How's Your Relationship with God? (3)

'...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.' John 5:30 NKJV

Good Morning,

I pray God has been speaking to your hearts about your relationship. It's hard walking this life without doubt and worry sometimes. But the biggest thing to keeping us on track is our daily relationship with Him. This morning we examine the third thing that describes Christ's relationship with the Father, that is obedience. Jesus said: 'As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.' Jesus neither considered nor consulted His own will in the matter. Instead He focused like a laser on one thing-doing the will of God, no more and no less. Note the words, 'As I hear.' When you have heard from God the discussion is over; it's time to act. God's not going to change His mind, so you need to start changing yours and 'get with the program.' When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you give up three basic rights: (a) What it will cost you; (b) Where it will take you; (c) The extent to which it will change you. In order to enjoy a relationship with Jesus similar to the one which He had with His Father, that's the price tag! You say, 'That sounds very demanding.' Yes, but it's also very protective. When God told His people to do something, He also told them why: '...that it might go well with you...' (Deuteronomy 5:33, 6:3, 12:28) God's not trying to cramp your style, make your life hard or put you in a straitjacket. He's a Father who wants only the best for His children. Isn't that what every good parent wants? So when you walk in obedience, God's best is what you will get.

How's Your Relationship with God? (2)

'...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.' John 5:30 NKJV

Good Morning,
Continuing this morning with the question: "How's your relationship with God". There are three things that describe Christ's relationship with His Father: intimacy, dependency and obedience. Today let's look at His dependency on God. 'The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.' (John 5:19 NKJV) Jesus knew He couldn't do anything without His Father, so He didn't bother to try. We, on the other hand, sing, 'Without Him I can do nothing,' then go out and act like it all depends on us. If we succeed, we often become so conceited that nobody can stand us. And if we fail, it's usually because we collapsed under the weight of an assignment God didn't give us in the first place. Have you ever wondered why Jesus never struggled with insecurity or battled the fear of failure like we do? Because it never even occurred to Him that He couldn't do something which His Father had already assured Him He could do. When you know you have heard from God you can face any obstacle or enemy with confidence. God will never give you an assignment that does not require His wisdom and undergirding strength. Indeed, every act of God in your life is designed to increase, not decrease, your dependence on Him. You say, 'But I have talent. I can do a lot of things!' Yes, but you can do nothing that matters in God's eyes. So before you begin your day, kneel and pray, 'Lord, I'm counting on You, and I don't have a backup plan!' Have a great day!

How's Your Relationship with God? (1)

'...I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.' John 5:30 NKJV

Good Morning,

What a awesome service yesterday! Thanks for responding to the spirits touch. I hope and pray that through this series on Stewardship you will chose to make your life count for Christ in every area, Time, Talent, Spiritual Gifts, and Finances. It will change your life...So how's your relationship with God? The relationship Jesus had with His Father is the kind of relationship that He wants you to have with Him. Three things describe that relationship. For the next few days let's look at each of them: First: Intimacy. Jesus said, 'The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does...' (John 5:20 NIV) You interact with many people throughout the day, but you only share your heart with those you trust, and with whom you have a close relationship. So, how close are you to God right now? Close enough to hear when He speaks to you? Close enough to know when you've said or done something which has grieved Him? Close enough to feel the warmth of His presence? The truth is, you are as close to God right now as you desire to be, decide to be, and discipline yourself to be. Nothing is born unless there is first an act of intimacy between two people, and intimacy is based on one word: 'desire'. How much do you desire God? David said, 'O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You...' (Psalm 63:1 NIV) Do you desire His house? 'They feast on the abundance of Your house; You give them drink from Your river of delights.' (Psalm 36:8 NIV) Do you desire His Word? 'I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.' (Job 23:12 NIV) I hope you are chosing Intimacy its always the first step....

More Than Conquerors (2)

'...who always leads us in triumph in Christ...' 2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Good Morning,

We are continuing on with being more than conquerors. In life there many things we will have to overcome and one of these your family environment. None of us come from an ideal family. Many will experience things like rejection; physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse; poverty; rage; drug addiction; alcoholism; divorce etc. Years later we still struggle with things like low self-worth, marital failure, loneliness, depression, addiction, anxiety, anger control and dysfunctional parenting. But having a bad start doesn't mean you can't have a great finish. Your life today is more than what happened yesterday; it's about what you do with what happened yesterday. Consider Jephthah's family background. He was born to a prostitute, kicked out of the house by his brothers, robbed of his rightful inheritance, disappointed in religious leaders, a refugee and rebel living in a cave (Judges 11). But unbowed, he defied defeat, trained a motley militia of rejects, delivered Israel from their enemies, and made it into faith's hall of fame with Abraham, Moses and David (Hebrews 11). How did he do it? He started where he was, he took what he had, and he did what he could. By faith he seized his God-given opportunity. You are more than the product of your environment. Whatever happened back then, you're now '...a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) Live in the new and renounce the old! 'He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.' (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

