Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Putting the legend of ‘big foot’ to rest…

Filed in Devotions & Studies, General |

Journal,

Yep, we finally found out the truth behind the big foot legend. It was right in my home from the get go. Isn’t that amazing that you can be looking at the answer and never realize it. And all it took was one picture.

Well now, here it is. The legend can be put to rest.

Yep, that is CJ’s big paw in Jamie’s hand. Have you ever seen such a big foot? The only thing I can’t figure out is how the General made all those appearances up in Washington State, in Nepal, and in other places whereas he has been seen.  :)

Anyways, here is the rest of CJ, with his new found soon to be married, buddies, John Smith and Jamie Brunk. CJ is seriously considering being best man at their wedding. What do you think? Can I get an amen on that?

I hope my readers know by now that I do have an adventuresome sense of humor. So with that in mind let me take this to a more earnest setting.

Did you know that our homes should be places of healings…

The entire world exists in an ambiance of disfunction. So when Jesus spoke of his disciples as being the salt of the earth or as a city sitting on a hill, His intent was to direct believers to the heavenly influence that their lives should bring to those who are hurting. That influence includes a flow of God’s love, and a flow of God’s healing presence. And, believe it or not, sometimes even Christians themselves stand in the greatest need of healing.

A number of years ago we had one of the YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Directors bring a school over to take part in our CCI School for Christian Worker’s outreach. An interesting thing happened. The morning the director was to leave, he told Betty and me that he had received a miracle healing while sleeping in our home. He had struggled with a physical malady for years. When he woke up it was gone.

I don’t share this to draw attention to the Martin home. I simply believe that the spiritual atmosphere in our home was conducive to him being healed. Surely the Lord would have all our homes and all our church settings to become places for healings from the emotional and spiritual and to include the physical.

With that in mind let me share a bit of a devotional and talk about…

The secret life of the kingdom…

There is an aspect of the secret life of the kingdom that has to do with how the Lordship of Jesus works in our experiences as believers.

Some time ago a lady in our church shared with me concerning her struggle over a wayward son. She was kept in sadness. Her prayers were in place but nothing seemed to be happening. Her hurt was the hurt of a mother over her child. Then this dear sister shared something that enabled me to speak with her about how Christ rules in our lives, even when we aren’t so aware of it.

She told me of a recent experience she had in that she woke up during the night singing a song. Later she was unable to remember the song itself, but she did recall how refreshed she became because of her experience.

From this I was able to share with her about the song of Christ. What happened to her was a song of deliverance. It was a song of Christ overruling her despondency. This is partly what Paul means when he said that Christ is our life. He lives His life in us.

The following morning the Lord gave a Scripture to this dear sister. Her eyes were drawn to Psalm 42:8, which says,

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.”

Someone outside the kingdom of God’s beloved son would say that this was merely a  psychological working of the mind, but not so with the child of God. David spoke of God’s secret rule when he wrote,

“You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

Then we have this in Hebrews 2:12, where the Lord Jesus says,

“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

Now pay attention to what the Bible further has to say about our secret life.

“The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” (Psa25:14)

And again,

“For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Psa27:5,6)

And again,

“You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:20)

And again,

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.” (Isa45:3 - Spoken to Cyrus but the principle applies to all who belong to the Lord.)

And again,

“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7 - This applies to all new covenant believers since the prophetic anointing has passed to all who are born from above.)

 Then we have this from Jesus:

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.“ (Matt6:6)

“For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.” (Mark 4:22)

And from Paul: 

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…” (Rom16:26)

“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil4:12,13)

Yes indeed, there is much more to be said about the secret life of God’s kingdom. Think about these Scriptures. One thing I can assure you is that the Lord is not going to allow any of His children to become overwhelmed with the matters of life. The writer said that God always leads us in His triumph in Christ Jesus.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy