Spreading the love of Jesus...the Cowboy Way!
CAMPFIRE MESSAGES from Pastors & Ministers of ICCAN
Come sit around the campfire and
let the Word of God speak to your heart.
Comment
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Comment by Don Adkisson on May 10, 2012 at 11:41am
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Don't be mistaken; I repeat, do not be mistaken--chasing dreams, trying to find the end of the rainbow, seeking earthly treasure is not part of going through the wilderness. Oh, for sure, it may end up that a person finds themselves in one, but usually there is disappointment for they never arrive. Thousands died crossing the Oregon Trail, thousands died trying to reach the gold fields of California. The lure of easy wealth, the dream, but few realized the reality of getting there. Few had the proper goals.
There is real truth in the poem of Edgar Allen Poe when he penned the words of "El Dorado." In seeking for life and what is virtuous and has meaning is not an easy task.
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied--
"If you seek for El Dorado."
However, this shadow spoke partial truth. The El Dorado they sought was a paradise of riches on earth; the pilgrim seeks a kingdom that is heavenly. One goes through the wilderness of never finding, never reaching their goal, the other is the wilderness of life.
The Psalmist was aware of this life situation. Perhaps we should look toward the mountains. He is aware of our thoughts, of our travels, and when we stop to rest. How much time and effort have been wasted seeking the earthly dreams? How much of life has been spent chasing rainbows? They are illusive and if possible to catch one it would not be what you really desired.
In this quest for "El Dorado" look for the lessons God has for you. Develop the character of soul that He is allowing to be formed. Paul, no stranger to the wilderness, wrote to us:
"...but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5, HCSB)
D. Adkisson
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Comment by Shane and Denise Jeter on May 10, 2012 at 9:14am
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 10
Romans 16:17
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause division and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
There has always been
And there will always be
Those that cause division
Haunting you and me
The Lord says we should mark them
And avoid them at all cost
So that our love for the brethren
Shall not be forever lost
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Comment by Lynn D. Walker on May 10, 2012 at 8:05am
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
FROM THE PASTOR'S PORCH: Are you listening?
Like all Pastors, as I preach my heart out from the pulpit, I am always wondering how many people are really listening to the message. More importantly, I wonder how many people are really listening to the Lord. It is extremely important for people to listen to the Holy Spirit because the Bible says “...the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) Notice who profits from a person listening to the Holy Spirit. Not just the person themselves profit, but “withal”; in other words, the whole church profits as well. Why then, are there so many folks who seem to not be listening to the Spirit.
Well, one reason a person doesn't listen to the Spirit is because maybe they don't have the Spirit inside them. It is sad but true, there are many reprobate or “play-like” Christians out there that carry Bibles and go to Church, but they have never really surrendered their life and truly accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. They may appear to be Christians and they may even act “religious”, but a true Love Relationship with the Lord is not there. You cannot listen to the Holy Spirit if He is not present in your life.
Then there are those that are truly saved, but they have wondered out of fellowship with the Lord. They have wondered into areas where they should not go or they have just become lazy and they have entered into a time of being unable to hear the Holy Spirit or they are just plain not listening. This is a very dangerous situation for a believer. These are the folks who have sin in their life or have allowed themselves to become hurt or bitter about some situation in their life.
And then some folks just plain choose to be disobedient. These are the folks who hear the Holy Spirit, but because they are self-centered, they follow their own desires instead of the desires of God. This is where Pride raises it's ugly head and people decide they know better than God what needs to be done. This may be the worst situation of all because these folks are headed for a big fall and they many times they hurt the Church in the process.
So where do you stand today? Are you listening to the Holy Spirit? Are you profiting not only yourself but your Church as well? Are you reading God's Word, Praying, going to Church, even allowing God to speak to you through your circumstances? 2 Peter 1:5 tells us that we must ADD to our Faith. The word “ADD” means that we have to take action and DO SOMETHING!! Please don't make the mistake of “doing” based on your own understanding. In order to “add” or “do” the right thing that is good for all concerned, you must hear and obey the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Good Lord will richly bless you with His Spirit, and may you richly bless yourself and those around you by listening and being obedient. Get up Sunday morning and go to one of the many great Churches in this blessed community and GIVE HIM PRAISE!!! ~Walker
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: Remember that you are human. So don't be so hard on yourself and others when mistakes are made. Your failures can be a source of blessing because they humble you and give you empathy for other people when you wittness their mistakes. Let your mistakes highlight the fact that you need Jesus in your life. When you Trust and Depend on Jesus, He is able to bring beauty out of your mistakes; He takes the good and the bad and makes all things work for good for those who Love Him and are called according to His purpose. Come to Him with all your mistakes and see for yourself that He is good. (Romans 8:28, Micah 7:7) ~Walker
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 9
Luke 18:1
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
Be ever so prayerful
As you pass through your day
So that God in His mercy
Can show you the way
Let not your faith faint
Nor your heart be full of trouble
For when your breakthough comes
Your blessings will be double
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 8
Jeremiah 1:17
"Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them."
