Springs First

Haggai was God’s messenger to challenge the Israelites to get to work on building God’s temple and to stop their emphasis on themselves and their own houses. The house of God was to be a place of honor and holiness, but the people had allowed it to remain in ruins. Plainly God did not have the rightful place in their hearts and lives. With words from the LORD Almighty, Haggai challenged the Israelites to consider their situation, “You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6). God was using Haggai as His spokesman to get their attention for the urgent. There was certainly a great deal of hard work ahead, but God told the people to be strong and promised that He would be with them. Rebuilding the temple would reveal that the hearts of the people desired His presence once again.

The most rewarding life is one lived by using our strength and spiritual muscles to join in the holy work of our Heavenly Father! Are you and I willing to join God in the work days of this present time? What is He calling you and me to help Him build? Will we let go of our agenda to fully adopt His? Haggai was an instrument that God used to remind the Israelites to make God their first priority. May we, like the Israelites, obey God and do His work with excellence. We can be assured that no earthly reward can ever match the eternal reward that He has waiting for His beloved children. May we always build upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, and remember that beyond this life is the promise of a beautifully, adorned heavenly home.  

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Cindy

                                                               Copyright, 2011 by Cindy Lamb

Phil was a Christian man whose passionate love for God spilled over into everything he did. One of his passions was a prison ministry in the town where he lived. It was not uncommon for Phil to preach with inmates heckling in the background. Phil occasionally felt discouraged, but continued to trust God’s Word was making a difference.

Randy, one of the inmates, had often been in trouble with the law. On one occasion, Randy was especially belligerent during the service. He yelled, “If you have such a wonderful God, then why doesn’t He help me?” Phil stopped. There was silence. Then, he asked, “What is it you want God to do for you?” Randy answered, “I have no shoes! Can your God give me a pair of shoes?” Phil promised he would talk to God about it. Randy felt confident Phil really did not care about him and that no gospel message could make a difference in his life.

Phil called the jail the following day. He asked a guard if he could find out Randy’s shoe size. The guard found out and called Phil back. After he did, Phil purchased a brand new pair of shoes for Randy. Phil delivered them to the jail and asked the guard not to tell Randy he had brought them. Inside the shoe box, Phil placed a note that read, “These shoes are from God. Why not try to walk in faith?”

The following week, Phil arrived for the chapel service. The inmates filed in, with Randy first in line. Phil said, “Hello, Randy, how are you?”

The tears streamed down Randy’s face as he spoke, “I am great! Your God gave me a pair of shoes, and I want to accept Him into my heart!” Phil embraced Randy, and Randy asked Jesus to be His Savior that day.

Randy was released from prison one year later. He continued to walk with God. He kept the shoes and note as reminders that God can reveal Himself to us any way He chooses – even with a pair of shoes!

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Cindy

                                                         Copyright, 2010 by Cindy Lamb

                                                                      (A true story)

Do you like to laugh? I’m convinced that laughter is great medicine for all of us. I am going to attempt to make you laugh today, or at least to bring a smile to your face. Recently, I came across a list of interesting street names. If you do not particularly like your street name, perhaps you would like to trade yours in for one of these. Consider: Quite A Road, Skunks Misery Road, Upsan Downs Road, Purgatory Drive, Milky Way, Witts End Road, Whicha Way, Memory Lane, Driving Me Crazy Road, or Where O Where Drive. Now, if you happen to be feeling a little down and blue, you might want to avoid sitting at this sad intersection in Albany, GA. It’s called Lonesome Road and Hardup Road.

As humorous as this list is, the truth is that addresses are important. We are consistently asked to give our name and the address where we live. In Luke 9:57-58, we are told that Jesus and some of the disciples were walking along the road and that a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” In other words, Jesus did not have an earthly home address to call His own. Instead, He possessed an eternal home address – far greater than anything the human mind could ever perceive!

