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Fasting Journal Day 22

Wow, I am amazed at how God is sustaining me. In day 22 of a 40 day fast and still no hunger pains, simply amazing. I believe we have many of the messes that we have in our lives because we have neglected the Word of God. God has given us the words, His words and we should fast.

I had a phone call form a friend who informed me they are worried about me. When I asked why, the answer was because you are going to kill yourself not eating. No, I am not going to kill myself by not eating. I have said from the beginning if I get to a point that I need food I will take it. There is a lot of good medical research to show that fasting is a good discipline for us but more than that, Jesus fasted and He assumed that we would also.

It is sad that we hear so much about our need to pray today, we hear very little about our call to give (because we are afraid we will offend people) and we hear next to nothing about the spiritual discipline of fasting. Why is this? If I might answer this question myself, “We do not want to give up our lust for food”

I am living proof that a person can live for 22 days without solid food. In the course of the 22 days I have had 2 V8 Juices and 2 bowls of broth and I feel great. Lets seek the face of God with prayer, giving and fasting. God says that His Words are our very life, why don’t we learn from Him and heed His Words?

Deuteronomy 32: 46-47

he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Wow, I stand in Awe!

Ronnie

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Emmie Payne 7 weeks old

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

The Marriage Checkup

The Marriage Checkup is a tool that I use when doing pastoral counseling with married couples. Here is the great thing about this tool, you don’t have to have a bad marriage to use this. The fact is, this is a great tool to help a good marriage be great.

The Marriage Checkup provides a perfect tune-up for all married couples: Those happily so, those who seldom think about their marriage, and those who simply deny that problems exist and never discuss possible ways to improve the way they relate to one another. This interactive tool includes a marriage history, communication inventory, marital satisfaction assessment and much more!

H. NORMAN WRIGHT is a licensed marriage, family and child therapist and is a certified trauma specialist. He serves on the faculty of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and is former director of their Graduate Department of Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. He is the best-selling author of more than 70 books, including Communication: Key to Your Marriage, Quiet Times for Couples and Always Daddy’s Girl. He is a member of the Academy of Bereavement, Critical Incident Stress Foundation, The Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists and a board member of The Victim Chaplain Association. Norm and his wife, Joyce, have been married more than 40 years and live in California.

If you would like to have a better relationship even though your marriage is a good one or if you are having some problems, let’s talk.

Ronnie

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Wytheville District Youth Rally @ SNL – First UMC Hillsville this Sunday Night

We will be having our first Youth Rally of 2010 at First Hillsville UMC.

Pizza will be served in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 6 pm and the rally will begin in the Sanctuary at 6:30 pm.

This is going to be somewhat of a special rally, given that it will be led by youth. Those youth that participate in the District Youth Lay Speaker Event will be leading us in worship. Come out and support your fellow youth as we all worship the Lord together!!!

Also FUMC Praise Band SouledOut will be there!

Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to be young.

Ronnie

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Book Review But So Much More: How to cousel a couple in 6 sessions or less

  • Paperback: 167 pages
  • Publisher: Regal Books (September 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0830730680
  • ISBN-13: 978-0830730681

For a pastor doing pastoral counseling, this book is number one on my list for couples. The book is practical and starts from a biblical foundation for marriage and the need to work things through. There is a strong basis in the book to show that marriages will be better if the couple first have a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. A couple needs to be rooted and grounded in a church family but more than this, they need to be actively involved. Another great tool for couples is accountability. Everyone needs people who will hold them accountable.  Check out this book, outstanding!

This book is designed to be used with the Marriage Check-up Questionnaire, I will blog about this in another post.

Ronnie

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

The Pentecost Flame

This is an awesome Gift made by Donna Godwin and given to me. Here is the story behind the Cross, check out Donna’s Blog at Art N Stuff godw1nz.wordpress.com

Inspiration comes to me in many forms.  This time it was through a conversation with a friend about the book of Acts and about Pastor Ronnie’s 40 day fast.  I see the Holy Spirit falling upon this man of God.  He is permeated with the aroma of Christ.  He is filled with joy beyond measure.  A lot of people can only see that he is weak, hungry and that he has lost weight.  I do not see that at all.  I see the power of Christ Jesus emerging in this man…a man who is following Christ so hard and fast that he has given up his love for food so he can be filled with the love of Jesus Christ.  It is amazing to me and it has touched me deeply- to the core of my soul.  I cannot look at Pastor Ronnie without tears welling up in my eyes.  They aren’t tears of sadness- they are tears of joy in knowing that Christ is in our midst.  That Christ is indeed working in His faithful servant.

When I gave him this cross yesterday, I had him close his eyes and placed it in his hands, so he touched it before seeing it.  It is made to be caressed as he prays.  It fits in the hand just so and it is smooth and easy to hold.  Jesus is like this also.  He is easy to hold, to hug and to talk to.  I didn’t plan it that way-but God certainly did.  This cross went from my mind to the paper in a matter of minutes.  On Saturday I went to the woodshed to pick the perfect piece of wood for it.  As I was selecting my wood- the friend who inspired me called.  So, in way, she was there with me as I was choosing the wood.  I picked the cherry because of it’s color and grain.  You can’t see it very well here.  The main piece ( upright) represents the flames of Pentecost.  The crosspiece represents the Dove of Peace and the bird is the Holy Spirit falling upon the vision of Pastor Ronnie and everyone he comes in contact with.  It is a powerful thing.

