10.24.14 "Intimidation"

This quote is from a letter Peter wrote to Jesus followers like us,

^"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

The image of Satan as a" prowling and roaring lion looking for someone to devour" catches my attention!  In just a few words Peter is trying to convey a great deal about his understanding evil and Satan!  I would love to sit down with Peter and have some follow up questions, "Tell me more!... Help me understand... What experiences lead you to describe the devil in this way?"  But I don't get to do that...... but I can look closely at his words.  Here are some of my conclusions about what Peter is telling me!

1) He seeks to devour... The devil is very dangerous and operates without mercy! Take him seriously!

2) He prowls - so sometimes he is sneaky and you don't see him coming..... so Peter says, "Be alert!"

3) He roars - sometimes he uses a mega phone and intimidates (I think of things like ISIS) .... so Peter says, "Be sober minded!"

4) He is beaten and beatable - each battle we have is winnable through faith in the winner - Jesus.... so Peter says, "Resist him, standing firm in the faith!"

As we stand firm in faith and resist the devil - he shrinks back intimidated by the power and presence of Jesus!  We get to see ourselves as very strong in the battle! As Jesus taught us to pray we get to cry out to God in the midst of life... in the midst of temptation saying "Father, Deliver us from the evil one!"

This simple pray connects us to our Father in heaven and the victory He has accomplished through Jesus for us!

Today I will "Resist him standing firm in the faith.." by praying "Father, Deliver us from the evil one... Deliver us!"

It is time for Satan to be intimidated in my life and in yours!

delton

10.23.14 "Friendship with the World ...."

James 4:4-8 ⁴ You adulterous people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”^[c]

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

I was blessed in high school to have a part-time job at the Post Office.  Several of my classmates worked there as well.   One in particular stood out when I read this passage.  I’ll call him Jack since he actually became rather famous.  Jack worked the loading dock which was hands down the toughest assignment at the Post Office.  Eighteen wheelers, nick named “pigs” would come in packed with hundreds of hundred pound canvas bags stuffed with mail that had to be unloaded and then reloaded on a tight schedule.  Jack was a pretty average guy.  He was a hard worker and, like many of us, had thoughts of perhaps sticking with the Post Office after graduation, if we were lucky.

The summer before our senior year Jack went from 5’8 to 6’3 and lifting those heavy bags in those hot trucks changed him physically overnight.  Suddenly thoughts of working full time at the Post Office changed to going to college on an athletic scholarship at a small local college.   In college, Jack blossomed in more ways than one.  He became a star athlete and at the same time, much to the disappointment of his Mom, a drug dealer.   Jack used the drug money to finance a college lifestyle that we regular guys could only dream about.  I have to admit there was envy in my heart back then, but I told myself that the lifestyle would catch up with him sooner or later.

As it turned out it was much much later. Jack didn’t finish school but he beat the odds, signing a multimillion dollar professional contact and becoming a wealthy celebrity at a very young age.  Needless to say he aggressively embraced the lifestyle and the more successful he became the more reckless he became.  Ultimately it all came crashing down and Jack ended up addicted to drugs, serving a lengthy prison sentence, and penniless.

Years later he would say that when he was on top there was nothing he couldn’t do or have and he wanted it all.  But when it was gone he was stunned at how quickly the doors slammed shut, and he would add, deservedly so.   But Jack’s story doesn’t end with him face down in the gutter.  In fact he would tell you that’s where it began.  It was there that Jack finally turned to the only door that had never closed.  That door led him to the cross, to forgiveness, to redemption.  Slowly he began to rebuild his life, no longer in the fast lane, no longer part of the illusionary world described in today’s passage that he formerly held to so tightly.   Today Jack is once again a multimillionaire.  But you would never know it if you met him.  His time and money are volunteered and donated to showing people that door, the door that never closed on him.   He would be the first person to tell you just how wonderful it is that our GOD is so very jealous!

Great FATHER of the universe, we thank and praise YOU today knowing that YOUR door is always open and that no matter what we do, we cannot out sin YOUR grace and forgiveness.  Thank you for loving us enough to be jealous!  In CHRIST name we pray, amen!

Jim L.

10.22.14 "Be Ready!"

Be Ready, Stand Firm, Be Alert and Always Pray!  

Ephesians 6: 13-18

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

What jumps out to me from these wonderful descriptive verses, is the urgency to ‘Be Ready, Stand Firm, Be Alert and Always Pray’.

This is our part, practical things we must do to get prepare for the battle.

So, when is the “day of evil”?

Everyday!  Day and Night!      24/7!        365 days a year!

When should we be ready?      Always!

How do we stay ready?

The only way we possibly can be… by living in the Spirit of Jesus Christ!

By following Paul’s instructions on being ready, as illustrated with putting on the full armor of God, we will be able to stand firm against the attacks of the evil one.

These attacks are on all fronts; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.   It comes in various ways, and at anytime! It can be slow and subtle or it can be a sudden unexpected event that opens the door to temptation, and then it’s up to us to choose to follow the evil one and sin, or to follow Jesus and stand firm and steady in our faith and the truth.

The evil one is always lurking around us, ready to jump in anyway that he can. And when we let our guard down even for a second, he takes that as an open invitation to try and get us to stumble and sin.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”

As Pastor Delton shared with us on Sunday in his message and in the notes, “The battle is real! Temptation is a given!” “Jesus says to pray to the only One who can lead us …and can actually deliver us from the evil one who tempts us.”

