Shall Not Want

Psalm 23:1 (Geneva Version)
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

Psalm 23:1 (GODS WORD translation)
"The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need."

Here is the meaning of the Hebrew word translated as "want" or "need":

STRONG'S CONCORDANCE #H2637 

Word: "WANT/NEED"

"\khaw-sare'\

A primitive root; to lack; by implication to {fail} {want} lessen: - be {abated} {bereave} {decrease} (cause to) {fail} (have) {lack} make {lower} want."

I was receiving one-on-one prayer from brothers at my church on Tuesday evening. I remember them praying there would be no lack in my life. And indeed, I got thinking... there is no lack (need) in my life! I am whole in Christ. He has redeemed me and washed me, and everything that is His, He shares with me... and today I am walking in that authority and sonship. Totally amazing.

 

I never was in need. God always met my needs. I have walked in this knowledge for quite some time. The flesh often disagrees, but God's word and His Spirit uphold the promise in my spirit and heart. I shall not, and do not lack any thing. Right now.

That is written in the spirit's ink on the tablet of my heart.

 

What is written in your heart? Can you agree with Jesus and say to Him, "Jesus, you are my Head Pastor, my Great Shepherd. I am never in need. Thank you Jesus!"

 

It is a bold statement to make considering you could count all the things you do not currently have. Look at me for instance; I have utterly failed to restart my personal life. I remain divorced. But does that mean I lack? Of course not. Jesus has proven Himself as the Great Pastor, the Shepherd who meets all needs. Mine are already met. Why? Because He said so, through David the Psalmist. Why look for something you already have?

 

This is a present-tense word for you and for me. It sounds like a basic one, but how often we forget, and recede into the depths of our own feelings and longings and forget that the old English word "want" as used in the Geneva Version and King James version just means a lack of basic needs. Love and acceptance. Food, clothing, and shelter. God meets this need. 

 

Over time, word meanings can change. The meaning of "want" has been added to in 450 years. These days, a "want" is a desire. God does not automatically give all things we desire, but He does care for our needs, as we trust Jesus. Only serve the Lord Jesus, and He will always meet your actual needs. He may not address all your "perceived needs", but He always meets the actual ones. He knows best. This does not mean God will not answer prayers regarding your desires. He can and does grant desires. But this post is about needs/wanting/lacking. So when you pray, but feel a need is not being met, ask yourself two questions:

 

1) Am I seeking the kingdom of Jesus first?

 

2) Is my need "perceived" or "actual"?

Jesus promises us:

Matthew 6:33 (Geneva Version)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be ministered unto you."

 

Two good things to remember as Jesus gave His word to meet you where you are. But you must put Him first and simply believe. Nothing more. Give Jesus priority as your Leader. Give His Kingdom, His righteousness, His rulership in Your life the first place in your heart and mind and will. Give Him your belief. He does the rest. And you will discover that you never lack a necessity in life! Just go about obeying Jesus, and let Him show you His faithfulness! He is so good!

 

It is wonderfully challenging thing to say it, isn't it? Say it with me: 

I do not lack a thing... because Jesus is my Great Pastor, the Great Shepherd!
 

Enjoy your richness in Him!

 

Bless you,

~Pastor Curtis

 

 

 

Poem: Winter Song

WINTER SONG

Bird song sung in February snow
I'm singing too, next thing I know.

Notes vibrate through a vocal chord
bounce off the tongue- my song of the Lord

The emotions of soul seem a bit off
But it stops me not from climbing His loft

I need not my emotions to approve
Christ Jesus makes my spirit move

Heedless my spirit is, though soul did long,
For I chirp now, as that bird in winter song

I worship Jesus in spirit, truth and might
a spearhead attack that puts demons to flight

Submit to God, and resist the devil
sing to Christ and take your walk a higher level

Winter to flesh and desire,
Yet my spirit is in Him, a fire

Flurries of snow, cold and long
are not enough to stop my winter song.

-------
Poem by Curtis J. Alexander, (c) Feb 25 2014

The above poem describes my morning today, and also this season I am walking through. God is so faithful and good!
Blessings!
~Pastor Curtis

Post-Valentines Reflections

When I woke up the morning of Valentines Day last week, I hardly even knew that it was here- I had forgotten what day it was. To me, it was Friday. I kid you not. The day really does not mean all that much to me anymore.
Eventually I did remember, because of some friends who clued me in.
Then it flew by.
 The whole day slipped by while I worked at the store. I was completely content in Christ. It was a good day because Jesus was in it. Saturday was just as good... Jesus was in that day too!
Such is the blessing when God covers us like snow. It seems a bit cold, but that cold serves a purpose, in keeping the dust from flying up. Our flesh is made of dust.

