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The Dilemma Of Obedience
David Darst 
God never speaks to us in startling ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand, and we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spake to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of circumstances. Nothing touches our lives but it is God Himself speaking. Do we discern His hand or only mere occurrence?
As Becky and I have bee contemplating this move back to Texas…this move back into Pastoral Leadership, we have asked ourselves many times about this. “is this particular scripture I’m reading on this particular day with this particular group of circumstances going on in our lives, God’s way of speaking?” or is this just coincidence?
I asked Becky when reading our daily reading about Abraham Gen. 31:3 Then the LORD said to him, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”(A)
I asked Becky at a time when it particularly strong. “could it be that simple?” The answer is YES! God speaks through His word simply; however the obedience is not so simple. But Belief is forward progress. We believe as we act upon what God has told us or what we think God has told us and as we act that which God has said begins to unfold.
Wanderings
Psa. 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
at the age of 42 I have struggled with having a place with roots a home. The bible says: that we are Pilgrims — Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
I have roamed the earth from the east coast to the west coast from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. I have ventured to foreign countries (Mexico, Africa, Honduras, Europe) to name a few and the one constant that I have found is that God is God…He is there where ever one may roam. He is our home He is our Great possession.
A persons life is full of wanderings. I see it throughout most of the biblical characters. We see God’s intervention with Abraham “go to a place where I will show you” God set him to wander…His children and grandchildren were wanderers. There was a time in David’s life that God had him wandering around. The obvious wanderings of the children of Israel, not to mention the Prophets. Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
It does something to a person and their faith when is able to wander and reflect as he wanders. I’m coming to know that as you wander it has a way of removing the wonder. Wondering if God is with you, how He will be active in your life. It has a way of filtering out your doubt and solidifying your faith to know that no matter where I roam, I have a home. That home is my Life in Christ Jesus.
Wandering teaches us blind obedience, obedience to trust God, learning that there is never a place that one may go where God is not.
Psa. 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Wanderings teach us that we are never alone. Geography has nothing to do with Theology. No matter where I may be Geographically — God is God and His promise is that “Lo and I AM with you always…even until the end of the age.
Another Trip around the mountian
another trip around the mountian
Here is hoping all finds you well in 2012. Well its been an interesting two years to say the least and after much kicking against the goads I have resolved to return to Texas, return to the Gospel ministry. The Apostle Paul said; “woe to me if I preach not the gospel…” I am understanding that more today than I ever have. I have been ministering through music the last couple of years so I have not been out of the ministry all together, but I have not been in the position to teach and preach the word of God. As a result I have lost that all encompassing purpose that comes when one called by God preaches the eternal Word of God as it goes forth on the wings of the anointing.
I would ask that people would please include my family and I in your prayers as we seek God and how to return and where he would have us plug in. I want to join God in what He is doing rather than start something and ask God to get involved in it. I’m praying about starting a new work altogether in the east Texas area somewhere between Chandler and Lindale.
I would love to hear from you and would covet your prayers.
Blessings In Christ
David Darst
Phip. 1:6
Judd’s “Last Oncore Tour”
How Great thou Art
It was a memorable experience to join the legendary Judd’s their final Tour. It was awesome to experience the energy of the people, the expertise of the musicians and the many new friends. 18 Cities in all, many of which I have never visited before. From the legendary football Mecca — to the lunacy of LA, There were thousands of Judd Head fans all over the country. There is rumor of a continuation of the tour in the spring but nothing is in concrete.
I’m not sure if anyone even reads my blog in that I have been so inconsistent in updates but I’ll see if I can do better if I know some folks are reading it.
If you are please post a note that you are following and I’ll be sure to update.
Blessings to all
David.
This Weekend
We have a busy but exciting weekend coming up. I’m looking forward to being with the Fulton’s who run the “Texas Gospel Music hall” in Athens Texas. I believe it starts at 7:00 p.m. but you better get there early for a good seat. “The Greens” a Southern Gospel group from Nashville will be there. I’m going to do a few opener songs before they go on.
Also I’ll be with my good friend “Max Martin” and the good people from “Long Lake Baptist Church” outside of Palestine Texas. We are doing a one day meeting with them. I will be brings a Message and some songs followed by dinner on the grounds and then back to the Sanctuary for a small concert at 1:30 pm followed by a short devotional. We would love to have anyone who would be interested to come out and join us for a great day of fellowship, food and Singing.
