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On Monday & Tuesday of this week, I had the privilege of gathering with almost 400 other pastors from 28 states for one and only one reason: to pray.  I must admit that it was one of the most refreshing times I have experienced. The agenda really was focused on the Lord and prayer. We had well known mega-church pastors, small church pastors, and every type of pastor in between!  We had young, middle aged, and old. We had Calvinists and not-so Calvinists.  We had pastors from very traditional churches and pastors from very contemporary churches. Yet, for two days absolutely none of that was mentioned. Really, none of those issues were on our minds. We were there to pray for revival and spiritual awakening. Here’s what it looked like…

Certainly, we had times of worship and several speakers challenged us, but every one was designed to lead into a time of focused prayer. I left that meeting refreshed, but also convicted and burdened.  I am firmly convinced that revival and spiritual awakening is the only hope for our country. God seems to be raising up people to pray for that to happen. I believe it can.  Powerful things happen when God’s people agree together in prayer.

Probably the highlight of the meeting for me was being reminded of the great preacher/theologian Jonathan Edwards’ writing on prayer for spiritual awakening. Here is the title of his work on that subject…

A Humble Attempt to Promote the Agreement and Union of God’s People Throughout the World in Extraordinary Prayer For a Revival Of Religion And The Advancement Of God’s Kingdom On Earth, According To Scriptural Promises And Prophecies Of The Last Time.

Ronnie Floyd and the other pastors who helped to put this prayer meeting together did so in that spirit. It was the only agenda on display and for that I am most grateful.  Ronnie Floyd also had the quote of the week…“I don’t know how much extraordinary prayer is, but I do know it is more than I am doing.”  To that I say a hearty, “Amen!”

Will you join us pastors in moving toward extraordinary prayer for revival?

Like many readers of this blog, I spent Monday night riveted to the television watching the Auburn-Florida State national championship football game. It was a great game between two great teams. Certainly, big-time college sports is greatly influenced by money, and there are many who fail to keep it in the proper perspective.  It’s easy to forget that the overwhelming majority of those who play team sports never appear on television or have any sort of fame or fortune.  They play in little league, middle school, or high school on their respective teams. Unfortunately, all of us are familiar with the stories of those who have trouble keeping sports in the proper perspective even in those younger ages. Sports are NOT the most important things in life, and sports should never become the foremost priorities for any of us.  I fully recognize that, in today’s world, it is more difficult to keep a proper balance for lots of reasons.  Nevertheless, I still believe that team sports are overall a good and positive thing to be involved with. My sons are involved in sports and I encourage it, in spite of the tensions and pitfalls involved.  Please let me share a few reasons…

(1)  Sports teach the value of hard work and dedication.  Every sport requires years of training and practice to really excel or even be “good.”  The earlier our kids learn the value of consistent hard work over time, the better off they will be.

(2)  Sports provide an antidote to selfishness.  Let’s face it, we live in a self-absorbed culture. Everything is more and more about “me.”  Sports provide great opportunities to learn the value of teamwork.  When you are on a team, others are depending on you and you are depending on others. It’s not all about you.  That’s a great lesson to learn in life.

(3)  Sports teach mental toughness and resilience.  No one wins all the time. No one plays well every single game.  You win. You lose. You have great games, and you have games where it feels like you can’t do anything right.  Sports teaches a player to keep going through adversity and to never take the good times for granted. A set back isn’t the end of the world.  Put the past out of your mind and play the next play.  Again, those are great life lessons that will go with our kids for a lifetime.

(4)  Sports provide an opportunity for Christian influence.  All of us know of the positive influence that Tim Tebow has had, but there are thousands of other deeply committed Christians involved in team sports all over America. They just don’t make the news.  Just this week, I had the opportunity to meet a man who is a long-time, very successful Alabama high school football coach. “The Lord called me to be a coach,” he told me.  He views his role as a coach as a ministry the Lord has called him to and he has positively influenced hundreds of young men over the years.

