Upon The Wings Of The Wind

2 Samuel 22:11

2 Samuel 22:11 “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.” I believe you can see God today if you want to. He woke me up this morning with a kiss of blustery wind swirling around the cabin. In the midst of the darkness, sounds clamor about as evidence of it’s mighty power. I love today’s Scripture. To me, it is absolutely beautiful. David was in the last chapter of his life, he had finished his wars and fighting, his rest was at hand and he was reflecting on all the things God had brought him through. He was just sitting and singing a song. In this verse, David was focusing on the part of his life when he would utter the prayers of need and his Rock stood at the ready to bring the answer. God was his refuge and strength, a very present help in his time of trouble. The Mighty One mounted up on the wings of a angel and flew to the rescue of this one who’s heart was focused upon and trusted in Him. In his distress, David looked beyond the dark clouds with troubled skies and saw his Savior gliding across the winds of the unseen force of nature. God commands all and uses it for His biding as He scatters His grace and mercy across the four winds of Heaven. The words of the greatness of God flow across my mind this morning like the wind that stirs outside my window. Oh how I pray that you can look beyond the wind and dark skies of your life today, as it buffets the earth upon which we live and see a Mighty Savior mounted up on the wings of angels at the ready to come to your rescue. He is also our refuge and strength, our very present help in our times of trouble. As a time of rest approaches for us all, let us sing a new song to His glory and majesty. So be careful out there today and be safe. Keep your eyes open, look into the wind and see our Savior riding on the wings of glory. Wow……I didn’t know I had it in me. Love you all and have a great day…….Pastor Brion

Another Day Of Storms

Psalm 9:17

Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

I guess it makes sense to somebody. After all, everybody from the President on down are doing it. Fixing the seat belt buzzer where it won’t go off. Ignoring the low fuel light while driving, or maybe putting a piece of tape over the check engine light where you won’t have to see it. I really like ignoring those brakes grinding and chirping, the car sounding like it is falling apart as you glide to a stop pushing the pedal through the floor board. Maybe ignoring that clunk or knock in something mechanical or the washing machine dancing across the floor hoping it will just go away. I really, really, really like it when we move the mirror around where we don’t have to look at the shape our bodies have got in. Okay Preacher, you’ve done gone to meddling!!! I said all that to say we have quite a history of ignoring warning signs. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and sounds for our own good, but we simply turn our head, close our eyes or cover our ears. It’s ridiculous to think the warnings will go away just because we ignore them and do these things. It’s even more ridiculous to ignore the warnings from God by closing our Bibles, Churches or covering them up with excuses. Maybe let’s try legislation!! What a novel idea. That will show God who’s boss!! Our leaders and entire nation seem to think that God will just go away if we push Him out and close the door. I think I read something about that in Revelation!! On this stormy morning, as I watch the weather warnings on the news, I wonder if we ever stop to realize the United States has more tornadoes than any other place in the world? Ever wonder why we have so many hurricanes? Floods? Forest Fires? And the list goes on and on. I am a firm believer that God is sending us all warning signs after warning signs ASKING us to make an immediate change and follow Him once again. To listen, see and hear. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Blessed is the family, Church and individual whose God is the LORD. Warning signs are much different than wrath, and according to what I read in the Bible, we never want to experience wrath. I believe God simply wants us to realize He is there and ignore Him no longer so we will never have to experience His wrath. I will never believe that He wants anyone to experience His wrath. But unfortunately, one day the grace period will end and if you want to experience wrath you will. You may have been going through many warning signs of your own. Things you know are happening but you think it will go away if you ignore it. It won’t and neither will God. He won’t go away because you have closed your Bible or stopped attending Church. He is still there and so are His warnings. It is my hope and prayer the eyes of our families, communities, Churches, states and nation will be open once again so God will be our God and we will be His people. Let me see if I can get off this soap box. I’ve been up here long enough! I don’t want to spoil your day with this sermonette, but all sermons can’t be snickers and giggles!! I hope you all have a great and safe day. God is still on the Throne!!!!! Thanks for reading. Love you all…….Pastor Brion

