God is so willing to enter your world. The hospital room? He goes there. Late night deadlines? He'll stay up with you. Are you watching the slow death of someone you love? He'll sit by your side every single moment. Just invite Him. "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelation 3:20
Psalm 138:7
Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
James 4:8
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Keeping it Simple
Preachers and teachers and Christians of all sorts spend hours after hours and dollars after dollars trying to figure out how to really impact their community. How do we do ministry? How can we grow our church? How can we really make a difference? I am certainly not stating I have it all figured out because I do not.
Lately, however I have been wrestling with God.....a lot. By the way, He always wins! But nonetheless, I wrestle with Him. I want to know Him in such an intimate way and I want to please Him with every ounce of my being.....and that's a lot of ounces!
I recently finished reading the book, "Simple Church" by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger. That book can and should be church transforming. And I honestly believe that we won't have an effective simple church until we as individuals experience a fresh dose of His extravagant yet simple love. Jesus just loves you more than you and I will ever be able to comprehend on this side of glory. To become a fully devoted follower of Christ means that we stop trying to build His church.....He said that He will build His church and nothing will stop Him...not even Hell itself. Our job is not to build His church but to be the church. I say all that to say this: You and I need life transformation. We do! And I completely and honestly believe that we can experience that life transformation as we put into practice the words of Jesus found in Matthew 22.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."(NLT)
Talk to God today. Ask Him to start an exciting life changing experience within your life. Love Him because He is so worthy of our love.....Love people because the people around you need to know that someone cares. Is it you?
Lately, however I have been wrestling with God.....a lot. By the way, He always wins! But nonetheless, I wrestle with Him. I want to know Him in such an intimate way and I want to please Him with every ounce of my being.....and that's a lot of ounces!
I recently finished reading the book, "Simple Church" by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger. That book can and should be church transforming. And I honestly believe that we won't have an effective simple church until we as individuals experience a fresh dose of His extravagant yet simple love. Jesus just loves you more than you and I will ever be able to comprehend on this side of glory. To become a fully devoted follower of Christ means that we stop trying to build His church.....He said that He will build His church and nothing will stop Him...not even Hell itself. Our job is not to build His church but to be the church. I say all that to say this: You and I need life transformation. We do! And I completely and honestly believe that we can experience that life transformation as we put into practice the words of Jesus found in Matthew 22.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."(NLT)
Talk to God today. Ask Him to start an exciting life changing experience within your life. Love Him because He is so worthy of our love.....Love people because the people around you need to know that someone cares. Is it you?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Unexpected Faith
Jesus was surprised when He heard this; He turned around and said to the crowd following Him, "I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel." Luke 7:9
No two people were more different. Jesus was an itinerant preacher, poor and without social position...a carpenter with miracles in his hands. The centurion was a Roman army officer who oversaw the work and training of one hundred soldiers. He was one of the Roman conquerors who held Israel in their tight fists.
The centurion was different. Beneath the breastplate of his armor beat the heart of a man who respected the Jews, built a synagogue for them, and cared for his servants, including one who lay sick and dying. Despite his high social rank, he was too humble to approach Jesus to ask for help. He sent others in his place. Jesus saw this as great and unexpected faith.
Someone said, "Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!" The centurion ran the risk of ridicule from his peers and rejection by Jesus but sent for Christ's help anyway. That's how strong his love for his servant was; that's how great his faith in Christ was.
One of the great hymns is "Trust and Obey" by John Sammis. As the song was being sung in a church, a child...as children sometimes do.... misheard the title and sang the chorus incorrectly as "trust and okay." Maybe he wasn't so far off.
Faith is the application of belief to life. It is not an academic principle; it's a tool for daily living. Like the centurion, you need to trust Christ with your problems and with your life....even if it seems to everyone else an unexpected and unlikely thing for you to do. Whether you're an outsider or an insider, Jesus is the one to turn to. Trust and okay.
One final thought.......Jesus saw a powerful man's request for help as a mighty display of faith. Nothing has changed. The most courageous thing you can do is approach Jesus in faith and belief.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
No two people were more different. Jesus was an itinerant preacher, poor and without social position...a carpenter with miracles in his hands. The centurion was a Roman army officer who oversaw the work and training of one hundred soldiers. He was one of the Roman conquerors who held Israel in their tight fists.
