SERMON WRITING DAY!

 

Today is a great day, mostly because it is the BIRTHDAY of MY LOVELY WIFE. She is such a wonderful gift and blessing that is only provided by the GRACE of GOD. I don't deserve her, never have, and never will. She is such an important catalyst in my faith. Not only does she provide love, she also provides such wisdom and guidance, along with some great fun and adventure. 

The other reason it is such a great day -- It's SERMON WRITING DAY. Each Thursday, I put down on paper (really, it is typing on a computer! LOL!) what God has been speaking for me to share throughout the past 7 days. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to hear direct inspiration from the Lord each week. 

Just a little insight into this process, not because of how great it is, but that you can pray for me to provide a CLEAR message straight from the Lord each week. On Thursday, I am writing the message for the Sunday after this Sunday. So today I am writing for Palm Sunday. From Friday through to Wednesday, I pray, take notes, and research for SERMON WRITING DAY. By the time I get to Thursday morning, my head is swimming with ideas, stories and knowledge. I love those six days filled with inspiration from the Lord. He always provides something interesting and inspiring for me. Last night, just before I went to bed, HE gave me the intro for Palm Sunday. 

On Thursdays, I write quickly, just about as fast as I can think. Once I get the rough message on paper, I refine it a little each day. That really helps in delivery because I become very familiar with it. The Lord continues to work on it through me. It is an amazing process that continues even as I deliver the message on Sunday mornings. 

When I was reading today in my PERSONAL DEVOTION, I came upon these verses. Just a side note, I do not include my personal devotion time in my sermon writing time. My personal time with the Lord is completely separate from my time with the Lord, growing my own faith. Here are some scriptures that came to me today:

"But thank God! He has made us captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume." (2 Corinthians 2:14, NLT)

"Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet." (Psalm 45:1, NLT)

Not that I am a poet, but this verse in Psalm 45 tells it like it is. My tongue is like the pen of God. He writes the message on Thursdays and he provides to tools and skills to make it sound right. It really has nothing to do with me. Just like Paul, my goal is just to spread the knowledge of Christ each day and that it would be a sweet perfume attracting people to TURN TO GOD. My whole life is just that simple. 

Heavenly Father, I praise you for this sermon writing process. I love feeling your spirit enter me and come through the keyboard into a sermon. I am humbled each week that you have chosen me as a deliverer of your words. I know how inadequate I am and how there is no way this would happen without YOU. I praise you and beg that you keep speaking through me. Amen!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!

SER