 If you have followed my past couple of posts, you'll recall that God has been "winterizing" some of my personal wants and desires (things I used to call "needs"). This means I have learned to be content without dates and without female companionship. Over the past 5 years, I have not dated even one woman since my divorce in 2009. But I somehow, miraculously do not care anymore. I cannot explain it except to say that I truly let God have that want and if He chose, I was willing to let it die. Instead of killing it, he sent it into dormancy, like hibernation. This has caused me to be uninterested in dating in the last 8 weeks. I don't think many people understand. But that's ok. I am much happier this way. Because of this change from the Lord in my heart, I have no worries or concerns about the future.

God has been working on my character, and carefully sculpting it, smoothing out all my imperfections. It was painful at times, but looking back, I can see now why He has kept me all to Himself. I am just for His glory, to reflect Him. I was never really meant for a woman. I was meant for serving and loving God.

Now as I march forth into March soon, I look forward to overseeing things at the church while Pastors Steve and Tracy are away on their upcoming mission trip to Germany. This is what it's all about. Doing the work of the ministry.

Their call is to do these short term missions while pastoring our church in Newmarket.

My call is to watch the church while they are answering their call and to pastor at that church as they do. 

I have messages I believe God wants me to preach in the time they are away. Things He has shown me by His Spirit out of the Word.

So why did I choose to mention valentines day more than a week after the fact? I guess I just take a long time to process everything I am experiencing before I can truly put it into words that will be adequate.

I have never felt so alive and refreshed as I do now. There is more to come, and Newmarket is going to see and know the power and glory and love of the Lord Jesus Christ! Not even my own flesh will stop me from being a willing vessel in His hands. And I cannot take credit for that. It is all His work in me.

Blessings!
~Pastor Curtis

What are your plans?

So the question is what are your plans today? What are your plans for the future? How does God factor into that? Have you taken your plans to the Lord in prayer? 

These are just a few thoughts that came to me, a few questions. God has taken me on an amazing journey and it's caused me to rethink my own plans. It seems through a series of challenges, and turns of events, I have slowly over time yielded up my human plans one by one to Jesus. And I think He wants us at the place where we are completely submitted to his plan. 

Many of us as believers are familiar with the verse from Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 29:11
[1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)]
11 For I know the thoughts, that I have thought towards you, saith the Lord, even the thoughts of peace, and not of trouble, to give you an end, and your hope.
--
But let us continue to read a little more and see what the next two verses say:
--
12 Then shall you cry unto me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hear you,
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, because ye shall seek me with all your heart.
--

So if we cry to the Lord for His plan and His thoughts, He promises to hear us. We must call on the Name of Jesus! 
If you seek Jesus with all your heart, not some of it, but all, then He promises you will find Him. He has already found you first. But now He wants you to seek Him! Find Him in your diligence of prayer and in surrendering your own plans to Him. 

I have recently come to discover something about myself: I have no real plans of my own anymore! I am already doing what I feel called to do. And if I were to die tomorrow, I would be grateful for the honour and privilege of what I have been given in this life and the ability to serve, teach, and lead others. 

My earthly and personal ambitions are at an all-time low. It seems God has brought me to this place. I no longer care what happens to my previous ideas and plans. They have been surrendered to Jesus. He knows best, and cares deeply for me, and loves me beyond any normal love I could possibly comprehend. Because of this, I have felt completely comfortable dying to my own plans, even plans that seemed good at the time. 

I want nothing more than to keep serving Jesus. And I have no other goal. I am free of those troubling, unreachable things we all seem to want from time to time. My ambitions are very real. I want to learn and grow in Jesus. Develop a deeper understanding of Scripture. I want to keep blessing and serving others, especially those of our local church. I want to pierce through darkness with whole-hearted worship in Spirit and Truth!

What seems to be important, but is less so now, I can part with. I trust God that He may, or may not add to me things I had hoped for. But those hopes are not greater than my obedience to His call. He will establish me in my hopes. But I must give all my plans to Him, and let His thoughts and plans guide me. 

In the context of Jeremiah 29, we see that the Jews were to be exiled for 70 years before their captivity would end and their hope would be restored. So it is with us. Are we willing to wait for God's plans? Are we willing to yield the years to Jesus? 

Whatever it is God has begun in me, it is a good work. He will perform it until His return. But that work has taken years to truly accomplish. Hopes are not greater than obedience. 

