Are You Lonely?  

'...we belong to each other...' Ephesians 4:25 NLT

         

             
Good Morning,

Please remember Norma Johnson in your prayers as she is finally home and needing the church family to help out. If you could send a meal or help clean her house or something, please call Barb Beach and she'll help coordinate with you. Norma has been a stead fast giver when our church family has had a need. Amy and I hope you'll help out.

It's Valentine's Day and for many it's a very hard day. I thought about sharing stories about my beautiful wife and how she is the rock in my life. But for many this is a lonely day. So I hope I can encourage those who are feeling lonely today. In the first chapters of Genesis we read, 'And God saw that it was good.' The first reference to something being 'not good' was when God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone...' (Genesis 2:18 NIV) Adam was enjoying a great relationship with God, but because he didn't have a human companion, God said it wasn't a good thing. God designed you with two voids. One is a void only He Himself can fill. The other is a void only the right people can fill. And you can't fill either void with things like jobs, houses, cars or money. You say, 'What should I do?' (1) Keep your eyes open Today one in five relationships begins on the Internet. But there's a built-in danger there; you can be anybody you want to be on the internet, yet not be known and loved for the person you really are. Furthermore, loneliness can blind you to your own true needs and another person's lack of character. (2) Pray about it When Eliezer, Abraham's servant, was sent to find a wife for Isaac he prayed, 'O Lord...give me success today...' (Genesis 24:42 NIV) And God did. Isaac and Rebekah became one of the great love stories of the Bible. (3) Reach out to others That may mean taking down the wall you've been hiding behind and building a bridge. The Bible says, 'Do not be interested only in your own life...be interested in...others.' (Philippians 2:4 NCV) There are no perfect relationships, or risk-free ones. It's in finding an unmet need and pouring yourself into it that you conquer loneliness and discover a new joy in living. You may ask how do you know that? Because I lived the life of loneliness until I went out of my way to help others. It was after that, that God opened the door to relationship...you are loved!

Love

'...Let us...love one another...' 1 John 4:7 NLT       

    


I was sitting here this morning listening to some awesome worship music by Jesus Culture. I know some of you are going to say pastor you're on vacation you can take a break...yes I can and I am! But God challenged me to keep writing and to share what He's been placing on my heart the last few days. And yes I may just share some more. We got here Monday afternoon at Amy's sisters house. Kathy and Leo are the most amazing hosts. We are blessed to have such wonderful family who love us. Then I thought about you...what an incredible family who loves us! Church you are amazing. I heard a quote today from Betty White, "If you want to be the best always look to the positive, and never stop loving." Now she wasn't coming from a Christian standpoint, but good words to live by. So today guess what I'm sharing? Yes, Love. Love is slow to suspect but quick to trust; slow to condemn but quick to justify; slow to offend but quick to defend; slow to expose but quick to shield; slow to reprimand but quick to empathise; slow to belittle but quick to appreciate; slow to demand but quick to give; slow to provoke but quick to help; slow to resent but quick to forgive. I read about a church where the people make the following pledge to each other: 'I'll never knowingly say or do anything to hurt you. I'll always, in every circumstance, seek to help and support you. If you're down and I can lift you, I'll do that. If you need something and I have it, I'll share it with you. If I need to, I'll give it to you. No matter what I find out about you, no matter what happens in the future - either good or bad - my commitment to you will never change. And there's nothing you can do about it.' How amazing is that? I would love that to be our motto at our church... 1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV says love: (1) 'Believes all things.' When someone you care about is called into question, love says, 'That's not the kind of person they are; that's not what they meant.' (2) 'Hopes all things.' Love sees people not just as they are, but as they can be through God's grace. And if you let Him, God will download that kind of love into your heart. (3) 'Endures all things.' The Greek word for 'endure' is a military term. It means driving a stake into the ground. It's like saying, 'I'll stand my ground in loving you.' Today, take the love that God has given to you, and give it to others. It will change your life! You are loved even on vacation...

Living Fearlessly (3)

 

'...I will uphold you with My...right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 NIV

         

             


When you know that what you're doing is in sync with God's will, you can be confident He will provide what you need and fight for you. God told His people, 'When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.' (Deuteronomy 20:1 NIV) Then God added something else: '...Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.' (Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV) God knows that when you allow fear to rule your heart, it's fatal, not only for you, but to those around you. What happens is you become a person of self excuse, who rationales everything so you can just get by in life. This effects not only you, but your family, friends and co-workers and your relationship with God. People who let fear rule them, in effect, the day they succumbed to it, there life changes...We all die in the end, but there's no reason to die in the middle. You don't overcome fear overnight. But gradually, day by day, you can get it under control. '...the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.' (Daniel 11:32 NKJV) The word 'know' means 'to be in relationship with, or to be intimate with.' Want to overcome your fears? Spend time in God's Word. Prioritise your prayer life. Get to know God better. You are loved!

