God's Way to be Prepared

  

'...In the day of my disaster...the Lord was my support.' 2 Samuel 22:19 NIV

A phone call in the small hours, a malignant tumour, a police officer at your door, a child addicted to drugs - if you live long enough you'll be confronted with 'the day of disaster'. For me it was when one of my brothers went to prison. For you it's something very different. But it's the strength of your relationship with God that will dictate your response. I love what CS Lewis said, "we can either acquire the wisdom assigned to a trial, or keep repeating it until we 'get it'." One author points out that God's 'disaster-preparedness kit is found in Psalm 31:24 NIV: Be strong. Why? Because God is fighting for you. You must know God, know your convictions, and know how to tap into God's unlimited power. You are not who you, or anyone else thinks...God says you are strong. Believe Him! Take heart. Don't let your pain shut you down. Take the broken pieces and offer them to God...choose to live with love. A closed heart isn't worth fighting for. You've worked too hard to get this far, so work with Him to see your healing all the way through. Hope in the Lord. Put no stock in emotion, circumstances, or gossip...Place your hopes and dreams at the altar...God makes all things new and possible. Anything other than the real thing will fail...No matter how long I've spent in God's workshop, my progress is proven only in the moment of peril. We prepare in advance so our responses are involuntary...There isn't a situation, a temptation, or a question where Ephesians 6:10 doesn't apply: "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (NIV). On multiple-choice tests it's the answer...God isn't telling you to be tough on your own...rely on His strength and let Him do for you what He knows is best. You are Loved!

Who's You're Provider?

 

'Godly sorrow brings repentance...and leaves no regret...' 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

As we continue in the book of Ephesians we are going to get a wonderful understanding of what grace is. But unless we have faith in His grace, there's this kind of regret that leads to despair because you don't think His grace is sufficient to cover your sins. Then there's 'sadness...used by God [which] brings a change of heart...and...no regret.' (2 Corinthians 7:10 GNT) This kind draws you closer and makes you more dependent on Him. 'See what God did with this sadness of yours... Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault...' (2 Corinthians 7:11 GNT) We were in a position in Westport, as the economy closed in I began to regret not buying a less expensive home. If only we'd bought a cheaper house. If only we'd rented. If only we'd stayed in our first house. I can 'If only' myself into depression and stagnation where I'm stuck between regret and forward motion. When my focus is not on the One who provides...I let regret become bigger than God...and following that logic, I believe past choices, an event, a tragedy, a compromise, a mistake - is more powerful than the God who spoke the world into existence...We live in 'if only/what if' moments more than we realize. What happens is we get a sense of hopeless paralysis: we fear the bad choices we made [and] the choices we face. But look at what God's word promises us if we believe and follow Him? If we allow God to pour His grace into the present...our walk will be one where we make a decision and are able to stick with it. Learning to trust Him even if we make mistakes, because God's big enough to turn them around. When regret becomes ungodly sorrow versus godly sorrow, you find yourself submerged in self-pity instead of looking to Him to work things out for the good of "those...He has called according to His purpose."' (Romans 8:28 NKJV) You are loved....

'Faith Is'

 

'...Lord, "Increase our faith."' Luke 17:5 NKJV

Ever asked God to increase your faith? I had to learn what faith really is so I could believe God because Faith answers the question, 'How?' with one word: 'God!' The Bible says, 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) Notice: (1) Faith is a 'substance'. Some people see faith as something ethereal and 'otherworldly'. But it's not; we use faith every day. For example, you pick up the phone, call a department store, place an order, and they ask for your credit card number. Then they give you a receipt number. The receipt is what you hold on to while you're waiting for the item to arrive - it gives you the assurance that the product is on the way. And the same is true in the spiritual realm. God promises to answer your prayer, you believe Him, but your faith is the 'substance' or the receipt you hold on to while you're waiting. (2) Faith is also 'evidence.' Why would you believe that someone you can't see on the other end of a phone line would send you something just because you order it? Because it happens every day for others, and it's probably happened to you before. Therefore you're not being presumptuous or silly when you go to your mailbox expecting it to be there. You are not the first person to trust God and you won't be the last. 'Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.' (Psalm 90:1 NAS) People have been trusting God for thousands of years and He has never let them down. His faithfulness is all the 'evidence' you need. So it's not foolish to put your trust in a God like that, is it? You are loved...

Why we need a Savior!

Yesterday as I was ending service I didn't get the chance to finish up with my last point and I think it is important that you have the opportunity to put it into perspective. Paul says:

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

Our sin nature is kind of like a worm in an apple. Do you know how a worm gets into an apple? I always assumed that it ate itself into the apple from the outside. But what I discovered is that the worm actually comes from the inside of the apple. What happens is that an insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later the egg hatches in the middle of the apple and the worm eats itself out. We’re born with that sin nature inside of us and it continues to make its way out day after day. That's why we need Jesus and God's Spirit inside us.