My Son And His Victory

Romans 8:37

Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” There’s just nothing like starting the morning with a 75 pound blue heeler stretched across your lap, a Jack Russell standing guard over Linda Gail, a cup of hot coffee and a computer somewhere in the mix. My Ol’pals Roscoe and Cletus know how to start the day out right. With my two “sons” close at hand, ponderings dance across my mind this morning of how proud a Dad can be of his son. The smile on my Dad’s face woke me up this morning as he stood on the sidelines and watched as I played football. He would always cheer me on regardless of the score. Some of the greatest moments we ever spent together were the times I made both good and bad plays. I can still hear his laugh as I destroyed the backfield and tackled everybody within reach. Oh the joy that God lets me experience this morning as time swirls throughout my mind!!! I experienced this proud feeling of joy and laughter the other night. I have never had sons of my own, I have been blessed with daughters of whom I am very proud. But there is a special bond between sons and dads, and I feel this special bond with my Ol‘ Pals Cletus and Roscoe. They are both very much my “sons”. For some time now Roscoe has been very unsettled at night. You all know we live out in the woods and mountains where all kinds of critters call our place their home so he has innumerable opportunities for battle. Roscoe has been pacing throughout the house, attacking shadows, snorting and sniffing at what we called his monster. I thought that he was just full of a bunch of bologna myself, but the other night he finally conquered his monster. I let him outside on the deck for his nightly guard duty when I heard quite a clamor and banging about. I called to him only to hear louder binging, banging and smashing around. All became quite and then I saw my stately son proudly walking across the deck in the most royal fashion. He had spent many sleepless nights walking aimlessly across the floor, seeking that which was bothering him so badly, and he had finally conquered his foe. How proud he was as he carried a big fat opossum and laid it at my feet. The pride he had and showed in his walk up to me brought tears to my eyes as he awaited my smile and approval of this mighty victory. I must admit the joy in my heart soared as I witnessed this sight. I sent him in the house for a fresh baked cookie as a reward and I then shooed the monster away as he hissed and spit at me in disgust and anger at the part he played as a defeated foe. Today’s precious Scripture tells us that we have a special quality that resides within us if we will only accepts it’s reality. We have a Heavenly Father that loves us with a unexplainable love and desires to be proud of us as we go through this life without fear. We can be more than conquerors as we face those things that cause us to pace the floor and loose sleep. Those things we agonize about and cloud our minds. Monsters come in all shapes, sizes, kinds and conditions. But as born again Christians with our faith in Jesus Christ, we have the right to walk proudly into the presence of the Father and place at His feet the defeated foes we face. We ARE more than conquerors, we are triumphant through Jesus Christ. I can only imagine the look on our Savior’s face as He proudly sees our struggles, with all of the binging and banging, turn into awesome victories. Oh to hear the words “Well done….enter into thy rest”. Oh my goodness, what a awesome God we serve. Hmmmm……….I think I want a cookie. Love you lots, see you tomorrow and have a great day…….Pastor Brion

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Wonderings, Ponderings And Explanations

Numbers 30:2

Numbers 30:2 “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Well…….I am sitting here this morning thinking how badly I need to start writing again. I am constantly humbled by your requests for the ponderings that go through my mind. It’s hard for me to believe that someone would actually want to read something I would pen. I have been out of touch for a while now and I think you deserve a explanation and maybe a insight into who I really am. Back in November, Linda Gail started the process of knee replacement in her right knee. Arthritis had done it’s damage and there was no other choice available. She had a very successful surgery done on December 3, for which I am very grateful. Since that time, the days have been full of rehabilitation and unfortunately agonizing pain. Night time has been terrible, trying and very difficult for her. All through this time I have been doing everything I can possibly do to take care of her and make her life easier. She has been, is and will always be the joy and apex of my life. When she has an ailment of some kind it transforms me into a “worry wart”. I can not think of anything but her care and well being. I have tried to get my mind on other things or do other things but I always drift back to the vows I made to her and two very important men in my life, my Dad and my Father-in-law. Dad was a very impressive role model. A stately man whose word was as solid as a rock. He taught me that nothing was more important than to take care of the one’s you love. He loved Linda Gail very much and I can still see the sternness in his face as he explained to me the responsibilities of a man. I never want to disappoint him by my actions as a man and husband. Then there was my Father-in-law. A very hard working man who had a little girl as his only child. The bond that the two of them had is the strongest I have ever seen. Not one time did he ever say anything out of the way to me. He was always supportive of us and would do anything he could to help us. I loved that man like he was my own Dad. He is another that I would never want to disappoint, after all, he entrusted his only child to me. Later in his life he encountered health problems that took it’s toll. We all agonized in our own ways for this man we all loved. In his last few days we gathered with him at a Chattanooga Hospital. He was in the ICU and in very critical condition. I had a moment with him alone and I told him he had absolutely nothing to worry about. I promised him that I would see that his little girl would always be taken care of and he could go on home with no worries. He could not speak, but he raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement of my vow to him. I will never forget that day. The vows that we make in this world are of the utmost importance to ourselves and the ones we make them to. We do not understand or realize the ramifications of these vows in this world and in the unseen realm. If the words we speak meant nothing or had no power, there would be no cautions in the Bible. Our Scripture today tells us to watch what we say. Here it simply tells us to never, ever break a vow. Vows bind our soul to the words we speak forever. If we break the vows we have made we are cursed with a curse. We carry that curse and it’s consequences until we make it right. Oh my goodness, what a mess we make for ourselves and never realize it. We go through days, weeks, months and years of agony of all kinds and never realize we may be living out a curse because of things hastily said and broken promises. Our souls are bound with chains and we can’t realize the freedom Jesus gives. I think I understand the weight of words and vows, therefore I hope and pray that I will never be cursed. So with these vows I made to these men I love and the ultimate vow I made to my precious wife, my thoughts and actions are to fulfill them. So now you know the reason for my absence, I’ve been working to fulfill my vows. Today you may be thinking about the promises and vows you have made throughout your life and you have never realized that your soul is bound by them. You may even be thinking about broken promises and living under a self inflicted curse. Well…………there is good news in the precious Word of God. Go to 1 John 1:9 and put it in to action!! Now be honest and tell God exactly what is going on, what you have done and who you have done it with. He makes a promise back to us that He will never break. When you truly do this the freedom you receive from binding chains is unexplainable. What a awesome God. I love each and every one of you and I pray for the best of you all. I hope you have a great day and a good week, remember us in your prayers, thanks for reading and I’ll see you tomorrow. Your eternal friend…….Pastor Brion