Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

Acts 11:18, “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

Repentance is a gift.

You do not work it up.

Repentance is given to us (Ezek. 36:25-31).

The fact that I could weep and repent and confess–that is a gift of God.

It is not of us.

The whole thing is Him, from beginning to end.

You draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Then you see your dirty hands, and you see your heart–your motivation and how you manipulate people.

You see the duplicity in your heart.

You see how thoroughly corrupt you are.

And all the time you see that, you say, “Lord, I still love You.”

And when you are saying this, He is diffusing His life into your heart.

He is changing you.

He says, “I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh” (Ezek. 36:26).

It is as though He is saying, “You cannot do it. I will take it away. I will give you a new heart. I will give you a heart of flesh. And you will walk in My statutes. You will do it, because I am going to do it in you.”

We once met a man who was worn out as a believer, and was ready to give up the Christian life.

He was lonely and disappointed, and did not know which way to turn.

We opened to Ezekiel 36.

He sat there, his face sad because he realized the condition of his heart, but had no way to handle it.

Then we looked at these words: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh . . .”

His eyes filled with tears.

God was going to do it!

He had never seen this before, that He would actually take away the stony heart.

He began to weep for joy to see that it was God’s work–God was going to do it all.

Until Tomorrow

With A Shepherd’s Love,

Pastor Jackson

TUESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Lori Blount’s Mother

Amy Garner

Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad 

Ashely Burn’s Sisters 

Brandon’s Dad 

Charlene Palmer

Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons 

Dan Haines

Darlene Thaxton 

David Burnette  

David Harrison

Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother 

Donnie Butler’s Dad

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Easton Fielder 

Eric Ward

Erik Magusson

Freddie May’s Mom 

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette 

James Garner’s Friend 

Jillian Gray

Jim Mabe 

Jodi Bateman 

John Austin 

John McClain 

June Cronan’s Sister 

Karen Slane

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Lamar Knight   

Larry Barker 

Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Alexander

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Linda Hodges’ Sister 

Lonzo Christin 

Mary Sims 

Marynell Ford 

Maureen Brown  

Michael Stanley 

Pastor & Mrs. Driskell 

Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother 

Ricky Stubbs 

Rose Fuller 

Roseleigh Osborn 

Sandra Graham    

Scott Lanier 

Terrell Loyd

Tom Witcher