Personally, I am thankful for the impact that playing team sports had on me growing up, and I am thankful that my boys are playing too!

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:18, NASB95)

It’s so easy to be selfish – even with our prayer life.  While I do keep two “prayer lists” consisting of people and needs that I pray for regularly, I realized in recent days that the circle of these is actually pretty small.  This blog has readers from a wide variety of places and I use it as a ministry, so I felt led to use this week’s blog post for those who would like for me to pray for a specific need. So, I am inviting anyone to leave a comment regarding a specific prayer need.  Please allow me a few reminders…

(1)  I do promise to personally pray for each request, even though I might not respond to each individual comment on the blog.  If we have a large number of responses, I likely will not be able to respond personally to each, but I will see every single one.

(2)  Please remember that these comments/prayer requests will be posted publicly on this blog.  Be mindful of this with prayer requests of a personal nature or on behalf of others.  As always, I reserve the right to filter any requests that I am not comfortable posting here.

(3)  Finally, if you have a request that you cannot share publicly but wish for me to pray for you, then you can feel free to email me at gcorbin@lakesidebaptist.com  Only myself and my administrative assistant will see these emails.  However, I hope that most of my readers will share in the comments so that all of the readers of this blog can pray for one another.

How may I pray for you?

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14, NASB95)

While the Apostle Paul was not talking about a new year in these verses, I certainly believe that they relate particularly well to this time of year.  As I write these words, only about eight hours remain in 2013.  Unless Jesus comes, 2014 will arrive very soon!  Like many readers of this blog, I use Facebook as a tool to stay connected with hundreds of friends and family members.  Today has brought posts by many people recapping their feelings about 2013.  For some, 2013 has been a year of great blessing and joy. They are praying that the new year brings comparable blessings.  For others, 2013 has been the most difficult year of their lives, and they look forward with anticipation to a year that hopefully doesn’t bring the same pain. For most of us, 2013 has been a year that cut both ways. It’s been both a year of blessing and a year of tears.  No matter which of these categories you may fall into, the reality is that 2014 is almost here and with the turn of the calendar comes a new year to live.

A new year of life is nothing to be taken lightly. If the Lord blesses you with another year of life, then by all means make sure you live it to the fullest for Him. That’s what the Apostle Paul was speaking of in Philippians 3:12-14.  When he stated that he was “forgetting what lies behind…” he didn’t literally mean that he wouldn’t remember it.  In fact, he had been through some unforgettable circumstances in his life!  Paul was saying that nothing in the past was going to stop him from living to the fullest in the future.  That should be your heart as well.

If the Lord has given you life, then He has a purpose for your life. If He has given you life and a purpose for your life, then you have a future. Believe God for it. Go for it. Live with all your heart and all His might!  Press on into 2014 with faith and courage.

As I shared in a previous post, the story of the wise men is always a highlight of the Christmas story for me. Yes, we all know the story of how they brought their gifts to Jesus…

“After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:9–11, HCSB)

Certainly, the first and primary meaning of the wise men involves the birth of Christ and the salvation He brought. Like the wise men, when you see the light, come to Jesus!  However, I believe that there is another very simple but yet powerful lesson from the wise men we can all use this Christmas season… 

NO MATTER WHAT, BRING YOUR GIFTS TO JESUS.

That’s it. No matter what, worship Jesus, pray to Jesus, love Jesus.  No matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.

Perhaps you are one of the fortunate people who will read this blog and couldn’t imagine life being much better. You are blessed, healthy, and happy.  You are positive about life and you really don’t have any real point of pain at present in your life.  If that describes you, then no matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.  He is the reason for every blessing and the Giver is far greater than any gift.

However, the overwhelming majority of those who read this blog post will have a point of pain in their life. Some will have crushing pain and a broken heart:  a marriage that ended this year,  the first Christmas without a loved one,  a child that is on the wrong track, constant family conflict, never-ending financial pressure, a struggle with depression, etc.  For most of us, we don’t have a crushing pain, but we do have some pain – some situation(s) that we wish with all of our heart were different.  The approach of Christmas Day is a painful approach.

