ClayCorvin.com

YOU – PROVERBS 4:20-26

YOU – PROVERBS 4:20-26

The Christian Walk is a call for YOU
Outlining the who, what, when, where of a daily Christian Life
Let me say again and again-Pray, walk and do
A Christian is called to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus
We don’t tell others how to walk this way-we share the Gospel
The Lost always act like the lost-dead in their trespasses and sin
We commend ourselves to walk this way-His Words caution YOU

How then shall we live? What are the things we do?
Pray, read God’s Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, be an ambassador

Read the Word of God
Our lives are a work of grace-Jesus loves you
He tells you about his love, his mercy and grace
Packaged in the Bible-a living Word to his children
Guiding us to live Godly lives, forgiving lives, and consecrated lives
Remember his Word, Jesus is alive, the Holy Spirit quickens our soul
His Word brings health to our physical body, it is living in us

Discipline your life-learning to be kind and gentle – people need Jesus
Set aside grudges-bear evil for no one – confess your sin and change
Give the Lord Jesus your bad thoughts
He will remove your stinking thinking and give you positive thoughts
He made us, He knows us, daily surrender to Him-do what He says

Watch your mouth – set aside cursing – don’t do it
Swallow your hard words – stop your gossip
Today proclaim in word and deed that you will only say good

We have eyelids so we can close our eyes to lustful evil
Pornography out of your life – quit lustful thinking
Remember discipline – when you start down the evil road
Grab yourself as soon as you can and ask Jesus to put you back on His road
Run from sexual sin – it capitavates your soul
You cannot be whole caught up in sexual sin – Jesus will cleanse you

People count with Jesus – you certainly do – He died for you
Everyone you see – saved or lost – count with Jesus
We are called as a Christ partner to make sure they know they count
Proclaim the Word of God in love – especially to a brother or sister
Be the Word of God to the Lost – love them, pray for them, live kindly with them
Jesus is Lord, He is Lord of all – The Christian walk is a call for YOU

August 1, 2015
Clay Corvin – http://www.claycorvin.com , http://www.virtualtravels.com

2015-07-30 17.42.48 2015-07-30 17.43.10 clay

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THE ART OF WINNING – LUKE 24:25-53

THE ART OF WINNING LK 24:25-50

We follow Jesus, looking for His wisdom, mercy, grace and understanding
Seeking to have a mind like His, surrendered and committed to doing the Father’s will
Holy Spirit indwelling us, giving us what we need and cannot earn
His guidance, our forgiveness, Father Son and Holy Spirit ONE
Attitude check – Jesus is Lord- Remember this every minute of every day

God has a plan, His plan includes you, but you must choose to be part of it
Daily building your relationship with Jesus, by prayer and His Word
What we do counts, we can choose to be free from sin, it cannot control us
Jesus gives us the choice to walk away from sin, we are the one that must do that
Asking Him for forgiveness and strength and His control of our life

People count with Jesus, they must count with us
All people count, the good, the bad, friend and foe, Jesus died for each one of us
We are called to go, to go tell the World the Gospel Message
Jesus loves you, He died for you, He gives you new life, you are no longer an outsider
Jesus paid the price for our sin and His free gift is new life in Himself

We live for Jesus, we love because of Jesus, we are equipped by Jesus
It’s all about Him, He calls us to talk about eternal things
Forgiveness, salvation, power, strength, life and light- Jesus is alive in us
Jesus is God’s everything, we don’t begin with Him and move on to something better
We begin with Jesus, grow with Jesus, serve Jesus, follow Jesus and one day we will see Him

We serve the Lord High God, Jesus our Creator seeks to use us as His representative
Glorifying the Father, we praise His name, we do His work, we love one another
Jesus would that all be saved, we are proclaiming His name until He returns
We are not responsible for someone’s decision, we are responsible to tell them
Together we will serve Him, Together we live with Jesus and one another

Do not despair, your life belongs to Jesus and He will not desert you
Do not fear, Jesus is Lord and all things belong to Him-the victory is won
Do not stumble away, pay attention to your life, stay close to Jesus
Do read His Word daily, do turn away from evil, do let Jesus change you
And Jesus will give you the Father’s peace and joy-Jesus loves you

Clay Corvin July 18, 2015

JESUS IS ALL I NEED – Galatians 1:1-5

JESUS IS ALL I NEED – Galatians 1:1-5

Saved by grace thru faith
Focused on Jesus
He is the only way – No other way to the Father
Not by works, not by change
Salvation in Jesus only– Jesus is all I need

