The Right Word at the Right Time

 'What you say can mean life or death' Proverbs 18:21 NCV  

             

There's a story about a teacher who, to honor her students, gave each a ribbon that stated, 'Who I am makes a difference,' and asked them to pass it along to someone who'd made a difference in their lives. One kid gave his to a young executive who helped him plan his career. He in turn gave it to his boss, who was hard to get along with. He told him how much he'd been influenced by his creativity, and asked him to give the ribbon to somebody he admired. That night the boss told his fourteen-year-old son, 'I've thought about who I want to honor-and it's you. My days are hectic, and I'm always complaining about your grades and your messy bedroom. Tonight I want to let you know the difference you've made in my life. Besides your mother, you're the most important person I know, and I love you.' Fighting back tears, the boy replied, 'Earlier today I wrote a letter explaining why I'd taken my life, and asking you to forgive me. I was going to do it when everybody was asleep. I didn't think you'd care. I guess I won't need the letter now.' Upstairs in his son's room the father found the anguish-filled note beside a loaded gun. God can help you to '...speak a word in season to him who is weary...' (Isaiah 50:4 NKJV) Words change lives: 'What you say can mean life or death.' So go out of your way today to speak words of encouragement to somebody you don't normally think about. '...a word spoken at the right moment-how good it is!' (Proverbs 15:23 AMP) You are loved...

God Will Do Whatever It Takes

 

'...Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.' Romans 5:20 NKJV

         

             


Are you ready to let God do whatever it takes? Paul writes, '...I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.' (Galatians 1:13 NIV) Clearly, Paul had no thoughts of becoming a Christian. As a Pharisee, he was obsessed with the law. As an intellectual, he could debate the finest minds. Articulate and educated, he was committed to the tenets of his faith. Yet he hated Christians! He watched as Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to death. And while he didn't personally participate, he held the coats of those who did (Acts 7:57-59). Paul never dreamed that one day he'd be a zealous follower of Christ himself. But when God has a plan for your life He will do whatever it takes to fulfil it. By the time He places the hook in your jaw, He's already begun to work out His purpose for you. Even while Paul held the coats of Stephen's executioners, God had plans to use him. Just as He had plans for you when you were out partying, doing your own thing, going from relationship to relationship, or thinking only of making money. None of that stopped God because, 'Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.' Had Paul known God planned to meet him that day on the Damascus Road, he might have taken a different route. But '...a light from Heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground...' (Acts 9:3-4 NIV) This proud Pharisee had an appointment with God that wasn't in his diary, one that knocked him off his high horse. And to bring you into submission with His will, God will do whatever it takes. So be warned! God won't permit your stubbornness to subvert His plans for your life! Give in and watch what God can do in you're life...you are loved*

Building Lasting Relationships

 

'...It is not good that man should be alone' Genesis 2:18 NKJV

         

             


As I was walking through my thought process on yesterdays services, I asked God if it could it get any better? I felt His smile on my heart and he said "you haven't seen anything yet." It's just the beginning and our speaker shared something very special about our church; it's amazingly relational. We are a big family. God's plan for your life always requires building relationships with the right people. To succeed, you must be able to recognise these people and work with them. Remember Jonathan, who loved David even at the cost of his own life? Or Ruth, who loved her widowed mother-in-law Naomi and gave her a reason to live again? Or Paul, who wrote about Timothy, '...I have no man like [him]... For all men seek their own...' (Philippians 2:19-21 KJV) God wouldn't say, 'It's not good that man should be alone,' then tell you to do it all by yourself. But there may be areas in your life that need to be healed before you can enter these relationships and enjoy them. There's a world of difference between 'using' relationships and 'heart-ties'. Blood-ties don't wear as well as heart-ties. So allow God to work on you. When you are ready, He will make the necessary introductions. In the meantime, get to know Him better. Make His opinion the source of your self-worth. If your last relationship stripped you of worth and drained you spiritually, use this time to get back on your feet. You may never have this opportunity again. And one more thought: begin to love as God loves. He sees your imperfection, handles your rejection and loves you regardless. That should help you not to throw someone away because they made a mistake. You wouldn't discard your car over a faulty part, right? If God forgave you as you forgive others, what shape would you be in? Come on, let God teach you how to build lasting relationships. Because we have a church full of people just waiting to get to know you! You are loved...

