. We don’t celebrate Christmas for Jesus; we celebrate Christmas BECAUSE of Jesus. We are on this earth today because of one man. He died on a cross so that we may live (Romans 5:8). We don’t earn salvation…it is a free gift from Jesus (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9). If we have not accepted the gift of eternal life, we are dead (Romans 6:23). If you believe that Jesus is Lord, that He died on the cross for your sins, and rose again on the third day, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16).

I have given you several Scriptures to look at. Remember, these are actual Bible verses, not Doctrine & Covenant articles written by man to sync up with what I believe. It is quite simple…if you believe, you WILL be saved. I also encourage you to remember that there is only one book that you can trust to guide you. This book wasn’t written by a man a couple hundred years ago nor is it something that was written to accompany a belief system that is already in place. This book is the infallible, inspired Word of God, written by God through man.

So friends, don’t be the one that doesn’t know who Jesus is! I encourage you to learn about our Savior and put your trust in Him. Remember, the Bible says that you will not go to heaven if you do not accept the free gift offered by Jesus.

This LDS v. Baptist discussion came at an interesting time in my life in which I was contemplating my current ministry career. To be honest, it couldn’t have happened at a better time! I feel so much drive and desire to reach the world with the great news of Jesus Christ and I thank my LDS friend for helping me reach that desire again! I haven’t given up on my friend; I will continue to have discussions with him and hope that he will learn the truth that is Jesus Christ!

If you have any questions about today’s post, please go to www.jeremymeier.org to learn more!

God bless you,
Jeremy

Patience

2009-05-17T02:47:00.001-04:00

I was fortunate enough to go to New Orleans for the day on Friday. It was a nice change of scenery that I needed. Biloxi, Mississippi is nice in its own right, but I needed a break. I went with a classmate of mine and our agenda was pretty clear. We wanted to see the famous “Bourbon Street” and look around the historic French Quarter and be back in Biloxi by dinner time. We were successful and we had a good time. As we were driving to New Orleans, I noticed that regardless of what the speed limit sign said (45 MPH for this example) I was the only vehicle abiding by it. If you remember my last note, I was going to write about patience, but was having a bit of a writer’s blockage episode so I wrote about the essentials of prayer instead. Well, thanks to those speeding cars, I now think I can talk a little bit about patience.

Now let me preface this by saying I have sped before and I’ve even met a Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff because of my speeding. When I was in England, those famous speed cameras caught me. But, I generally don’t speed…maybe 5 MPH over the limit, tops. The underlying question I guess would be why do we speed? I know that it’s because we want to get somewhere faster. But exactly how much faster will we arrive if we speed?

I guess calculating how much faster you’ll arrive somewhere differs by how much you go over the speed limit. But, I would guess on average you would probably arrive 1-10 minutes sooner, maybe a little more or less. What do we get out of being so impatient (e.g. why were those cars so adamant about getting around my 45 MPH-going vehicle)? Why can’t we just accept the hand we’ve been dealt and go with the flow? Perhaps we ignore God’s plan and instead entertain our own self-centered ideas. Before we can fully answer that question, we must define what patience is. The dictionary defines patience as: quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience. I like the second part of that definition: “steady perseverance.”

Galatians 5:22-23 states: “22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control…” The “fruit of the Spirit” refers to the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. So really in order to have true patience, you must first have a relationship with God. I know what you’re thinking…you already have true patience and don’t have a relationship with God. Well, I would argue that you don’t really have true patience then. Do you deep down mumble under your breath at that person driving their vehicle the speed limit forcing you to speed around it? That’s not true patience. Patience doesn’t come overnight, either. It takes work to become a patient person. I work on my patience every day and I still haven’t “mastered” it. So how do you maintain patience during difficult times? The Bible tells us in James 1:3-4: “3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It appears that we’re heading back to the definition of patience, doesn’t it? You see, we will always have times in our life where things get shaken up a bit. These trials that you’re facing are all part of God’s plan to help you develop perseverance. Perseverance not only deepens your faith, but it strengthens our patience. Remember what I said earlier, in order to have true patience, you must first have a relationship with God. Do you have a relationship with God right now? Is your life as full as it could be? Do you have an abundant amount of patience? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, you may need to have a talk with Jesus.

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Blessings,
Jeremy

The Essentials of Prayer

2009-05-10T01:05:00.001-04:00

I am quite possibly the most impatient person I know. I like to see results immediately and unfortunately (for me), that rarely happens. And interestingly enough, I’m not going to write about patience today. I was going to, but as I began reading some Scriptures on patience, I decided (or God lead me) to instead talk about prayer. So let’s do that, then, shall we?

How many of you are prayer warriors? You know the type, they pray for anything and everything: people, circumstances, jobs, church, leaders, etc. That is not a bad thing, so please don’t take it as if it were. I would consider myself a prayer warrior. I like to talk to God as if He’s sitting right next to me. I don’t know, it just feels more intimate. I have been asked the question before, “why do you pray?” Initially, I am caught off guard because it’s just part of who I am. My day doesn’t feel complete unless I have a meaningful conversation with God. So what do I tell people who ask about prayer?

Prayer is how we communicate with God. It is as if you’re picking up the phone and calling the “God Hotline.” When you receive Christ as your Savior, you have to pray asking that He forgive you of your sins and that He comes into your life – you’ve got to pick up the hotline. Prayer is like talking to your best friend. God loves us unconditionally. A bigger question I get, however, isn’t why I pray but if God actually hears our prayers. That can be a tough one to answer but I’ll give it a shot.