More Than Conquerors (1)

'...who always leads us in triumph in Christ...' 2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

Good Morning,

It's always a great day when we wake up and feel like we can conqueror the world. Jesus said, '...Here on earth you will have many trials...' (John 16:33 NLT) Having problems doesn't mean you're a fake, a failure or the focus of God's displeasure. The storm tested both the believer's and the unbeliever's house. (Matthew 7:24-27) But the believer overcame it. So what's God's goal? To make you an over comer, not an escape artist! 'Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.' Yes, God will deliver you but first He will develop you. There are problems you can't avoid and must deal with, such as: Your physical heredity. In a society obsessed with 'looks,' are you unhappy about yours? Feel too tall, too short, unattractive, not athletic; you're apple-shaped, pear-shaped, your nose is all wrong? Got freckles, double chin, protruding ears? Tried to darken it, lighten it, accentuate it, hide it, reduce it, enlarge it, but it never looks the way you wish? Beware of our culture's carnal norms. '...They measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another...without understanding.' (2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV) The Bible points out that 'sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator...[who say], "Stop, You're doing it wrong!"' (Isaiah 45:9 NLT) Look your best, but accept what you can't change. God doesn't make mistakes. Don't be like those 'without understanding.' 'People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) Adopt God's standard, not man's. Start appreciating yourself. Then you can appreciate others.

Faith and Fantasy (2)

'...They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord.' Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV

Good Morning,
Thanks team for a wonderful day of Thanksgiving yesterday. The spirit's presence was so sweet. So was the meal we shared after service. Thanks to the Hospitality team and Melissa who made it happen.

Continuing from Friday's devotional Jesus said, 'Ask, and it will be given to you...' (Matthew 7:7 NKJV) But that promise is qualified by this condition: what you're asking for must be in harmony with God's will. (1 John 5:14) When you sign a legal contract you cannot afford to overlook the fine print. And as someone with a dream, you can't afford to overlook reality. If you do, reality will stop you cold in your tracks. When God gives you a dream, He gives you all that's needed to fulfill it. The more unrealistic your dream, the more you'll be tempted to depend upon things you cannot control (such as luck). You must balance the boldness of dreaming with the reality of your situation. Yes, you need to reach far beyond what you think you're capable of, but at the same time base what you do on your strengths and other factors within your control. The more concerned you become with things you can't control, the less you will do to improve the things you can control. And when you do that, you start living in a fantasy world. When God gives you a dream it will play to your strengths. Catherine B. Ahles observed: 'We spend most of our twenties discovering all of the hundreds of things we can be. But as we mature into our thirties, we begin to discover all of the things we will never be. The challenge for us is to reach our forties and beyond and put it all together-to know our capabilities and recognize our limitations-and become the best we can be.' That's all God is asking us to be for HIm...The best we can be!

Faith and Fantasy (1)

'...They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord.' Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV

Just a reminder that tonight 11.18 @7pm is our Family Connection @Calvary. Worship, the word, and a special time to give thanks to God for what he's done in your life this year.

Many people have been sold a bill of goods when it comes to dreams. The saying, 'If you believe it, you can achieve it,' is simply not true. Just about every child dreams of being able to fly like a bird but it's not going to happen, no matter how much they imagine it. Ever watch AmericanIdol? Some of the contestants are clueless when it comes to their ability. They sing off key, they screech, they bellow and they howl. And when they're told that they're not good enough by the judges, these wannabe stars throw tantrums and say, 'That's just your opinion. I'm great.' We all need a reality check. Faith is not fantasy. It's not mind over matter. It's not having a lottery mindset. People who think this way believe that if they somehow show up at the right place at the right time and make the right connections, then presto, their fantasy will come true! Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy? But it isn't. Ralph Waldo Emerson observed: 'Shallow men believe in luck...strong men believe in cause and effect.' When God gives you a dream you need faith to bring it to pass. So the question you need to ask yourself is, 'Is my dream from God?' When it is, you'll have the necessary gifts and talents to fulfill it. And what you lack, God will provide in additional relationships and resources. The trouble with chasing a fantasy is that while you're doing it you're not fulfilling the dream God has given you for your life.