Have You Found Your Place Yet?

 

'To prepare God's people for works of service' Ephesians 4:12 NIV   

             


The story's told of a pastor who went to the railroad station every night to watch the express train roar through town. His congregation wondered why. When suspicions arose a deacon followed him, watched him, and asked what he was doing. He replied, 'This train is the only thing that comes through this town that I don't have to push!' God hasn't called your pastor to do everything in church, He's called them 'to prepare [you] for works of service.' So, have you found your area of service yet? Are you functioning in it? Paul writes: 'Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's body... God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can, as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the work of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer.' (Romans 12:4-8 TLB) CS Lewis said, 'Joy bursts in on our lives when we go about doing the good at hand, and not trying to manipulate things and times to achieve joy.' So what are you doing? You are loved...

If God Says You're Qualified, You Are!

 

'Don't let anyone look down on you' 1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

         

             


It seems like such a long time ago now. But there was a time in my life I was asking this very question over and over to God. I'm I qualified to lead people? You know what God told me? Never think I can't use you because of your age, your gender, your nationality, your education or your financial status. People will try to put you down, but if you trust in Me, I'll always lift you up! Timothy started preaching in his teens. He became Paul's travelling companion, which was no small honor. But in those days society said you didn't come into maturity until you were thirty, therefore Timothy wasn't qualified for leadership. Since Timothy was facing criticism, Paul wrote, 'Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young...' With God it's not the length of your life that qualifies you, but the depth of it. Look at Timothy's credentials: 'From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures...' (2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV) Timothy was nurtured in God's Word and grounded in the truth. 'When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.' (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV) So Paul writes to the Philippian church and says: 'I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly... For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the Gospel.' (Philippians 2:19-22 NKJV) The right to work in God's service is not determined by your years on earth, but by your experience with God, your growth in grace and in His Word. So never think you can't....because with God it's all about the can! "All things are possible through Jesus Christ." You are loved...

A Memo from Heaven

 

'...Conquer evil by doing good.' Romans 12:21 TLB

         

             


It's easy to forget why God saved you sometime's, what He's called you to do, and how you're supposed to live. Our lives are so fast paced that God is calling out to you today to remember this: 'Don't just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out... If someone mistreats you... pray that God will bless him. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Work happily together. Don't try to act big. Don't try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don't think you know it all! Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone will see you are honest clear through. Don't quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible... never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for He has said that He will repay those who deserve it... Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be heaping coals of fire on his head. In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. Don't let evil get the upper hand but conquer evil by doing good.' (Romans 12:9-21 TLB) You are loved!

You're Forgiven (2)

 

'Bless the Lord...who forgives all your [sins]' Psalm 103:23 NKJV

         

             


I was thinking back on my life and what led me to consider Jesus Christ as my savior. I was living on the edge and I knew it, so I made a choice. Many of us haven't lived such rough lives and we forgot sometimes what Jesus Christ has saved us from. We have a tendency to forgive others more easily than we forgive ourselves because of our past life. This is especially so when we fail in a major area like a marriage or career, or our actions have hurt others, or our habits have hurt us, or we know we are not doing what we should. So what should you do? (1) Acknowledge it. Don't be afraid to confess what you've done. You're not unique. You're not the first, and you won't be the last to fail. Once you've obtained God's forgiveness, get the support of a trusted friend. 'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.' (James 5:16 NKJV) (2) Delete it. Often it's not the offence itself, but the guilt and stress associated with remembering our actions that make us feel bad. Our reaction is the problem! Continually revisiting our failures doesn't help at all, and it disappoints God. So catch yourself doing it-and hit the delete button! Focus on the fact that God has forgiven you, then put it behind you. 'In Him we have...the forgiveness of sins...' (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV) (3) Replace it. Instead of guilt, choose gratitude. That's not hard to do; just begin to reflect on God's goodness. That's what David did: 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies.' (Psalm 103:2-4 NKJV) When you start to look for them, you'll find lots of things to thank God for. It's all about growing fruit in you're in lives and being thankful is one of them. You are loved....