He died on the cross
His life for mine
His blood paid my price – my slate is clean
His love overcame my hate
I owe everything to Him – Jesus is all I need

His work on the Cross-delivered me from this present evil age
He sent the Holy Spirit to reside in His children
No reason to be bound – No longer shackled to sin
Heaven is here in me – not by and by, right now
I’m living in victory – Jesus is all I need

Jesus and the Father are one – together they tasked the Son
To come to Earth and save my soul
To suffer and die that I might become whole
It was God the Father – It was God’s will – God’s plan
Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will – no surprise – Jesus is all I need

It is God’s will that you be saved – He paid a heavy price for you
Come to Christ – Surrender your will to His – ask Him into your heart
For God so loved you that He gave His only son that you might be saved
Surrender now – let His love and forgiveness empower you
Jesus is Lord and He loves you, Jesus is all you need

Clay Corvin 7/4/2015

JESUS WILL TAKE YOU THERE

JESUS WILL TAKE YOU THERE

I missed it – my lack of attention dooming me
To be used – a slave to convention
Little caring how foolish I would be – enslaved to my emotion
Christ calls us to focus – discipline – train
To equip us – to care for us – to be our partners
This world is a harsh place – every day we need Jesus and His grace

Jesus loves you and me – His love changes us
If we will let Him in to train us – guiding us through activity to discipline
Sin is an evil foe – slipperier than we ever know – always seeking our death
Saved to serve –Jesus calls us to the fight – only I can sideline myself
Fighting the same fight each day – doomed to failure by my laziness
We minister in relative obscurity – seeking our 15 minutes of fame

I am pressed by sin each moment of each day – pushed to claim my way
Jesus calls me to surrender – Jesus knows I can’t win without Him
Satan knows that he can’t lose – if he keeps me stirred up
Satan encourages me to become overwhelmed – I deserve to be able to sin
Satan whispers in my ear – do it again – it feels good so surely it can’t hurt you
I wake up further from Jesus than I ever thought I would go – help me Lord

Jesus says He will help me be brave – He will stand with me and carry me
I have to give up my self rule – give it to Christ – Let Jesus have my life
Yes I will still sin – He will forgive me – claiming my focus Jesus will teach me
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus becomes my incessant cry – He is king of me, I will not die
His love, His wisdom, His mercy, His grace change me- He breaks the chains holding me
I am free – it is my right in Christ – Jesus has a hold on me-in surrender I am free

All of us – you – me as members of the body of Christ – are called to a Jesus life
More like Him – less like me is my daily mantra – I follow Jesus- I belong to Him
Read His Word – Spend time with Him – Pray
Strive in Christ to make your faith you practice – Not what I want Jesus-What you want
The question for me- Am I doing better than yesterday?
Today I will strive with Christ as my guide to do the next right thing

Clay Corvin June 20, 2015

Eph 3:1-20

THE STAPLE SINGERS AND ME

The Staple Singers are one of my favorite groups.

They hit it big in the late 60’s at Stax Records and recorded several of their songs at the historic Muscle Shoals studios.  Roebuck “Pops” Staples began singing with the family at his brother’s church in Chicago.  He kept their singing tight and professional.  They sang for a long time before they hit it big.  The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section were with them on their most popular recordings.  Two of their covers- Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” and The Band’s “The Weight” have been very popular.

I know you’re thinking “what does Clay know about music?”  Truthfully very little.  Jason Waggoner, a Seminary Music Adjunct Professor, is one of my favorite musicians.  My favorites are The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, etc. as you well might expect from a person who was a teenager at the beginning of the 60’s.  I do love Rock and Roll and yet I do love Jazz, especially New Orleans Jazz.

I’ve listened to Mavis Staples sing “I’ll Take You There” maybe a thousand times.  I love that song.  It really will take you there.  There are several things I want to tell you about that song.

I NEVER NOTICED  that she called on each one of the musicians in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section to play individually.  I missed it.  It’s about 1/3’ of the way thru the song and I think by that time I’m so overwhelmed at the wonderful opening and Mavis’ reverie.  In reading an article about the song I actually went to my I-Tunes and played the song, listening to it because I couldn’t believe the author was right.  How could that be?  How could I have missed something as obvious as that?