The Bible tells us in five specific places that God does not hear the prayers of those who don’t first confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. The most prominent (or recognized) verse is John 9:31, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.” A lot of people get wrapped around that verse but let’s dissect the situation a little bit. God hears the prayers from people who have confessed their sins and ask for forgiveness. So then, why are those people’s prayers heard and not those who just pray for, let’s say, a big test coming up or something? Think about it, how can we ask God to answer a prayer if we don’t believe in Him? By not confessing your sins builds a wall between you and God. You don’t ask for His forgiveness just once when you receive salvation; you must ask for His saving grace daily because we sin daily. Trust me, even if you think you haven’t sinned, you have – actually, by thinking you haven’t sinned is sin. There’s only one person in the existence of the world that is without sin: Jesus Christ.

So what do you do now? Pray. If you haven’t prayed before then it might be time that you pray the prayer that will save your life – the one where you ask God to come into your life and forgive you of your sins. I assure you that God will hear that prayer! If you need help on how to come to that conclusion, I encourage you to contact me at jeremymeier.org and I will help you. If you have already received the gift of salvation, are you asking God for forgiveness daily to break down the wall between you and Him? If not, I pray that you start.

Prayer is an important part of the life of a Christian. I love a verse in the NIV Bible about prayer. It’s an awesome, to the point verse and one that I recite often: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray continually.” How cool is that? It’s only two words and tells you exactly what you’re supposed to do!

Maybe the next installment will be on whether or not God answers prayers. I’m sure that will spark some interest. He’s got a reason for everything and I’m looking forward to sharing that with you!

Until then…blessings!

Jeremy

Are You Running 100 Miles An Hour...In The Wrong Direction?

2009-04-24T20:31:00.003-04:00

Today marks the second week of six in the books. It was a relatively uneventful week and for that I am grateful! When I got back to my hotel room, I did what I always do: jumped on the computer to check my e-mail, change clothes, etc. When I opened my e-mail, I received a message from the Gospel Music Channel informing me, among other things, who won Dove awards last night. So, my curiosity got the best of me and I looked. My favorite group, Casting Crowns, received a Dove Award for "Group of the Year." I was really happy for them…they deserved it!

I decided to check out Casting Crowns online to see what they've been up to. In my online quest, I came across an awesome song that they recorded in 2005, "Does Anybody Hear Her". To accompany this song, I found, on YouTube, the very powerful "Does Anybody Hear Her" video. So what’s the purpose of this note? I want to know if you "are you running 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction?"

The song asks two simple questions: "does anybody hear her?" and "can anyone see?" These questions are often dismissed because we don’t want to get out of our comfort zone. We don’t want to take those steps out on faith to preach the Gospel. How many times have you had the opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus and decided not to? Why? Was it because you were scared of rejection? Maybe you were afraid that they would ask too many questions that you wouldn’t have the answer to? Were you too busy? Jesus tells us that we are to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20). My church family in Florida simply called this "BOMO" which stands for "be one (a follower of Christ), make one (a follower of Christ)." How are we supposed to do that if we ignore those that need us most? We cannot "make one" if we are blind. We must open our eyes and see those that need Jesus.

Another part of the song that I found revealing was, "if judgment looms under every steeple." How is that possible? If we as Christians are supposed to be forgiving, loving, followers of Christ, how can we judge people? Raise your hand right now, regardless of where you’re reading this, if you are perfect. That’s right, you’re not perfect! None of us are! The only perfect One is Jesus Christ! We must break down any barriers we have (fear, nerves, uncertainty, etc.) and do what Jesus told us to do. I haven’t always been the best at sharing Jesus. I have fallen into the nervous or scared of rejection category on several occasions. But, you have to understand that God will provide for you the wisdom to share the Good News. Take a look at Proverbs, chapters 2 and 3. He will give you the wisdom (Proverbs 2:6).

Like always, if you have any questions, please let me know. I would love to share Jesus with you! Have a blessed weekend! See below for the "Does Anybody Hear Her" video!

Blessings,
Jeremy

Obedience

2009-04-17T21:51:00.003-04:00

I am relatively certain that at some point in your life you have been told to do something. Maybe your mom or dad told you that you needed to make your bed. Perhaps you were required to take out the trash every day. Or maybe you were ordered by your supervisor to take care of a specific task. If you are older than, say two or three years old, you probably fall into this category. So we know that we receive orders but the real question is how do we carry out those orders? In other words, do we obey the orders in which we have received?

Now let’s throw a wrench into the mix for a second. What do we do when we receive an order from God? Do we obey? Do we ignore it? Does our response depend on what the command is? We tend to either not, or at least think twice about, doing what we may believe will make us uncomfortable. There are many reasons for this behavior. Perhaps it’s because we’re scared of the outcome. Maybe we are afraid of the task itself. It’s different for everyone. You already know my story of waiting seven years before obeying God’s call to ministry so I won’t go into that. But, I do have a story that falls within the realm of this example.

I have a great friend who has had a tugging on her heart for a long time about being a kidney donor. She doesn’t know anyone personally that needs a new kidney, but she felt God calling her to do this – to donate her kidney to someone who will die if they don’t get a new one. This is a pretty significant calling, isn’t it? I think so. God wants to use my friend to impact a complete stranger’s life. She didn’t really struggle when it came to obeying God’s call which surprises me and at the same time makes me so proud of her. If someone in my family required a kidney from me, I wouldn’t hesitate. But donating my kidney to a perfect stranger for the sake of God’s call? I’ll be honest; I don’t know how I’d respond to something like that. I would certainly have to pray – a lot!

Maybe God’s call on my friend’s life will lead to bigger things. Maybe it’s her calling to ministry (at the end of this note, I’ll fill you in on the details – without too many details). Take a look at the story of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-9. Abraham could have said “thanks but no thanks, God. I really don’t feel like picking up and moving where you tell me to. I’m comfortable with where I’m at.”

How many times have you answered a question from God like that? I have answered some of God’s questions like that on more occasions than I’d like to admit. But my friend was like Abraham. She didn’t hesitate to obey His command. Sure, she probably had some reservations about what she was signing on for but she had the faith – and obedience – to take action and go through with what God was calling her to do.