Like the wise men, no matter what, bring your gifts to Jesus.

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22, ESV)

Today my wife Becky and I celebrated our 20th anniversary.  On December 18, 1993 at Rainsville First Baptist Church we became husband and wife, beginning a wonderful journey together. Here we are a few weeks ago. She gets prettier by the year, doesn’t she?

Becky is the best Christian I know. She is a wonderful wife. She is a wonderful mother.  She is a wonderful pastor’s wife.  I am grateful for every day of life with her, and I am looking forward to many more.  After 20 years of marriage, it’s almost like we are just getting started! God is good.  While I certainly do not claim to be an expert, I do wish to share six reflections on marriage that have helped us over the years…

1)   Don’t expect your spouse to be perfect.  Extending grace is an important aspect of marriage.

2)  Focus on meeting the needs of your spouse before you focus on your own needs.

3)  Work hard on your marriage just like you work hard on other things in life.

4)  Forgive.  Nothing is worth living in bitterness toward your spouse.

5)   NEVER criticize your spouse in front of other people.

6)   Pray for your spouse and with your spouse.

The story of the wise men is one of my personal favorite parts of the Christmas story in the Bible…

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;” (Matthew 2:1–3, ESV)

 

Who were the wise men?   The term “wise men” translates the Greek magi and very likely refers to men who were among the most highly educated, prestigious leaders of the ancient world.  Most Bible scholars believe they traveled to Israel from Babylon – the area that is modern day Iraq. It’s 1000 miles due east of Israel.  In their studies, they had come across the Hebrew scriptures which predicted when the Messiah would be born. Remember, hundreds of years earlier, Daniel and his friends had been taken into captivity in Babylon and likely were the source of much of the information the wise men had.  In the book of Daniel chapter 9 there is an incredible prophecy that predicted the exact time the Messiah was going to born.  They saw the star and knew that it was a sign from God that the Messiah had been born. However, the wise men did not know where the Messiah was going to be born, so they logically came to Jerusalem and had the famous conversation with Herod.  Then, a wonderful event happened. They saw the star again…

“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:9–11, ESV)

 

The wise men saw the light and came to Jesus. It’s that simple.  Take a few moments and read John 1:1-14 and see how the birth of Christ is portrayed there as a light shining into a dark world.  The wise men are literal examples of those who see the light of Christ and come to Him. Even as I type these words, I get excited because of the reality of my salvation.  As an eight year old boy, I saw the light of Christ and came to Jesus. Did I see a star like those guys?  No.  Actually, I “saw the light” in that I understood who Jesus is and I understood my sinfulness and need for a Savior. You see, light enables us to see.  Once I saw Jesus and saw myself – I placed my faith in Him as Savior.  In August 1978, Greg Corbin saw the light and came to Jesus.  Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you are reading this blog and you are not a Christian. I would love to connect with you and help you along the road to faith in Him. Go to the “contact” section of this blog and I would love to hear from you.

This is Thanksgiving week, and at some point along the way this week, each of us will likely think about how we should be more thankful.  The truth is that it is difficult in to be thankful in our American culture that breeds dissatisfaction on every hand. We have to work at thankfulness.  No question there. Probably the great teaching the Bible regarding thankfulness is found in Psalm 100…

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:1–4, ESV)

These verses certainly have much to teach us about giving thanks. However, I believe the most important truth is easy to miss.  Did you notice why we can make a joyful noise and serve the Lord with gladness?  Verse 3 is the answer to that question: because we know the Lord is God. He is the Creator. He made us.  The reason we can do these things is because of God himself. He is the sovereign creator and ruler over this world and each of us.  Think about it.

In addition, Psalm 100 ends with a great declaration of God…

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, ESV)

The reason that verses 1-4 are true is because verse 5 is true.  Think about it.  Because verse 5 is true, then we are driven to do the things described in verses 1-4.  You see, in the Bible, giving thanks is more than just saying an obligatory prayer at the family gathering.  Biblical thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart that overflows into words and works of praise to God.  Once we recognize God for who He is and we surrender to Him, love Him, serve Him, seek Him, and fear Him, only then can we truly be thankful.

