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.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
You were created for.....
Ever heard that line.....It's my life, I'll do what I want? I have heard it so many times. Interesting enough I have heard it a lot lately even from Christians. Do we really remember why we were created? God created us for His good pleasure. You and I were created to worship Him and bring glory to His name. That is it. Everything else is just a side task...a part time hobby. We are created to give our lives completely away to Jesus Christ. Think about that the next time you get overwhelmed with your job or career. Think about that when the car breaks down or you have some unexpected bill to pay. You are created to worship. Worship God who loves you and created you in His image. When your focus is on Him, it is just amazing how small the things of this world will become. God bless you and I pray this will encourage you today.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Real Purpose
Let me ask you a question: Is God good? I not only believe that God is Good, I know it with every fiber of my being. He is the definition of good. God is good...all the time. And all the time, God is good.
Another question: Do you believe God is all powerful? You should because the scripture is very clear that all power was given to Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18
Does God have your best interest at heart? He sure does...Matthew 6:25-34 is very clear that God cares about every need in your life and he meets every one of your needs.
So......If God is good and if He is all powerful and if He has your very best interest at heart, why don't we listen to Him when He gives us instructions to leave? What do I mean?
Genesis 12:1-4
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.(NLT)
God told Abram to leave...He didn't tell him details of where he was going, how long he was going to be gone or if he was even coming back. God said, "Go" and Abram went. Following that one command was 7 promises. God will never ask you to do anything without some sort of reassurance or promise or provision. For example:
Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.(NLT)
Jesus said come to me. If you come to me, I will give you rest. The scripture is filled with examples of how God always provides promises and provisions with His commands.
Today, He is asking you to leave. Leave what? It might be geographical. Maybe God wants you to go on the mission field for Him. Maybe it is spiritual. God wants you to leave where you are spiritually so that He can take you where He wants you to be. Are you spending as much time in the Bible as you can? How about prayer? Doing a lot of that? Do you spend time just quiet waiting for Him to speak to you? I think that one fits us all, doesn't it? Maybe He is asking you to leave the pain of the past and embrace the incredible future He has for you. Maybe He wants you to leave that addiction or life of sin. Turn from that and embrace the gift He has given us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Don't question God. His ways are so much better and higher than our ways. He is good. He is all powerful and He has only your best interest at heart. Trust and obey. You won't go wrong and you won't ever regret leaving when the Spirit of God asks you to.
Another question: Do you believe God is all powerful? You should because the scripture is very clear that all power was given to Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18
Does God have your best interest at heart? He sure does...Matthew 6:25-34 is very clear that God cares about every need in your life and he meets every one of your needs.
So......If God is good and if He is all powerful and if He has your very best interest at heart, why don't we listen to Him when He gives us instructions to leave? What do I mean?
Genesis 12:1-4
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.(NLT)
God told Abram to leave...He didn't tell him details of where he was going, how long he was going to be gone or if he was even coming back. God said, "Go" and Abram went. Following that one command was 7 promises. God will never ask you to do anything without some sort of reassurance or promise or provision. For example:
Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.(NLT)
Jesus said come to me. If you come to me, I will give you rest. The scripture is filled with examples of how God always provides promises and provisions with His commands.
Today, He is asking you to leave. Leave what? It might be geographical. Maybe God wants you to go on the mission field for Him. Maybe it is spiritual. God wants you to leave where you are spiritually so that He can take you where He wants you to be. Are you spending as much time in the Bible as you can? How about prayer? Doing a lot of that? Do you spend time just quiet waiting for Him to speak to you? I think that one fits us all, doesn't it? Maybe He is asking you to leave the pain of the past and embrace the incredible future He has for you. Maybe He wants you to leave that addiction or life of sin. Turn from that and embrace the gift He has given us in His Son, Jesus Christ. Don't question God. His ways are so much better and higher than our ways. He is good. He is all powerful and He has only your best interest at heart. Trust and obey. You won't go wrong and you won't ever regret leaving when the Spirit of God asks you to.
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