Life Here and There

It’s funny, you know, how a particular headline can grab attention. I’m guessing that some people are reading this because they like the idea of the man being the head of the woman. Others have their proverbial guns drawn.

Saying that the husband is the head of the wife is controversial in light of the modern emphasis on gender equality. The statement Paul made in 1 Corinthians 11:3 was controversial when he wrote it for a different reason – because of a lack of gender equality. You see, whether we realize it or not, Paul was arguing for balance in the marriage relationship. Let me explain…

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Tonight we had an awesome opportunity to honor the ladies in the Bethel family, but even more to honor God in His faithfulness. The theme of our Ladies’ Banquet was “Fields of Faithfulness.” We had Diane Spriggs, editor of the Baptist Trumpet as our guest speaker and the men served all the ladies roast pork tenderloin and other fine treats. We also assembled this video tribute to God’s faithfulness… enjoy!

Bethel Baptist Church Ladies Banquet from Brandon Cox on Vimeo.

This past Sunday was perhaps the most awesome day of ministry I’ve ever experienced. Like the old gospel song says, “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.” It wasn’t great planning, great music, or great preaching that made the day great, it was our great God visiting us in a powerful way in response to a whole lot of concerted, passionate praying.

Last Wednesday, our prayer service, which normally consists of calling out some requests, a short pastoral prayer, and a long Bible study, turned into an extended session of a concert of praise. Multiple people were praying out loud for their lost friends and family and giving praise to God for His working in their lives. At the conclusion of our payer, I almost felt that teaching would be an interruption in what God was really doing, and perhaps it was.

Sunday began with an intense prayer circle, seven men gathered together a half hour before Sunday School. We prayed over our time and it was well worth it. Together we asked great things of God. Sunday School itself was right on target as we learned about “serving God with holiness.”

Then the worship hour came and we sang songs to honor the King with a particular emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. The message was all about the power of the Holy Spirit. I left out two illustrations that I later realized would have been detrimental to the point of the message. I felt an anointing more powerful than ever in my ministry. I had boldness to say things without regard to the approval of people.

The invitation came and God did an awesome work. The altar filled with people praying and weeping for the fullness of the Spirit, praying for lost loved ones and other needs. A young man and a young lady received Christ as Savior. The invitation went through three movements as things kept happening. Joy Ewalt, for whom we have been praying for healing from cancer came and testified that God had completely healed her from brain cancer. Tests show that her head is now clear and she gave all the glory to God and the credit to prayer.

We left later than ever before and people continued to attest to God’s working in their lives in a very powerful way. I left church feeling so small, so undeserving, and so grateful that God would allow me to experience such an event.

Sunday afternoon our Deacons gathered for a time of training and we exchanged testimonies of the godly men who have inspired us in the past. I recalled my grandfather’s strong convictions as a Deacon for over a half century of time and the other stalwart men who influenced me throughout my childhood. In the evening service I preached about “The Sanctity of the Womb” where God has performed some great miracles in the lives of John the Baptist, Jeremiah, Paul, and others.

We had prayer for young girls facing this difficult decision to choose life, for women who have had abortions to find the freeing forgiveness of God, and for America to turn a corner on the abortion issue and repent before God. We also had prayer for some couples currently struggling with infertility and for Loving Choices, a local pregnancy support center. We’re also currently praying for healing in the life of one of our Deacons, Nick Gann.

One thing I am continually remembering is that we cannot dwell on these now past events in the “remember that day…” sense. Instead we must look forward to the awesome things God can do every time we meet. There is no reason why each worship experience cannot grow in intensity so long as our hunger for God, our commitment to holiness, and the passion of our prayer grows as well.

May God continue to visit us in special ways in our individual lives and every time we meet together, and may He continue to raise up Spirit-filled, Bible-drilled, prayer-skilled warriors for Christ’s Kingdom!

”Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” –Psalm 42:5

Did you know that almost one out of every ten Americans will enter into a mild form of depression this holiday season? It has in part to do with the decrease in the amount of sunlight, which in turn restricts the body’s production of seratonin (the happy hormone). It also has to do with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays which serve as reminders of those we love who are no longer with us. And truth be told, we also feel more pressure to obtain material possessions this time of year than at others.

Whatever the reason, many of us suffer this malady. I believe that there are biblical examples of men and women who also suffered at least mild depressions, though their worlds were perhaps not quite as conducive to them as ours is today. David here expresses that his soul seems to be down unexplainably. He can’t figure it out but he just can’t seem to get on top of things.

What do you do when you have these unexplainable downtimes? You hope in God. Yes, it sounds overly simplistic but the reality is that our emotions are simply not the most reliable source of information about where we are. Think about it, when was the last time your feelings about yourself really lined up with reality?

Feelings fail but God is constant. Our moods may swing but God never changes. His Word is always enough. His face is always present. He is ultimately good to us because His very nature is good, and He is always true to His nature. So when you are unexplainably down, look up to God. He’s there to cheer our heart with His Word and His presence.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”—Proverbs 31:10

The author of this great passage of Scripture is no doubt, King Solomon, writing under a pseudonym, King Lemuel. He is relating the advice his own Mother taught him about finding the right woman. There may have been some hint at a “dowry,” but Solomon’s intention was to show that a virtuous woman is of great worth, and priceless. Certainly for a King such as Solomon to find one who would truly love him, not for his riches, but for his soul, would be a rare find.

God often blesses us with priceless people. Today, Angie and I celebrate our eighth anniversary, and I can hardly believe it! I’m so thankful for the priceless woman God gave to me. I know that Angie selflessly loves me and supports me. I know that she cherishes our daughter with a deep adoration. She loves the Lord, His Word, and His church. She loves all children, everywhere, and works on their behalf daily.

The “Proverbs 31 Woman” is the ideal woman, a picture of perfection. She’s a protector (v. 11), a business woman (v. 13), a shopper (v. 14), a giver and a cook (v. 15), a real estate investor and a farmer (v. 16), a fitness queen (v. 17), a sleepless warrior (v. 18), a seamstress (v. 19), a philanthropist and humanitarian (v. 20), a decorator and fashion designer (v. 22), a distributor (v. 24), and an educator (v. 26). Who wants to model their life after someone like that???

The lesson of King Lemuel’s Mother surely was that the virtuous woman does whatever God’s will dictates with passion and perseverance. She is willing to be stretched for others, in the name of the Lord. Thank you, Lord, for the woman in my home who loves so many people with such great passion!!!