You're Forgiven (1)

 

'In Him we have...forgiveness of sins' Ephesians 1:7 NKJV   

             


What an amazing day yesterday! The spirit moved, we saw lives changed. People were baptized, and God was glorified! Even in the midst of that, you still may feel like you aren't forgiven? Why do we feel that way when God forgives us but yet we refuse to forgive our self? Yesterday I spoke on the very grace that forgives us of our sinful acts. But yet, we spurn His grace and choose to be miserable. When you do that: (1) Your loved ones are at risk. It's not just about you. When you wallow in guilt you tend to be more withdrawn and critical, and less open and affectionate. So your spouse, children, parents, co-workers, friends and even your pets suffer along with you. (2) Your health is at risk. Your mind affects your body. Doctors say bitterness generates chemicals that affect your vital organs. They increase your heart rate, raise your blood pressure, disrupt your digestion, tense your muscles, dump cholesterol into your bloodstream, and reduce your ability to think clearly. Each time you rehearse the past those bad feelings deliver more corrosive chemicals. Science is now confirming what God has said; namely, that those who don't forgive themselves, and others, are more prone to heart attacks, depression, hypertension and other serious illnesses. (3) Your future is at risk. The Bible says, 'You will again have compassion on us... You will...hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.' (Micah 7:19 NIV) Stop dredging up what God has buried. Start looking ahead; otherwise you'll get mired in a bog of your own making. The Bible says, 'He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.' (Ephesians 1:7-8 NLT) With God's forgiveness comes the wisdom and understanding to not only survive your past, but grow stronger as a result of it. You are loved....

Growing-and Blessing Others

'Carry each other's burdens, and...you will fulfil the law of Christ.' Galatians 6:2 NIV

         

             


Some of us make this a daily habit while others have to work at it; but how do we carry eachothers burdens? If your desire is to bless others, you must ask yourself: (1) What am I doing to invest in myself? You can't give what you don't have. Unless you're committed to personal growth you'll have nothing of worth to give others. So, '...add to your faith...knowledge' (2 Peter 1:5 NIV) and keep adding! (2) What am I doing to invest in others? Success can cause you to be self-seeking. Although you make the most of your natural talent and work hard, you can still become a schemer who asks, 'What can I get from others?' Instead you must ask, 'What can I give to others?' In the book Mother Teresa-Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta, the little nun shares her thoughts with her superiors about her life and her calling to serve people. 'I don't know what the success will be...but if the Missionaries of Charity have brought joy to one unhappy home...made one innocent child from the streets keep pure for Jesus...one dying person die in peace with God...don't you think, Your Grace, it would be worthwhile offering everything...for just that one...because that would bring great joy to the heart of Jesus.' Mother Teresa inspired many of us, sat with presidents and kings, and modelled what servant-hood is to the world. Yet her dream of helping others started small, with the goal of affecting one unhappy home, one innocent child, or one dying person. I've prayed about this often, what would a church look like that had that kind of heart? I think it would be one that is "fulfilling the law of Christ." The way in which you can bless the world around you is to do it-one life at a time. That's our heart and mission @CFW. That's my heart and mission as your pastor. Will join me? You are loved....

Feeling for Others (2)

 

'...I remember you in my prayers at all times' Romans 1:910 NIV

         

             


Charles Swindoll writes: 'We don't look, act, or dress alike. We have different tastes in food, books, cars and music. We work at different jobs...enjoy different hobbies ...but one thing we have in common. We know what it means to hurt. Suffering is universal. Tears are the same for Jews, Muslims, Christians, white, black, brown, children, adults, and the elderly. When life hurts and dreams fade we express our anguish in different ways, but each of us knows the sting of pain, heartache, disease, disaster, trials and suffering.' A great preacher of yester-year once said to a group of aspiring young ministers, "Preach to the suffering and you'll never lack a congregation." There's a broken heart in every pew. Suffering is the common thread in all our garments. When Peter wrote his first letter to fellow believers scattered throughout Asia he focused on the thing that drew them all together-suffering. These people were being singed by the same flames of persecution that would take the apostle's life in just a few years. Their circumstances were the bleakest imaginable. Yet Peter didn't try to pump them up with positive thinking. Instead, he gently reached his hand to their chins and lifted their faces skyward-so they could see beyond their circumstances to their celestial calling. Some people instinctively know what to say to encourage others; they're the ones we look for when we're going through hard times... Jethro encouraged Moses (Exodus 18); Epaphroditus ministered to Paul (Philippians 2:25-30). Ask God to make you the kind of friend whose presence brings comfort and encouragement. You are loved!