So trust Jesus in this season. Let His plan take precedence over your own. Give your hope to Him for safekeeping. I did that. I haven't regretted it. Now I can honestly say that I have no other plans, but to keep standing for Jesus in the ministry He has given me. It is no strength of my own.... It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables me to stand each and every day. This phase of my walk has been over 5 years and I enjoy it thoroughly. I may not see my hope for years... like the Jews in Jeremiah 29. But as long as my hopes and plans are in Jesus's care, I am fully satisfied. For now, I just follow the steps He has placed in front of me. No other plan but His. 
Blessings!
Pastor Curtis.

 Feb 19/14
12:42am

Singleness a Gift?

What should we do? Should we be married or single? Is singleness a dilemma or a gift?
Let us take a look at Paul's chapter on Marriage and Singleness in 1 Corinthians 7. This chapter is very crucial as it truly helped me in my moments of crisis.

Here are some verses that stand out to me:

1 Cor 7:7 ESV

7I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 

So marriage is a gift from God. So is singleness. Everyone has their own gift from God! We are all gifted! If you read the context of this above verse, you'll see that Paul is referring to the topic of marriage and singleness.

1 Cor. 7:26-28

26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

So given the conditions Paul was seeing in his day, such as persecution, he was saying that people should abide in their current condition, whether married or single. Some had been "freed" (Greek word meaning "loosed, divorced") from their spouse. Some were married. Some were single. Paul made the point that the main thing is to serve God in His calling on your life. Regardless of your status in this world, serve God, as you were called by Christ! But if those who were freed or single did eventually marry, they have not sinned. Paul was, with literary finese and Holy Ghost power, expounding the fact that neither is a sin, marriage or singleness. 

For Paul,

Being a single serving God is great!

Being married so that sexual passion is under control is good! Serving God is possible still, but can present more challenges. 

But regardless of marital status, serving God is the best and main thing, and it is easier to serve God as a single! I know both worlds. And serving God is definitely easier now that I am single again! 

I have embraced this long season of singleness I have been in!

To me, here is the main point of 1 Corinthians 7 and Paul's discourse: 

1 Cor.7:17

17Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

The main theme and point of this chapter as I have studied it, to me, is the CALLING OF CHRIST. 

This is reflected several times as the calling is repeated over and over in the following verses: 18-24 . The word "Called" or "Calling" is mentioned a total of 8 times from verses 17-24. This is Paul's point... In whatever one does, let nothing distract you from the Call of Christ. For one is not fully putting God first in life if one does not heed and obey Christ's geographic and ministerial call! We are all ministers of different kinds! 

Blessings! 

Bread In Winter

Psalm 107:9
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
9 For he satisfied the thirsty soul, and filled the hungry soul with goodness.

John 6:47-48 (GNV)
47 Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.

Have you ever felt hungry and thirsty? I am certain you have.
In the natural, it is a necessary function of life, eating food and drinking water that your body can continue to operate in health. But what about in the Spirit?

Have you allowed your hunger for Jesus to overtake your hunger for the things of the the world or the flesh? This is not always easy. But I challenge you to ask Jesus to satisfy your inner spiritual hunger. This is where your true self lies. It is not in regular meat and drink, but in spiritual meat and drink.

 Truly surrender your wants and desires to Jesus and offer them up on the altar. I know for me, when I did that, He sent His word, like snow, to cover and freeze the ground. It preserved the seed He had already deposited in me. It cooled and subdued my longings in the flesh. And, most importantly, it allowed me to experience to an even greater extent, the Living Bread and Living Water. Jesus is both. 

Yes leave it to God. He is able to send bread in the winter! Jesus feeds us what we really need. He satisfies us with eternal life and fellowship and redemption and salvation! 
So that is my challenge to you: Ask God to have full control over those earthly appetites - whatever they may be- and to fill you with the Living Bread! Be desperate for Jesus. Be hateful to the fleshly desire. Long for His bread. Don't shy away from the winter season. 