Have you ever wondered why there is such discontent and a lack of thankfulness in our country today?  Actually it is entirely predictable if we study the Bible. So many in our culture have jettisoned the Biblical teaching of creation in favor of evolution and a secular worldview that permeates everything.  Certainly, one result is the moral revolution (for the worse) that our country has experienced in recent decades. However, the lack of satisfaction and thankfulness in America today can be traced directly to a culture that has left God and wants nothing to with Him. How do I know that?  Just read Psalm 100:3 again.  If there is no Creator, there is no reason to give thanks and be content; all that matters is my life and what I want.
Think about it.

Don’t miss the other side of the Psalm 100 coin.  Since we KNOW the Creator, then we CAN give thanks and serve Him. There is a reason to be thankful if we know the Lord, and it is far, far more than simply, “Lord, thank you for my stuff.”  Oh Lord, help us understand this Thanksgiving that the giver is far better than any gift!

For many Christians, next week is very positive. It’s Thanksgiving week. It’s a short work week and a time to gather with family.  Oh yes, there’s quite a bit of food involved too!  However, for some Christians, the very thought of Thanksgiving week is almost unbearable. How could that be?  If you have ever experienced the first Thanksgiving without a loved one at the table, you know exactly what I mean.  For others, this is the first Thanksgiving after a crushing divorce, and still others are wondering if a struggling adult child will even show up for Thanksgiving dinner.  Others are dealing with a cancer diagnosis or great job uncertainty.  Let’s be honest, there are many people (even many Christians) who don’t feel like Thanksgiving right now.  Their pain is very real. They feel that they are on the verge of totally losing hope. What do you do when you don’t feel like Thanksgiving?

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)

Don’t recoil at reading this verse. It doesn’t say what you THINK it says.  It’s doesn’t say give thanks “for” all circumstances, but rather it says to give thanks “in” all circumstances. That is an extremely important distinction.  Here’s what I mean.  A very good friend of mine recently buried his wife after an excruciating battle with cancer.  He is not thanking God that his wife died.  That is a crushing hurt that only those who have been there know. However, he is giving thanks for God’s faithfulness.  Do you see the difference?   My friend is giving thanks “in all circumstances.”  If we really believe what we say we believe as Christians, we have much to be thankful to our great God for – even if He allows tragedy to touch our lives.  For instance, no matter our circumstances, we can be thankful for God’s love and mercy which was displayed on the cross and extended to us as His children.  No matter our circumstances, we can be thankful that we know without reservation our faith will end in sight and we will live with our Savior forever.  The truth is that even in this life, God has blessed us abundantly more than we ever could deserve.  He is faithful.  He is good. He is Lord.  THAT is why we can give thanks in all circumstances.

So, what do you do when you don’t feel like Thanksgiving?  You must consciously choose to give thanks to God.  Choose to give thanks, even if everything in you feels like giving up. You’ll be glad that you did!

Thank you all for your prayers during this time of transition. The first few weeks at Lakeside have gone very well. Day by day, Lakeside feels more like “home.”  I have had several people ask me about sermons on the church website. I am happy to report that they are now current after our Media Services Director, James Carr, overcame a number of issues along the way to get the website updated, etc.   You can view my most recent messages weekly at…

http://lakesidebaptist.com/pages/media.htm

Finally, don’t forget to join me in praying for the My Hope with Billy Graham emphasis.  The gospel went out to millions last night on the Fox News Channel and thousands of families and churches are hosting My Hope events that are designed to reach out to those who don’t know Christ. In our own church, I am happy to report that we have fifty families who have committed to reach out and attempt to share the gospel in this way.  I am praying that we will see many thousands come to know Christ during the month of November.  If you aren’t familiar or would like more information, you can visit their great website…

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