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Fly To Jesus! 9/13/15
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Sunday, OCTOBER 4, at 11:00 AM, I am HONORED to be ministering in Word and song at:
IN-CHRIST CHURCH
349 MACON ST.
MCDONOUGH, GA.
Off the square and across the street from Snapper mower.
I PRAY you are able to be there!
Ephesians 3:1 (KJV)
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ephesians 4:1 (KJV)
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 Timothy 1:8 (KJV)
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Philemon 1:9 (KJV)
9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
I AWOKE this morning, (PTL for awakening!-AGAIN!!), with the single word "PRISONER" on my heart.
I was surprised that, in fact, the Apostle Paul four times described himself a PRISONER!
PRISONER-from
<G1199>
(desmon); a
captive
(as
bound
) :- in bonds, prisoner.
Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
He seems he used the term PRISONER proudly!?
He was NOT ashamed to be "His PRISONER!"
I often remember having lunch many years ago with the late Ralph Byrd, the first Pentecostal Pastor in the Atlanta area-he was the Pastor and founder of Faith Tabernacle.
He was around 80 years old and he referred to himself "as a YOUNG man TRAPPED in an OLD body."
When my daughter Amanda first had her brain injury, it was many weeks before we could have any communication with her.
She lay in a vegetable state for 22 days in ICU, and was then transferred to Shepherd Spinal Center.
Unable to verbally communicate, I took my lap top computer one day, and asked her how she felt.
She laboriously struggled to manipulate the keys, and typed out, "LIKE A PRISONER!"
Even today, she is a young and vibrant young women, TRAPPED/A PRISONER in a body that refuses to cooperate.
Many of YOU may also be able to identify with being a PRISONER!
YOU are trapped/held captive in perhaps a loveless marriage, a job beneath your skill set, an illness-whatever it is that binds YOU?
PRISONER does not by necessity define a bad word!!!
I often think of a quote from my second favorite book, THE DISCIPLINES OF LIFE.
''Most of us are where we are for a very good reason. This is our post which has no one to hold it but us.
If we abandon it, we discover that it is something in ourselves we abandon.
Just keeping on, through the most hopeless aspect of keeping on, may be the important act of one's career.
The last dejected effort often becomes the winning stroke!"
Being a PRISONER in actuality means DUTY!!!!!
"MOST OF US ARE WHERE WE ARE FOR A VERY GOOD REASON!
THIS IS OUR POST WHICH HS NO ONE TO HOLD IT BUT US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
TODAY, REJOICE in whatever POST God has you held PRISONER-THIS IS YOUR POST!!!!
I had the PRIVILEGE of sharing the pulpit with an aged man of God Friday.
He proudly recounted to me how he held his POST as Pastor of a small Church for 40 YEARS and SEVEN months!!!
His largest weekly salary in all those years was $150.00!!!
And all those years he worked a full time job, and even today at 70/80 plus years, he is still working and STILL PREACHING!!!!
TODAY, I man my POST and just gave Amanda her morning meds.
She slept well last night, PRAISE THE LORD, and now moans softly as she struggles to go back to sleep.
I leave in a few hours to see my son Joshua, hopefully we have a nurse today so I may eat out for lunch and do my walk.
I have picked up my guitar again and DUTIFULLY try to practice DAILY as I get ready to sing and preach in McDonough and Foley, AL.
2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)
2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
I leave you TODAY with a song:
GOD BLESS YOU!
PASTOR DOUG
404-295-5644 or
CHURCH ADDRESS:
70 Stone Rd.
McDonough, GA. 30253
Your tithes and offerings are greatly appreciated and much needed and can be sent to the above CHURCH ADDRESS or by accessing our website:
and/or via PAYPAL.COM
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