APPLICATION: You may have thought this was simply about The Staple Singers.  It isn’t and although I love their music the Lord began working on me.  I wish that I was a better learner.  I want to be a better learner.  Here goes:

1. We minister in obscurity most of our life.  The Staple Singers (their last name is actually Staples) were relatively unknown until the late 60’s but they had already been singing nearly 20 years when their 15 minutes of fame came along.  They didn’t sing to get famous-although I’m sure they thought about.  I’m sure they sang on stage with very famous people.  The Rolling Stones loved their music and just about everything about Muscle Shoals Studios.  They sang because that is what they did.  They were good at it, they knew and they kept doing it.

2. We are called men and women of God. They sang because that’s who they were.  You and I minister because that is what God-GOD!- called us to do.  When you face uncertain days and hard times REMEMBER your calling-look at your HOLE CARD.  Why are you doing this?  Certainly not to make people happy-we are doing this because as Paul noted we must tell everyone about Jesus.  If you are doing what you are doing without a call and Jesus isn’t the focus of your life-ministry is going to be a hard slog.

3. Check how you think about the Gospel.  Some after preaching to others for 20, 30, 40 years don’t listen to their preaching.  It become perfunctory, old hat, easy and they forget that when they stand to preach, when they go to minister, they are standing together with the Lord being HIS hands and feet and voice.  Ministry is a sacred thing and that includes feeding the hungry, preaching to the masses, clothing the homeless, and helping the helpless.  Oh it also includes loving the unlovely.  Oh yes you might say that I’ve not been called, I’m just a layperson.  If you are part of the Body of Christ you have been called.  Jesus brought you to the ministry.  I’ve pastored homeless missions, prisons, current co-pastor a drug rehab church ministry here in New Orleans and I’ve been doing this since 1976.  I have been called as a preacher to the masses and as best as I can-often times failing-I’ve done my best everywhere I speak.  I’m not erudite, I don’t have the best speaking voice and generally I dress poorly and have to be reminded to speak up.  That reminds me of one of Dr Landrum Leavell’s sayings: STAND UP, SPEAK UP, SIT DOWN!  But you and I must tenaciously wrest everyone we meet from the darkness.  It’s is an awful thing for a person to die not knowing Jesus.

4. Don’t be surprised when you discover a new truth.  Just like me listening to I’ll Take You There all those times and never noticed what turned out to be a big thing on the recording.  Yes I knew the song and in my mind could catch Mavis’ tune and it would take me there-relax, let go, don’t worry, etc.   You nor I know everything, even when we have committed it to memory and worked with a Bible Book for 20 and more years we don’t know it all.  Only the Trinity is eternal.  Jesus knows everything and is God’s everything.  My thinking is that I look for every opportunity for the Lord to teach me, especially when I am preaching or teaching.  The Holy Spirit will convict us of new truth that we have missed all of our life.  Jesus loves us and will use us as much as we will let Him.

5. Don’t quit-keep moving forward.  Yes each one of us get discouraged by our sin.  We certainly are sinful creatures.  If you feel you are without sin dear brother or sister, get with Jesus and ask HIM over the next 7 days to point out your sin.  If you last 24 hours without going to your knees I would be surprised.  The Staple Singers were never an “A-List” group and yet they made a very significant contribution in Rock Music.  They were there right at the beginning.  They influenced a whole generation of British singers some of whom are still “A-List”.   Mavis today is one of the significant Gospel Music voices and her collaboration with the Band in the 70’s is legendary.  This side of heaven few will know what you and I are doing and I assure you that is okay because the Lord knows.  I can’t remember all of the churches I’ve preached in where one or two deacons or a couple of ladies have been the strength in that Body of Christ.  My word to you no matter how bad it gets or how bad it is don’t quit.  Always keep short accounts with Jesus about your sin.  Now is always the right time to repent.

I meant to write a lot more than this and may revisit this one day but for now I think I’ve gotten everything I was thinking about the Staple Singers out.  Jesus is Lord.  We need each other.  Don’t hold in your hurt, find someone to talk about it with.  Jesus loves you.   

DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?