The centurion was different. Beneath the breastplate of his armor beat the heart of a man who respected the Jews, built a synagogue for them, and cared for his servants, including one who lay sick and dying. Despite his high social rank, he was too humble to approach Jesus to ask for help. He sent others in his place. Jesus saw this as great and unexpected faith.
Someone said, "Faith is not believing that God can, but that God will!" The centurion ran the risk of ridicule from his peers and rejection by Jesus but sent for Christ's help anyway. That's how strong his love for his servant was; that's how great his faith in Christ was.
One of the great hymns is "Trust and Obey" by John Sammis. As the song was being sung in a church, a child...as children sometimes do.... misheard the title and sang the chorus incorrectly as "trust and okay." Maybe he wasn't so far off.
Faith is the application of belief to life. It is not an academic principle; it's a tool for daily living. Like the centurion, you need to trust Christ with your problems and with your life....even if it seems to everyone else an unexpected and unlikely thing for you to do. Whether you're an outsider or an insider, Jesus is the one to turn to. Trust and okay.
One final thought.......Jesus saw a powerful man's request for help as a mighty display of faith. Nothing has changed. The most courageous thing you can do is approach Jesus in faith and belief.
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A Useless Thing
Luke 12:25
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Anxiety is self-torment, and it gripped the people who listened to Jesus. The word Jesus used means to "examine minutely," to stew over something. People dwelled on how and when their lives would end. Such thoughts ate at them, and such concerns swallowed up the better thoughts of life.
Jesus made sure His listeners understood that such anxiety was a destructive waste of time. No matter how anxious they became, no matter how much they troubled themselves over such things, it made no difference. Anxiety couldn't extend a life, put food on the table, or drive away disease. Anxiety made things worse. It was time they let go and let God deal with matters out of their reach.
When Ann Landers was writing her popular advice column, she received an average of ten thousand letters a month. When asked if she saw a trend in the letters, some problem that seemed more common than others, she replied that most of the letters dealt with some form of fear. People were afraid of losing their health, wealth, and loved ones. In short, people were afraid of life itself.
Impossible is a hard word for many to swallow, and learning that some things are beyond your control is unnerving. No one can control aging, world events, or decisions of loved ones, and that is unsettling. People fall into anxiety; they worry, they fret, they even lose sleep. And when it is all over, nothing has changed.
Anxiety is the most useless thing in the world. Like worry, it achieves nothing good but can cause great harm. The solution is simple. Change what you can and leave the rest in God's hands......The opposite of anxiety is trust; not trust in self---good as that is--but trusting God's love and ability. Anxiety is useless; faith is everything.
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Anxiety is self-torment, and it gripped the people who listened to Jesus. The word Jesus used means to "examine minutely," to stew over something. People dwelled on how and when their lives would end. Such thoughts ate at them, and such concerns swallowed up the better thoughts of life.
Jesus made sure His listeners understood that such anxiety was a destructive waste of time. No matter how anxious they became, no matter how much they troubled themselves over such things, it made no difference. Anxiety couldn't extend a life, put food on the table, or drive away disease. Anxiety made things worse. It was time they let go and let God deal with matters out of their reach.
When Ann Landers was writing her popular advice column, she received an average of ten thousand letters a month. When asked if she saw a trend in the letters, some problem that seemed more common than others, she replied that most of the letters dealt with some form of fear. People were afraid of losing their health, wealth, and loved ones. In short, people were afraid of life itself.
Impossible is a hard word for many to swallow, and learning that some things are beyond your control is unnerving. No one can control aging, world events, or decisions of loved ones, and that is unsettling. People fall into anxiety; they worry, they fret, they even lose sleep. And when it is all over, nothing has changed.
Anxiety is the most useless thing in the world. Like worry, it achieves nothing good but can cause great harm. The solution is simple. Change what you can and leave the rest in God's hands......The opposite of anxiety is trust; not trust in self---good as that is--but trusting God's love and ability. Anxiety is useless; faith is everything.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Our God is faithful
Good morning. It is my prayer that people see God in a real and authentic way today. We talk about God, we pray to God, we say we are Christ followers and we go to church like good church folks do....Right? Sound familiar? Yet as we follow Christ, it becomes painfully obvious that many of us are following Him from quite a distance. We can barely see Him from that distance. We long for holiness yet we won't allow the holiness of God to get too close to us. Many times we say that we have been trying and waiting and wanting God to do amazing and cool things in and through us......but He just hasn't yet. Stay with it. Don't give in or give up.