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Pastor Ronnie is on day 21 of his fast.  Please continue to pray for him as he continues his walk with God-gone is the man who was in the world and in his place Jesus remains.

Arise my Love, Arise.

Not a word was heard
at the tomb that day.
Just shuffling of soldiers feet
as they guarded the grave.
One day, two days,
three days had past.
Could it be that Jesus
breathed His last?

Could it be that His Father
had forsaken him?
Turned his back on his son
dispising our sin.
All hell seemed to whisper
‘Just forget Him, He’s dead.’
Then the Father looked down
to his son and he said..

Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
has a hold on you
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…Arise…my love.

The Earth trembled
and the tomb began to shake,
and like lightening
from Heaven the stone was rolled away.
And as dead man
the guards they all stood there in fright
As the power of love
displayed its might
Then suddenly a melody
filled the air
Riding wings of wind,
it was everywhere
The words all creation
had been longing to hear
The sweet sound of victory,
so loud and clear.

Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
no more suffering
Arise…arise….

Sin, where are your shackles?
Death, where is your sting?
Hell; has been defeated.
The grave could not hold the king.

Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
has a hold on you
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise….Arise….Arise

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

This Day In The Life Of Your Pastor – March 15th, 2010

  2. Book Review: Life’s Healing Choices « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/aZnL7z via @addthis about 13 hours ago via web

  3. wow, what a day that Our Lord has made! God is Awesome! Give Him a chance and you will never regret it. about 13 hours ago via web

  4. Christopher’s New Hair-do « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/b2u2VU via @addthis about 13 hours ago via web

  5. Fasting Journal Day 21 – March 15th, 2010 « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/asgXNt via @addthis about 13 hours ago via web

  6. Check this video out — The More I Seek You http://youtu.be/LZfsxydxEXA about 14 hours ago via web

  7. Check this video out — Third Day – Communion http://youtu.be/5x6khRQFlOc about 14 hours ago via web

  8. Calling All Hillsville and Carroll County Men (Older Youth Included) « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/bQwxVo via @addthis about 14 hours ago via web

  9. Dad and Mike just brought me 2 awesome loads of wood for the fire pit. Can’t wait to start using it again. http://myloc.me/4QCWp about 17 hours ago via UberTwitter

  10. Headed home to be with Misty and the kids. Yesterday was a very long but great day http://myloc.me/4Qi7X about 22 hours ago via UberTwitter

  11. Wytheville District Youth Lay Speaker Training Session ONE « Art-n-Stuff: http://bit.ly/aMby7V via @addthis about 23 hours ago via web

  12. From a Friend who is joining me on the 40 Day Fast « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/bIXXIy via @addthis about 23 hours ago via web

  13. We had a youth saved in Lay Speaking yesterday. Praise the Lord! 7:24 AM Mar 15th via web

  14. 40/50/90/3000 Devotional: Day 21- March 15th, 2010 « Imagebearer’s Weblog: http://bit.ly/aRpFVf via @addthis 5:27 AM Mar 15th via web

  15. All it would take 2 evangelize the world n a generation would b 2 awaken the Church of the 21st Century 2 the mindset of the 1st Century Ch. 5:25 AM Mar 15th via web

  16. Our church members need an experience of Christ until they have a concern for every un-churched person in the community. Harry Denman 5:23 AM Mar 15th via web

  17. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; 5:13 AM Mar 15th via web

  18. John 10: 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 5:01 AM Mar 15th via web

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

40/50/90/3000 Devotional: Day 22- March 16th, 2010

Day 22 – March 16, 2010


“We are trying to do as did our founder, John Wesley. He wrote many times, ‘I give them Christ.’”
(Prophetic Evangelist: The Living Legacy of Harry Denman, 1993)

I remember the first time I heard the statement “Jesus is the answer.” I was a student, and my
interpretation of the statement was simple – in every test, answer Jesus. Is it a fill-in-the-blank? Write in
“Jesus.” Is it multiple choice? Choose “C” – Jesus.
It sounded too simple. And it was. You see, the word Jesus is not the answer to every question. The
answer to each of life’s challenges is that Jesus is the Word. By that I mean that the person, Jesus,
embodied the truth of the ages. Jesus came among us to show us who God is, what God expects of us, and
what God is willing to do to reconcile us to God’s self.
Jesus is the Christ – the anointed one – who has come to draw creation back to the Creator. All that
needed doing, Jesus has done. All the power and wisdom we need for the task God has set before us is
resident in Christ, who is now expressed on Earth through his body, the Church. Christ is in us. That is
the answer.
How are we to win souls? How are we to plan our programs, set our goals, and order our lives
individually and in community? Jesus is the answer. The Church has no other. The world needs no other.
Offer them Christ.

John 14:6-7 (New Living Translation)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If
you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have
seen him!”

Submitted by: Rev. RuthAnne Henley

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Day 75-90 Days to read the New Testament (TNIV)

John 13

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ [a]

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, [b] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 14

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God [c]; trust also in me. 2 My Father’s house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know [d] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [e] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.

John 15

The Vine and the Branches

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [f] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

The World Hates the Disciples

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ [g] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Those who hate me hate my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ [h]

The Work of the Holy Spirit

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

March 16, 2010 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

   

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