It is hard for people to believe God
We want to do it our way
Our time, our victory
Our results never quite work out right
Jesus is Lord-He offers us salvation- Life like God’s life

Betraying Christ-we listen to what the world wants
Their rules their morals even when they are in direct opposition to the Father
What will we get even though we are seeking good
Reaping the whirlwind, sowing the seeds of doubt and despair
Look around you; everywhere people are in chaos

Saved by grace
Powered by Christ
Seek out the hurting, care for the weak, listen to the lonely
We have a choice – my way or His way
Surrender to Jesus – He loves you

Ritual sacrifice, in word and deed do not mollify God
We are called to salvation-surrender to Jesus-have faith in the Lord
Strive for submission-the Lord isn’t interested in what we can do for Him
He is seeking those that will bend the knee to Him all their life-He is Lord
Useable, obedient, faithful, growing-I make my choice for YOU LORD

Clay Corvin April 18, 2015

BELIEF CHANGES EVERYTHING

Deut 4:29 …if you search for him with all your heart and soul you will find him.

BELIEF CHANGES EVERYTHING

Do you believe God?  Do you believe Him for your situation?
We need to move from knowing about Him to knowing Him
To understand that His 7,000 plus promises in the ible are true
They are written to me and you for guidance in our daily life

I believe you God, in the midst of the fire of life I believe you
I trust you Lord, my actions show how real you are to me
So many say it is hard to read your Word, it’s dry, it applies to others
It applies to me 100%, your Word is a light unto my feet, a strength for my heart

Lord your Word is there for me to know
Knowing your Word equips me, enables me to stand in the face of evil
It picks me up when I am down, it takes my frown and turns it upside down
Let the light of your Word ready me for today, this is the day that the Lord has made

I will meditate on your Word Father, letting it soak into my soul
Inscribing its letters on my heart, that I might not sin against you
I know You know me and I want to know YOU better
Time is passing by, redeem the time Lord and let me be your servant

I believe you Lord
I believe you can change those things wrong in me
Outfitting me to do Your work, helping those you’ve put me with
Every promise in your Word is YES and AMEN, Jesus loves me, this I know

Clay Corvin   August 9, 2014
http://www.claycorvin.com
http://www.rememberme.com

Psalm 93- HE REIGNS (FR DEVOTIONAL)

No force of nature
No act of man
Can divert the Lord’s will
He reigns

Evil seeks to block our way
Time batters our work
We tire in the heat of the day
He reigns

Untimely deaths
Failure’s painful hand
Fears icy stare
He reigns

Jesus is greater than anything
His love deeper than imagination
His care everlasting
He reigns

You have value
Your life is worthy
Every thought He has of you is good
He reigns

Be who you are
Do what you can
Jesus will not forget you
He reigns

Clay

THE I’S HAVE IT – PSALM 131

THE I’S HAVE IT – PSALM 131

David declared his humility before the Lord
He knew his place, he claimed his faith, peace be still

Trifling with the Lord is serious business God knows our heart
It is a choice to claim the Lord – it is a choice to serve the Lord
We choose – I choose to be what HE says
Lord dig out my pride – destroy it but save me
Give me eyes that see YOUR love – a heart pure without cunning
I want to be who I am – trusting you for salvation, peace and joy
I will be your child, I will be your servant, I will love those I’m with

Help me set aside the ways of the world – a grateful heart guides me
I will do what you say Lord – Help my unbelief
Teach me my limitations – Blessed are the ways of the Lord
Lead me in your everlasting way – my life rests in your gracious hands
Thy will not my will Lord – I will do the best at what I do
Destroy my self-sufficiency, self will, self seeking
Pour out your grace upon me that I will walk in your way

Hope in the Lord – He is my strength
My faith is in His promises, His presence, His salvation
One day face to face, help me claim heaven today
Those things unseen, open my eyes Lord that I might see
Those things unheard, open my ears Lord that I might hear
Develop a yearning in me for YOU- every breath I take is YOU
Indwell me with your confidence, I hope in the Lord

Clay Corvin April 11, 2015

KNOW HIM – JESUS IS LORD OF ME

KNOW HIM

 

He died for me on that rugged cross

Feeling sin suffering loss

Burdened by my agony

Jesus is Lord of me

 

Daily time in His precious Word

The Holy Spirit silently heard

Direction, advice, counseling and more

Jesus is Lord of me

 

I give my all to Him each day

All my thoughts are sent His way

My heart is light for He holds my hand

Jesus is Lord of me

 

This journey began before I was a man

My pain and heartache placed in His hand

He spoke to me with loving words I was heard

Jesus is Lord of me

 

Fifty years I’ve walked His path

He has shared every failure and victory

Always guiding me His love never fails

Jesus is Lord of me

 

Jesus is my friend

I could not survive without Him

One day I will stand before Him

Jesus is Lord of me

 

Clay Corvin   September 4, 2010

http://www.claycorvin.com

http://www.rememberme.com