Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Day 191 - Lonely

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 263
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

Notice:  this email is part of a BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”Why a blog?  So that many can receive these thoughts in an easy manner.  If you are not getting these weekly postings via an email, go to the website: www.leemccm.blogspot.com …in the top right corner there is a place to register to receive each post.

ANNOUNCING: Volume 2 of My Weakness for His Strength is now in print!  Available at ALMI.  May I encourage you to get one soon!




“One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do,” the song goes made popular way back in 1969 by the group Three Dog Night.  Alone, loneliness, all alone, one…  But, Michael gives us a beautiful perspective from God’s Word in Romans ch.14.  This is a great set of truths each of us can share with someone who is experiencing the feelings of loneliness…



DAY 191

Lonely

For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. –Romans 14: 7, 8

I suppose that there are times in everyone’s life when they feel all alone. Actually, this is an awareness of something that has always existed. A person may have always been alone but only recognize it at a time when there is not activity around him. One woman, when widowed for a short time, aptly said, “I know God is with me, but this morning I fell and there was no one there to pick me up.” In the outer life loneliness is more readily recognized; however, in the spirit and soul we were all born lonely. There has never been (in spite of the insipid teaching of having a “soul mate”) anyone who can touch our mind, heart, soul, emotions, will, and spirit. No one, that is, save One, and that One is Jesus. Psalm 25:16, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” Psalm 68:6, “God makes a home for the lonely.” If you have invited the life of Jesus to live within, you have learned that He is the only One who fills loneliness and assures you that you never were alone. I like feeling lonely and turning to Him to discover His nearness. I like the fact that He alone can fill the emptiness that is deepest within me. I cannot imagine that He wants to be that near, but He does.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



The natural mind, both in Unbelievers and Believers, is known to draw either to the idea of a “soul mate.”  Michael calls it an “insipid teaching.”  Amen.  It is most sad that a Believer would operate in the natural mind instead of the Mind of Christ that Paul tells us we have and can only “receive the things of God” with.

Let Michael’s words, “If you have invited the life of Jesus to live within, you have learned that He is the only One who fills loneliness and assures you that you never were alone,” take you to the Throne of Grace and enjoy the two “likes” that Michael followed those words with.

And, finally, we can all “imagine” what Michael was imagining…but, as He always says, “the nearness of Christ” is ours.  Let us embrace His presence, and find we are never lonely.




To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www .leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Grow in His grace

Grow in His grace

Ok, someone asked after the last post…”if grace is God’s unmerited favor, how do we ‘grow in His grace’?”  Good question.

First, that definition is very common for the word, “grace.”  But, tell me, what do we receive from God that is ‘merited,’ or ‘not unmerited’? 

Yet, God Himself tells us to “grow in (His) grace” – 2 Peter 3:18
          “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”
So, what is it that we can “grow in”?

Everything we have received from God is something of His doing.  Everything.  When we look at “grace” as being “His doing,” and not just “unmerited favor,” we then can look to Him to see how we can receive more of “whatever” from Him!  Thereby, “growing in His grace.”

Now, how do we “grow” to receive more from Him? 
First, look for His promises of something to GIVE us.  Then, RECEIVE it.  Just like we receive any gift at our birthday or at Christmas.  What did we do to be given those gifts?  Nothing.  What do we do to get those gifts?  Receive them.  It’s the same with God’s promises.  Illustration: want “peace”?  John 14:27:
          “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
             unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
1.     He gives us His peace.
2.    Not as the world giveth…how is that?  Always with some requirement.
Jesus gives with no requirements, no stipulations.
3.    What do we do?  Simply receive His gift of peace.
4.    The result?  His peace.  A heart not troubled, nor afraid.
5.    More results?  Joy & comforted heart, sound mind, no stress/no anxiety.

Second, acknowledge our weakness, and His strength, then ASK Him for something we need.  Wait for Him to provide.  Trust God for His supply, and live on it.  Study all you can from George Mueller to further understand and live this!  He wants to pour out His grace upon His kids!  Wait and watch what He does!

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Saturday, October 28, 2017

no more "Christian life" or "abundant life" for me!

no more "Christian life" or "abundant life" for me!

Am I giving up on Christ?  Absolutely not!  But, Christianity today has evolved into a list of do's and don'ts that God never intended.  That is what most Christians call "the Christian life."  Not God.

Even "the abundant life" is a misnomer.  Jesus never said that.  Most Christians think of "the abundant life" as more money, more fun, more things, more success, more better health, more _____________.  He didn't say that.

In John 10:10-11, Jesus spoke of two different things:
     "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and  to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
       might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd:
       the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."  (

Jesus said it is His Life that is the Life for a Christian.  Not anything abundantly that this world's life can give.  For me, I call it "Life as a Christian."  Period.  His LifeHis Life as my Life (Colossians 3:3-4).  Life with a capital L.

Jesus said He came to GIVE us His Life, and that we might HAVE His Life more abundantly.  He wants us to acknowledge and call it "His Life more abundantly."  I want that.  I'll take His GIFT to me!

No performance.  Receiving His gift.  Well, amen.

p.s.  do you know how to "receive" His Life, and more abundantly?  Grow in His grace.

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Satisfaction

talking about Life (Christ’s Life) in a Christian

Satisfaction
“I can’t get no…satis…faction.”  This was a popular song by the Rolling Stones back in 1965.  “Cause I try and I try and I try and I try” was the song’s mantra as the singers lament ALL the ways they have TRIED to get that elusive “satisfaction.”  Each thing they “tried” was of the world…not one mention of Jesus.  Whether it was an item, and individual, or some information…no satisfaction. 

My friend Michael Wells, in volume 2 (now available at ALMI) of My Weakness for His Strength, gives the most stunning revelation of the “disconnect” of so many as far as the spirit/soul/body trichotomy is concerned.  And how there is such little “satisfaction” in the life of many Christians.  The writing of Day 256 is marvelous!  Get this book, or write me for a recap of what Michael has said.


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696


My Weakness for His Strength - Volume 2

               Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
                                                   P. O. Box 633244
                                           Nacogdoches, Texas 75963


My friend Michael Wells' 2nd volume of My Weakness for His Strength is now out.  You can get one at:  Abiding Life Ministries International
                  P. O. Box 620998
                  Littleton, CO  80162
                  (303) 972-0859

I have longed called Michael's teachings the best discipling any Christian can have.  You would be wise to check out the website: www.abidinglife.com for the numerous free downloads available there of other teachings.

Friday, September 8, 2017

As stupid is...

An old movie favorite, Forrest Gump, came up with a popular quote: "Stupid is as stupid does."  With Hollywood being as humanistic as it is, that statement is appropriate for them.  They are not into the spirituality of things.  But (this is a holy "but"), Truth is: stupid does as stupid is.  The "is" always goes before the "does."
Example: a sinner is not a sinner because he sins.  a sinner sins because he is a sinner.  a pine tree is not a pine tree because it grows pine needles.  a pine tree grows pine needles because it is a pine tree.

It is a tragedy that the church in America has let most discussions (especially in business meetings)  revolve around the humanistic instead of the spiritual.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Holding On?

The word for "faithless" is apistos, "unbelieving," meaning "not trusting God to perform."  And one who doesn't trust God will not depend on God.  "Belief," pisteuo, creates dependence upon God. The one who lives in dependence upon God does not act in independence.  And one who is depending upon God does not "hold on to God," but rather is held onto by God!  A Believer who has been placed IN Christ...it is Christ Who holds the Believer firmly.  Well, amen!