Feeling for Others (1)

 

        

'...Weep with those who weep.' Romans 12:15 NKJV

I thought I would write something different today but as life goes sometimes bad things happen to good people; and sometimes people just make wrong decisions in life that lead them to bad circumstances. So how do you help those who are hurting? In 1883, poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox was travelling by train to an inaugural ball when she noticed a woman weeping across the aisle. Wilcox spent the rest of the journey comforting her, and when she reached her destination she was in no mood to celebrate. Later, remembering the woman on the train, she wrote the opening lines to her famous poem Solitude: 'Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.' Holly Vicente Robaina says: 'We laugh...play...and celebrate together. Why's it so difficult to cry together?...When friends hurt, Christians say, I'll pray for you... In some cases God heals and restores, but sometimes there's no miracle...only profound sadness.' CS Lewis wrote about losing his wife: 'Where's God?...Go to Him when your need is desperate and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double-bolting on the inside.' I don't think Lewis would have been comforted by, 'God loves you...I'll pray for you.' While it's great to exhort, we need to evaluate our words before we speak. Are we using 'encouragement' to ignore somebody's pain because we don't want to deal with it? Do we mean what we say, or are we just rattling off polite clichés? Do we expect our words to fix everything? Are we acting like we can do a better job than 'the Comforter'? When we promise to pray for somebody, do we check on them later? Ever wonder why Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb? He could just have [told] the mourners, 'Everything's ok, folks. God loves you,' and raised Lazarus. Instead He showed His love by crying with them. "Weep with those who weep." You are loved!

Are You Drifting Off Course?

 

         

'I take joy in doing Your will' Psalm 40:8 NLT

As I was sitting here this morning looking out my office window dreaming back to warmer days and some golf. I thought about how we sometimes drift off course in our spiritual lives, just like my hook shot in golf. Author John Blumberg observed on a rafting trip he took with some friends one time: 'We had a hard time getting away from shore...there appeared to be enormous momentum keeping us grounded. Slowly it got easier and we decided to relax. And it was during our moment of pause that reality set in concerning our ever-so-gentle-drift out to sea. We immediately...grasped for safety, one arm holding the raft, the other aggressively swimming. Twenty minutes later we'd made minimal progress. A lifeguard in a kayak appeared, and, comforted by his presence, we lightly commented about our distance from shore. But he wasn't laughing! Orange [markers] had warned us not to go beyond them, but we ignored them and drifted five times further out than we should. The lifeguard didn't leave, but he didn't assist us either. Forty-five minutes later I walked ashore...shaking from exhaustion.' We don't run away from our values, we drift away and wake up in places we never meant to. Sin is subtle; it lulls you into thinking you have it all together, then one day you discover you're in over your head. God's Word is our safety marker. David said, 'I take joy in doing Your will...for Your instructions are written on my heart.' The Hebrew word for 'heart' means gut. It was used like we describe the heart as the core of our emotions. David's thinking and emotions were so sharpened by Scripture, it settled '...deep within...' (GWT) As a believer, God's Word should be so ingrained in your heart that you want to do what's right, and 'take joy' in doing His will. I hope and pray that's you're relationship with Jesus Christ. As the saying goes, keep on keeping on. You are loved!

