The Dance!!! 9/14/23-9/17/23

Philippians 1:12 (KJV)

12  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

As I fed Amanda a last bottle of Ensure tonight (9:55 PM) God spoke this Verse to me concerning YOU and my life!!!

Paul NEVER talked about his “victories” or “successes” ONLY his suffering:

2 Corinthians 11:16-33 (KJV)

16  I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21  I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

22  Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

31  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33  And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

OUR lives are an OPEN “circus/SPECTACLE”:

1 Corinthians 4:9 (KJV)

9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

SPECTABLE-from <G2300> (theaomai); a place for public show (“theatre”), i.e. general audience-room; by implication a show itself (figurative) :- spectacle,theatre.

Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

In closing, I noticed a post on FB last week where a VERY “successful” preacher talked about an upcoming SHOW his band was to perform-A SHOW for God's sake.

Think about that-Ministry described openly as a “SHOW?????”

Joshua, take your lumps and suffering as a badge of HONOR-GOD SEES ALL!!!

Luke 16:15 (KJV)

15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

I wrote the above text to my son Joshua last night (9:55 PM) and others whom I shared personally. Little did I know that my daughter Amanda would suffer a sleepless night (me too) and I would be up at 2 AM writing this message!!!???

So!!!!??? I got up and am writing now, 4:22 AM-with the echoes of Amanda's cries as my chorus.

What forced me to finally get up and write???

God AGAIN spoke to me through song-a specific and haunting melody performed by one Garth Brooks-the song:

THE DANCE.

Looking back on the memory of

The dance we shared 'neath the stars above

For a moment all the world was right

How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance

I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything

For a moment wasn't I a king

But if I'd only known how the king would fall

Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance

I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance

I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

(416) Garth Brooks Stadium Tour 7/16/22 CLT The Dance - YouTube

In closing I strongly urge all to read and/or reread my last sermon:

CAST OFF THE ANCHORS!!!

This message directly follows what God spoke to me last Sunday 9/10/23.

The line from THE DANCE that God whispered to my heart tonight:

Our lives are better left to chance

I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had the dance

But, as Christians, we KNOW our lives are not left to CHANCE!!!

Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV)

²³  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

²⁴  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

AMEN AND AMEN!!!

God Bless You,

Pastor Doug

Please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected], or by phone:

404-295-5644 or 

CHURCH ADDRESS:

70 Stone Rd.

McDonough, GA. 30253

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Thank You and God Bless You!!!