Living Fearlessly (2)

'...Do not fear, for I am with you...' Isaiah 41:10 NIV   

             


The words 'fear not' appear in the Bible all the way from Genesis to Revelation. Why is that? Because God understands that fear is not only our biggest enemy but our constant companion, and He wants to help us overcome it. Our comfort zones constrain us, imprisoning us in a thought system of our own devising. They are patrolled by sentries - negative thoughts and unexamined fears - that keep us firmly behind bars. One of the fears that I am overcoming is riding my bike again. When I was a young man I was in a motorcycle accident that kept me off a bike until last year. But the good news is, because fears are feelings, the faulty ones can be removed by faith in God, and you can become free from them. I asked God to replace the fear I had with faith. Does this mean you can live totally free from fear? No, writer Michael Ignatieff says: 'Living fearlessly is not the same thing as never being afraid. It's good to be afraid occasionally. Fear is a great teacher. What's not good is living in fear, allowing fear to dictate your choices, allowing fear to define who you are. Living fearlessly means standing up to fear, taking its measure, refusing to let it shape and define your life. Living fearlessly means taking risks, taking gambles, not playing it safe. It means refusing to take 'no' for an answer when you are sure that the answer should have been 'yes'. It means refusing to settle for less than what you are due, what is yours by right, what is yours by the sweat of your labour and your effort.' And let's add - what God has promised and planned for you. You are loved!

Living Fearlessly (1)

 

'...You are My servant; I have chosen you...' Isaiah 41:9 NIV

         

             


Have you ever been in a position where someone or something has triggered this bit of fear inside of you? You are not sure where it came from but it defiantly triggered the emotion of fear in you. When I was in Haiti driving down one of these streets like this I had for a moment, that fear that said "what are you doing here?" Immediately I spoke the words of God into my spirit and said "if you have called me, you have chosen me." Have you ever wondered how animal trainers used to control a five ton elephant and keep it from running away? They did it by controlling the animal's thinking. When a baby elephant was being trained, a rope was put around its leg and then tied to a wooden post secured in the ground. The elephant, which was not yet very strong, pulled at the rope but was unable to break it or to pull up the post. Eventually it gave up. From that point forward when the elephant's leg was secured it believed it couldn't get away - even though it was fully capable of escaping, and had been for a long time. It remembered its struggle. That's one reason it's said, 'Elephants never forget.' And we are like that too. Our thinking limits us, just as an elephant's does. Usually it's because of fear. The truth is fear can steal your dreams. You may be afraid of failure. You may be afraid of rejection. You may not want to make a fool of yourself. You may be afraid of trying because you believe you can't succeed. If you give in to these thoughts and believe that you can't achieve your dream, you'll be right - and therefore unable to achieve your dream. Often what we fear has no connection to reality. But here's the good news: Fear can be overcome. The first step to overcoming it is to believe God when He says about you: '...You are My servant; I have chosen you...do not fear, for I am with you...I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:910 NIV) You are loved!

Contentment

 

'...with these we shall be content.' 1 Timothy 6:8 NAS   

             


I found this picture of our dog Shaggy sleeping in my arms on a road trip some time back. He was so content to just lay in my arms. Let me share something with you this morning; contentment isn't something you find at a particular destination, it's something you practice every day on your way to it. And even if you miss the right path from time to time, you still enjoy the scenery along the detour. Paul said, 'Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.' (Philippians 4:11 NKJV) Paul learned not to let what he didn't have, overshadow what he did. How do you find contentment? By doing these three things: (1) Seek it Make it a daily choice. Come to the place where you believe that having more materially, won't make you happier. Sometimes contentment calls for simplifying your life. Benjamin Franklin said, 'Contentment makes poor men rich, and discontent makes rich men poor.' (2) Say it Cultivate the ability to say, 'I have enough.' Push back from life's table and say, 'I've had enough.' Stand with the surprise bonus in your hand considering what you might buy, and say, 'I have enough, Lord. How can I use this for You?' (3) Settle it '...If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.' (Psalm 62:10 NAS) If all the grains of sand on all the beaches of the world represented eternity, you could say that one grain represents your lifespan. Now think: You are over here grinding your one grain day and night to get everything you can out of it, while ignoring all the beaches of eternity that God has in store for you. Not very clever, is it? To be content, focus on eternity. Let enough be enough. Let your lifestyle be Biblically based; make it eternally focused! You are loved!

Learning to Walk by Faith (3)

 

'Faith comes from hearing the message...through the Word...' Romans 10:17 NIV

         

             


What does it mean to 'walk by faith...' (2 Corinthians 5:7 NAS)? It's radically different from walking by sight, reason, emotion or intellect. It calls you to live above these things; to believe God when it seems impossible to believe. It enables you to enter the realm of supernatural possibilities because Jesus said, 'All things are possible to one who believes.' (Mark 9:23 ESV) Here are some Scriptural principles about faith that will help you: (1) It is not rooted in human effort. Self-confidence and intellectual acumen don't qualify. Optimism, good luck and social connections don't qualify. Learning religious formulas won't do it either. (2) It's rooted in God's unlimited power and unchanging Word. 'Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word.' The Word of God, received and residing within you, continuously produces faith within you. No teeth-gritting super-effort is required; you simply decide to believe what God says and respond to it. (3) Walking by faith calls for action. 'Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.' (James 2:18 NIV) Until you act, your faith is useless. 'In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.' (James 2:17 NIV) The moment you act your faith springs to life, inviting God to move on your behalf. Today He's waiting for you to act so that He can respond to you. Even if you don't feel like it, ask yourself, 'What would my first step of faith be if I really felt like taking action?' Do it! You'll be walking by faith and reaping the rewards! (Hebrews 11:6) You are Loved!