Make the Most of It

 

         

'...When it prospers, you will...prosper.' Jeremiah 29:7 GWT
Great service yesterday. I hope and pray you heard the word that God gave me to share and that you will apply it to your spiritual life. Depending where you are in your spiritual walk we sometimes have to learn When to Make the Most it. Are you at a place in your life and you'd rather not be there? Well, God has a word for you, but it may not be one you want to hear. It's the same word Jeremiah brought to his people when they were slaves in Babylon, far from everything near and dear: 'You're not going home anytime soon, so change your attitude, dig in and make the best of it. Buy homes, plant gardens, let your children get married...and in addition, pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you're living because when it prospers, you will prosper.' (Jeremiah 29: 5-7 paraphrase) The Israelites were in exile because God had allowed them to be taken captive. So, could it be that you are where you are today because God placed you there to bless those around you? Instead of putting your life on hold waiting for circumstances to change, start sowing into other people's lives what you want to come back as a harvest in your own. Why? Because when they are blessed, you'll be blessed too! How do we know? Because Jesus said, 'Give, and it will be given to you...the measure you use...will be measured to you.' (Luke 6:38 NIV) Martha Washington said, 'I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. I have learned that the greater part of happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.' That sounds just like Paul: '...I have learned [to be] content in...every situation...' (Philippians 4:12 NIV) If you want to go from surviving to thriving, make the most of where God placed you. Take the next step and ask God to use you! You are loved...

Asking in Harmony with God's Will

 

'...If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.' 1 John 5:14 NKJV

Last month I had what I call a God's will meeting (or Divine meeting) with a couple during JD Diner's appreciation day. They live in Kennewick but God brought them to JD's for the purpose of meeting me. They began to share an opportunity to have Dean Braxton, a man who had died, went to heaven, and was sent back to share his story. You ask what does that have to do with God's will? Well, I had been in prayer for a long time asking God what was coming along next for our church. We had a great time with Pieter and I'd been praying a long time about a sustained move of His spirit. I was seeking His will not just for what I could put together but what He could do. We like to think that our wants are God's will, scripture says '...If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us...we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.' (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV) Your confidence in prayer comes from knowing that you are asking according to God's will. So I asked God if this was the right thing to do. I got confirmation and so on Sunday Oct. 28th we'll see what God has planned for us. So how do we understand His will to us: (1) Through His Word. Find out what the Bible says about the thing you are asking God for. The story's told of a lady who's only Bible reading was a promise box. Remember those? First, she reached in and pulled out a Scripture that read, 'Judas went out and hanged himself.' So she reached for a second one and it said, 'Go thou and do likewise.' Quickly she reached for a third one and it said, 'And what thou doest, do quickly.' Seriously, don't just read the promises of God, study the conditions that go with them! (2) Through personal revelation. Hannah Whitall Smith said: 'I lay it down as a foundation principle...that God's voice will always be in harmony with itself, no matter in how many different ways He may speak. The voices may be many, the message can be but one. If God tells me in one voice to do or to leave undone anything, He cannot possibly tell me the opposite in another voice... therefore my rule for distinguishing the voice of God would be to bring it to the test of harmony.' So, make sure you are asking in harmony with God's will. You are loved!

         

             
'Total Commitment'
'...Then you will receive praise, honor and renown"Deuteronomy 26:19 NLT

As I was praying this morning, I began to think about what commitment would look like for the believer. The words in Deuteronomy struck my heart hard. When we are faithful does God then reward us with "praise, honor, and renown." Jesus said God "rewards those who dilegently seek Him." Imagine how honored you would feel if the president decided to visit you and spend the night at your house. You wouldn't leave dirty dishes piled up in the sink, clothes strewn across the floor and a ring around the bathtub. No, you'd give the place a radical makeover! And you wouldn't make them sleep in the garage, the mud room or the attic; you'd vacate the master bedroom and give it to them. Your goal would be to honor them in every way because their presence had honored you. Now read this: 'You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in His ways, and...do everything He tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are His people, His own special treasure, just as He promised, and that you must obey all His commands. And if you do, He will set you high above all the other nations He has made. Then you will receive praise, honour, and renown...' (Deuteronomy 26:17-19 NLT) Let's take this a step further. When Old Testament priests entered the ministry they went through a rite called 'consecration'. From that moment on they belonged exclusively to God and were committed to obey Him in all things. You say, 'What does any of this have to do with me?' A lot: if you want God to use you, to honor and promote you, you can't marginalise or compartmentalise Him. You must commit yourself to doing His will! And that includes your time, your talent, your treasure, your body, your mind, your spirit, and your all. God wants 'total commitment'.