It's better to speak
What the Lord commands
Than to speak
To please mere man
So speak the truth in boldness
Rightly dividing the word
So that all the truth of God
Can be easily seen and heard
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: Anticipate problems. Is that being pessimestic? No, that's being realistic. The bible tells you that "in this world you will have trouble", but it doesn't tell you to worry about it. The best way to be prepared for trouble is to start each day asking the Lord Jesus to equip you for whatever circumstances that you may encounter. Your best equipping is the Presence of Jesus Christ in your life. His hand will never let go of yours, and together with Him you can handle any challenge. Jesus made a bold statement when He said, "I have overcome the world". I don't know about you, but it makes me breathe a sigh of relief when I take time to remember that I belong to Him and He is on my side!! (John 16:33, Isaiah 41:13, and Philippians 4:13) ~Walker
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"But the way must be long, and as there were the thorns and rocks for his feet, so there must be bruises to his spirit."
--Zane Grey
It can be very scary; do you dare take the step. The wilderness beckons, enter it at your own peril, however, realize that when you enter and come out on the other side you will be a different person. You will have added to your character knowledge and endurance. But be forewarned, there are some that enter that do not survive the ordeal.
Perhaps first we should look at the definition: wilderness
1. An unsettled, uncultivated region left in its natural condition
a. a large wild tract of land covered with dense vegetation or forests;,
b. an extensive area, such as a desert or an ocean, that is barren or empty, a waste;
c. a piece of land set aside to grow wild.
2. Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.
Listen, the wilderness beckons to all. However, do not take the call or the journey lightly. Jesus, when in the wilderness was tempted by the devil and there were wild beasts for Him to contend with, so much so, that the angels came and ministered unto Him. Moses spent forty years learning the ways of the wilderness, found the "I AM" and delivered the Israelites from bondage.
Some enter the wilderness dancing, celebrating, but soon find that it was not what they expected. The wilderness is a place of trial. It is definitely a place of bruising whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul. Some enter the wilderness on a lark, a dare, or part of an extreme sport experience. These people are fools for they do not realize the dangers that lurks there. Dangers that if they are mentioned they just scoff at and think you are the fool. Later, as you come upon their sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) all you can do is shake your head in pity.
Notice the definition--it is perilous, bewildering. Do not become beguiled by the beauty or the freedom or the distances for they can be illusionary. There is often havoc and confusion in the wilderness and people may lose their way. The unprepared, the naive, the scoffer, the mocker will find themselves in danger that often leads to death.
Ah, but the value of the wilderness is without compare. Perhaps, because there is less and less of a wilderness is a cause for the lack of character in people today. Dare talk of a spiritual wilderness and people will scowl at you, for they want excitement, frivolity, and ease. That is not the way of the wilderness.
D. Adkisson
"For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
--Exodus 14:12 (NAS)
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"Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something to do which must be done, whether you like it or not. Being forced to do your best will breed in you temperance, self-control, diligence, strength of will, content, and a hundred other virtues which the idle never know."
--anonymous
"When the storm's the worst and the sea the most dreadful, that's when you need your special wits.... Get your wits about you and take the juice out of every day, however bad...."
--James Clavel
"Woe is me, oh, woe is me. Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat some worms." Every had the mully-grubs? Those days, those weeks where you feel that you can barely grovel to and fro much less walk with a spring in your steps? I'm sure some have felt that way. Most do other things when discouragement comes their way: fight, sleep, shop, escape through booze, eat, the list goes on and on. Discouragement feeds itself and can stay around for a long time.
If we let discouragement continue it can become a powerful weapon used by the enemy of our soul. It takes away our vitality, our energy, and drains our hopes. It prevents us from completely our duty, much less with excellence. In short, discouragement takes us out of the battle and makes us a crawling casualty.
