The view as I stepped out the door of my 4th floor room, big motel!

These pictures were made recently in a motel where I was staying, preaching in a nearby Revival. The Motel Chain was kind to me, upgrading me to a larger room than normal. So, for several days and nights, I lived in that place, studying the Word of God!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

A preacher in a room, pursuing his ministry!

Clearly a reminder of 2nd Kings 4:10 where a woman asked her husband: “Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.”

Oh, I wish I could tell you how very sweet some of those times are … the Lord and me … in a simply furnished room … delighting over the Word, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures!

Yes, a bed … for sleep.

A table … one must eat.

A stool, on which to type Lessons for the Website!

And a candlestick, lots of light (for reading) if possible!

And this all was provided for me, not by a Shunammite family, but by a loving local Church, the one in which I was preaching that week, during what the Pastor called a “Christmas Revival!”

My point today?

Do YOU have a place you can occasionally (or better yet, regularly) go and meet the Lord? Study His Word? Pray and commune with the Creator of the universe?

Nearly everywhere Abraham went … he immediately built an altar … to worship God. A PLACE to meet the Almighty!

Get you such a place!

A prayer “closet,” so to speak.

A Bible Study “corner,” conducive to devouring the Word of God!

And you, as you spend time in your dedicated place, will feel as the hymn writer of old did …

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Praise the Lord!

Try it, someone. Just for a week … it’s habit forming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Maybe someone reading today already does this. Or plans to start soon. Or simply enjoyed the Lesson … let me know, 770-744-7627, my text number. Your responses are always so encouraging!

Here was the view, looking up toward my “place,” from the lobby.

 

It’s merely a picture … of me. Debbie made it this past Sunday after Church. Actually we were trying to highlight the tie, accenting pure white snowflakes on a red (Christmas like) background.

Now, today’s Bible Lesson …

I look at the tie and bubble over with thanks! It was a gift from a Preacher friend, a Pastor, for whom I have conducted Revivals for several years. Each year he and his Wife present us with a Christmas gift, two actually. And mine always contains a … tie! So appropriate for Preachers! Well, old fashioned, fundamental ones who still wear ties!

Then (in the picture) I see a suit, black. Which too was a gift. Again I am grateful!

And my glasses, which the Lord provided in a special way. More thanksgiving!

Standing in our living room, one which is warm and dry (no leaking). Goodness, I’m saying “Thank You” Lord once more!

I was also positioned within three feet of our Christmas tree. With its banner at the top proclaiming HOPE, in red. And by now I’m nearly bursting with thanks, HOPE IN JESUS! A blessed Hope, He’s coming again!

And a sweet Wife who made the picture, more thanks yet!

Just returning home from preaching … my gratefulness scale just hit “10!”

On and on I could go.

I think I might realize what Paul meant when he characterized the Christian as one who lives … “abounding in thanksgiving!”  Where “abounding” in Greek means “overflowing” or more literally, “all around!”

Yes, from Colossians 2:7. “Rooted and built up in him (Jesus), and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Amen!

I know it’s Christmas, and traits like generosity and worship and hospitality and brotherly love get most attention. After all, the month of November and Thanksgiving Day have passed for another year.

But … can’t we be thankful even now for all the blessings we enjoy?

Full well knowing … “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

Let me suggest a little assignment for us all today.

Take a piece of paper and a pencil or pen … and list 5 (or 10) things for which you are exceedingly thankful! And if you can’t write at the moment, list the things in your head, your heart … and thank the Lord profusely!

Paul was right. We should “in every thing give thanks.” 1st Thessalonians 5:18

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Someone text me what is at the TOP of your gratefulness list today! At 770-844-7627. If you forget to text, tell somebody anyway! In addition to praising the Lord with a thankful heart.

 

 

 

It was the airplane that was based near my home (Donaldson Air Force Base, Greenville, South Carolina) during the days of my childhood. Actually teenage years as well. Build by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, and named the C-124, Globemaster!

Joel (my Son who pastors in Doraville, Georgia) and I were recently driving home from a Revival Meeting near Savannah, and we passed an Air Force Flight Museum (at Robbins Air Force Base in Macon, Georgia). That’s where we saw the beauty pictured above!

Oh yes, one more thing. The “C” in C-124 stands for the word “cargo.” The place could airlift nearly 70,000 pounds of supplies, nearly anywhere in the world!

Now, today’s Bible Lesson …

A “burden bearer” for our nation, that’s what the Globemaster was for years and years!

And we Christians are to be the same, one to another! Paul wrote us in Galatians 6:2 and said: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The verb “bear” used here is “bastazo” in Greek, likely derived from a word that means “foundation” or even “foot.” Things TOO HEAVY for one person to carry alone! So much so that he or she has dropped the load, at his or her feet. Needing help, clearly!

Moses and Hur come to mind, who LIFTED Moses’ heavy hands in the day of battle! Read the whole account, a spiritual “duo” fulfilling the role of “load lifters.”