Giving up a kidney isn’t an easy thing to wrap your head around. There are months of testing, interviews, testing, testing, waiting, testing, waiting, waiting, testing, approval, interviews, phone calls, testing, waiting, waiting…the call. The call is the one that you’ve been waiting for after all the testing, waiting, and interviews you’ve gone through. It’s the phone call that tells you that you are about to fulfill God’s calling on your life. You have been matched with a transplant recipient. This is the phone call my friend received on Thursday, April 16, 2009 – a day that would change her life forever!

My friend was matched with someone she doesn’t know. She is effectively going to save someone’s life – someone she doesn’t know. She heeded God’s call. The one thing that I always tell people is that they not only need to pray, but they also need to listen to what God tells them during the conversation. As I hope you know, prayer isn’t one-way communication with God. He will speak back to you and when He does, you’ll know. My friend listened to what God was telling her. As a result, she is going to give up a kidney for someone. The cool thing is that she’s already heard God speak to her in other ways. She is going to start a Christian support group for people that were in her position of wanting to help others by way of being a voluntary kidney donor. Don’t ever underestimate your power to further His kingdom! You are an integral part of His ministry and we need you! You don’t have to give up an organ to fulfill God’s calling on your life. It just happened that this was my friend’s calling. Your calling may be to be a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” with underprivileged kids. Maybe it’s to be a hospice volunteer. Ask God what His calling is on your life – He will tell you. Obey what God is telling you to do. Just as Abraham was blessed for obeying God, you too will be blessed for your obedience.

As I close, I want to leave you with two final thoughts for you to ponder:

1) In what ways does your life show that you are living for God’s purposes and seeking His approval rather than the world’s? In other words, in what ways in your life are you obeying God’s calling instead of ignoring it?
2) In your wildest dreams, what would you most like to accomplish for God?
Live your life for God!

God bless,
Jeremy

Making the Best of It

2009-04-14T22:39:00.002-04:00

So I can successfully mark day one off the books. It’s done and I am very happy about that. Now, I have received some constructive opposition to some of my earlier status updates (on Facebook) and I thought I’d elaborate on things a little bit.

For those that are unaware of my current status, I am at the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Biloxi, Mississippi. I did not want to come here. I had no desire to take this course. It is, however, a requirement if one wants to proceed to the next rank (Master Sergeant). So here I am, sitting in an okay “dorm” room (without a roommate – yay God) contemplating what I’m going to do while I’m here. I am convinced that my time at the actual Academy will have its ups and downs and if all the rumors I’ve heard from [100% of] former pupils are remotely true, I will have wasted 5 ½ weeks of my life here. But the cool thing is that there is so much more to do – and see – in Biloxi, Mississippi. I already made a commitment before I left North Dakota that I wanted to help two people/families while I’m here. I don’t have a whole lot of money to give, but I have a lot of prayers, comfort, compassion, and labor to give.

Biloxi and the Gulfport area were hit very hard during Hurricane Katrina. People are still trying to put their homes – and lives – back together. So I am calling this expenses paid trip to a 5 ½ week course a ‘mission opportunity’. The simple fact is that one random act of kindness will have the ripple effect. If you do one kind thing to someone, they will remember that, and when an opportunity presents itself, they will show someone else a random act of kindness. There’s no end to what can happen – it’s a ripple effect!

I don’t have any idea how I’m going to find someone to help, but my plan is to just drive around and look. I’ll ask my instructors where it got hit pretty hard and will head that way. Thankfully I still have some “Eternal Life” tracks the glove box in my truck, so I’ll be able to pass those out to those I come in contact with while on my quest to help. I wonder if it will be as easy as it sounds.

I’ll be honest…I’m a little nervous. I don’t know what kind of response I’ll get from people. I don’t know if the people that I choose will be too proud to accept the help that I offer or if they will welcome the relief. It is my hope and prayer that it is the latter.

So, what’s the morale of today’s story? As a Christ follower, it is our responsibility to help those in need. Leviticus 25:35-37 tells us to that we are to help those that cannot help themselves. James 4:17 tells us that if we neglect to do good that we know needs to be done, we have sinned. Let’s face the real truth about this. People need our help and we are commanded by our Savior to give those people the help they need. Doing a random act of kindness not only helps (mentally, physically, spiritually) those that you do help, but it renews and refreshes your energy to your Christian faith.

Yes, I would rather be in North Dakota with my family enjoying the crazy 50°+ weather, but I’m also needed here. I’m here for a reason other than going to the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. I’m here to obey God’s call to help those who cannot currently help themselves. Like I said before, you don’t need to give money or goods. Time is a precious thing that many people just don’t have enough of. So as you go do your thing this week and weekend, I encourage you to take a couple hours and find someone that needs your help – it could be as simple as mowing someone’s lawn for them.

His Servant,
Jeremy

Good Friday

2009-04-12T14:39:00.001-04:00

Some of you may know what Good Friday is (or stands for) and some of you may not. For the latter, I will explain the significance of this day.

Good Friday isn’t a free day off from work. It also isn’t just another day of the week. Good Friday is a quiet day. It’s a day of remembrance. It’s a day of thanksgiving. You see Good Friday celebrates/symbolizes/commemorates Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for our sins (crucifixion). We are unable to save ourselves. The only way to guarantee a place in heaven is through faith alone in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25). We as Christians base our faith on this very event.

Romans 3:23 says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” If we move on to Romans 6:23, it says, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus or Lord.” So, what does all this mean to us? Romans 3:23-25 is telling us that we are ALL guilty of sin. There’s no way around it – deal with it! However, we are “justified freely by His grace” (Romans 3:24). What does justified mean? It means that we have been found “not guilty” should we put our faith in Jesus. God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement (Romans 3:25). This basically tells us that Jesus died in our place for our sins!