In the spiritual sense, where do you and I live? If we know Jesus as Savior and Lord, we should be living on Victory Lane! Jesus spoke these words in John 14:2-4, “In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” How amazing and humbling to know that in the Father’s house are rooms for His family to have permanent residence! Most of us will never live in a mansion on a hill in this earthly life, but no one can keep us from living on Victory Lane as we fellowship with our Savior Jesus Christ, day by day! Don’t settle for living on Upsan Downs Road or Whicha Way, because Jesus wants us to know for certain that He is the way and the truth and the life! John 14:6

Serving the Savior,

Pastor Cindy

                                               Copyright, 2010 by Cindy Lamb

I have special childhood memories of my great-grandmother. She was a woman of many talents and a true master in the kitchen! Her home often had the rich aroma of bread baking in the oven. I could hardly wait for it to be finished so I could enjoy a fresh, warm slice with butter. She never denied me her best bread or other food from her table. 

The Israelites learned quite a bit about bread, referred to as manna in their day. Exodus 16 tells us the story. When the thin flakes like frost appeared on the ground, the Israelites did not know what it was. Moses said to them in Exodus 16:15b, “It is the bread the LORD has given to you to eat.” The people were then instructed to gather as much as they needed, but they were not to keep any of it until morning. They could collect it daily except for the Sabbath, so on the sixth day they were allowed to gather enough manna for both days. God was consistently trying to teach the Israelites to trust Him, even for daily bread. They often took two steps forward and three steps back in their journey of faith. Although Moses delivered God’s full instruction, some of the people disregarded it. They disobeyed and kept the bread. They found in the morning’s light that the bread was not dry or stale, but disgusting with a stench and certainly not edible. The Bible makes it clear that since the beginning of time, some people insist on doing things their own way and then end up with a real mess on their hands. Instead of trusting in God’s provision, some of the Israelites thought their own plan was a smarter one. How often do we treat God the same way? Proverbs 13:13 says, “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.” Even today God is persistent in teaching you and me to trust Him with both the small and large areas of our lives. People often end up with a bag full of life’s bread crumbs, because they simply place their trust in the things of this world instead of the One who made the world. Refuse to be a beggar when you can have God’s blessed bread from heaven. In John 6:32, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then in John 6:35b, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.”  While the Bible certainly does not teach that we will live problem-free lives, we are reminded that God is our Provider – Jehovah Jireh. Who will ever know your needs or mine any better than our Almighty God? Come to His table and receive your daily bread from Him!

Living for Christ,

Pastor Cindy

                                                                   Copyright, 2010 by Cindy Lamb

In 1879, the world became a brighter place! Thomas Edison brought us the invention of the light bulb. In 1973, Dr. Martin Cooper brought the world the first handheld cellular phone weighing in at 2.5 lbs. – allowing the first call to be made directly to a person instead of a place.

It is true that people of all ages and from all walks of life are able to accomplish amazing achievements. Despite greatness and human intelligence, absolutely nothing can equal what God can do when we draw from His endless supply of resources and holy power! Andrew Murray is quoted as saying, “We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world, and can bring its power to earth.” Why would we want to settle for worldly trophies and trinkets when we can live with the power of God in our lives and be in daily relationship with Him? When His power is brought to earth, we can literally witness supernatural things – the sick can become healthy, the hopeless can be robed with a new garment of hope, families in crisis can be found drawing together instead of falling apart, and crumbling nations can rise up and stand on the firm foundation of God once more. Although we realize not every difficulty and problem will go away as quickly as it arrives, the Bible reminds us that we can call on God who is always mighty and strong and able to offer help and hope! Even when our prayers seem weak, they soar to the heights of where the King of kings and the Lord of lords dwells! Here are just a few scriptures for us to be reminded of as we trust in our God who never diminishes in wisdom, power, and glory!

*From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)

*I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted. (Psalm 138:2-3)

*The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

*I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

*Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Let’s be people of prayer with deep, vibrant, confident, and bold faith in Jesus Christ! Let’s believe our God for the supernatural, and remember that He alone is the Inventor of the universe! Nothing is too difficult for Him!

Serving the Savior,

Pastor Cindy 

                                                                Copyright, 2010 by Cindy Lamb