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....