Tenaciousness

Holding Fast To The Truth

Posted on April 28, 2012 by mcalmond

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ESV

In the face of all that is going on around us in the world, let us remain strong in our hope, in our confident expectation regarding the Lord Jesus Christ and His faithfulness, His promises, His Word of Life.

Let us not become those who shrink back, or draw back into fearful compromise, acquiescing to those who would threaten, be offended by the truth, or would attack the message and thus the messengers of the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not surrender our genuine saving faith and its message for the sake of cultural acceptance or relativity, self-preservation, or even of a worldly appeasement, or worldly acceptance and approval.

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Categories: Authenticity, Calling, Christian Maturity, Church, Communion, Confidence, Encouragement, Following Through, Genuineness, Hope, Persecution, Perseverance, Readiness, Sacrifice, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Suffering, Surrender, Tenaciousness, True Love, Victory, Word of God | Leave a comment

No, It Isn’t Automatic

Posted on March 16, 2012 by mcalmond

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

John 15:8 (ESV) By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Lord knows the thoughts and plans he has for us, but are those thoughts and plans automatic?

The Lord has determined that those who serve him must bear fruit, fruit that will last, but is this automatic?

The Lord has come that we might have life, His life to the full, but is this automatic, here and now?

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Categories: Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Adoption, Alone, Being Built Up, Believer, Character, Church, Core Values, Dying to Self Will, Genuineness, Injustice, Ministry, Obedience, Process, Rest, Sacrifice, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Training, Vulnerability | Tags: , , , | 4 Comments

The Great Falling Away

Posted on October 29, 2011 by mcalmond

The Lord Jesus Christ one day while he was teaching asked a vitally important question. This question is almost too easily overlooked because of the way that it came forth. His question arose at the end of his teaching. He was telling a parable of the importance of persevering in faith, in earnest prayer, of how we need to be those who learn the power of and value of our praying through until we have what we are seeking the Lord.  For in Spirit and Truth, He is willing, just and ready to answer our prayers. As the Lord was finished sharing his brief parable, suddenly, almost as a passing thought Jesus says, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 ESV)

Will we as believers persevere in faithful prayer, in genuine faith, while waiting for the Lord’s return? Or will we give up and walk away, throwing in the towel, turning around and no longer walking in the faith, hope and love of the Lord Jesus Christ?

We live in crucial times with rapidly accelerating darkness and sin all around us. We live in a time that all too quickly approaches, what the Word of God refers to as the time of The Rebellion, The Apostasy, The Great Falling Away.

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Categories: Anointing, Apostasy, Awakening, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Darkness, Dependency, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Faith, Fear of God, Flesh, Following Through, Genuineness, God Faith, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Chosen, Holy Spirit, Hope, Knowledge, Last Days, Mercy, Ministry, Noise and Distractions, Now Word, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Openness, Paradigm Shift, Persecution, Perseverance, Prayer, Presumptions, Priorities, Process, Profession, Promises, Readiness, Relationship, Rest, Righteousness, Rock, Salvation, Saving Faith, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Source, Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, Victory, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Witness, Word, Word of God, Work, Worship | Leave a comment

Is The Church Worth Saving?

Posted on October 16, 2011 by mcalmond

Matthew 16:18 (ESV) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I confess that I love the church and the people of God, how can I not? They are my Lord and Saviors children. I also confess that I do not always like the church or what is going on in it. My heart, however, when it is said and done is pro-church and therefore pro-people of God.