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 says, "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
Please know that God loves you and is working in your life to make you like His Son....Jesus. Let Him be God. Let Him be the King. Let Him be The Lord of your life. God bless you today....or should I say, He already has blessed you?
1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 says, "Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."
Please know that God loves you and is working in your life to make you like His Son....Jesus. Let Him be God. Let Him be the King. Let Him be The Lord of your life. God bless you today....or should I say, He already has blessed you?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Free
I trust the 4th of July was a good time for you. I hope you had time to relax and read or maybe go swimming or fishing or something that you like to do that you normally don't get to do. I hope you had some time to reflect on life....to reflect on your purpose in life. Perhaps along the way somewhere this past weekend you had a few minutes to thank God for the men and women who aren't home right now because they are off somewhere defending our freedom....Watching guard through the night so that you can sleep in peace. Freedom...it doesn't come easy and it is not free. It cost something to be free. Be thankful for your freedom as Americans!
Speaking of freedom, John 8:32 says, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."(NLT) We were once in bondage... slaves to sin. But when Jesus came (The Truth), He set us free from that and now enables us to walk in the light rather than darkness. He sets the captives free.
Why do so many people walk around in chains today? Why do so many people walk around in darkness? You don't have to. Jesus is the light that lights every person's heart. He is the way. He is the truth and He is the life. He is everything. Thank Him for your freedom both as Americans and as Christians!!
Speaking of freedom, John 8:32 says, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."(NLT) We were once in bondage... slaves to sin. But when Jesus came (The Truth), He set us free from that and now enables us to walk in the light rather than darkness. He sets the captives free.
Why do so many people walk around in chains today? Why do so many people walk around in darkness? You don't have to. Jesus is the light that lights every person's heart. He is the way. He is the truth and He is the life. He is everything. Thank Him for your freedom both as Americans and as Christians!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Ordination
Hello friends....Today is a great day! I have been working towards the goal of being ordained very intently for 25 months. I finished my academic obligations for ordination in April and then was scheduled to be ordained in June. I honestly was excited to be ordained but maybe felt more relieved to be done with all the homework and travelling to meet the requirements for ordination. Last night was my night....I was ordained at 7:30pm Mountain time on June 28th, 2009. Dr. Joann Lyon preached the message. It was definitely a holy occasion. I am so honored to be an ordained minister....to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dr. Lyon went into depth to explain the significance of a verse of scripture that she used for her text. Very powerful.
John 12:32
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."(NLT)
It is not about the people. It is not about the church building. It is not about the cute messages or technology. It is the simple truth of Christ. To preach Jesus crucified on the rugged cross and that as He was lifted up on that cross, He would draw all people to Himself. It is my prayer that I live every day to the fullest and that with every opportunity I have, I can point people to the cross and that He indeed will draw all to Himself. Praise be to God that the story did not end with the cross. Jesus did indeed die on the cross, was taken down and buried but three days later, Jesus arose from the dead.......alive forevermore....Victorious over death, hell and the grave.
Last night, I entered into a fresh, lifelong, and renewed commitment to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord.....Please make this fire burn hotter and more intense every day until my work is done. May I run faithfully and finish well. This same prayer is for all who read this as well. God bless you as you serve Christ and His church!
John 12:32
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself."(NLT)
It is not about the people. It is not about the church building. It is not about the cute messages or technology. It is the simple truth of Christ. To preach Jesus crucified on the rugged cross and that as He was lifted up on that cross, He would draw all people to Himself. It is my prayer that I live every day to the fullest and that with every opportunity I have, I can point people to the cross and that He indeed will draw all to Himself. Praise be to God that the story did not end with the cross. Jesus did indeed die on the cross, was taken down and buried but three days later, Jesus arose from the dead.......alive forevermore....Victorious over death, hell and the grave.
Last night, I entered into a fresh, lifelong, and renewed commitment to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord.....Please make this fire burn hotter and more intense every day until my work is done. May I run faithfully and finish well. This same prayer is for all who read this as well. God bless you as you serve Christ and His church!
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