Confront Your Fears (2)

'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.' 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Continuing this morning with Confronting your Fears....A tourist was driving through the countryside when he saw an old farmer sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. Behind his farmhouse was seventy-five acres of land. The tourist asked, 'Is that your land?' 'Yep,' he replied. 'Well, what are you doing with it? Thinking of growing cotton?' the tourist asked. 'Nope, I'm afraid the boll weevils will get it,' said the farmer. 'What about corn?' the tourist asked. 'No, I'm afraid the locusts will eat it,' he replied. 'Well,' the tourist asked, 'What about raising cattle?' The farmer said, 'I'm afraid the price of beef might go down.' 'So, what are you going to do with all that prime farmland?' the tourist asked. 'Nothing. I'm just going to play it safe.'

Is that how you feel? When you choose to play it safe in life, your potential for success is like that barren wasteland. As long as fear rules your life you won't step out in faith and fulfill your destiny. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) Isn't it better to risk failure and do what God wants, than risk displeasing Him? We've all experienced the fear that makes us want to pull back. Only those who overcome it go far in life. '...Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.' (Psalm 35:27 NKJV) Conquering the fear of failure begins with believing: 'God wants me to succeed.' Undergirded by that truth you cannot only defy your fears but defeat them.

Confront Your Fears (1)

'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.' 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Good Morning,
I love the scripture this morning out of 2nd Timothy. Paul is addressing a real feeling of Timothy's. Timothy was in the midst of pastoring his first church something he had never done before. We too can be overcome with fear when we are experienceing something new, like a new job or a new relationship or a new investment strategy. You will never succeed as long as you keep giving in to fear. The corporate world risks failure every time they launch another product. The fashion world risks failure with each new clothing line. Yet they're willing to take multimillion-dollar risks to improve their merchandise and boost their sales. Do they always win? No, but without taking a risk they've no chance of succeeding at all. A poet wrote: 'There was a very cautious man who never laughed or played; he never risked, he never tried, he never sang or prayed. And when one day he passed away, his insurance was denied; for since he never really lived, they claimed he never died!' The fact is, we all fail! The failure rate of the human race is one hundred percent, and everyone (you included) qualifies for membership in this club. But that doesn't mean you have to live in the fear of failure. Faith in God is what gives you the courage to confront your fears and live the life He meant you to live. If you don't, you'll suffer the regret of 'what could have been.' You'll never be perfect, so you'll never be perfectly successful. That doesn't mean you will not succeed in life but you must try. Fear is a 'spirit' and, if you let it, it will control you. God offers you three better options: 'Power...love...a sound mind.' You are loved!

Preparing Them (2)

'...well-nurtured plants...pillars...to adorn a palace.' Psalm 144:12 NIV

Good Morning,
We are continuing today with building character within our children. Character and maturity aren't qualities we normally expect to find in our children. We assume that these things come later-an assumption that hinders their growth potential. God's got higher expectations for your children! In His Word we read: (1) 'Our sons...will be like well-nurtured plants.' Not in their forties, fifties or sixties but 'grown up in their youth' (KJV). They needn't waste their youth; they can grow now. Why does God liken them to plants? Because they have spiritual roots capable of drawing in His nurture, ways and strength, and are born with the potential for success. '...I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.' (1 John 2:14 NIV) Hello, that's your child He is talking about! (2) 'Our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.' Why would God equate your daughters with pillars? First, because they're designed to be upright and support-giving; they're indispensable to the building's structural integrity. Secondly, because they 'adorn' the building, making it attractive, drawing attention to its grandeur and causing us to admire the architect and owner. Palace pillars glorify the King, making Him, and them, look good. Your children need you to believe in their God-given potential. Do you remember what Jesus said about our children? '...of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Matthew 19:14 NKJV) His faith in their potential is great. Yours must be too.