You Are the Church (2)

 

   

'...Their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work' Nehemiah 3:5 NIV

The story's told of a football team that was losing badly. Pointing to the captain, their coach on the sidelines kept shouting, 'Give the ball to Calhoun! Give the ball to Calhoun!' Fed up and frustrated, the captain finally shouted back, 'Coach, Calhoun doesn't want the ball!' Yesterday we talked about those who would rather be a spectator than a player. Today let's talk about those who are on the team but don't want to put their heart into it. While rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah wrote, 'The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work.' These guys suffered from two common diseases known as 'convenient commitment' and 'limited involvement'. For every person who fulfils their dream, you will find a hundred others who only talk about it. You say, 'Let somebody else do the giving for a change.' If somebody else sows, somebody else will reap the harvest you were meant to reap. Is that ok with you? The Bible says, 'God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.' (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT) When God's blessing stops flowing through you, it stops flowing to you. Think long term. Treasure in Heaven is laid up, only as treasure on earth is laid down. Paul speaks of '...the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.' (Galatians 2:20 NLT) Every time God asks you for time, money or talent, remember what Christ gave up for you. You are loved!

You are the Church!

 

    

'...To equip God's people to do His work' Ephesians 4:12 NLT

As I was praying yesterday after service, and it was a good one if you weren't there. God just spoke to me and reassured me that we are His church! You and me together making a difference in peoples lives. But there is a lot of work that needs to be done and we need everyone, all of us working towards one vision, one goal; reaching our community for Christ! The unemployment rates came out after the debates last week showing a 8% unemployment rate. The unemployment statistics in the country are bad, but take a look at the church. Twenty percent of its members give eighty percent of its income, and do eighty percent of its work. The rest are happy just to be spectators. It's easy to sit back, criticise and say, 'Why doesn't the church do something about the problem?' Hold on there: You are the church; you do something about it! You say, 'But I left my church because I don't like the way they do things.' You didn't leave God's church, which is the body of Christ, did you? So, instead of talking about what your church doesn't do, look in the mirror and ask yourself, 'What am I doing for the Lord?' Do you know what an Armchair Manager is? It's someone who analyses the game when it's over, criticises the players, complains about the referee's calls, and is content to sit in the stadium and be a spectator rather than a player. Hello! It takes commitment to spend hours in practice knowing you'll be booed by the crowd, tackled by opponents, and will leave the field beat up and covered in dirt. The Bible says that the job of your pastor is: '...to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church...This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children...' (Ephesians 4:12-14 NLT) I hope you'll think about it! We need you. This outreach on Halloween and many future ones will take all of us working together sharing the love of Jesus Christ to the lost. Always remember, you are loved...

Living in the Flow of God's Blessing

 

 

'...Take over the land...flowing with milk and honey.' Deuteronomy 11:89 NIV

How many times have you thought it must get easier at some point? When they were slaves in Egypt, the Israelites had to pump water from the Nile River to irrigate their crops and put food on their table. Can you imagine slaving every day on an old foot pump just to get by? I know what your thinking, nothing much has changed. One of the first things I had to learn as a believer was to allow my thought process to change. When the Isrealites began to trust God again things changed for the better. God told them, '...Go in and take over the land...flowing with milk and honey...not like the land of Egypt...where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot...' (Deuteronomy 11:8-10 NIV)
There's a lesson here if you are willing to listen. You can reach a place in your walk with God where you get 'off the pump and into the flow'; where you stop 'sweating it', because God's goodness flows into every area of your life. But this promise is conditional-it's for those who obey God: 'Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land...' (Deuteronomy 11:8 NIV) Obedience is like having the right access code. It enables you to make withdrawals on God's blessing because you are walking in His will. We all want to live in the flow of God's blessing, right? Yet too few of us do. Who are these 'blessed' people? (1) Those who act on God's instructions. (2) Those who confront the giants of fear in their life. (3) Those that refuse to be swayed by the 'wilderness mentality' of others. (4) Those with the faith to say, 'The Lord...will lead us into that land...and will give it to us...do not be afraid...' (Numbers 14:8-9 NIV) And you can be one of those people. You are loved!

