Scripture

If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know Your ways so I may understand You more fully and continue to enjoy Your favor.

~Exodus 33:13, NLT

Quote

The one thing that is characteristic of all great saint is their desire to go deeper in their knowledge of God.

~Martyn Lloyd Jones

We are all familiar with Paul’s desire to know Christ more intimately… I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Did you know that Moses prayed basically the same prayer? It is natural to desire His resurrection power but most us shun sharing in His suffering and death. We want one without the other and it doesn’t work that way: it is a package deal. I have many new friends on the other side of the county. When I went to Grace Point in April of 2017 I knew only two people in the entire congregation and now I know many more. It takes time to get to know people. The best way to get to know them is to spend time with them. The same principle is true in our vertical relationship: we will not get to know the LORD better until we are willing to spend time with Him.

If you have a desire to go deeper with Christ, to get to know Him better; my advice is spend time with Him. I am not talking about Sunday morning worship. I am talking about you spending time with Him alone. Of course, you want your bible and something to write with and on. I use spiral notebooks. The sweetest moment in your fellowship with Him is when He speaks. He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the bird hush their singing. When He speaks, write it down. You may think you will remember but you can’t so write it down word for word. Example: the LORD spoke clearly to me about three weeks ago. He said, “A man is never more vain than when he pretends to be humble.” So I wrote that down word for word. In my night time meditation, I tried to recall that statement and I couldn’t. It drove me nuts that I could not remember but the next morning I went through my notes and thank goodness, I had written it down word for word. Do not trust your flesh or your memory. If you want to know Him better, you must get alone, read, study, meditate, pray and listen when He speaks. If you really want to know His ways, you have to be willing to abandon yours.

Extra

My good friend Kevin Beal gave me a book yesterday and I read the entire thing in two sittings {107 pages}. Primarily it was about David and how God prepared him for the throne. God did it using suffering, disappointment, rejection, persecution, loneliness, failure and a deep dark damp cave. It helped me connect some dots. The Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. Good book!

Dr. Spencer Bell gave us a report on the Southern Baptist Convention yesterday. The last three conventions have been very disappointing to conservatives who have a heart for missions. Spencer believes this convention was more positive. Some good things did happen Rick {legend in his on mind} Warren got put in his place. The female activist also got a firm rejection. Wally Blackman was appointed to be a member of the SBC nominating committee. It may not happen in my life time, but Spencer will be the President of the SBC before it’s over.

Great weather: gets a little warm in the afternoon but so far we have been spared from the extreme heat: Thank you Jesus for the rain and the sub-ninety tempts.