I am concerned about what is going on today throughout the world of the church. Statistically, there seems to be a very real departure or exodus of people from what has been frequently referred to as the Institutional (IC) or Organized Church (OC). Now what I can surmise from this term as it is being used over the web is that we are speaking of any church that has its own church building, which is dedicated to the purpose of being, doing and having church with those who enter within. It can refer to denominational churches, regardless of the denomination. It can also refer to those who belong to or are a part of these churches. This seems too broad for me and evades the complexity of what it is that truly is the Body of Christ.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Absolute Dependency, Authenticity, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Churches, Commands, Dying to Self Will, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Faith, Family, Following Through, Genuineness, Grace, Hatred, Healing, Holiness, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Loving One Another, Mercy, Ministry, Openness, Perseverance, Prayer, Preaching, Presumptions, Prophetic, Reconciliation, Relationship, Remembrances, Repentance, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Sacrifice, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Separatism, Simplicity, Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, Steadfastness, Stirrings, Teaching, Tenaciousness, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Transformation, True Love, Victory, Witness, Word, Work, Work of God | Leave a comment

Let Us Arise, Yet Again!

Posted on October 8, 2011 by mcalmond

There is so very much more than we are experiencing in and of Christ Jesus. There is so very much more of the Kingdom of God than we know or understand. There is so very much more of life in the Spirit than we are living out on a daily basis. There simply is so very much more yet to do and that needs to be done; I for one, long to know, do and experience the more. I also am haunted by what I have known, have accomplished or think I know. I also understand how tempting, as I get older, it is to remain in what I have come to know and experience.

What I mean is, that what I have known, done or think I know of Christ Jesus and the Kingdom of God, seems at times to get in the way of the more. It gets in the way by having captured my attention, my heart and the battles that were for or needed to contend for it has passed. Yesterdays victories become all too easily today’s excuses. As I look forward to the more, this means more battles, contending, more stretching, more dying, more of that which we already and all too often resist in our growing in the Lord Jesus Christ. This looking forward seems to be less and less attractive when I honestly consider the cost of the past. While I know that nothing of what life and ministry has cost us compares to that sacrifice of Christ Jesus, it still, for us remains a very tangible, real and essential counting of the cost. We have given our all so many times, yet the call remains, to surrender our all yet once again.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Awakening, Belief System, Believer, Body of Christ, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Commands, Confidence, Covering, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Faith, Family, Father, Fear of God, Flesh, Following Through, Foundations, Genuineness, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, Grace, Healing, His Chosen, His Gift of Love, Holiness, Holy Ghost Burdens, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Light, Ministry, Mother, Noise and Distractions, Now Word, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Pioneering, Prayer, Priorities, Process, Promises, Readiness, Relationship, Rest, Resurrection Life, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Self Justification, Selfishness, Selflessness, Separatism, Simplicity, Spiritual Fathers/Mothers, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Lord's Fullness, The Power of God, Timing, Truth, Victory, Wind of the Spirit, Witness, Word, Word of God | Leave a comment

Is It All About Knowledge, Really?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by mcalmond

It is how you live in Christ Jesus that is all important, not just what you know. Having said this, there has been many times in and throughout history when this issue of knowledge for knowledge sake, came to a head. It was this issue of Knowledge first, over the simplicity of Knowing Jesus first that seemed to be what the battle was about.

For example, there was a time in the later middle ages when the theologians of that day had gone so far as to create a theology that no one but they themselves could understand or relate to. Their theology had become increasingly complex and stood in direct contrast to the simplicity of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As this gap widened, so did the reactions of the people. Their reactions were focused upon a theology that was fraught with an over emphasis of subtleties, developing its own exclusive and elitist language with an insistence upon precise definitions and fine distinctions, theologically.

In the book, “Imitation of Christ”, we discover what was the commonly held belief’s of the day, beliefs that were reactions against the theologians and their theology of the day. Here is a taste of it (1.1.3):

“What good is it for you to be able to discuss the Trinity with great profundity, if you lack humility, and thereby offend the Trinity?”

“Verily, high sounding words do not make one holy and just. But a life of virtue does make one acceptable to God.”

“It is better to feel repentance, than to be able to define it.”

“Were you to memorize the entire Bible and all the sayings of the philosophers, what good would this be for you without the love of God and without grace?”

“Vanities of vanities. All is vanity, except loving God and serving only God.”