What areas do you struggle with in “Standing Firm”?

What are your weak areas?

One area I struggle with is procrastination! Ignoring stuff I don’t want to deal with – ever! Also with things I don’t know how to do. I put things off for as long as possible or waiting for someone else to come and take care of it. I let my feelings and attitude guide my actions. This feeling of dread would come over me when I looked at the task in front of me. I would look at the whole ‘imagined’ mountain in front of me, and feel a heaviness, and rebellion. I also had a feeling of self-pity, ‘why me?’ ‘I always have to do this,’ ‘why doesn’t someone else come and help?’ I wasn’t able to stand against the evil one, because I was working in my own strength and not by the Holy Spirit who lives in me, but who I was ignoring!

Though I’ve been a faithful follower of Christ for many years, I have not always been as committed.   I would justify my attitude, and give into temptations to do my own thing, because I was tired or lazy or just wanted time off from doing good. I felt I needed a break, I would look at others, even other Christians who didn’t seem to care, and I became complacent in just serving God on the outside, not to please him, but to please others and to get the praise and recognition I wanted. Over time I became just a shell, dead inside,   performing on the outside. I became depressed and felt that there wasn’t any meaning or purpose for my life. I understood what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Meaningless! Meaningless! … Everything is meaningless.”

I still battle with this when I’m feeling overwhelmed because I’ve taken on too many commitments. As I recommit my life to God, my old self dies, and my new self in Christ is growing stronger!   I am truly living for God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of his Holy Spirit.

This is a life long process, and there is still much room for improvement. God is retraining me in His ways, and helping me to let go of my old ways of following him.   Being Righteous through God, instead of Self-righteous by my own strength! Letting go of prejudices and judgment of others. Learning to be more patient and accept the things that I cannot change, but must seek the Lord’s will to work it out for his glory!

With the armor of God protecting me, I am able to stand firm, and strong against all that the enemy throws at me.

Daily I ask God to protect me, and my family.   I pray Psalm 91 over us, and Trust God that no matter what happens, good or not, that everything will work out.   It may not always be the outcome I expect, but it will be part of God’s perfect plan. God’s plan is always right and the best.

“pray the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. “

also we are to “be alert and always keep praying for all the Lord’s people.”

There is no time off in the Lord’s army!

We are always training, and /or serving!

When Jesus calls, will you Be Ready to follow?

When God gives you a command, will you obey?

When the evil one comes will you be able to Stand Firm?

Are you Alert and are you Always praying?

Our Heavenly Father,

I ask you to help me to be ready and willing to serve you daily. Please help me to overcome my weaknesses, and to let go of my selfishness.   I love you Lord with all my heart, help me now to love you Lord with all my strength, and all of my mind and all of my soul.   I am ready to follow you and obey you, right now!   In all that I do, Lord, BE GLORIFIED!   Amen!

Patrice

10.21.14 "Armor of God"

The Armor of God Heavenly Father, thank you for this time we have together.  I thank You for the many blessings You’ve poured into my life, known and unknown, and praise You for the work You’ve begun in me.  Quiet my mind and thoughts, that I can hear only You.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.  Matthew 6:13.  This section of the Lord’s Prayer brings up a subject - satan or the evil in this world - that I honestly have never dwelled upon.  I avoid conflict at all costs – it’s always been my nature.  I’d much rather concentrate on Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness.  I like to expect the best from the people around me, and not dwell on the negative.

However, I’ve come to believe that ignoring evil can make us complacent about the root of temptation and sin.  In Ephesians, St. Paul reminds us that evil, and the forces of evil are very real.  In the same breath, he reminds us that we already have a champion against the evil one.  In a video I watched on Saturday, the speaker said the Lord has already conquered satan, and we are to remember that Jesus goes before us in every battle in our lives – he’s defeated the evil one, but satan is not destroyed.  He won’t be totally out of our lives until Jesus comes again to take us all home.

In the meantime, we are in a battle, spiritual warfare.  The video speaker said that we should use 3 “P’s” to fight:  Pray, Practice our faith, and Preach the Gospel.  St. Paul reminds us that we are already equipped (armored) by our Savior to resist the devil’s schemes, but we must remember we cannot fight evil on our own.  Martin Luther wrote many times about fighting with the devil, and these verses in Ephesians reminded me of one of the songs he wrote, printed below. It seems that although Martin Luther spent a lot of time struggling with the evil one, he also recognized that we shouldn’t give him too much credit or power over us.

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not over-pow’r us. This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as his will, He can harm us none, He’s judged; the deed is done. One little Word can fell him. (Lutheran Service Book 656)

The video speaker also related a story about Martin Luther confronting satan:

“Almost every night when I wake up the devil is there and wants to dispute with me. I have come to this conclusion: When the argument that the Christian is without the law and above the law doesn’t help, I instantly chase him away with a fart.” (Martin Luther, Table Talk, 469)

That’s really funny and irreverent, and when we’re talking about something as serious as the evil one, let’s not give him any power in our lives.  (Can you tell I’m the mother of sons?)  If one little word, or a fart, remembering that we are empowered by the armor of God, is all that we need to defeat satan, then I feel comforted that, with prayer, and practice, and preaching (sharing), I can win over the multitude of temptations I face daily.