Secure in God's Love

 

     

'I will be faithful to you and make you Mine' Hosea 2:20 NLT

As we continue with our series on "Another Kind of Love." Jesus told us to "Love God and Love others as ourselves." Its hard to love others or feel loved when you don't love yourself. You can even be loved by many, but deep down you'll feel needy and insecure until you understand how God feels about you. The Bible says:
(1) God wants you to be happy. '...I have loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself. I will rebuild you...You will again be happy...' (Jeremiah 31:3-4 NLT) ( 2) God will never walk out on you. '...He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."' (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV) You say, 'But what about my failures and shortcomings?' Nothing about you surprises God or changes His mind about you. He's totally committed to you. 'If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.' (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT) (3) God thinks you are valuable. '...Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God...you are precious to Me. You are honoured, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you...' (Isaiah 43:1-5 NLT) (4) God never takes His eye off you. 'There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the Heavens to help you...The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you...' (Deuteronomy 33:26-27 NLT) So live in God's love. It's the most secure place on earth! You are loved....

Lasting Success

 

 

'...He who abides in Me...bears much fruit' John 15:5 NKJV

It is coffee time! Man I need it. It's been a rough couple days as Amy hasn't been feeling very well and could use your prayers. So here we go...What is lasting success? I was thinking this morning about what success should look like in our lives according to Gods word. Jesus said, '...I chose you and appointed you that you should...bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain...' (John 15:16 NKJV) God has two goals for us: First, greater success; secondly, a legacy of success. Just so you know, He will do whatever it takes to accomplish it. Just when we are comfortable at a certain level of success, He takes His shears and starts pruning some of the stuff we'd like to hold on to. The problem is, we settle for less than what God wants. When Jesus said, 'Without Me you can do nothing,' He was teaching us that when we're surrounded by the demands, needs and agendas of others we can get spiritually depleted. And when that happens we begin operating in the energy of the flesh. Andrew Murray wrote: 'Do not confuse work and fruit. There may be a good deal of work for Christ that is not the fruit of the Heavenly vine.' Jesus wants '...fruit that will last.' (John 15:16 NIV) Lasting success! Parent, God didn't give you children so that you could lose them to the enemy. Paul said that the faith he saw in Timothy, he first observed in his mother and his grandmother, both of whom were apparently married to unbelievers. How did they do it? They stayed connected to the vine and thrived in a hostile environment. Business person, God doesn't want you settling for temporal success; His purpose in blessing you is so you can help to extend His Kingdom. There's no shortage of resources; God just needs people He can entrust them to. So pray, 'Lord, make me successful, and give me success that lasts.' You are loved...

Give Your Entire Life to Christ

 

   

'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation' 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

 What an amazing day yesterday with Pieter & Joann. The seats were full with people worshipping and the anticipation of what God was about to do and did; filled the sanctuary. I hope those who God ministered to will share their stories, because I was blown away with the response and what he did in our midst. Thanks again to everyone who helped in this weekend's services, Lois's memorial and our biker Sunday. That leads me to today. What is keeping you from giving your entire life to Christ? The story is told of a man reading a newspaper when he came across a map of the world. So he clipped it out, cut it into pieces and told his little boy to put it back together again. After a while the boy said to him, 'I've done it!' His father marvelled, 'As quick as that? How did you do it?' His son said: 'I turned it over and on the back was a picture of a man. I put the man together-and the world came together!' You can't change the world, but Christ can change you, and when that happens, your world will start coming together. The Bible says, 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' But don't just give Jesus your heart; give Him your entire life. Yes, the thief on the cross found redemption in his dying moments, so there's no age limit when it comes to salvation. But think about this: 'Suppose that Paul had been converted at seventy instead of twenty-five. There would have been no Paul in history. There was a Matthew Henry because he was converted at eleven and not at seventy...A Jonathan Edwards because he was converted at eight and not eighty; a Richard Baxter because he was converted at six and not sixty. How much more a soul is worth that has a lifetime of opportunity before it, than the soul which has nothing! Lambs are of more worth than sheep in the realm of souls, as well as in the marketplace.' Think about it? You are loved...