Preparing Them (1)

 

'It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.' Lamentations 3:27 NIV

Good Morning,

For those of you who are the curious type, the next series that God has me working on is the Christian family. Here are some thoughts on raising children in today's world: Thinking maturity and spiritual growth will suddenly 'happen' to your children is like expecting an acorn to suddenly become an oak tree. Time, development and nurture are required to produce an oak tree-the same goes for raising children. And the earlier you start the better your results will be. 'It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.' Otherwise the passage of time will just produce unprepared children with habits and attitudes that are hard to shake later on when life requires them to take on responsibility. In the 'yoke' metaphor the untrained ox learns by being yoked to the well-trained one, sharing the workload and following its example. Parents tend to make two mistakes with their children. First, they over-function. They do everything for them, then blame the child for being lazy. Secondly, they under-function. They demand too much of the child, frustrating them and making them feel incompetent. The key to building character and confidence is not to do it for them but with them, teaching them responsibility. The yoke principle offers two great advantages: (a) It provides the role-model advantage. 'Apprentice' your children by patiently, lovingly using on-the-job training to demonstrate and impart skills and competence. They'll appreciate you when the tools you provide them lead to a lifetime of natural and spiritual success; (b) It provides the relationship advantage. Those training times and shared work leave space projects are great opportunities to develop and deepen an enduring and precious bond with your children.

You're Called to Be a Servant

'Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus...' Romans 1:1 NAS
Hope each of you are having a blessed day today. Just a reminder ladies that tonight at 6pm @The Armstrongs is WM's connection night. If you are interested in becoming a member @Calvary we are having a New Member class tonight @7pm. Youth Connection starts @6:45pm...

When Paul called himself 'a bond-servant' of Christ he was referring to an Old Testament law under which you served your master faithfully for six years. However, in the seventh year the law said that you had to be set free. But if you turned back when you were released and said, 'Master, I'm not serving you because I have to but because I want to,' then your master took you before a judge and pierced your ear, signifying that you belonged to him forever; that you were committed to listening to him and obeying him. (Exodus 21:6) Today pray, 'Lord, I'm not serving You because I have to but because I want to. Pierce my ear, mark me as Yours, bond me together with You so that I can never belong to another.' When ministry loses its passion it becomes an empty profession. The very word 'minister' is a verb, not just a noun. It's what you do, not what you claim to be. The word 'servant' also referred to a third-level galley slave chained to an oar on a Roman ship. Day and night you rowed to the drumbeat of the ship's master, whether you were in battle or in merchant service. And you expected to die chained to that oar. What a picture! It's what Paul had in mind when he wrote: 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.' (Romans 12:1 NKJV) When you think of what Christ has done for you, is it too much to ask?

It Happens in Stages

'...first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain...' Mark 4:28 NKJV

Good Morning,

Just a reminder that we have four awesome connections for you and your family this week. Tonight 7pm @the Clarks is our "Bondage Breakers" fuel group. Wednesday there are two connections: WM's connection @the Armstongs @6pm; Youth connection 6:45pm @Calvary. Friday 6am Men's connection Prayer @Calvary. I hope you will make it a priority in your familys life. For info call the office @967-2447.

Life just happens goes the saying. If you're waiting for a promise God has given you to be fulfilled, observe the words of Jesus: 'The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.' (Mark 4:26-29 NKJV) Before you receive what God has promised, you often go through certain stages. Let's look at them:

First there's the 'I don't know' stage. Your seed is in the ground; when it will produce a harvest is entirely up to God. But His Word assures you it will. Next comes 'the blade' stage. It's just a tiny blade blowing in the breeze but it's enough to encourage you and let you know that the answer is on the way. Next comes 'the head' stage. Now it's starting to look like what you prayed for. Hopefully you've been watering it with prayer, fertilizing it with God's Word and protecting it from any negative force that would try to uproot it. Finally you enter 'the full grain' stage. This is when God says: 'Put in the sickle, because your harvest has come.' At this point it's crucial to recognize your harvest and begin to reap it. Whatever stage you're at today, stand on God's promise and keep trusting Him. He will not disappoint you.

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

'I will give them an undivided heart...' Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

Good Morning,

What a great service yesterday with Missionary Steve Shoop. I pray you heard the call of his heart to raise up a generation of young people to missions. This mornings thought has a lot to do with what was shared yesterday. Do what you love, love what you do....Successful people allow their God-given passion and talent to guide them in life. They have a single focus and an undivided heart. God doesn't create you to be talented in an area, then ask you to give yourself to some unrelated area. There's always a potential alignment of talent and passion, if you have the courage to pursue your life's purpose and take risks. Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do With My Life? writes, 'I'm convinced that business success in the future starts with the question, "What should I do with my life?" Yes, that's right...people don't succeed by migrating to a "hot" industry or by adopting a particular career-guiding [motto]. They thrive by focusing on the question of who they really are and connecting to work they truly love (and, in so doing, unleashing a productive and creative power they never imagined).' Carly Fiorina said, 'Love what you do, or don't do it...Make the choice to do something because it engages your heart as well as your mind. Make the choice because it engages all of you.' Don't unwittingly become a slave to someone else's dream because once you own a dream that dream can also own you. Being a slave to someone else's dream could quickly become a nightmare. Paul writes: '...But they are only comparing themselves with each other...How ignorant...We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us...' (2 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT) If you are confused, out of focus or going in circles, pray, 'Lord, give me a clear vision and an undivided heart.' That's a prayer God will answer. So whatever stage in life you are, trust God to help love what you do!