Father, we come completely dependent on you in the battle with evil.  I will fall if I go it alone!  As you lead me Father, don’t just lead me in the life filled with temptation, but I ask boldly and confidently for You to DELIVER me from the evil one in every situation!  Deliver us from the evil one… Deliver us!

kristi

Hungry

 The Scripture for today is Matthew 4:1-4 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

This past Saturday, my family and I went for a hike to Enchanted Rock.  It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our hike tremendously.  We had gotten a later start than we planned and had also taken a detour down a steep and treacherous side of Enchanted Rock.  By the time we finished our hike, it was about 2:00 in the afternoon.  Part of our plan for the day was to travel to Fredericksburg for lunch at the Peach Tree Inn.  By the time we arrived, just before 3:00 pm – I was absolutely starving.  Some of you may know that I follow a careful eating plan in order to maintain my health and waistline.  On Saturday, I decided to eat whatever I wanted – giving into the temptation to eat the beautifully prepared and presented food, regardless of the consequences.  Lunch was incredibly delicious!  I indulged in homemade bread and strawberry crepes for dessert – things I typically avoid.  Afterwards, I found myself feeling uncomfortably full and a bit queasy.

As I look back over my choices that day, I am struck by some conclusions.  How often does hunger cause us to make poor choices, giving into the temptation to indulge in behaviors that are not best for us?  Do our poor choices lead us to physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, financial, familial, etc. health?  When I am hungry and tempted to eat unhealthily, do I pray for strength to make good choices?  Do I pray for wisdom and plan ahead to ensure that I am successful in nourishing my body with healthy food?  When I am feeling lonely and hungry for companionship do I seek my Savior in prayer and the Word?  Do I let his love and care for me uplift my spirit and remind me that he died for ME?  He is my Rock and my Redeemer – the solid rock upon which I stand.  Do I let his love and care for me flow out to others, helping me to develop loving relationships?  Or do I indulge in self-pity and believe the lies of the enemy – unloved, unlovable, unworthy.  When I feel hungry for acceptance and a sense of worth – do I head to the shopping mall to buy the latest fashion, tech toy, _________, believing the lie that “stuff” will make me special?  Or do I seek the Father, who knows the very number of hairs on my head; who has cast my sin as far as the east is to the west; who rejoices over me with singing?  Am I buying into the treacherous lies of the enemy?  An enemy, who seeks to crush, kill and destroy me.  Or do I recognize the truth?   My Father in Heaven loves me and cares for me all of the days of my life.  He sent his own son to die for me so that I would never be separated from him.

What about you?  What are you hungry for?  Are you letting your Father lead you THROUGH the temptation to fill that hunger with worldly things?  Are you praying and seeking HIS DELIVERANCE, then standing firm on HIS PROMISES? Are you preparing yourself with prayer and God’s word for the daily walk through the battlefield?

Dear Father, I thank you for your faithful leading throughout the many temptations that come into my life.  I praise you for giving me strength to resist the evil one.  Help me, Jesus, to always seek your truth in Word and prayer.  Fill the hungry places in my soul with your Word, your Love and your presence. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil!  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever!  Amen

Kelly

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Matthew 18:15-20

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

10.15.14 "Bear With Each Other!"

Welcome to the PoG blog! In Psalm 19 the psalmist writes, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Before you read the scripture reading for today, please pray a prayer similar to the one above.  Invite God to speak to you in this time of reading and meditation.  Ask him to renew and change your heart.  Pray that God’s Holy Spirit will prepare your heart and mind for what He has in mind for you today!

Colossians 3

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

“Bear with each other” reminds me of something else I read in Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker.  Do you realize that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, there are many “offenses” against us that we can simply ignore?  Ken calls it “Overlook Minor Offenses”.  He writes, “In many situations, the best way to resolve a conflict is simply to overlook the personal offenses of others.”  Applying this truth has had a powerful impact on my life.  Because of Christ’s great love for me and His sacrifice on the cross, I do not have to react each and every time someone offends me.  I can quickly make a decision to overlook the offense and move on.  No need to mention to the individual or someone else that I have been offended.  No need to make a point of telling the offender that I have forgiven him/her.  As I mentioned Sunday morning, there is so much freedom in living life this way!  The more I move in the direction of overlooking offenses, the more freedom I experience.

What about you?  Have you thought about “offenses” that you’ve experienced?  Are there offenses that you’ve simply chosen to overlook?  Can you think of ways you can overlook more offenses in your life?  Ask yourself, “Do I really want to experience more peace in my life?”  If you do, I strongly encourage you to start overlooking more offenses.  Remember, don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill!

May God bless you as you forgive others the way Christ has forgiven you!

Mark

10.13.2014 "Forgive, How Often?"

Matthew 18:21-22   (NIV) ²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

When Peter was talking to Jesus and asked if he should forgive his brother seven times Jesus answered and said no not 7 times but you should forgive him 77 times.  Jesus was saying do not keep track of how many times someone sins against you. Always be willing to forgive when they ask for it.

Jesus has generously forgiven me and I need to be forgiving of others.  I am very thankful Jesus has forgiven, redeemed and restored me. When I am truly grateful for the forgiveness I have received from Jesus I can humbly pass that forgiveness onto others.