There are a myriad causes for one to become discouraged. Words, actions, deeds, or the lack of those can bring discouragement. Loss of faith and hope are deadly to a person and will take discouragement and drive it through a person's heart. When those lonely, desperate times come remember the following:
--God is there; He is everlasting, and will never leave us,
--God has power; more than we can imagine and He can and will intervene if He needs,
--God has great perseverance; He never gets tired, He never gets weary, and He cannot be exhausted
--God has a plan; even in the midst of our discouragement
Most of the time He wants us to work through our troubles and trials. He was us to learn even in the midst of discouragement. then when we have exhausted our strength and resources and if we cannot go on He will be there to do what is needed--a word, an action, or even to pick us up if necessary. Don't let discouragement take you out of the battle; continue to fight, continue to stand.
D. Adkisson
D.
"O Israel, how can your say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can your say God refuses to hear your case? Have never heard or understood? Don't your know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding."
--Isaiah 40:27-28 (NLT)
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 7
Jeremiah 1:8
"Be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."
When we preach the truth
Some faces may frown
But if we remain steadfast
We shall receive a crown
So don't ever compromise
The truth of the Bible
For only those with sound doctrine
Can have true revial
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 6
Romans 5:8
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
The Lord waited not for you to be perfect
Nor to get everything right
He sent his Son to die for you
In the darkest, cruelest night
Yes, he died for us
While we we're all still sinners
To save us from Satan's wrath
And cause us to be winners
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: Darkness is dangerous. I don't know about you but I don't like to be in the dark; I like to see where I'm going and what's going on around me. If you are having problems seeing where you are or where you're going, maybe you need a little more light in your life. Jesus is the light, and in him there is no darkness at all. You will find nothing of lasting value in the darkness, but in the Light and Presence of Jesus you will find ALL that you need. Jesus is totally Trustworthy and there is NOTHING He cannot provide. Safety comes from Faith in the Light and Thankfulness opens the door to His treasures. Come and see for yourself that Jesus is Good!! (Psalm 95:2, 1 John 1:5) ~Walker
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 5
Romans 4:20-21
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
Abraham, he staggered not
At the precious promise
He did not allow himself
To be lke doubting Thomas
So let us follow Abraham's lead
And believe that God is able
To fulfill every promise
And before our enemies, spread a table
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: The World in it's sinful flesh has taught us the way to riches is to get all we can and can all we get. In other words, gather up riches and hoard them for yourself. That is not God's way of doing things. You will attain the riches of God by letting go and GIVING!!! And don't give stingily or your wore out or broke things that you no longer treasure. Give something that you tr...easure right now, and if you REALLY want a good blessing, give it to someone you know would really like to have it or needs it....that you don't like very much. OUCH!!! That hurts don't it? The more you give of yourself to God and His ways, the more He will fill you with "inexpressible, heavenly Joy". (1 Peter 1:8) ~Walker
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 4
Acts 5:41
"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
When we can rejoice in suffering
Like the disciples of old
We will then know our faith
Is nearing pure gold
So let us seek a closer walk
As we see the hour darken
So that in our time of need
To his voice we will hearken
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ase visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: I have so many wonderful friends!!! And what a variety!! New friends, old friends... from all walks of life and scattered all over the world. But you all have one thing in common.....I Love every one of you!! I want to thank all of you for the hundreds of birthday wishes; I am so overwhelmed and thankful for each and every one of you. What a blessed man I am to have my wife, Casey, my kids and grandkids, all my family, my church family at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH and ICCAN, and ALL of you wonderful friends!!! Just all of you remember that like all things of this world, facebook will someday pass away, but 10,000 years from now, we can all still be friends in Heaven. My prayer is that every one of my friends will accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior if you haven't already done so. I truly do Love you all so dear, and I want all of you to be my neighbors in eternity!! ~Walker
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Apples of Gold, a devotional in Rhyme
May 3
John 12:43
"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
It is a dangerous thing
When we love the praise of men
And if left unchecked
Can lead us into sin
So look for your appraoval
From your Father above
For we can trust his opinion
Knowing it comes from a heart of love
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
Would I want to do it all over?
No, there's nothing on earth that I lack.
My cup runs over with the joy from the Lord,
and I'm too close to home to turn back.
~Dr. Dale Linebaugh
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Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH
JUST FOR TODAY: Do not fall into the trap of trying to serve two masters. You just can't do it, so choices must be made. Will you set as your goal to please God, or will you try to please other people? Other people can become rather harsh taskmasters when you give them this POWER over your life. Pleasing God will not make you the most popular person in this old fallen World, but it will certai...nly keep power over your life out of the hands of fickle mankind and placed in the hands of the one who never changes; the one who will never foresake you or fail you. Maybe the right choice is pleasing the one who has ALL the LOVE and ALL the POWER!! Please don't wait too long to make your move. (Matthew 6:24) ~Walker
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