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Character, Church History, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Edification, Elitism, Empowerment, Faith, Foundations, Genuineness, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Chosen, History, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit Benefits, Humility, Intellectualism, Intimacy, Knowledge, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Obedience, Priorities, Questions, Readiness, Reflections, Relationship, Rest, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Revelation, Righteousness, Rock, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Separatism, Simplicity, Source, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, The Lord Jesus, The Lord's Fullness, The Power of God, Theology, Training, Transcendence, Transformation, Truth, Victory, Word, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

In All Things, At All Times, Being His Witness

Posted on May 28, 2011 by mcalmond

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NKJV) But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

Acts 22:15 (NKJV) For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

I have not Pastored since August 2004. What I have been doing is varied, especially in regards to the ministry call upon my life. However, my life has been mostly filled these later years with simply making a living, although there have been those occasional ministry opportunities, for which I am very grateful. First it was working in a factory and then after being laid off, moving to Ohio and working once again in the construction industry as a carpenter.

I confess to you that these years have also been filled with a wondering of why the Lord has placed us upon the shelf, as it were, and will not let us move in the ministry graces that He has so graciously granted us for over three decades of life. While this remains a question, I accept that this is our call in life for this season, however long (6 plus years and counting) or longer this is to be. I have gained so much during this time and pray that I will continue to gain even more, as we faithfully walk out this path at this time.

One of the things that I have become ever so aware of is that the calling of God extends unto where He has placed us for whatever time and purpose He has placed us there. I mean, if I am working in a factory, then that is my calling and I need to approach this work as His chosen ministry for me for as long as He has me walking that job out. I need to seek Him obediently, dependently, righteously, in absolute surrender unto Him daily, going to and working out my job in a manner that brings Him glory, honor and praise. I need to confess daily to Him that cannot do this job apart from Him and that I need His enabling power to work in and through me at every step of the way. In other words, the only difference between this calling and the ministry calling that I have walked out most of my adult life, is the actual work itself, nothing else.

You see, I still need to be a man who is leaning upon Him, and growing in prayer, the Word, obedience, surrender, witness, righteousness, holiness, truth, godly character, the Spirit, thanksgiving, looking to Him, leaning upon Him and acknowledging my need of Him every moment of everyday, in every step of the way. This is so that in all that I do, say and am, at home, at work and at play, I might be His genuine witness in the earth, 24-7-52.  I want my work to reflect Him. I want my attitude to reflect Him. I want my driving to reflect Him. I want all that I am, at any given moment, to reflect my Lord and Savior, earnestly, genuinely, in Spirit and in Truth.

I acknowledge that apart from He who is my life, breath and ability, I cannot do my job well or even rightly. Therefore, I need Him to empower me, enable me, to help me do what I am being called to do at work, well. And He is, has and I genuinely believe always will. May I continue to look to Him, lean upon Him, seek Him in all that I am, do and say, that In all things and at all times, I may bring Him glory, honor and praise.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NKJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

We will all be held accountable for how we have lived out our lives in this earth in light of what He our Lord and Savior has given us. May we then, in all things and at all times seek to be those who live out our lives in a manner that brings our Lord and Savior greater glory, honor and praise. We are ALL called, regardless of our jobs, positions or whether or not we like our jobs, positions, or circumstances, to be His witnesses in all that we say, do and are, at home, at work and at play.

Our Lord and Savior is there, where ever we find ourselves, to enable, empower, lead and strengthen us to do our jobs well, whatever they are, how much or little we like them, that we might in Spirit and Truth, be His genuine and positive witnesses in the earth.

Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Being Built Up, Believer, Calling, Character, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Following Through, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Jobs, Obedience, Perseverance, Prayer, Priorities, Rest, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Steadfastness, Tenaciousness, Thankfulness, The Power of God, Training, Waiting on the Lord, Word, Work | Leave a comment

Personal Mentoring/Discipleship, Pt Two

Posted on May 1, 2011 by mcalmond

We need to disciple/mentor those whom the Lord Jesus would have us to. Therefore we need to seek the Lord as to whom He wants us to disciple/mentor and then how He wants this person to be mentored. It is then that we can begin this process with the confidence of His blessing and provision. We may and most likely will, stumble around at first. We may make it too academic and not enough of a relational experience. We may, depending on who we are, go the other way and want to make it so relational that we fail to hold our mentoree accountable and disciplined along the way. Regardless, if we will obediently give ourselves to this wonderful, albeit sometimes very trying process, we will discover the wonderful fruit of it; the joys of watching those entrusted to us, growing up into their role within their own lives, families and the Body of Christ Jesus at large. We will also have the wonderful hope of building a relationship for life.

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Categories: Anointing, Awakening, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Benefits, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Commands, Core Values, Covering, Edification, Elders, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Family, Father, Fields of Ministry, Following Through, Foundations, Grace, Growing in Faith, His Gift of Love, History, Holy Ghost Burdens, Hope, Humility, Lost and Alone, Loving One Another, Mentoring Children/Youth, Mentoring Men, Mentoring Women, Mentoring/Discipleship, Mercy, Metron, Ministry, Mother, Obedience, Openness, Perseverance, Prayer, Preaching, Priorities, Process, Promises, Protection, Remembrances, Sacrifice, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Selflessness, Spirit of Truth, Spiritual Fathers/Mothers, Spiritual Warfare, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teacher, Teaching, Tenaciousness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Timing, Training, Transformation, True Love, Truth, Word of God, Work of God | 1 Comment

Natural Vs. Spiritual Living

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mcalmond

Why we do what we do, is so very much more important than simply what we do. This is especially true in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ! It isn’t enough, that what we do is simply scriptural, traditional, denominational, or even the product of our personal opinion of how things should be said or done, etc. Why did you do that? Why did you say that? Why are you doing that, saying that, being that, etc? These questions are important and need to be genuinely more about our hearts and motivations than our feeling compelled to justify our actions or simply a calling to explain ourselves.

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Categories: Word of God, Truth, Dependency, Flesh, Spirit, Confidence, Foundations, God's Righteousness, Belief System, Core Values, Righteousness, Holiness, Covering, Steadfastness, Awakening, Hope, Death, In Spirit and In Truth, Exhortation, Ministry, Simplicity, Training, illumination, Word, Grace, Mercy, Tenaciousness, Surrender, Abiding, Empowerment, Humility, Priorities, A Simple Reminder, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Sacrifice, Character, Encouragement, Absolute Dependency, Edification, Being Built Up, Dying to Self Will, Holy Spirit, Christian Maturity | Leave a comment

The Need For Spiritual Stamina

Posted on April 3, 2011 by mcalmond

2Ti 4:7 NKJV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

As my lovely wife and I walk out this season of our lives, it is easier for us to reflect upon our need for His continued strength, stamina and perseverance. It is easier, simply because we recognize that without He who is our very life breath we will simply not finish well. Therefore, what I write below, continues to be tested in and through our very lives, each and every day.

As I see it, the overall issue for each and every one of us will not ultimately be that we simply started out well. No. Rather, it will be whether we continued and thus ended well, or not. In all honesty, beginning well is important, continuing well is also important, but finishing well is crucial for each of us. To simply assume that we will, when all is said and done, end well and finish well, is foolish. While our ending well is crucial, it also isn’t automatic.

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Categories: Dependency, God Faith, Promises, Believer, Righteousness, Standing in Faith, Following Through, Steadfastness, Perseverance, Work of God, Hope, Growing in Faith, Faith, Calling, Word, Grace, Father, Mercy, Tenaciousness, Intimacy, Surrender, Empowerment, Humility, A Simple Reminder, Seeking The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, Resurrection Life, Character, Encouragement, Absolute Dependency, Edification, Being Built Up, Holy Spirit, Christian Maturity, Remembrances | Tags: | Leave a comment

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