CD Blunder
It has been an extremely busy couple of months since I have joined up with PSQ (Palmetto State Quartet) http://www.psqworld.comWe have traveled everywhere from Florida to Kentucky and many other states. We have been in the studio releasing the new project which everyone is very excited about. When we got in from Powderly KY. My CD Project was waiting for me at Larry’s house. I was glad to get the project finally and I hoped to sell some CD’s at the up and coming gig’s we have. The art looked great and when I plugged on in, it was a Female Gospel singer. 100 CD’s with my picture but my songs were no where to be found. Go figure.Sorry guys…guess you’ll have to wait a few more weeks. I’ll keep you updated as to the progress.Thank you for all your prayers and supportDavid — Philp. 1:6
Nashville Bound
We’ll it’s been quite a unique end and beginning. The Holiday season was very good to us and we enjoyed many blessings from many people. The New Year has posed many challenges to say the least, it has been difficult but exciting. I want to give everyone some updates as to what doors have opened and what it appears the Lord is doing, I’ll try not to bore you with the details and do my best to give you the concise version. Several months ago I was scheduled to sing over in Athens at the “Texas Music City Gospel Hall” as a guest musician. It was not a paying gig but I was going for exposure hoping that it would lead to some other doors opening and that I would be able to land some other gig’s a result. Seed sowing gig’s I call them. Well the day I was to sing I called and the sweet lady who host’ the event had forgotten about me and had booked someone else as the guest singer. She told me to come on and she would squeeze me in. I told her not to worry about it and to reschedule me when she had an open spot. She informed me later of the date and who I would be opening for. A group named ‘Shilo’ and the main group out of Nashville ‘The Palmetto State Quartet’. I was late when I showed up for a brief sound check. read more
The Debilitating power of self-criticism.
I don’t know about you but my greatest external pressure is not really external but rather seems to be internal. Jesus said Matt. 16:33 “In this world you will have tribulation…” there is not a day without difficulty…without some sort of trouble. Some are worse than others and some more difficult than others. There are days when the power of “Christ in us…” exerts more influence through us on to the constant tide of trouble that surges at the retaining wall of the grace of God in our lives namely “our righteousness that is hidden Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21) those are the days when the SON pushes back the clouds and the heat of Christ’ presence warms our hearts. Life is grand on those days.
The problem is that the negative influence that is from without (Sin, The World, the flesh & the Devil) still has roots within – even though I have been extracted from the soil of the world and have “sat down at the right hand of God…” remnants of the old man, that will not be dealt with until the breath from my lungs is rung out by the chilling hand of death.
Where does this invisible nemesis come from? The Voice…the “accuser of the breather”? or my own heart?
One of my favorite passages that really encourages me is found in 1 John Chapter 3 – You know how we are so familiar with passages that we read them and fail to get anything other than what has been revealed at a former time? I have been reading from Eugene Patterson’s version (THE MESSAGE) how refreshing to have old truth revealed in a fresh new way. It encourages the heart once again as it did the first time you had it but with greater appreciation. (kind of like, being over in a foreign country and eating all the foreign food, and the first thing you do when you get state side is eat a big greasy cheese burger with fries and a coke) God again shows me my great sin is calling “unclean the thing that He has cleansed” namely ME! Self-criticism. What a slap in the face of the Almighty! It robs me of the living power of Christ in me. Rob’s be of the great truth also found in the book of 1 John “Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world”
Here is the passage from Patterson’s version: 1 John 3:18-24
18-20My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
21-24And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.
Let us love each other, and most importantly love ourselves and the persons we are becoming in Christ Jesus.
David.
Lanes Chapel Methodist Church
Praise the Lord! hope all finds each of you doing well. I had an awesome time or practice with the good people of LCM. When I got the call to come and lead worship for a time while the church was without a leader I kind of like Sarah “laughed in my spirit” actually I laughed out loud. I must say I had many thoughts as to what I would do and where I would do it after I resigned my possition as pastor of Faith Baptist, did I ever think I would be going to a Methodist Church to lead worship — I told the Lord “That’s just like you God…” And after spending some time with the good people of LCM — I realized it’s no “Methodist Church” per say — Man those people Love the Lord, Love each other and Love to Worship thier King.
It should be a great time of worship and word — come join us if your not committed anywhere for Sunday. 10:30 worship time I believe.
Revival in Mixon
Wow! what an amazing time of Revival. Truly it was a time of revival not just another meeting. We had a packed house twice on Sunday morning and every night — with Wednesday being a record number of 330 in the house. We had over a dozen people give their lives to Christ from the age of 60 to 6.
Bro. Joe Ballard is one of my dearest friends in the ministry and the work the Lord is doing through him is amazing. If you live anywhere near Mixon Texas you need to give First Baptist Mixon a try…the Spirit of the Lord is alive and well and moving in a mighty way. Check it out at http://www.fbcmixon.com
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