Justyn Smith • A Heart For Revival

  Take Aim For 2017 Let's take aim for 2017. I'm going into 2017 with the same determination of previous years...If I aim at nothing, I'll miss every time. I desire to aim for the glory of God! I personally love the week in between Christmas and New Years. It's an excellent time for me to switch gears, and simply meditate on "Personal Life Stewardship" as one Pastor in California calls it. In fact, I have just picked up his book again, "Stewarding Life," and decided to read it and refocus.  Let me give you the three possible primary ways we may expend our lives in 2017, and then I'll let you decide where you are at and where you need to be with God. These three truths are from Chapter Two in Paul Chappell's book, "Stewarding Life," and I pray they will challenge you as they have challenged me: I. Squanderers waste  the life God has given in purposeless living. Or they waste their lives in selfish or temporal pursuits. II. Spenders e

  Continue to Decide. Commit. Glorify! Our underlying theme for 2016 was, "Decide. Commit. Glorify!" One of the verses we utilized for our theme was 1 Corinthians 10:31, " Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. "  I want to challenge you to continue to glorify God as we move into 2017.  Introduction: We could talk about glorifying God is so many ways, but the o ne way I wish to encourage today is by talking about taking care of the physical bodies God has given to us. The verse above emp hasizes that even in our eating and drinking we can glorify God. Do we? I faced an agressive form of skin cancer in August of 2013. The surgery called for the removal of the skin in part of my trapezius muscle area (in my left upper back). Such experiences can change a person, and I did me. At this time, I decided I would begin three simple exercises to gain control of my body, as well as, seeking to eat a little better by eating for ene

  No Greater Joy I awoke early this morning thinking about answers to prayer, our little lady on the way, and many things to pray for concerning this and such things. Therefore, our Scripture Song from Third John verse four was on my mind. The words are as follows: "I have no greater joy, no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in truth. I have an earnest prayer, an earnest prayer,  that I may hear that my children walk in truth. I have no greater joy, no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in truth." *Tune written by, Mrs. Annette Smith (my mother) You can find the audio for this song by  clicking here. More and more, the understanding of this verse will come alive for Rachel and me. It's already our prayer, but the desire will increase as our situation becomes "more real" every day. There is great joy for any parent who gains a child, whether by natural birth or adoption. Just think about how gracious and trusting God is to allow anyone

  Prayer Makes All Things Possible This morning I awoke at my normal early hour, but getting up at a certain hour doesn't guarantee a strong walk with God...it's only a start. You must purpose to get to "the place of prayer."  As I was gathering my things to head to church, one of my many favorite decorations in my home study caught my attention, and it was the encouragement I needed to kick start my morning. The wall plaque said, "Prayer Makes All Things Possible." (Thus the writing on the picture within this post.) I began to think about the many wonderful answers to prayer God has blessed us with (too many to name), and then God reminded me of the most recent (BIG) answer to prayer He has blessed us with. This, of course, encouraged me even more, and, therefore, it gave me the desire to be an encouragement to you by writing these three truths about why all things are possible through prayer: I. Prayer makes all things possible, because prayer is the God-e

  Enter Into His Presence Today...not yesterday.          Today...not tomorrow.                   TODAY...we have the privilege of entering into the presence of God! Yes, God is everywhere at all times, but just because He is everywhere around you - doesn't mean that you are entering into His presence and fellowshipping with Him. It's kind of like two people being in the same room. Just because they are in the same room it doesn't mean that they are purposing to talk with each other. One can pursue the other, but the other can reject the desire of the first. David said in his 16th Psalm, "I have set the LORD  always  before me..." What a testimony!!! Can we say we are concerned about God " always " being set before us? Are we comfortable with that thought? Are there times we would rather not have God present with us because of a certain sin we enjoy that is grieving Him? Do we desire His presence? Are we doing anything about it? I encourage you to do so,