Monthly Archives: September 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 12, 2015
Tags: ,   

Being Trained-Up in G*dliness — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

image

 

September 12, 2015

“Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:7b-10

“(Writing to a friend in a letter) Lift up your heart to Him even at your meals, or when you are in company; the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we think. To be with G*d there is no need to be continually in church. Of our heart we may make an oratory, wherein to retire from time to time and with Him hold meek, humble, loving converse.” The Practice of the Presence of G*d Brother Lawrence (1611-1691) “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 817)

Train yourself in godliness. What an image. I think it is an image that can help many people find a stronger faith life. Although, I am not so naive to think that this is good for everyone. I realize that many people see the word “training” in a negative light because they have spent so much time training in their lives (for sporting events and other kinds of endeavors) that they are burned out by the idea. And yet, many people need a trainer to make any changes in their lives. They need someone or something to push them continually.

The good news is that we have a trainer just waiting to teach us — and that trainer is the Holy Spirit. In fact we cannot train up ourselves in godliness on our own — it takes the training and the support of the spirit. But, the Holy Spirit will not wake you up in the morning to get you motivated. You and I must remain open to the spirit, open to the presence of the spirit, and expecting the spirit to move just when we least expect it. That is how one is “trained up” by the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 11, 2015
Tags: ,   

Cloudy Days — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

image

September 11, 2015

“The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
and clouds are the dust of his feet.” Nahum 1:3

“In the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. “The clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come in clear-shining brightness.” Do You See Jesus In Your Clouds? July 29, 2015 My Utmost For His Highest

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone….” so goes the song by Johnny Nash. The idea is true for seeing after the mist and the clouds of rain showers have left. The same should be true for our lives as the clouds of bad days, trials, tribulations and losses teach us how to see our lives and our relationship with G*d more clearly. As the saying goes, without trouble, there would be little faith. When all is good, when life is happy and without a care in the world, it is not that long before we delude ourselves to believe that we can handle this world on our own. What reason or reasons do we find a need for G*d if nothing ever goes wrong in our lives? But how ridiculous this sounds from the beginning, because none of us ever lives a life where nothing ever goes wrong. Just being alive means we will have bad days and good days and mediocre days.

Whether it is pouring down rain, or the clouds are just gathering, or the clouds are finally lifting, isn’t it comforting to think that the presence of clouds means that G*d is present? G*d cannot come near us without clouds — and that makes us thank G*d for cloudy days.

Pastor Dave