I can only forgive because I have been forgiven. I Chronicles 16:11 tells us to seek the Lord and his presence and his strength continually. As a child of the King I want my actions to honor him.

Forgiving is not always easy to do. We can only do it when we have a high view of God and desire to honor him with our behavior.

I can think of several times today that God has been gracious and merciful to me and has forgiven me. How can I not forgive those who ask me to?  When I forgive others it glorifies and honors Jesus.

How many times has God forgiven you today, this week, this month?  Pray about being able to pass that forgiveness along to others. God always hears and answers our sincere prayers.

Charleen

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful and grateful that you have forgiven us, redeemed us, and restored us. Help us, Father, to have a high view of you and to want to pass the forgiveness we have received to those in our lives. We want our lives to bring you honor and glory.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 136

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. ² Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. ³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. ⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. ⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. ⁷ who made the great lights— His love endures forever. ⁸ the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. ⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. ¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. ¹² with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever.

¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea^[a] asunder His love endures forever. ¹⁴ and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. ¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.

¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. ¹⁸ and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever. ¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. ²⁰ and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever. ²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. ²² an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever.

²³ He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. ²⁴ and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. ²⁵ He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever

10.10.14 I said, "daily kids daily"!

The reading for today is from Exodus 16! " The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. ² In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

This story about God's people journeying out of Egypt drives a couple of points home about God's fatherly divine-ness and my childish humanness!  God had rescued them from a horrible slavery experience in Egypt and now they are unsure of how they will eat on the long journey to freedom!  God knows - they don't!  They resort to ridiculous complaining which romanticizes "the good ole days" back in Egypt!  It takes no faith to complain!  Ouch!  I need to hear myself say that again, "It takes no faith to complain!"  God wants to mature them (and me) in the life of faith!

So He gives them a promise that will bring great relief to the people if they will believe Him.  He says there will be "daily" bread on the ground every morning and they should take enough for that day and trust tomorrow will have bread from Him as well.  Later in the story we find out that some people thought it wise to "save extra from today for tomorrow!"  Guess what! "²⁰ However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell."

So Jesus is telling us to pray in the prayer He taught "Give us this day our daily bread!"   God wanted the Israelites to have a practical way to trust Him as provider on a daily basis.  He gave them a core physical experience in which to live in daily dependence on the God of the heavens for their very lives.  He wants that life of daily faith for me too so He is teaching me to pray that way!

This is rather revolutionary for me as a 21st century american who has been encultureated with the values of individualistic independence!  It is as if Jesus is speaking to me (us) through the words of His prayer, "trust and depend on your Father in heaven... daily kids daily!"  It is not "trust after you have given it your best shot and you are at the end of your rope."  "NO" says Jesus, "It's daily kids daily......... for everything!

What challenge and comfort is God bringing to you through these words today?

delton

10.08.14 "DON’T WORRY, BE HOPEFUL"

DON’T WORRY, BE HOPEFUL Matthew 6:31-34 New International Version (NIV)

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Luke 12:29-32 New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Ok, I get it-DON’T WORRY ABOUT FOOD, WATER, CLOTHES, MONEY…  I also included the Luke scripture because sometimes I tend to overlook things unless I am told several times.  Jesus, I think also knows that sometimes we don’t pay attention to what we are told & that it takes telling & re-telling before we finally get it.  I remember in Speech class back in High School that my teacher said “Tell them what you are going to tell them; Tell them and then Tell them what you told them.”  Jesus is doing that in Matthew and in Luke.  Just in the 3 verses of Matthew he says do not worry twice!  If you go back to yesterday’s verses in Matthew, He uses worry 3 more times and do not worry once more.  That is 6 worries & 3 do not worries in 10 short verses (Matthew 6:25-34).  Then in Luke another do not worry.

Like I said I GET IT!  Well maybe not.  As Pastor said on Sunday there is a difference between hearing it, believing it and acting on it.  I think that I get the first 2 (Hearing and Believing).  It’s that third one (Acting) that I sometimes have a difficulty with.   I know that I should not worry; Jesus tells me not to worry (4 times!); I believe that I should not worry and yet I sometimes find myself worrying!

My wife (Cindy) thought that it was rather humorous or ironic that God through our Pastor assigned me this scripture.  I tried to tell her that I don’t worry.  She came back with that I am always planning what I am doing tomorrow, or what I have to do in the next few days, week or month.  I like to think that is because I am organized.  But then that’s me trying to follow my plan instead of GOD’S PLAN.  That is me thinking that I am in control of what the rest of the day, week, month and beyond will bring.  SILLY ME!

Can I control the drought, economy, terrorism, high energy costs, Wall Street?  Obviously not!  So why worry?  Why be irritable, angry, fatigued, stressed?  For what purpose?  I know that I can’t control any of those things.  Yet somehow, I think that I can plan ahead and not just wait for God’s plan to unfold.

However, I do think that there is a difference in being concerned and being worried.  I went to my Granddaughter’s birthday on Sunday and I was trying to constantly watch my granddaughter and grandson to make sure they didn’t wander off or get hurt.  If I didn’t worry about that, then what kind of “Grumps” (that’s my name that they call me, I have no idea where that came from) would I be?  I go to the Doctor and get my annual physical and do my 5 year colonoscopy.  I can try to take care of myself (that is what I do have control over), but I can’t worry about whether I am going to get cancer, have a heart attack…  God wants us to be prudent and do things that we have control over.  But Jesus tells us NOT TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. 

