Welcome to the El Camino Baptist Church blog. We wanted a place where our ministry leaders could share things that God has laid on their hearts. Please feel free to comment and join in the discussion as we share how God is moving through His church.Other places to find us on the web are our website, Youtube, and Facebook. You can also check out Hoss' music blog at hosshughes.com.









Monday, October 17, 2011

A Godly Woman of Prayer

Tonight in Awana our girls T&T Director called me over to see her club during handbook time. For the past seven weeks she has been praying that God would overflow her club with girls, provide a leader for each table of girls and provide extra listeners.

Over the past few weeks, God has been bringing girls, leaders and listeners to her, one by one. Tonight, her prayer for helpers was fully answered. Her club was a well oiled machine. Each table was full and had a leader, and listeners spread out along the walls to assist.

As I walked to my next task, the picture of her room and the answered prayer it represented humbled me. The reality of how much I limit ministry by not praying enough was undeniable. I pray, but not usually daily for weeks for the same request. She prayed for at least seven weeks! And I am guessing since she is still praying for more clubbers, she will continue to pray for more leaders to invest in them.
Pray without ceasing! 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Thank you God for hearing and answering Cheryl's prayers. Thank you for teaching me through this to pray more faithfully. Her joy overflowed and I rejoice with her! May we all be as faithful to 'ask so we will receive, so our joy will be as complete!' John 16:24b

Friday, October 14, 2011

Ignoring God

Yesterday in my quiet time with God, He spoke a verse to me. He spoke it so strongly that I wondered if He was showing my theme verse for 2012.

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.


I was in a meeting where a person's opinions were aired. I didn't feel hurt, but I was incredibly shocked.

When I woke up the next morning, there were words and feelings swelling and swirling inside me. I still didn't 'feel' hurt, but the words were ready to burst out. That is when God spoke Proverbs 10:19 to me, loud and clear.

I knew I needed to forgive and move on. But what did I do? I shared with someone, causing feelings and words to swirl inside that person. Had I just obeyed God and held my tongue, there would've been a lot less wasted energy, emotions and words. There would've been a lot less time taken away from loving and serving God and others.

Lord, thank you for speaking so clearly to me. Please forgive me for ignoring Your caring instruction. Please help me obey You more faithfully. It is definitely in my best interest, in the best interest of others, and in the best interest of your Kingdom!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Heaven

While reading "When God Whispers Your Name" I was reminded about the main thing about heaven. With all the blessings of heaven and all that is said about the streets of gold and the gates of pearl and the no more tears and the no more pain, even with all of that and more it's not what we really long for & what we really want. Moses asked to see God, after all God had done and shown Moses what he really wanted was to see God. When we get to heaven all we will really care about is seeing God face to face. What a day that will be!

Pastor Dick

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Motivation to Obey God

What does it take to motivate me? What does it take to motivate you? I have been thinking through this issue of motivation. From my perspective, the greatest motivator for most people is either love or fear. Call it the carrot or the stick - run to the reward/pleasure or run from the discipline/consequences.

When it comes to God, I see a need for both forms of motivation in my life. In my over simplified version of this, the Fear of the Lord keeps me from disobeying (fear of discipline, the stick). Look at Hebrews 12:5 and following.

The Love of the Lord causes me to obey (love, the carrot). Look at John 14:15, 21. I realize that the Love of the Lord should keep me from sin and the Fear of the Lord should motivate me to obedience. But it helps me to understand how the two fit together.

It is not one or the other. It is both-and. We need to love God and obey Him. We need to fear God and refrain from that which would incite His discipline.