Author Archives: lamar

Loving God with all my Heart

Mark 12:29-30 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: [30] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

The creation of mankind is amazing. God has given us a heart, a soul, a mind, and a physical body with incredible abilities. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). When asked which is the first commandment of all, Jesus answered, “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” (Mark 12:28-30).  The heart spoken of in these verses does not refer to the physical one beating inside our chest but that part of us from which comes our emotions, affections, and desires. Our heart can be greatly affected by our beliefs, other people, places, things, and even events (Matthew 6:21). Our hearts can be sinful, cold, unmoved, and even wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).  What captivates your heart?  What moves you?  Jesus is teaching us that the priority of our heart needs to be the one true God.  He created us, sustains us, offers forgiveness, and eternal life.  He is the source of life, true love, joy, and hope.  He should be Lord of our life.  What place does God have in your life and among those things that have your attention?

The Preeminence of Love

Matthew 22:36-40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Biblical love is one of the most important elements of the Christian life. The response Jesus gave when asked about the greatest commandment of all gives us insight into that importance. We are to love God with every fiber of our being (with ALL our hearts, soul, mind, and strength); and we are to love others as we would ourselves (selfless and sacrificial).  Every commandment contained in God’s Word and every teaching of the prophets hinge on this love.  It should be the priority and heartbeat of every church, ministry, preacher, and believer.  We should cherish and long for an environment where this kind of love is preeminent, displayed, and encouraged.  If we are not careful we can lose touch with this mandate; and our lives, ministries, church services, and leadership can become shallow, scripted, and cold.  The love described by Christ in these verses impacts every area of life.  It affects our worship, motives, behavior, priorities, teaching, preaching, giving, and treatment of others.  It is a love that motivates; and it is a love that can be seen and felt.  This love must be made a priority.  May the God of Heaven help us as believers not to simply go through all the motions of church and miss out on the most important thing of all: truly loving God and loving others.

Loving God

Mark 12:29-30 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is , Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: [30] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Humans are a unique and amazing creation. God has given us emotions, personalities, intellect, and physical abilities.  He has also given us the priviledge of having a personal relationship with him.  Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to love our creator, the  one true God, with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, and with all our strength. This love involves every aspect of our life and every fiber of our being. Can you imagine such a love? The question is not whether God is worthy of such a love, because He most certainly is, but are we expressing this kind of love to Him?

Why the Philippines?

Why the Philippines?

As long as I can remember, I have had a heart for Missions and Missionaries.  I have had the privilege of hosting several missionaries from around the world and taking several mission trips including trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines.  For whatever reason God has given me a special burden for the Philippines.  They are a precious people and God is using them in some amazing ways in their own country and all around the world.  I am humbled by what I have seen in their land and among their people.  Their spirit, faith, and service are an inspiration.

It is my desire to help and be an encouragement to those serving our Lord around the world, but especially in the Philippines – missionaries, preachers, church planting, and ministry projects. Raising awareness and funds, providing resources and encouragement, and networking with people to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to affect lives, families, and communities for God’s glory.

Thank You!!!

Thank you for donating to The Philippine Project!!!  The need is great and we are thankful for your help. Every dollar you have given will be used to feed, help, encourage, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with these precious people.  Missionary Josh Adams and others are working fervently to minister and aid all of the Filipinos that were affected by this typhoon.

God bless,
Lamar & Heather Powell

2013 – Thirty Days of Thanks – Day One

2013 – Thirty Days of Thanks – Day One

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The Word of God encourages us to be thankful.  A grateful heart not only recognizes the blessings of God but also the God of those blessings.  May we express thanksgiving for all our great God has done for us.

 

2013 – Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

2013 – Thirty Days of Thanksgiving: I created this series on being thankful for the month of November. You can create your own or use mine.  The idea for the series is to set aside some time each day and focus on being thankful for something important in your life and for the God from whom all blessings come.  Enjoy!

 

The Philippine Project

Philippines – Super Typhoon Hiayan

Please help?  Missionaries and workers are on the ground right now helping, feeding, encouraging, and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people of the Philippines following Super Typhoon Hiayan. Cash donations are needed immediately to purchase and provide food, basic needs, and supplies.  Any amount will help.  EVERY DOLLAR GOES TO THE FIELD.  A PAYPAL link is being provided for your convenience and to expedite this pressing need.  You may also contact me directly if you need additional information.