HE says “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well.”  So why worry?  Remember the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”?  I think it might be paraphrased to Don’t Worry, Be Hopeful.

I have heard it. I continue to believe it, now I need to act!  Or rather not act, not worry.  I am going to try.  Will you help me?  I would love to hear from you and how you handle this Do Not Worry thing.

Father, Please help me to be concerned about what I have control of and not worry about the majority of the things that I have no control over.  Please remind me that I am not in charge!  It’s your plan, not mine and that you will provide my daily bread.  Help me to live and enjoy each day on this earth, not worrying about tomorrow.  In Christ’s Name, I pray Amen.

Jerry

10.06.14 "Where is Your Treasure?"

Matthew 6:19-21; 24 ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

These are extremely powerful passages.  I had three thoughts when considering them.  First I thought about my grandmother.  Back in “the day” I remember her words in times of stress or crisis.  “The LORD will provide.”  It would be many years later that I would finally connect these words to the story of Abraham and Isaac.  Blessed with a son after impatiently waiting decades, GOD then instructed Abraham to offer his beloved Isaac as a human sacrifice.  We know the story.  As they approached the location where the sacrifice was to be offered young Isaac curiously inquired about the key missing element, the sacrificial lamb.   Abraham’s reply, “The LORD HIMSELF will provide…”   Abraham is stopped just before slaying his son and indeed, trapped in thickets nearby is the ram that would be the sacrifice.   This mountain location is then forever called “the LORD will provide.”

My second thoughts are of the George Elliott classic “Silas Marner” and the Steve Martin movie adaptation “A Simple Twist of Fate.”  After unfairly losing his social status and fiancée, Marner becomes a recluse taking joy only in the gold he stock piles.  He is obsessed with it, taking great pleasure in counting it each night and securing it.  He is barely able to contain himself until he can count it again the next day.   This story reminds me so much of how many of us live our lives today.  How often do we check our bank balances or the stock market?  We know this story too.  The gold is stolen and Marner is devastated until one night an abandoned child shows up on his door step.  The miser finds a new, much more satisfying treasure in loving and caring for this helpless, abandoned child.  I read this story in school and saw the movie as an adult and in both instances I was struck by how much value we routinely place in things that ultimately are worth very little.

Finally I am blessed to have a new grandbaby.  As I look into her twinkling eyes and innocent smile I know the world she will live will be much different than the one we live in today.   When I was her age there were an estimated 2.5 billion people on the globe.  By the time she graduates high school it is estimated the global population will be over 8 billion.  Even as the population explodes, the world oil reserves (which are tied directly to food supplies) are vanishing with estimates showing depletion in just 40 years.  While scientists warn of the coming global warming crisis, ecologist say a fresh water crisis is already here.   When I was growing up I could have never imagined paying money for water out of a bottle like a soft drink.  In a speech to the United Nations in 2010 President Obama said that while the threat of global nuclear war decreased dramatically over the last 30 years the threat of a nuclear attack (by terrorist) is not only possible, but likely.   Economists also warn that capitalism and the free market as we have come to know them are simply not sustainable and the financial correction will be devastating.   Life for this little one will no doubt be a challenge.  However, amid all the gloom and doom I and confident of one thing.  The LORD will provide!

GOD of the Universe, we thank YOU for YOUR unconditional love and YOUR gifts of daily provisions for us all.  When we are tempted today to worry and fret remind us that we are loved by the CREATOR and provider of love itself!  In CHRIST name we pray, amen!

Jim L.

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 119:105-112

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.

106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,

that I will follow your righteous laws.

107 I have suffered much;

preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,

and teach me your laws.

109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,

I will not forget your law.

110 The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from your precepts.

111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.

112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees

to the very end

The Gardener

John 15:1-5

Jesus is speaking… “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes (the Greek for “prunes” also means cleans) so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Why is it that when I think about being “pruned” – my natural default is a negative feeling? Why is it that our culture can’t stand to be “uncomfortable?” How have we come to see “waiting on something”  or “being uncomfortable”  or “pain” is something to be avoided at all cost?

During last Sunday’s Message the topic was “Thy Will be done…. On earth as it is in Heaven.” I was challenged to stop thinking of God’s Will in my life as a negative thing – and that really, when I am pouting or upset because something goes wrong – I am actually upset because God isn’t doing things MY WAY!  “I want You, God, to answer this prayer My Way – I want Your Will to be My Will.” ouch.

Instead, when things aren’t going my way, or the way I imagined, or when things are painful, I should change my “lens” and be thankful and excited that God’s Will in this matter will be even better than what I thought I wanted!

Same with pruning.  I have over a dozen Rose Bushes in my yard.  They are taller than me.  They look horrible this year.  Why?  Because I haven’t pruned them, I haven’t paid any attention to them really.  In the early Spring I did prune them back to about 2 feet tall, and for a while they looked gorgeous!  Since then they have bloomed and faded, bloomed and faded, bloomed and faded. Now, they are just …. Faded.  They are tall, and full, and have a lot of green leaves, but they are not producing any beautiful blooms.  There are no full, fat, pink roses that smell glorious.   I think my yellow bush from my children for mother’s day 8 years ago may be dead.   And my white JFK rose bush is not producing its magnificent white blossoms.  I used to enjoy snipping the different blooms and then marveled at who different each fragrance was, and the way the petals were shaped - if they were tightly packed, or loose and fluttery.  I haven not enjoyed them at all since this summer.

