Cornerstone

Luke 15:11-32

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:6

My wife got me a GPS (Global Positioning System) for Christmas! I had been hinting for a long time that I wanted one. She gave no indication that she was impressed with my great need. When we found them deeply discounted and we were about to leave for a 1600 mile trip to visit our son’s family in California for Christmas, however, I was able to “sell” her on the wonderful benefits of the technological toy.

This morning I took my wife to work. I didn’t need to use the GPS because I knew the route well. There is still some new to wear off of the little wonder so I hooked it up and turned it on. It was still programmed from the previous day to navigate to my home. As we left our drive and headed toward her workplace the lady’s voice on the GPS began to try to get me to go to the destination that was programmed in the GPS – my home! We had just gone one block when the GPS lady told me to turn right. She wanted to take me around the block and back to my house. This continued throughout the whole trip to my wife’s workplace. I was amused at the insistent effort of the electronic lady as she tried persistently to get me to go back home.

Later as I drove on toward my workplace I mused over the situation. This seemed to be so much like the voice of God that speaks to us when we stray away from His will. He talks to us step by step along the way trying to persuade us to make a U turn and come back to Him. No matter how far we stray, He is there by our side. His voice is clear. The message is consistent. The confidence is sure . . . we can get back home if we will just turn from our own way and return to Him.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Jn 6:43-51 (44)

FORTUNE, a leader among American business publications, also provides conferences for senior executives of the nation’s corporations. Bringing together leaders from a variety of fields, including top corporate executives, economists, technologists, entertainers, scientists and government officials they encourage the generation of ideas regarding the trends that embrace all within the larger context. The programs include panels, short vignettes, and interviews during which time those involved in the brainstorming sessions seek to think strategically toward the future.

These conferences are by invitation only. That explains why I have never attended a Fortune Conference. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is by invitation only as well. In this I have enjoyed the esteemed privilege of being recognized.

I was not invited to a relationship with God because of anything that I was able to accomplish on my own. I was not invited because of my intellectual prowess or my profession status. God took the initiative. From the cross He heralded an invitation to all mankind. Unlike the Fortune Conferences, God did not only choose the best and most promising. He invited the unlovely, the undesirable and the unlikely. Through the work of the Holy Spirit the Father continues to send out reminders to individuals encouraging each one to come to repentance. Have you received yours?

Dr. Gayle Woods

Col 2:6-12 (7)

To be complete in Christ means that we are settled in our Christian experience, we are supported in our endeavor to develop in character, our faith in God is strengthened, we are learning the precepts of Scripture, and we overflow with thanksgiving to our Lord.

Leighton Ford, once said, (Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1) “God loves us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way.” We have not always been complete in Christ, and the paradox is that even when we are complete in Christ we are not complete. The Christian life must be maintained. Our feet must not moved from the Rock on which they stand, the development of Christian character must ever continue, our faith must constantly be reinforced, the Scriptures are never total absorbed in their entirety, and unfortunately our thanks is often slow in being manifested. Our Christian life must be maintained and unless it continually grows it cannot be maintained.

Something we must continually remember is that it is not all our work. We are not making ourselves Christians. We are involved in the process of Gods handiwork but the job is not entirely up to us. J Sidlow Baxter expressed it like this:

What God chooses, He cleanses.

What God cleanses, He molds.

What God molds, He fills.

What God fills, He uses.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Luke 12:22-28 (24)

There are times when it feels like we are in a pressure cooker situation. The lid is sealed. Life’s situation is heating up. The pressure is becoming unbearable.

The Word of God reminds us repeatedly that God will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us in our times of stress. Psalm 46:1 says it all. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” The Hebrew word for “trouble” in this verse means “pressed in.” We might say that the Psalmist was “between a rock & a hard place.” “He was up a creek without a paddle.”

When Martin Luther was surrounded by enemies he read this Psalm and then wrote the great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” He saw the tremendous power of God as “a bulwark never failing.”
Elvis Presley, a man who seemed to have it all, once said, “I would give a million dollars for one week of peace.” He recorded a song that probably described his life;”All Shook Up.” “I am all shook up,” he sang.

Our world is in the blender of sin. Nations are in an uproar. We face economic crisis. We pillow our heads at night with memories of the news of hatred, division and strife. But is spite of this we can stand under the shelter of the Almighty. Regardless of what happens in the world there is still the strength, power and might of God. We can always look confidently to Him to supply our need.

By Dr. Gayle Woods

Titus 2:6-10 (7) … “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works…”

I was amazed. It was work day … the first work day since I had come to pastor the church. The place was crawling with people carrying ladders, paint brushes, electric drills and hammers. Why wasn’t this “normal” in other places. Why wasn’t this like other places where the pastor and one or two others turn up for work day? Dan.

Again and again I was impressed with the man. He was extremely active in the church. Although he had a family with small children he seemed to be untiring in his service. He worked a long distance from his residence and therefore each day was a long work day. Even at that Dan Merkley was consistent in his attendance to prayer meeting services. Usually he did not have time to go home before he came to church, so his family would meet him at church. He led singing, was active in the special church programs and was diligent to reach others in the community. As the chairman of the church he took his job seriously. He carried a long to do list with him at all times. He was faithful in his service as he thought ahead planning how to help the congregation be a church … a light in the darkness.

If I were to look for a pattern for good works of service for Jesus Christ I would look to Dan.

Dr. Gayle Woods