Good Friday, although symbolizing the horrific, painful death of Jesus, is actually a good day. I know, that sounds kind of weird, right? Yeah, it was a sad day, but in the end, the thing that happened – Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins – was a good thing. In reading Matthew 27:46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was actually reciting the first line of Psalm 22. He was expressing the pain and anguish that He felt when He took on the sins of the world – he was not questioning God. Taking on the sins of the world caused Jesus to be separated from His Father – something much more painful than the physical pain He was going through. Jesus suffered this death so that we may never have to experience eternal separation from God.

So on this Good Friday, I ask you to look at this day as I described. Be thankful that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins so that you may have eternal life. The only way, and I do mean the only way, to receive eternal life, however, is through FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ. You can’t get to heaven by good works. You can’t get to heaven by being a good person. There is one and only one way to receive salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. A question I like to ask people when speaking to them about salvation is this: if you were to go somewhere in your car and it starts but your heart stops, do you know for certain that you will go to heaven? This is a question you may need to ask yourself. There’s no gray area here…either you know or not. I know that on May 14, 1994 I prayed the prayer that would change my life – and give me salvation. Have you prayed that same prayer?

The prayer doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but it must be sincere. If you would like to ask Jesus to come into your heart, save your life, and ensure your eternal salvation, all you need to do is pray a prayer like this:

God: I’m a sinner and I know that I don’t deserve eternal life. I’ve screwed up in my life and I’m tired of living for myself. I believe you died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me. Please come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept Your free gift of eternal life. Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer, you just received Jesus as your Savior and now have a place in heaven just for you! Please contact me and I will send you information on churches in your area, send you a Bible, and other literature. Of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Blessings,
Jeremy

The Story of Jonah

2009-04-10T00:12:00.000-04:00

So here I am, sitting in my hotel room in Sioux Falls, SD debating on going to sleep (big day of driving tomorrow) or writing this. I guess the obvious answer is writing this…

I’m a prayer. Some may call me a “prayer warrior.” You might know the type; one that prays about everything and I mean everything. My prayers can last quite some time. Today, I prayed on my way to South Dakota. I think I probably talked to God for at least 45-minutes, maybe more. It’s something I do every morning on my way to work. Unfortunately, my drive to work is generally only a few minutes long, five minutes tops. The important thing when talking with God isn’t necessarily talking (speaking) to Him (although still important). Probably the most important thing to do when having a conversation with God is listening. When talking with God, one of the most challenging things to do is actually listen to what He has to say. I’m not too sure why this is but I can tell you from personal experience, it’s probably because He is going to tell us something we don’t want to hear or something that will challenge us in a way we don’t think we’re prepared to handle.

As human beings, we are sinners. There’s no getting around that – tough! We (sometimes, not always) want to do what WE want to do instead of what God wants us to do. A perfect example of this is the past nine years of my life – my call to ministry.

Around the year 2000, I began to feel a tug on my heart that God wanted me to do something. I wasn’t too sure what it was, but it didn’t really matter because I wasn’t paying attention – or wasn’t listening to God. The call to ministry was persistent and so was my ability to continue to ignore God. What to do, what to do? I (keyword is “I”) didn’t want to get into ministry. I had a good thing going. My wife and I were stationed in England. We were enjoying seeing all that the country had to offer. I didn’t want some “feeling” to screw that up. I didn’t want to have to go to school to learn theological stuff! Fast forward to 2007 – yeah, seven years later!

I thought God would just forget about this call to ministry and I’d be off the hook. Well, I was wrong – what else is new, right? So, I stopped going to Troy University and started going to Moody Bible Institute (to learn that theological stuff). I have learned a lot in school; a lot of things that I can apply to my daily life. More importantly, however, I learned that our God is a patient and forgiving God, which finally brings me to my point!

During my quiet time today, I read Jonah. If you get a chance, take a look at that book of the Bible; it’s only four chapters. Jonah was a prophet who basically ignored God’s “call” and even fled to get away from Him. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach the Gospel to those people. Jonah, however, didn’t want anything to do with that because he hated those people – hence him ignoring God and fleeing. Well, God was patient. He waited for Jonah to figure it out. Unfortunately for Jonah, he didn’t figure it out until he was in a fish’s stomach (you’ve really got to read the book). To make a short story shorter, Jonah prayed and finally listened to God. When times were good for Jonah, he didn’t seem to need God. But when he was in a bad situation (I think being in a fish’s stomach would qualify as being in a bad situation), he needed God. Let us not get into that same situation.

We need God every day. We need to talk to God every day. We cannot forget to actually listen to God’s response. So, what’s the morale of the story of Jonah? Even though Jonah ignored and fled God’s call to preach the Gospel to the people of Nineveh, God waited patiently and showed Jonah mercy. So here’s the morale of the story of Jonah:

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past or whether or not you’ve listened to God’s call on your life, He WILL forgive you – all you have to do is ask. If you’ve been ignoring something that you feel is from God, stop and listen. It took me seven years and I pray it doesn’t take you that long to listen!

Look forward to an Easter note in the next couple days! Until then, may our Lord and Savior be your guiding light!

God Bless,
Jeremy

A Time For Prayer, Reflection...

2009-03-09T22:19:00.001-04:00

Greetings friends,

As I am sure most (if not all of you) have heard, Dr. Fred Winters of First Baptist Church in Maryville, IL was brutally murdered shortly after the first morning service began yesterday. Two church members apprehended the suspect and were also injured in the attack.

The people of First Baptist Church – Maryville need our prayers. They lost their leader. His family lost a husband, a father, a brother, a son, an uncle, a friend. Losing someone you love and admire isn’t easy – we’ve all been there or know someone who has. It can take a lot time…and prayer. I would ask, as the people of FBC-Maryville would, for your continued prayers for healing, understanding, and faith.

This horrible tragedy gives us the opportunity to reflect back. Life is a short ride. There are no guarantees...except for one. God gives us a guarantee. It clearly tells us in the Bible that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) but have been offered a free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; John 3:16, 14:6). The biggest question is what do you do with that gift? Do you accept it? I did – on May 14, 1994. To accept God’s gift of eternal life, you must ask Jesus into your heart, ask for His forgiveness for your sins, and live your life for Him.

If you have any questions about what it takes to be a Christian, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Our God is an awesome and merciful God, He will protect you when you’re scared, comfort you when you’re hurting, and strong when you’re weak. He will always be there for you.

In His Grace,

Jeremy

God's Plan vs. Jeremy's Plan

2009-03-07T13:35:00.002-05:00

God’s plan for our life has been set in stone since before we were born. He knew everything that would go on in our lives and that’s a fact (Jeremiah 1:5). God knows everything about us and everything that will happen with us. A couple months ago I wrote a post saying that I felt called to plant a church in North Dakota. I still have that on my heart but God has different plans right now; He wants to use me in a different way. I have prayed and prayed about this change of plans and I know that it’s God’s timing and decision. After all, one plants a church as an associate of God’s. There may be a time down the road where a church plant may be in my future but it’s not now and that’s okay. After finally stepping foot on the frozen ground of Minot, North Dakota, I realized that there is a different need here.

Minot has plenty of churches but what they don’t have is an abundance of pastors to lead those churches. I am now actively seeking a position as a bi-vocational pastor at one of the Southern Baptist [Convention] churches in Minot. I have formally applied and submitted my name for consideration for one church, North Hill Baptist Church, and am now eagerly waiting to hear back from them. I prayed about this continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and realize that this is what God is calling me to do right now.

I’m excited to see what’s in store for us here in Minot and I look forward to, if it’s God’s will, to lead a church in the area. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is our job as Christ followers to make Christ followers. That is what I’ve been put on this earth for and it is what I am actively seeking to do in a more public setting. I ask for your continued prayers as I work to fulfill God’s calling on my life.

I have posted my resume on my website and you can view it and forward it to others who may be seeking in a bi-vocational pastor in the Minot area. I appreciate your continued support and look forward to writing again.

Share Jesus with someone today!

His Servant,
Jeremy

Movin' Time...

2008-11-07T12:10:00.003-05:00

Hey RevJeremy.org Ministries supporters! How have you been?

I have a little something on my heart that really isn't little at all. It's actually one of the most exciting and scary things in the world! As most (if not all) of you know, my family and I are moving to North Dakota in a couple months (yes, in the middle of winter). I have been doing some research trying to find a church that we can call home and have found some but none of them really "jumped" out at me. This is where my dilemma is...

I have a strong feeling that I'm getting from God that He wants me to start a church in North Dakota. This is something that is a very interesting, scary, possibly daunting, but most important, exciting! I have just started praying about this and ask that you do the same. Starting a church (something I've never done) can be (I'm assuming) a very difficult and trying time. This is a huge leap of faith and I want to make sure that what I think I'm hearing from God is actually God talking to me.

Before accepting God's call to ministry, I ignored it for seven years...I don't want to do the same thing now!

So I'll leave you with that prayer request. I've always thought that I'd like to start a church somewhere but didn't actually think that it would be as soon as now. I ask for your prayers that God shows me that it's Him speaking to me and not me trying to make my own plan instead of following His plan. Please lift that up in prayer in the days and weeks to come. Your support is always appreciated!

GBY,

Jeremy

Christian Life, Love, & Relationships

2008-10-25T14:00:00.002-04:00

I have been doing some research to help a friend out who, in my opinion, is going through a time of physical and emotional abuse. The physical abuse, however, isn’t quite the textbook example. I assert that the physical abuse is stemming from the emotional abuse. She is going through major emotional abuse and as a result, she is fatigued, drained, can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t concentrate, you name it. Without all these things, a person’s physical well-being takes a toll. In doing my research, I came across some very helpful Scriptures that I think will assist her.

First, we must examine what God says is the way a man should treat his wife. That’s pretty simple to figure out. A husband must pattern the love for their wife as Christ’s love for His church (Colossians 3:18-19). Verse 19 simply but profoundly says “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh to them.” Real spiritual leadership involves service. A husband must put aside his own interests and care for his wife. It’s really quite simple if you look at it in its context. Verse 18, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” has often been misinterpreted by those who have been in relationships that have been based on abuse. This passage isn’t telling the wife that it’s okay to willingly accept the abuse because Paul says that she must submit to her husband. Many women feel that because of this passage it’s okay. The passage is saying that if a wife views herself as Christ’s disciple and her husband’s equal in Christ then she will submit to her husband the same way Christ submitted himself to God. Being equal in Christ will dramatically alter the way the two disciples relate to each other as husband and wife.

Common Scriptures that are read at weddings is 1 Corinthians 13. If you’ve been to a wedding once or twice, you’ve probably heard them. 1 Corinthians 13 talks about nothing but love, what it is and what it is not. Verse 5 shows, at least in this case of abuse, what love is not. “It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” Abuse is rude, self-seeking, hateful (angered), and in most cases, stems from a “record of wrongs.” It is clear that abuse, emotional and physical, are not in line with the Word of God.

A final note on this subject is repentance. It is my view that once you’re saved, you’re always saved. However, I do believe that you MUST always exhibit the true Christian walk. Repentance can be defined as changing your thoughts and actions and seeking forgiveness from the one you have wronged (God). Continuously sinning (abusing your spouse in this case) without repenting is one of those areas that I believe makes you submissive to Satan (Luke 13:3). You need help. You need God! If physical and/or emotional abuse has been going on for any period of time in a relationship, both the husband and wife need to seek spiritual and in some cases, mental/medical assistance.