Why?  Because I haven’t pruned back the branches. All of the nutrients are being wasted on the leaves and branches that are shooting out everywhere instead of producing beautiful red blooms.

Why haven’t I?  Because it’s a HUGE job!  It requires a large scissor hedge trimmer – not electric - and  not those sweet little rose clippers that you see people in movies gingerly snipping with their cute little straw hats, white capri pants, with manicured nails, perfect hair, and powdery soft complexions.   No!  Because the stalks and branches are so thick  it requires all of my strength and grunting and groaning to prune them back far enough on each branch to do any good.  Seriously, some of the branches are now so mature and thick, it will require a chain saw! I won't be dressed in a summery outfit, my hair will be in a pony tail, my makeup will a mess, and my face and body will be profusely sweaty!  My arms will be bloody with my encounter with the thorns - no matter how careful I am.

But, if I would take the time and effort and trouble, they will be so fruitful, and the yard would burst with color and fragrances that bring much joy.  It is also hard for me, because I feel “sorry” for the branches that I chop off – especially if there happens to be a bud trying to grow – because I know the next step in this process is throwing all the branches onto a bonfire pile.  They are green right now, but after I chop them off, in a few days, they will wither and turn brown and die – because they are no longer attached to the main Bush.  But I know I must do this – in order to allow the rest of the bush to thrive – and now it is barely surviving.

Is this what it is like for us and God?  Is it painful for Him to prune me?  Does it make Him sad to say “no” to some of the things I have asked for, or paths I have been heading down?  He knows He must prune and clean, and say “no” and redirect me  - so that His Will can be done in my life – so that I can be fruitful for Him.  Otherwise, parts of my life will rob all of the nutrients from the main purpose I am here, and pretty soon I will not produce what He has in mind for me on this earth.  And before you know it, I will be struggling to just “survive” instead of “Thrive.”

“Thank You Lord for Your Word in the Lord’s Prayer.  Thank You for re-teaching me about Your Will being done in me on earth as it is in heaven.  Help me to rejoice and thank You when You prune me.  Help me to see it as a good thing – instead of pouting like a child.  I want to Bloom Gloriously for You – even though the pruning may be painful.  Thank You for being such a  good Father – and Gardener!”  Amen.

-dawn

Determining God’s Will

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. As I read this passage, I am struck by the road map Paul offers here.  First, offer our body as a living sacrifice – our true and proper worship.  “True and proper worship” is identified in my study bible as “your spiritual act of worship” - “not merely ritual activity but the involvement of heart, mind, and will. “  Heart, mind, and will – not a resigned submission but a joyful consent.  There is a popular slogan that immediately comes to mind – “All In”.  If my heart, mind and will are joyfully offered to God in recognition of all that he has done for ME, I am “All In”.   My heart; soft and vulnerable before God; tender and compassionate toward others.  My mind; seeking true knowledge of God in his word;  seeking understanding of his true character; seeking to know him as the loving Father that he is.  My will; surrendered to his leading; walking in obedience to his guidance; being shaped to conform to his direction.

Second, don’t conform to the pattern of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  The pattern of the world - a world that focuses on temporary pleasures; filling the empty places in our souls with success, money, things, self, etc.  The pattern of the world – focused on my will, my needs, and my desires rather than on God’s will.  How does the renewing of our minds happen?  Pastor told us that “God seems to believe in the power of prayer to change us. He is shaping us into joining Him on His mission to save a world.  We are to trust the process – PRAY then do.”  My prayers can be the key to allowing God to mold and shape me – to continue the process of changing me.  To continue the process of preparing me to join Him on His mission.  I must TRUST the process in order to experience the renewal of my mind.

As I offer myself in my spiritual act of worship and experience the renewing of my mind – I can begin to know God’s will by knowing GOD.  I can know his good, perfect and pleasing will.  What a road map!  No, not directions but a process that prepares us for our individual faith journey – our part in advancing God’s will throughout the earth.

Dear Father, I praise you for your word, teaching me about you and your love.  I thank you for the opportunity to bring everything to you in prayer.  I worship you and give you all glory!

Kelly

9.29.2014 "God’s will or mine?"

Matthew 26:39-46   NIV ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

As I read this I ask myself what stands out to me.  What is God saying to me right now?

I think I see two things in these verses.

The first thing I notice is Jesus' surrender in prayer to the will of His Father.  He asks God if there was any other way to accomplish His will but He also surrendered to God's will. If there is no other way I will do what you ask me to do. As Pastor said in his message yesterday He just didn't surrender Himself to God's will He embraced it.  He wanted to do whatever God wanted Him to do with complete trust and peace in His Father's plan. He didn't demand His way but chose to obey the will of His Father.

The second thing I notice is Peter, James and John are sleeping and not praying. When Jesus came back after praying the first time he asked them to pray so they would not fall into temptation.  They didn't fully understand God's will and what was about to happen.