He is faithful and will satisfy anyone who is actually hungry for Jesus.
~Pastor Curtis

Hot Or Cold

I happen to enjoy every season, and winter is no exception. I love my winter walks. It was on a walk in the snow recently when God started to reveal His purpose for the cold to me. 
-----
Revelation 3:15
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou werest cold or hot.
----
Job 38:22
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
----
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 Surely as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither but watereth the earth, and maketh it to bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread unto him that eateth,
11 So shall my word be, that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I will, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
----
What does Jesus mean when He says He would rather us be Hot or Cold? He was speaking to His church in Revelation 3:15. Well when we examine Scripture, we see that God not only created the snow, He uses it to illustrate His Word. Scripturally and spiritually speaking, snow shows us God's WORD and God's TREASURE. And we know that mankind was formed of the dust of the earth. He was made a living soul and spirit dwelling in a body of formed dust. It is found in Genesis 2.
Sometimes the Word must come and cover our earthly lives like snow, and send or natural and fleshly tendencies into a freeze. Yes, we want to be on fire and hot in our spiritual desire for the Lord Jesus. 

But it is necessary, as I am discovering by experience, to also be cold FOR Him. Notice I did not say "toward" Him. But rather, we are cold for the Lord so that our fleshly and earthly ways lay dormant. His Word, His Glory, like those amazingly intricate snow flakes that are falling all over Newmarket right now, is covering the land, helping it to refresh, restore, and stay still. Others will see that you are cold in the flesh-nature, but they may mistake that as lack of love. In reality you are still very much on fire for the Lord, and love your brothers and sisters in Christ dearly. No change in behaviour happens toward our relationships in the church. The change happens in our relationship to God. We grow closer to Him, more dependent. We are much less distracted by what used to enrapture us in the natural.

As the flesh is put on ice, and caused to freeze in its wants, our spirit man is able to gain the upper hand and pursue Jesus like never before. It is a time of refreshing and for freezing those things which must be frozen in our lives. Much of it dies during this season. Some just lies dormant. And it is often a long season.

The season of snow eventually melts. Much further down the line, new life will bud from that snow as it transforms into water. But while you are in this winter season, enjoy your amazing freedom to pursue just Jesus without the "dust" interfering so often! 
~ Pastor Curtis

What is Success?

Q: How do you measure your success? Does success equal happiness?

A: What is success? The Bible tells us, not the world.

The Word says:

"13The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13)

And Jesus in the Word spells this success out very clearly:

"37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

38This is the great and first commandment.

39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” "

(Matt. 22:37-40)

Christians can live in success every single day of their lives. Yet in addition to this, there is a GOAL we as Christians should SUCCEED at reaching: individual and corporate maturity in Christ. This is when each individual believer and every local assembly grows and matures by the Spirit into the image of Christ in mind and in word and in maturity.

"11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,"

(Eph. 4:11-13)

So success is loving God, loving each other, and growing up into the image and maturity of Christ! 

As for happiness, we must choose to rejoice in Jesus. No one can make you happy, you must choose it.

Vision: "Hands"

At the church tonight we prayed as we always do and seek the Lord for salvation of souls in Newmarket and for guidance as a church. I was seeking the Lord's perspective and will in my life. I was in His presence and praying in the Spirit and The Lord suddenly showed me a vision:
~
I saw a forest from a high view, looking down. In the forest was a man, and the man was me. I was seeing myself from a high angle.
The forest started to catch fire and burn. Trees were going up in flames, and some were toppling sideways under the heat. I could see myself trapped in the blaze. I had nowhere to run.

Suddenly in the vision, these giant hands came down from above and started blocking trees from falling on me and shielding me from the heat. The hands were powerful and fast. They moved every which way, and could not be beaten. The fire was intense and the branches were falling all over, but these hands kept protecting me in the blaze, and knocking entire trees away as they fell toward me. It was incredible to see it from above. The ground shook when each hand slammed the ground around me. These hands cupped me, covered me, and swatted giant objects away from me. All I was doing in this fire was standing.

After the blaze died all I saw was grey and dead trunks.

(c) Peter Adams/plainpicture - Trees burnt by lightning in Australian Rainforest. Found this image on Bing.ca this morning Aug 17, 2014 and had to add it to my blog post. It shows perfectly the patch of grey I saw in my vision.

 I saw undefined figures who would try and approach and one or the other hand would gently block that person from reaching me. I do not know how many times the hands did this kind of block, but these hands kept me standing still without forcing me.

The last thing I remember was seeing dark fertile soil and in the ground of that burnt forest, and within that soil, a tiny green sapling.
Then the Lord's voice came to me. He said, "Curtis, I have been fighting for you these last 5 years. I am your fighter. I always have been." I remember thanking Him and praising Him tonight as I saw this. It helped me put my last few years into perspective. Jesus alone is the strong Hand and Arm of God and He alone made it possible for me to stand in my circumstances these past five years. He is so faithful!

Thank you Lord! As per Habakkuk 2:2, I am writing the vision!

Blessings,

Pastor Curtis