It is my constant and genuine prayer that if you’re in a relationship that is filled with emotional and/or physical abuse that divine intervention takes place through God. If you are fearful for your life and/or your child(ren)’s life (lives) then I encourage you to seek help immediately. Please don’t submit to this behavior, that is not what God wants!

I am now and will continue to pray for all of you!

In His Grace…

Commitment & Faith

2008-10-11T21:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was an uneventful day for me. I got everything ready for what promised to be an awesome motorcycle ride to Putnam, TX, about 30 miles east of Abilene. The reason for this journey is two-fold. First, I really needed to get out and ride the bike; it’s been so long since I went on a long day trip (since Guam – 2004). Second, Amanda and I just changed our cell phone carrier to one that we can use when we get to North Dakota. In addition to my computer, I receive all my e-mails on my cell phone/PDA. Now, in order to set up that service, I had to go to an area that has digital coverage and then program the phone to receive the internet/e-mail service - hence the road trip.

Like I said, I got everything ready yesterday: washed and gassed the bike, tire pressure check, packed the saddle bags, etc. It was a beautiful day yesterday and, according to all reports, the weather was supposed to be awesome until Monday when forecasters were expecting rain. I was excited to get on the wide open road!

I wake up this morning feeling rested, ready to ride! I get everything together to go and out the door I go. I didn’t put my sunglasses on although it was 10 am, normally relatively bright out. I look up in the sky and notice something you never want to see right before a planned motorcycle ride…black and gray clouds! I stood in my doorway and contemplated. Was I going to stay committed to my plan and have faith that the weather will either stay the same or get better or would I take my truck instead? After several minutes of contemplation, I decided to ride the bike!

How many times have you been committed to something and when things change you keep your commitment? As Christ followers, we are often given scenarios during our life that tests our faith when things don’t go according to our plan. Thankfully, our plan doesn’t matter…only God’s plan matters! When things get tough, we must keep our faith and look to God for answers. A commitment you made will be tested this week…ask God for patience, guidance, wisdom, and understanding!

Love & Forgiveness

2008-10-04T01:55:00.001-04:00

So here it is, 12:15 am, technically Saturday, and I just got home from watching the movie "Fireproof." If you're not too sure what the movie is about, let me give you a little insight...

The movie talks about love. It's kind of on the verge of being a “chick flick”, but it had enough funny moments that I think you'd be okay to see it with the guys, or, you can be oh sooo cool like me, and go by yourself. Anyway, Fireproof talks about love; love for God, love for your spouse, and love for yourself. Now let’s get serious for a second. This isn’t a movie you want to see by yourself. You WANT to take your spouse to see this movie with you.

The acting is not what you’re going to be used to but, what do you expect when you go and see a Christian-based movie. Oh, did I forget that part? Yeah, it’s a Christian movie with a Christian theme, and a lot of talk about God, Jesus, salvation, etc. If you’re uncomfortable with that, you may not enjoy the movie as much as I did. You need not be a Christian (although I hope you learn who Jesus is and how He can save your life) to get something out of this movie. This movie made me feel like they were talking directly to me…six years ago.

About six years ago my wife and I were headed on a narrow path of destruction. We can play the blame game for decades as to whose fault it was but I know that unmistakably is was all me! I remember the exact moment that my wife [figuratively] snapped. For those who have been on a deployment before know that (normally) upon return to home station, you’re give generally 14 days of R&R (free time off to get caught up with the family, etc.). Well, on my 14 days of R&R, I decided that it was more important to go to work and get caught up on everything that my temporary replacements (TR) didn’t do. Needless to say, I had just over 14,000 fuels transactions that needed to be processed and about 8,000 rejects that needed to be fixed thanks to my TRs. I focused on the transactions first because I knew the rejects would take me forever (actually took about 8 months and several apologetic e-mails to HQ). The bottom line was simple: I was putting work before my wife. I was being selfish. I wasn’t loving my wife the way I was supposed to.

Here’s the deal…you can’t change the past no matter how hard you try (believe me, I tried). All you can do is take one day at a time and keep God first, family second, and you third. I know it doesn't sounds so easy to accomplish but it really is. Listen, I don’t care what you’ve done in the past or what your spouse has done in the past…it’s time to forgive! Stop rejecting them! Jesus loves us no matter how much we reject Him. He is always there no matter what. If Jesus can love us no matter what we’ve done in the past, why can’t we (or spouse) love and forgive someone when they screw up. Some things you may think are unforgiveable. Let me tell you, God forgives all sins if you ask Him. Bless those who persecute you (Romans 12:14).

If there is something that you haven’t yet forgiven or asked for forgiveness, I encourage you today to do just that. Don’t hold on to the past, we can’t change that. Look forward putting God first, family second, and you third.

Tell someone you love them today!

It's Decision Time!

2008-09-28T23:24:00.006-04:00

Friends,

So, I just got back from my second consecutive night of watching, cheering on, and worshipping God with Team Impact. For those of you who don’t know who they are, they are a group of men that are amazingly gigantic with strength you’ve only seen on TV. They all have three things in common: their strength, their love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and their heartfelt desire to share Jesus with EVERYONE they meet. I was privileged enough to be a “Decision Encourager” during last night and tonight’s performances and let me tell you, I saw some AWESOME life change! I don’t know exact numbers but a rough estimate would be 75+ total for both nights! Yeah God!!

You know, it’s my responsibility as a Christ follower to make Christ followers. There is no other duty more important during your Christian walk than to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, as you receive these little tidbits of information from me on this blog, I’m attempting to reach your heart, soften it so that you too can live a life without the worry of where you’re going when you die. By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the planning of your eternal life is already done – you’re going to Heaven!

Do you want Jesus to say to you as He says in Matthew 7:23 when speaking to people who don’t walk the walk: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Jesus to say that to me when I meet Him at my judgment!