When I face a situation that consumes me do I choose to sleep or do I pour my heart out to the Lord?

Do I ask Jesus what His will for me is or do I tell him what my will is and ask him to embrace that?

Do I joyfully surrender my will and choose obedience to Him?

These are challenging thoughts.

This is hard when your life is the one being challenged. When God is asking you "Will you trust me?"  When we pray we can ask God for what we want but we need to choose to trust Him and surrender our will to His.  Jesus tells us we can step out in faith and trust Him.  He is always with us.  He cares.

Charleen

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are holy and perfect. There is no one greater than you. You love us and decide what is best for us. Help us, Lord, to willingly and joyfully surrender our will and control of our lives to you in every situation. Help us to trust you fully with our life.

We thank you for hearing every prayer and for answering each of them. 

We love you Lord. 

In Jesus name we pray. 

Amen

"God Says No Sometimes!"

The question of why God says "No" sometimes to our prayer requests - especially prayers for healing - puzzles me!  You and I both have prayed for healing for ourselves or someone we love.  We have prayed long and hard and sincerely and with as much faith as we have. As we wrestle with the prayer, "Thy Kingdom Come ... on earth as it is in Heaven", this week, flowing from Sunday's message at Point of Grace, I find myself re-asking the question about prayers for healing that do not get a "yes" answer from God!  Healing miracles have always been a "taste" of the Kingdom of God coming on earth as it is in heaven.  Jesus did these miracles, His disciples did these miracles, we are to pray for these miracles.

I am finding some comfort and explanation for this "Why some not others?" question in the story about the Apostle Paul written in 2 Corinthians 12. "Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul seems to have a physical malady of some sort and pleaded with Jesus to take it away - to heal him.  Jesus didn't!  Jesus didn't let His Kingdom come in that particular way at that particular time even though Paul (a guy known to do miracles of healing in the New Testament) pleaded with Jesus.

This is helpful for me because it helps me remember that when my prayers are not answered the way I think they should be that I am not alone.  Even one of the greatest of the greats, Paul, had the same issue.

Secondly, I don't need to go down the path of doubt and despair when that happens either.  Paul reminds me to go down the path of humility and faith.  God is up to something with His "no" answer but I just can't see it.... and whatever He is up to, it is ultimately good and consistent with His character as my Father in heaven.

Thirdly, Jesus' response to Paul asks me to reconsider the sufficiency of God's grace in my life and the power of God showing through my weakness.  I might think that the greatest display of God's power would be to "heal" me or do an evident miracle.  God knows that sometimes the greatest display of His power is when in the middle of unresolved suffering - peace and hope and joy from outside of oneself can flow freely. That actually becomes a greatest testimony of His kingdom coming. It is in our weakness that God's power is really shown to a watching world.

I will continue to pray for healing and for miracles from God!  No question!  But I will remember that He is the King of His Kingdom and He calls the shots.  Perhaps the greatest treasure I received today from this text is that my weaknesses have become in my mind 'holy ground' where God displays His glory.   I will struggle to believe that  - especially in a time of trouble - but today I am reminded that it is there to be believed!  "For when I am weak, then I am strong."  WOW!

delton

ENDURE & BE PATIENT

Colossians 1:9-14 New International Version (NIV) ⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul is telling the Colossians that he has never quit praying for them.  But that should be our call as well.  We are called to pray for each other-the ones we like, as well as the ones that we may not care so much for.  The “jerk” that cut us off on the highway.  We should pray for him that he should slow down and enjoy this beautiful world that God has provided and that God should bless him.  God may be calling that particular person to our attention to inspire a prayer for him.  Then we should pray for ourselves and ask for forgiveness for calling this child of God a “jerk”.

Paul is telling the Colossians and us that we should continually, without stopping, ongoing pray “that you/I may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”  Paul doesn’t tell us to pray once asking for God’s will to be done.  No he says we should see every event and every person as an invitation to pray.

Paul is also telling us to “ have great endurance and patience”.  Great- there’s that P word again.  Anyone that knows me knows that patience is definitely not one of my virtues.  But Paul is telling us to continually pray that God’s will be done.  We always want to know what God’s will is today, if not yesterday.  But Paul says to endure & be patient for God’s will to be done.  As Pastor said on Sunday, “if we are told to pray “come” then God’s reign is not here yet or at least not fully.”  So maybe there is a reason to be patient!

Jesus really wants us to be a child of God.  He really wants us in his kingdom.  By giving His life to save mine/ours, He has paved the way to get into His kingdom.  As Paul says above, by “giving joyful thanks to the Father, it has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” All that I/we need to do to enter into His kingdom is to pray with endurance and patience and give joyful thanks to the Father.

Paul has given the recipe, now it’s up to me to follow it.  Will you follow with me?

Lord, teach me the secret of ongoing prayer.  Please give me the endurance and patience to pray for others and to give thanks to You.  Help me to see every event and every person in my life as an invitation  to pray.  Amen

Jerry

9.24.14 "The POWER of the Kingdom is Near!"