“And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, AARON, and HUR went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. BUT MOSES’ HANDS WERE HEAVY; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and AARON AND HUR STAYED UP HIS HANDS, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:9-13, lifting a load, for their leader!

Until victory came!

Wow!

Here’s burden bearing in the Old Testament, once again, in command form! Helping here, even an enemy! ” If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his BURDEN, and wouldest forbear to help him, THOU SHALT SURELY HELP with him.” Exodus 23:5

Romans 15:1 also. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Helping the weak! Help carry their “cargo,” so to speak!

In 1st Thessalonians 5:14 Paul succinctly says: “Support the weak.” Stand under them and  hold them up, if need be. The liteal meaningof the verb “support!”

Mercy, and remember this too. JESUS CERTAINLY BEARS OUR BURDENS!

Even our sins, on the cross! 1st Peter 2:24 says so. “Jesus Who his own self BARE OUR SINS in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness.” Amen, here “bare” is “anaphero,” actually He “toted our load” of iniquity, into the sea of God’s forgetfulness!

Today … should you meet a brother or sister in Christ who is burdened, you will immediately know WHAT to do!

“Lord, make us stronger. To help carry the ‘cargo’ of others who are temporarily weak in the faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Text me, 770-844-7627 if the lesson was a special help.

 

I was driving one day last week. We do a lot of that, over 40,000 miles this past year alone. Not even counting the miles I fly to the Revival Meetings. Anyway, I saw this sign, which would mean absolutely nothing to most motorists. But Oh, what memories they brought to  mind!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

When I first started pastoring (in 1966 while only nineteen years old), the Lord allowed me to serve a precious group of Believers in Newnan, Georgia. Southwest of Atlanta, in Coweta County, Oaklawn Memorial Baptist Church there. One Sunday as I preached a young man walked the aisle and asked Jesus to save him.

He lived near the City of Wedowee, Alabama … and was only temporarily in Newnan.

And now you know the significance of the sign above.

His name was Ronald, the last name still etched in my memory as well, though I’ll not use it here.

A soul had been saved!

A young Pastor had seen more “fruit” in his ministry!

This reminds me of a verse Jesus left us, Matthew 4:19. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

The verb “to follow” is an imperative here. We are commanded to walk in the steps of our Lord! It’s plural too, every Christian is to be a “disciple” in that sense.

The verb “to make” is “poieo” in Greek, being translated “cause you to become” nine different times! “Poieo” gives us the English words “poet” and “poem” and “poetry!” Works of art, beautiful within themselves!

Yes, Jesus crafts us (as does an artist) into being “fishers of men!” Making us each a “designer model” (a one-of-a-kind soul winner) in His work! “Fishers of men” then must be “beautiful” to Jesus, the works of His Hands!

This too … our Lord employs a unique noun for “fishers,” which is spelled “halieus,” simply being a derivative of the Greek word for “salt.” (Strange, since the Sea of Galilee is really a fresh-water lake!)

Then WHY does Jesus use this word for “fishers,” having that specific background, “salty?” Maybe because “salt” in one’s speech can indicate “choice, of high quality, excellent,” words being utilized! “Winsome words” might apply!

To the point, “soul-winners” for Jesus!

With “wise” words … as in Proverbs 11:30 … nudging men toward the Lord! “He that winneth souls is wise.”

“Fishes of men!”

Can YOU think of a person today to whom you might speak a word for Jesus?

I genuinely believe Ronald was saved that day.

Some “salty” word I spoke (as I preached) was taken by the Holy Spirit and used to create “thirst” in his young soul, thirst for the Water of Life, for Christ Jesus our Saviour!

I still thrill with the remembrance!

Will YOU endeavor to be a better witness for the Lord in the soon-coming year?

I need to be.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

As usual, if the Lesson “speaks” to your heart … let me know!

Text me at 770-844-7627.

Otherwise, I might never know if anyone reads my post this morning.

Plus … I LOVE hearing from you our readers.

 

 

Regularly Rock City guests are given the opportunity of hearing “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Recently I visited this historic park in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. And I just had to make these pictures!

Today’s Bible Study Lesson …

What story?

About Jesus.

As in 1st Timothy 3:16, the whole Story: “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” God’s being “manifest in the flesh” summarizes the Christmas Story, folks!

And when the angel announced Jesus’ Birth to the shepherds: “He said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” The noun “good tidings” is “euaggelizo,” actually meaning “to tell good news!”

In fact, the word “Gospel” means just that, “good news!”

That’s exactly what we Christians believe. Listen to Paul the Apostle: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Amen, 1st Corinthians 15:3-4, King James Version.

Yes, no doubt, the greatest Story ever told!

But what impresses me about today’s picture, pictures this time, is that a serving-the-public company, advertising as widely as Rock City does … still is not ashamed to call Jesus’ Incarnation and Virgin Birth … “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD!”

That fact alone (their being so unashamed, so bold) ought to help encourage each of us to tell the Story … all season long! All year long! All our lifetimes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Does anyone agree?

Text me: 770-844-7627