Psalm 50

Some of you may know or have heard about Project Ezra, others not... Project Ezra is a weekly reading dedicated to the public reading of the Bible.  While I continue to search for that fishing hole where I will read publicly, I will get on my keyboard box and my controller & headset box and read through my keys and through my microphone the weekly readings that Tony and others so faithfully post. The new readings will be posted on the weekend and read throughout the week publicly.

This past weeks reading is Psalm 50, please follow along.  I encourage you to be bold and read or share with someone and help proclaim His Word everywhere you go.

PSALM 50

1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, 

       speaks and summons the earth 

       from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, 

       God shines forth.

 3 Our God comes and will not be silent; 

       a fire devours before him, 

       and around him a tempest rages.

 4 He summons the heavens above, 

       and the earth, that he may judge his people:

 5 "Gather to me my consecrated ones, 

       who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

 6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, 

       for God himself is judge. 

       Selah

 7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, 

       O Israel, and I will testify against you: 

       I am God, your God.

 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices 

       or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

 9 I have no need of a bull from your stall 

       or of goats from your pens,

 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, 

       and the cattle on a thousand hills.

 11 I know every bird in the mountains, 

       and the creatures of the field are mine.

 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, 

       for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls 

       or drink the blood of goats?

 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, 

       fulfill your vows to the Most High,

 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; 

       I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

 16 But to the wicked, God says: 

       "What right have you to recite my laws 

       or take my covenant on your lips?

 17 You hate my instruction 

       and cast my words behind you.

 18 When you see a thief, you join with him; 

       you throw in your lot with adulterers.

 19 You use your mouth for evil 

       and harness your tongue to deceit.

 20 You speak continually against your brother 

       and slander your own mother's son.

 21 These things you have done and I kept silent; 

       you thought I was altogether like you. 

       But I will rebuke you 

       and accuse you to your face.

 22 "Consider this, you who forget God, 

       or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:

 23 He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, 

       and he prepares the way 

       so that I may show him the salvation of God."

Obedient Rewards

So tonight at our Upper Room service Pastor Karen was sharing about "what is our witness" and what do we do to show and share our witness. We talked about what it looks like, it was a great service and included audience participation about ideas and what people thought.

Well then Pastor Karen went on to talk about how a friend of hers had inspired her after reading his blog. She then went on to read excerpts from my blog post - my cross. She kept me nameless and you could see how moved people were, some were moved to tears including myself. As I sat behind my sound board I felt so utterly blessed that I impacted someone through an act of obedience to go stand on a corner with a cross. I had no idea that a church service would be inspired and shared with those in attendance from my standing on a corner with my cross. To think I was afraid of man, man's response to me being faithful to my God.  So many others have this fear of man, that's why people don't step out and share mostly. They are afraid of what people are going to think how they will act to them speaking about their Creator.

What happened next was Karen showing a short clip of Tony Miano on the corner with his cross. It was really amazing!

You see last Wednesday Karen worked with the youth to build crosses after reading this blog about my cross, and God gave her a plan to encourage Upper Room attendees to go public as a testimony of God, get out there and be bold for Christ!

So thats exactly Karen did, she showed pictures of the kids crosses and challenged the congregation to be a witness and take a cross home and go somewhere public and stand for the Lord, take your cross and follow Him. It didn't take long, one man was quick to take that cross and will report back his experience.  Upper Room is going to track cross walking testimonies through a Facebook page.

Well folks that's all for now, next time you think about bailing out on something for God, because you are afraid of what others will think, think about what God says about being ashamed of Him - Mark 8:38, think again, your obedience can be used by God however He sees fit but only if you answer the call. He chose to use one person to impact many and challenge others to be bold

and conquer their fear. What will happen when all of us are obedient?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Upper Room