Because “Apart from God, I was dead and I was dominated. And also…”
3. I was doomed
“…Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”
The result of my spiritual death and my domination by the world, Satan, and the flesh is that I was under the wrath of God. That’s why the question “Why do we need a savior” is so critical.
Frankly, most of us don’t like to think about the wrath of God a whole lot. And so I think we often get a wrong picture of what that wrath is like. We tend to picture it as God getting angry from time to time, lashing out in anger and then forgetting it. But when we look at what the Bible teaches about His wrath, we find that His wrath is consistent, controlled and judicial. God’s wrath is an inevitable response to all that stands in opposition to His righteousness and holiness. God’s wrath has both a present and future element to it. Jesus Himself spoke of the present aspect of God’s wrath:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him." John 3:36 (NIV)
Paul writes about that in Romans:
“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:5 (NIV)

For those who do not respond to the grace and mercy of God, there is a future judgment to be faced. And at that time, those people will experience the wrath of God and be separated from Him for eternity in a place of eternal torment. That's why we need a Savior! Paul was reminding the Ephesians what they had been saved from so he could show them what they received. As we look forward to next weeks message we look at God's Love, Grace, and Mercy...it's going to be awesome.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Forgiver and you’re Master, then you are exactly as Paul describes you in these verses – someone who needs a savior. Don’t leave this blog until you respond to what you now realize. You can do that right there where you sit by praying to God and thanking Him for drawing you to Him, telling Him you’re sorry for your sins and asking Him to forgive you, and placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone as the payment for your sins. You don’t have to use fancy words. Just speak to God as a friend and tell Him what’s on your heart. Or call me right now and I’ll pray for you! 509-967-2447...you are loved.

 

God's still in control

 

The question can be asked 'Why?' isn't everyone healed? The truth is, sometimes God heals us in response to the prayer of faith (James 5:14), other times He takes us to Heaven, which Paul describes as 'far better' (Philippians 1:23). The real answer is: 'We don't know, and God doesn't tell us!' Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, had a ministry so miraculous that the dead were raised, yet he confessed, 'We know in part.' (1 Corinthians 13:9) Paul didn't have all the answers and neither do we. In Hebrews chapter 11, some 'escaped the edge of the sword' (Hebrews 11:34 NIV), while others 'were put to death by the sword.' (Hebrews 11:37 NIV) But notice in verse 39, 'These were all commended for their faith.' It seems clear that we can't always measure faith by results. Faith is a virtue and value on its own merit. Our faith is not based on what we get, it's based on who we trust. Who are you trusting today in your harshest trials? Never let your faith waver because he is always with you! You are loved...

Know When to Be Quiet!

'Fools vent...the wise quietly hold it back.' Proverbs 29:11 NLT

Writer Carol Kuykendall writes: 'My very pregnant daughter got her hair cut...from long to stylishly short. She was trying to get used to her new look when we ran into one of her friends. "Oh no!" her friend wailed..."I don't like it!" Then as if to rationalise her words, she quickly added, "You know me. I'm a Truth-Teller!" As we walked away my daughter told me she could've done without the truth that day!...It made me more aware of that critical moment in conversation when I'm faced with a choice: Do I say what I'm thinking? Or do I zip it?' I believe God's choice would be to zip it. The old adage if you can't say anything good don't say anything at all holds true. I keep hearing that "telling it like it is" and "being real" is good for relationships. But here's what I know about myself: if I say everything I think, I can slay people in my path. And just because I think something - doesn't make it true...A good question to ask is: Is it helpful - or hurtful - to the person or our relationship? What about the timing and tone? [For example] a comment about a spouse's appearance is hurtful when they can't do anything about it, and will only make him or her self-conscious the rest of the evening. The biggest challenge with this is when we think we've been wronged. We want to attack everyone in our path. When that happens ask yourself the question: is this truly how God wants me to act? The Bible says, 'Fools vent...the wise quietly hold it back. Knowing when not to speak is often more important than knowing what to say. That's what Paul had in mind: 'Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up...that it may benefit those who listen.' (Ephesians 4:29 NIV) You are loved!

Beatitudes for Parents

    

'Train up a child in the way he should go...' Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

I loved this article I read years ago and thought I'd pass it on to you....

"A mathematics teacher, who agreed to babysit while her friend went shopping, left her this note: 'Dried tears 11 times...tied shoelaces 15 times...blew up balloons, five per child... warned children not to cross the street 26 times...children insisted on crossing the street 26 times. Number of Saturdays I'll volunteer to do this again - zero!'

The following Beatitudes for Parents were written nearly 50 years ago by Marion E. Kinneman when her daughters were raising her six grandsons. They're still spot-on! 'Blessed are those who make peace with spilled milk and mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood. Blessed is the parent who engages not in the comparison of his child with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his own growth. Blessed are those who have learned to laugh, for it's the music of a child's world. Blessed and mature are those who without anger can say "No," for comforting to a child is the security of firm decisions. Blessed is the gift of consistency, for it brings heart's-ease in childhood. Blessed are they who accept the awkwardness of growth, for they are aware of the choice between marred furnishings and damaged personalities. Blessed are the teachable, for knowledge brings understanding and understanding brings love. Blessed are the men and women, who in the midst of the unpromising mundane, give love, for they bestow the greatest of all gifts to each other, to their children, and, in an ever-widening circle, to their fellowmen.'" One successful entrepreneur said, 'I may be a self-made man, but the blueprints came from my mom and dad.' Bottom line: Children learn from their parents. What are you teaching yours? You are loved!