Matthew 10:1-8 10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Do you remember the third grade?  I had a wonderful teacher in the third grade.  She was different from those that I had in first and second.  Don’t get me wrong, those early teachers were great teachers.  But they were motherly and grandmotherly like.  Ms. Rolf was in her mid-twenties and less authoritative.  As such we thought we could get away with a little more than with the more senior group.  Whenever she left the classroom it exploded into activity, most of which was harmless but strictly forbidden.  This would never have occurred on our other teachers’ watch.  But by the Third grade we had gotten smart enough to post a lookout.  A crack in the door gave the lookout a view of the hallway and whenever Ms. Rolf appeared the chaos would instantly go silent and she would enter a classroom of perfect little angles.  We discovered later that the little crack in the door worked both ways so the lookout was also being looked at.  We were not as smart as we thought we were.  But it struck back then how quickly things settled down when the word went out that the teacher was near.

The passage today when read in the context of verse 7 and the Sunday message is ultimately about POWER.  POWER so complete it can changes things just from coming near.  I have a new grandbaby and occasionally I actually get to spend time with her without the benefit of her Mom being present.  I am amazed at how she can sense when her Mom has returned even before she enters the room.  On several occasions she has awakened from a sound sleep just sensing that her mother has entered the house and is near.  If the CREATOR of the universe has so meticulously connected us to each other how intricate is our connection to HIM.   The sick are healed, dead are raised by the POWER of this holy connection, a connection that remains strong today in the face of unprecedented denial and rejection.

Recently I was moved by the story of Dr. Kent Brantly who chose a life of service and while working in a Liberian Ebola ward contracted the deadly decease himself.  With no known cure and a mortality rate estimated in some cases has high as 90 percent, the Doctor’s fate certainly appear sealed.  Perhaps it was sealed the moment he stepped into the hospital ward.  But you know the story.  A few weeks after being handed a death sentence the good doctor was Ebola free.   Interestingly enough during an interview after receiving this great news he did not thank his medical team or science, or make mention of the untested drug that may have been responsible for his recovery.  His first words were “GOD saved my life.” Amazing!  More than 2000 years after CHRIST gave instructions to HIS disciples the Kingdom of GOD remains near.

HEAVEN FATHER as we go about our task today remind us of YOUR truly awesome and wonderful power.  When we feel mad, anxious, fearful, bitter, depressed, let us feel YOUR presence and remind us that YOUR Kingdom is near.  In CHRIST name we pray, amen. 

Jim L.

9.23.14 “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR”

Matthew 4:17-22 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them,

22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus preached, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is Near.”

Jesus asked Peter and James to follow him and they left at once.

He called James and John to follow him and they also left their boat and their father immediately, without any hesitation.

What was it that caused them to respond to Jesus like they did?

Was there something within their spirits that told them that this was someone important?  Had they heard him preaching?  Did they witness his baptism with John? What motivated them to follow Jesus? These are questions that have always baffled me.

Now the question is,  ‘What is my own response to Jesus, calling me to follow him?

When I was first saved, I responded immediately.  I learned that God loved me!   At that time in my life I was desperate for love and to suddenly realize that the God of the universe Loved ME was huge!  It was like a light turning on.   I felt valued, and that I mattered!   I also experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit soon after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  The Holy Spirit filled me up and was flowing all around me.  I felt a warm tingling sensation and a pulsating within that felt like God’s great big hand was holding my tiny hand, but the two were one!  It was so incredible, and hard to describe, but it changed my life forever.

I wonder if the disciples had a sense of who Jesus was; that the Kingdom of Heaven was near; inside of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself…

We can have the Kingdom of Heaven living inside of us also, through the Holy Spirit of Jesus!  As we are reconciled to God through Christ, we begin a life changing journey of following Jesus.  Which requires us to let go of our own will and surrender it to God.

The disciples left their whole life and family to follow Jesus!

They each dedicated their lives to telling others about Jesus and spreading the gospel, and most of them were martyred for their faith.

Is he asking us to do the same?

Well, … yes!  Perhaps-

He may not be calling us away from our families and jobs, but he is calling us away from whatever it is that is holding us back from following him completely with all that we are and all that we have.

It may mean separating from what you learned or practiced growing up, and even from family and friends who may not approve or even reject you because you are following Jesus.

Instead of keeping God and our daily lives separate, we are to look at everything from God’s perspective.  How can I work at my job for God?  How can I care for my family for God?  How can I reach out to others for God?

Pastor Delton’s message Sunday was so very powerful on the words “Thy Kingdom Come…” and how ‘with Jesus the “reign of God” broke in to do battle with the other rulers- “Sin and Evil”.  He also said, “We ask God to come into our situation.  He is our help!  The Kingdom must come down.  There is no hope if you,  don’t come Lord.”

By myself I can only go so far before I run out of energy, patience, and the motivation to keep going.

By the power of the Holy Spirit living and breathing within me, I have the confidence and strength to do all that the Lord has given me to do today!

He is calling us to come from being our own gods, to letting him be our only God!

He is calling us to be like Christ, who humbled himself and became a servant.

We are called individually, and as the church to sacrifice our own self, so that the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus, can come an live in us and work through us.  When we  surrender our lives to Jesus,  and come together in unity, then we are as the body of Christ to the world.   The Kingdom comes on earth, through the church!

Our Father,  May your Kingdom Come to each of us today.  Please help us to let you reign and rule over us and help us to let go of ourselves to receive all of you inside of our hearts and to be willing to follow you and obey you so together we can reach the world.

In Jesus Name,   Amen.

Patrice