Let me put it as plainly as I possibly can. If tomorrow after work or school, or wherever, you get in your car, put the key in the ignition…

your car starts but your heart stops…

Do you know for certain that you’ll go to Heaven? Jesus clearly spells it out for us that if we don’t choose Him, we will not make it to Heaven.

Romans 3:23-24 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:2 – Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 1:8-9 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

I have just given you six different Scripture references showing God’s plan of salvation for us – trust me, there are plenty more! Let me be perfectly clear. You cannot receive the gift of eternal salvation by being a good person, doing the right things, being nice to people, going to church, reading your Bible, or any other “acts.” There is only one way to get to Heaven and that is by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him into your life. In doing this, your old life will die and you will begin to live a new life filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is and continues to be my prayer that everyone I come in contact with puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. If you want Jesus in your life, all you have to do is pray a simple prayer to Him like this:

Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. I know that I deserve death for my sins. Lord, because you died on the cross for my sins; you shed your blood for me. Jesus, I pray that you wash me clean with your blood, forgive of me my sins, take my life from me and give me new life in you. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN

Please let me know if you want to get into a deeper discussion and learn more about God and how to get to Heaven.

Until next time, God's blessing...

Open Your Eyes

2008-09-18T21:59:00.000-04:00

Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." John 9:39 (NIV)

Who is Jesus referring to when He speaks of the blind? He is talking about the person who is "spiritually blind." Jesus is saying that blindness (stupidity) is the only excuse they have that can excuse their behavior. Those in the story that claimed they could "see" were not given "sight" by Jesus because they were being stubborn and not accepting Jesus' teaching. However, those that were spiritually blind and opened their eyes to Him were given spiritual insight and understanding.

So what does this mean to you? As Christ followers, you must remove the spiritual blinders and recognize how sin has blinded you from knowing the truth that is Jesus Christ. If you do this, Jesus will give you "spiritual sight." However, if you don't do this, Jesus will reject you until you recognize that sin has blinded you.

When you turn your life to Christ, you see Him differently. You see Him as your Savior! As your Christian walk grows, your relationship and understanding with Jesus will grow. The best way to get to know Jesus better is to keep trusting in Him every day.

Until next time...

Don't Look Back!

2008-09-17T19:00:00.003-04:00

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 1 John 5:16 (NIV)

Maintaining a relationship with God means you need to follow His rules. A sin that leads to death is a sin such as “spiritual death.” This means that you rebuke the Lord, His Word, and His gift of eternal life. In other words, leaving behind your faith in God, His Word, and His promises, means you are committing spiritual suicide. Being a child of God means living for God through everything that comes your way…both good and bad.

So, what’s the morale of today’s passage? No matter how difficult things get in your life, you must always keep God as the focal point of everything. He is willing to forgive you your sins as long as you ask Him and keep faith in Him (1 John 5:15).

Live always in prayer to our Savior and never turn your back on Him. He will always be there for you no matter what the circumstance. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)!

God, thank you that You are willing to forgive us when we mess up. I pray that no matter how difficult things get, we will always keep our faith in You and use those times to glorify You and prove how miraculous You are to everyone around us! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don't Worry!

2008-09-16T18:40:00.003-04:00

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:25-26 (NIV)

Often times we find ourselves worrying so much about mostly little things that we can't control. Why? It's in our human nature to worry and some may argue that it's a healthy part of living. It's especially difficult for those that are away from their families and/or friends that they miss terribly. However, if you choose not to worry and instead let God take the task of worrying for you, then you can follow and glorify Him without any reservation.

The point is there is no valid or profitable outcome from worrying. Place it in God's hands and you'll be fine. You must trust in God and keep faith in Him!

Urgent Prayer Request

2008-09-11T22:54:00.002-04:00

OK folks, after all that talk of not posting in a while, here is the second post in just under an hour! I just got off the phone with my dad with news that I was dreading this entire week! My dad has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The doctor doesn't seem to be too concerned about it, considering. However, we desperately need your prayers! I am a firm believer in the power of prayer!

Please pray for my dad (John), step-mom (Geri), me and my brothers (Jeff & Mike), and step-siblings (Justin & Becki). I pray for comfort, understanding, wisdom, strength, and perseverance. We're all fighters and I ask for God's help!

Please pray continually (1 Th 5:17 - I love this verse if you hadn't noticed)!

Thank you!

It's Been A While...

2008-09-11T22:29:00.002-04:00

Wow! How time flies! I haven’t written in this blog in several months and for that I wholeheartedly apologize. I hope that you have still been checking out the bible studies and sermons that are on the site. I promise that I will be posting to this blog at least once a week. But, since I haven’t talked to you in a while, let me tell you what’s been going on at RevJeremy.org Ministries.

If you may recall, we were in the process of starting Devoted Christian Ministries, a subsidiary of RevJeremy.org Ministries. Well, I think that is what we wanted to do, not what God wanted to do, not then at least. We’ve put that initiative in His hands and are patiently waiting for His timing.

Well, last time I wrote in this blog Amanda, Gabe and I were in Tampa, Florida. Not anymore! We are now settling in in San Angelo, Texas. We’ll only be here until January 2009 and then we’ll be off again to Minot, North Dakota – COLD! Yes, when we arrive, the average temperature should be well below zero! We’re excited, though. We’ll be there for four or more years, so it will be an awesome time to start a full-time ministry or, dare I say, plant a church? We are praying continually (1 Th 5:17) about what God has in store for us in ND.

But, while we’re in Texas, we’re trying to find a venue to have our own services on Sunday afternoons. So far the most promising location is the San Angelo La Quinta conference room. They have around 6 or more rooms with different square footage and we’re looking forward to striking a deal with them. Please place that on your prayer request list. We’ll still be attending and maintain our membership with PaulAnn Baptist Church, but are looking forward to reaching those that can’t make it to service in the morning. In the interim, we’ll still be posting my Sunday sermons online along with their scripture references and notes (for you note takers). We have received a lot of good feedback about the online sermons so we’ll keep them coming as long as you’ll keep on listening to them.