How to Become 'Righteous'

'With the heart one believes unto righteousness...' Romans 10:10 NKJV

Good Morning,
How does one become righteous? To be 'saved' you must put your trust in Christ, and nothing else. You say, 'But what if I clean up my act?' No, there are people who live better by accident than you do on purpose. Our distinction as Christians is that we have placed our trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and nothing else. Paul lays it clearly on the line: 'If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' (Romans 10:9-10 NKJV) Salvation is the result of what you believe in your heart about the finished work of Christ, and what you confess with your lips. Those two elements, believing and confessing, bring you into a state of 'righteousness' in the eyes of God. Have you ever gone to a grocery store with a coupon cut out from a newspaper? You want a bag of flour or sugar, but you've no money. Yet they give it to you. Why? Because with the coupon, they give you credit as though you had the money. Getting the idea? You have no righteousness to bring before God in exchange for salvation, but He has set up a coupon system called redemption and said, 'Once you place your trust in Christ, I will view you as righteous from that moment on.' The word 'righteous' simply means 'to be in right standing with God.' What a way to live! What a well of joy! What a source of confidence! Next time Satan tells you that you're not up to God's standards, tell him differently...

What's Your Excuse?

'But they all...began to make excuses...' Luke 14:18 NKJV

I love a good dream especially when I come out on top. But what if the dream needs something of you? God lays on many of our hearts dreams to do small and great things for Him. But we have a choice to go for it or make excuses. Let's look at some of the excuses we offer for not pursuing the dream God has given us. First-'Dreams don't come true for ordinary people like me.' The Wright brothers wanted to fly. Winston Churchill envisioned a free Europe. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of racial equality. But you don't have to be a world figure to have a dream. No, the pursuit of a dream is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people. Ordinary people live extraordinary lives when they follow their dream. Why do we say that? Because a God-given dream will motivate you to make important changes in your life. You won't just change who you are in order to live out your dream; you pursue your dream, and the process changes who you are and what you can accomplish. In other words, your dream is both your goal and your change-agent. Secondly-'If the dream isn't big it's not worth pursuing.' Size doesn't determine significance. Your dream doesn't have to be big; it just has to be bigger than you. Mother Teresa said, 'We can't all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.' Thirdly-'Now is not the right time to pursue my dream.' Permission to pursue your dream comes from two sources: God and yourself. Novelist George Eliot said, 'It's never too late to become what you might have been.' The timing will never be perfect for you to pursue your dream so you might as well start now. If you don't, next year you'll be one year older and not a step closer to it. So let's dream together!

Don't Worry About It

'Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

Good Morning,

Thanks to all who helped out with the Trunk or Treat Outreach last night. It was a huge success with double the kids as last year. Thanks to those who donated candy you are loved a whole bunch & a Special thanks to one family who went above and beyond. We have been looking at stewardship the last 4 weeks; Jesus said, 'Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For [non-believers] run after all these things...' (Matthew 6:31-32 NIV) One author writes: 'The other day I was worrying about something when I heard a minister say, "Worry is a lack of trust in God." So then I began to worry over the fact that I was worrying. Then someone else said, "Just don't worry about it." Sounds simple enough, but I come from a line of people who speak faith, but act out of fear. Then a friend came up with this novel idea: "Why don't you try this worry coupon. It entitles you to worry as much as you like, but only if: (a) it will feed and clothe you; (b) it will add to your life instead of taking from it; (c) it will make tomorrow better; (d) you don't mind acting like a non-believer!" Then he said, "If that doesn't work make a list of all the things you're worrying about, place it in a box and put it up on a shelf where you can't see it. If God is either unwilling or unable to take care of it, you can always go get the box and start worrying again but at least give Him a chance. And while you are waiting for Him to answer, pray, stand on His Word and don't give your worries a voice."' The Amplified Bible says: 'Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you.' Let's trust Him Together!