Now FAITH is…

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is an important, fundamental, and foundational element in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ.  (See previous post: The Word Faith)

The meaning of FAITH:

FAITH involves trust, belief, and assurance.

From Strong’s: pis’-tis (G3982): persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: – assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

From Thayer’s: 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.

Relating to God: the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.

Relating to Christ: a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.

Relating to the religious beliefs of Christians: belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same.

A good definition of FAITH (adapted and based on Webster’s definition of “Trust”): The exercise of an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of the true and living God.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us insight into FAITH.
It provides the SUBSTANCE and the EVIDENCE of the THINGS that are HOPED FOR and NOT SEEN.

                     THE SUBSTANCE                                 HOPED FOR
FAITH IS                                        OF THINGS
                     THE EVIDENCE                                    NOT SEEN

What are these THINGS hoped for and not seen?

Whatever these THINGS are – FAITH is the SUBSTANCE and EVIDENCE of them.

The meaning of SUBSTANCE:

A compound word. SUB (hupo) meaning “under, below, or beneath” and STANCE (stasis) meaning “to stand, a setting.”  The underlying substance, foundation, or essence of a matter.  What stands under, behind, or supports a thing – a building, a contract, a promise. What brings assurance, confidence, and expectation.

FAITH is the foundation or assurance of the things in which we hope.

Our HOPE is founded upon the fact that we can with assurance completely rely on the character, ability, strength, and truth of the true and living God.  This is FAITH in action!

The meaning of EVIDENCE:

A process of proof that produces conviction.

FAITH is the evidence or proof of the things in which we cannot see.

I believe the things in which we HOPE and the things in which we CANNOT SEE are basically the same.

Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

We cannot see..

  • God
  • Jesus Christ
  • Holy Spirit
  • Heaven
  • Salvation

We cannot see but we know…

  • God exists because we see evidence of His existence
  • Jesus Christ exists because we see evidence of His existence.
  • The Holy Spirit exists because we see evidence of His existence.
  • Heaven is real because we see evidence of its existence.
  • Salvation is real because we see evidence of its existence.

FAITH gives the proof or evidence needed to SEE the UNSEEN.

A process of proof that produces conviction.

FAITH is the evidence or proof of the things in which we cannot see.

I believe the things in which we HOPE and the things in which we CANNOT SEE are basically the same.

Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

We cannot see..

  • God
  • Jesus Christ
  • Holy Spirit
  • Heaven
  • Salvation

We cannot see but we know…

  • God exists because we see evidence of His existence
  • Jesus Christ exists because we see evidence of His existence.
  • The Holy Spirit exists because we see evidence of His existence.
  • Heaven is real because we see evidence of its existence.
  • Salvation is real because we see evidence of its existence.

FAITH gives the proof or evidence needed to SEE the UNSEEN.

HOPE is a human quality. It is more of a positive wishful thinking.

  • I hope my car starts in the morning.
  • I hope my doctor visit goes well.

HOPE is also a gift in the life of a believer.

The meaning of Hope: 

a confident expectation in something promised or guaranteed by God.

  • HOPE is certain – Hope is an anchor because God cannot lie – Hebrews 6:18-19
  • HOPE is unseen – Our hope is in things we cannot see at this time – Romans 8:24-25
  • HOPE is looking forward – Hope looks to the future – Titus 2:13 – Blessed Hope
  • HOPE is looking upward – Hope looks to the Heavenly Father – 1 Peter 1:18-25
  • HOPE is looking inward – Hope moves the heart

FAITH and HOPE involve things that are unseen. But remember they are still based on God’s Word.

Hebrews 1:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

The world was framed by the Word of God.  What we SEE was made from the UNSEEN.

  • All that we know in the physical universe was created by God’s Word.
  • He spoke it into existence by His Word.

Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14 “And God said…”

Psalm 33:8-9 “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood.”

False science and man’s wisdom want to base creation and our existence on the seen alone.
What we see in creation was created by the Word of God.

FAITH and HOPE are also built on the UNSEEN.  Therefore we should not base FAITH and HOPE on “what is seen.”  Our FAITH and HOPE are based upon the Word of God and God’s Word is faithful and true.