As I close, I want to apologize again for not writing in this blog more often. I promised I would when I first started it, and I didn’t keep my promise. I could probably come up with a thousand excuses of why I didn’t post anything for a while, but on the other hand, I could think of a couple thousand reasons as to why I should have posted! I’m not perfect…there’s only One who is! Thanks for your forgiveness and faithfulness! Check out all the new stuff on RevJeremy.org like the sermons, bible studies, prayer requests, etc.

Like always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me! Also, we have just started a toll-free number. If you need to speak to someone, please take advantage of this opportunity. Our number is: 888-883-7954. We look forward to hearing from you!

Until next time, God bless you!

God's Wrath

2008-01-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

I focused my study yesterday on Romans 1:18-32 and Romans 2:1-16 which speaks of God's wrath and judgment, respectively. These Scriptures are often misconstrued by many, especially non-believers. It is God’s place to judge and therefore administer whatever wrath He desires. In Matthew 7:1, Jesus tells us that it is not our place to judge or we too will be judged. To judge is to put a wrath on the one who you are judging. God is righteous in every way and therefore His wrath is righteous. God’s wrath is the right answer to a wrong (sin).

God is angry at sinful people because they substitute the truth about Him with a lie (Romans 1:25) in order to satisfy their own self-centered lifestyles. God gives us the opportunity to reject our sinful ways and accept His give of eternal salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. To avoid God’s wrath, we must follow the truth that is Him and repent our sins.

As we discuss judgment, a lot comes to mind, doesn’t it? But, we’re told in Scripture that we are not to judge others because we are just as bad as those we’re judging. God holds back His judgment which gives us time to repent. Don’t mistake God’s patience for approval of the wrong way we are living our lives.

Here’s our challenge…

Keep in perspective God’s Word and what He’s telling us. Examine yourself and ensure you’re not pursuing a lie rather than the true God. Do not judge sinners, pray for them. Share Jesus with at least one person this week…it is our duty as Christ followers to make Christ followers.

God's Blessings!

Setting Priorities

2008-01-25T08:10:00.000-05:00

I am currently on "vacation" from work. I took yesterday and today off to kind of catch-up on things that I needed to get accomplished around the new house. We moved closer to my and Amanda's work and Gabe's day care the day after Christmas and the last thing that needs to get done is cleaning up the office...my job!

I had excellent intentions of getting the office in working order yesterday, but I ran into so many "road blocks" that I did very little. Amanda left me a to do list, albeit a small list, it kept me out of the house for a while. That's not my excuse for not finishing my one task I wanted to accomplish, but it did assist in adjusting my priorities for the day.

There's the story of Abraham being tested by God. God commanded him to take his "only son Isaac..." (Genesis 22:2) and sacrifice him. God was testing Abraham's priorities. The Scripture tells us that Abraham did everything God commanded of him, and as he was raising the knife to slay his son, God called out from heaven and told him "do not lay a hand on the boy" (Genesis 22:12). Abraham put God first, and his son second which is the way God wants our priorities made.

Our priorities should always be: God, others, yourself. There are times when we don't follow God's priority plan, and that's when we need to sit back and talk to God, asking Him for wisdom and guidance. We all have good intentions, I'm sure, but there are some times where you need to realign your priorities with that of God's.

You're challenge today is to set your priorities ensuring God is first, others are second, and you are third.

God's Blessings!

Amanda's Birthday...

2008-01-22T15:46:00.001-05:00

So Amanda's (my beautiful wife) birthday is tomorrow, January 23rd. That statement is great for a couple reasons. First, I remembered. I have a knack for forgetting dates. That's not something I'm proud of, but it is what it is. Second, I remembered this year! I bought a card last week and already got her a gift. I'm not here to "toot my own horn", but I can't (and I'm certain my lovely wife can't) remember the last time I was on the ball in this particular arena. Our household is very busy with work, school, ministries, website maintenance, etc...we are always on the go. We still find time for each other, but I definitely could do better.

Significant dates and milestones should be remembered but you should always remember to tell your spouse, family member, and friends that you appreciate and love them. It's human nature to enjoy receiving a thank you and it's in the Bible (1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Ephesians 5:20).

I would now like to take this opportunity to "Thank You" for visiting RevJeremy.org frequently and keeping up-to-date on all that I do.

God bless you all!

Romans 1

2008-01-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

OK, so two posts in one day isn't too bad, is it? I just finished some school work so, while on the computer, I thought I'd drop a line.

I was studying Romans 1 today. If you haven't read it, I strongly encourage you to do so. It talks about how God is the creator of everything and that man has understood this and is without excuse (Romans 1:20). If you're ever looking for Scripture that tells you that God created everything, especially if you're witnessing to non-believers, break open Romans 1.

I just wanted to share that with you this evening. Have a great night and blessed day tomorrow. Until I write again, take care.

God's Blessings!

Very First Post!

2008-01-21T16:55:00.000-05:00

How exciting! Your online pastor is getting with the technology age and posting a blog. This is something I'd like to do at least three times a week to keep everyone up to speed! Of course, it's so easy to say that, isn't it? I promise that I will try my very best to post to the blog as frequent as possible!

Not too much is really going on right now. As most of you know I'm still on active duty in the Air Force and looking forward to retirement in a few years. I long so badly to jump into full-time ministry but in due time (God's time) that will happen. I am still enrolled in Moody Bible Institute in pursuit of my Biblical Studies degree. I'm taking three courses worth 10 credits so please pray for me!!

Well, this hasn't been too bad for a first post. I will keep you posted (get it!).

God's Blessings!