by Melvin | Oct 1, 2016 | Wildest Heart Posts
Oh, that you and I might get into the very heart of the Word of God, and get that Word into ourselves! As I have seen the silkworm eat into the leaf, and consume it, so ought we to do with the Word of the Lord—not crawl over its surface, but eat right into it till we have taken it into our inmost parts. It is idle merely to let the eye glance over the words, or to recollect the poetical expressions, or the historic facts; but it is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your very style is fashioned upon Scripture models, and, what is better still, your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord. ~ Charles Spurgeon
by Melvin | Sep 22, 2016 | Wildest Heart Posts
I am honored and humbled to be speaking at my home church (Crossroads Baptist Azle, Tx) this coming Sunday. The message will be “Putting God’s Word into Action.” If you do not have a home church or you are in the area, you are more than welcome to join us. Also, it is our end of the month fellowship, so directly after the service we will share a meal together. The theme is Italian. You may bring a dish to share, if you like, or just bring yourself.
Remember the Bible tells us, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).
I hope to see you there and may God bless you and yours.
by Melvin | Sep 12, 2016 | Wildest Heart Posts
Without Christ there is no way to know the One True Almighty God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). However, as a believer, if you find that you are struggling with some issue in your life and you need God’s grace and mercy, it may be that you lack humility. The Bible tells us there are some simple steps to take to get closer to God. The epistle of James notes:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:7-10).
What needs to be understood is that the process of submission, drawing close to God, admitting to sin and humility is not just a one-time fix of the problem. We must continually be in submission to the will of the Father and avoiding the wiles of the devil. We cannot do this thing alone. We need God. When we seek Him out, He will help us. So, if you are struggling, stop now and draw close to the Father and He will draw close to you.
by Melvin | Jul 28, 2014 | Wildest Heart Posts
For the past few months I have been taking a long walk almost every day. Normally it is a three mile trek which takes me about an hour. Even though it is somewhat strenuous, it is also spiritually uplifting. You see, this is the time I take to listen. However, I am listening to worship music not the outside world. In other words, this has become a time of worship.
Many times during my walk, I find myself going over the events that are currently taking place in my life and wonder why. It seems as though there is always some kind of struggle. It seems that more and more, my schedule is at the mercy of others, and it does not work out like I planned. Inevitably someone needs my attention. They want to talk about something that is bothering them, or they want to debate an issue. Never in my life has it been as much as it is now, and sometimes it is overwhelming. Oddly enough, today as I am pondering this phenomenon, it hits me. I asked for it.
As a matter of fact, I prayed for it. That’s right, it was a request made to the Mighty God we serve. God reminded me that I often pray, “Thy will be done.” Specifically, I have been praying regularly that God would use me. So the answer as to why there is always someone, it is because God is using me. What I have been seeing as a struggle is really a blessing from God.
Subsequently, this revelation began to make me laugh out loud. What I perceived as trouble in my life was the very thing I had asked from God. Now there was now a feeling of relief. It’s not about me. It’s about God working through me. It is God showing me something that I need to work on. First of all, I need to remember what I ask for. Secondly, when someone needs my attention or wants to debate an issue, it could be that it is just as much about God showing me something as it is about dealing with their issues.
The point is, no matter how hectic life gets or how out of line we think it is, the Sovereign God of the universe is at work. The Bible tells us that even though we may think we know what we are doing, it is God who leads us. Proverbs says this, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, KJV). Be encouraged, don’t struggle against the Lord. Remember what Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, KJV). Love God and remember there is a purpose for everything.
by Melvin | Sep 9, 2013 | Wildest Heart Posts
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exod. 3:10-14, KJV)
Often it amazes me how I picture Moses in my mind. I have the strong, Charlton Heston figure of Moses that I grew up with still emblazed in my brain. However, the real Moses was too a strong figure, but also meek. It is the question he asks of God, “Who am I”, and that I myself often ask. It is God’s reply that will give Moses the courage to do what is asked. “Certainly I will be with thee”. I have the gift of God’s word to know that it is also true in my own relationship with God. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31, KJV)?
by Melvin | Jul 4, 2013 | Wildest Heart Posts
Thank God for the founding fathers that set forth the course of independence for this nation. Thank God for the men and women that has and will shed their blood for the independence of this nation. It is the almighty God who gave them the courage and strength and it is the almighty God who blesses us with the freedom the nation has today. “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:1-4)
