2.2.2015 "A Child in the Father's Kingdom"

The Scripture for today is Matthew 4: 17-25 (NIV) 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.

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

“…the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  Heaven?  Here? Now?  I don’t have to wait until I leave this earth to experience the kingdom of heaven?  I can live each day in the kingdom, a daughter of the King, Jesus Christ.  Redeemed, set apart, precious in HIS sight.  A daughter who will inherit the riches of eternal life.

Last Saturday, I enjoyed the company of Phil Weaver’s grandson Max during lunch with my family and Phil’s.  As we waited for our meal, Max sat in my lap and snuggled up.  It was lovely, cradling this tiny little boy – so precious and beloved.  He was so trusting and assured of his welcome into my arms.  As I remember this experience, I am reminded that in our Father’s kingdom – we are those little children.  So dearly beloved that we can snuggle into our Father’s waiting arms for comfort, peace, love, and protection.  We don’t have to wait for someday to come – the kingdom of heaven has come near.  We can trust him and be assured of our welcome into his arms.  But what of those who don’t know the love of the Father, who don’t know the joy and peace that comes from living in the kingdom of heaven?  Who don’t know that there are loving arms awaiting them?  Who haven’t experienced HIS peace, grace, presence, comfort, compassion?  What of THEM?

Sunday, Pastor talked of “joining up” – surrendering to Jesus’ command to “come here” and “follow me”.  He talked to us about following Jesus so closely that the dust of his sandals would be on our shoes.  If I follow Jesus command to “come here”, then the kingdom of heaven will come near.  Near to ME.  If I reach out to others and help them connect to Jesus, the kingdom of heaven will come near to THEM.

Lord Jesus, I want dusty shoes.  Not just dusty, but CAKED with layers of dust – accumulated over a long and faithful walk following right behind you.  I want to be like the Charlie Brown character “Pigpen” – leaving a dusty cloud all around me.  When people see me, I want them to see YOU!  Help me, Lord Jesus – I want to “join-up”.  Give me ears to listen, eyes to see and the will to do the work that you call me to.  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:    Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

1.30.2015 Who will You connect?

Matthew 9:25-38 (NIV) ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”     “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ³⁰ and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” ³¹ But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.

³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

This passage shows me that Jesus is connecting with people and when He does their lives were changed forever.

After being asked by the girl’s Father, Jesus went to the girl touched her by taking her hand and raised her.

Jesus touched the eyes of two blind men who, in faith, came to Him and He restored their sight.  Jesus drove out a demon and restored his voice of a man who was brought to Him.

Jesus taught the people proclaiming the Good News and healed every disease and every sickness.

Jesus went to the girl when asked to and accepted those who came or were brought to Him.  He healed and restored the people and told them about God and His provision for them.

He was there for them whenever they came to Him.

The blind men followed Jesus but the other two were connected to Jesus by others who knew Him.  People who were connected to God brought them so they could be connected to Jesus and have their lives changed and restore.  Jesus was available when they came.

The people who connected their family and friends to Jesus were also available to bring them.  Jesus touched each person’s life and they were given a new life.   He had compassion.

Are you connected to Jesus?   If not will you cry out to him to find a restored life and the peace He is waiting to give you right where you are?

Jesus knows sowers and reapers are needed to go out and show the “other one” the way to Him.   People are ready to hear.

Will you and I be available to go out and reach the other one?

Will we go and bring those in our life to the one who can restore their life, give them sight, and a new voice to proclaim the Good News about Jesus.

Who is God showing you to connect with and bring to Him so they too can be connected to the Real God?

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you that you are always available to us.  You love and are compassionate to each person who comes.  Thank you!  Thank you for caring.  Lord show us who you want us to bring to you.  Make us brave to invite them to church or Alpha or for US to tell them about you so they can connect with you.  Only you, Lord, can give salvation and peace and joy.  We Love you Lord Jesus!  In Jesus name we pray, Amen

cjs

1.29.15 Jesus is Calling… Will You Come?

Matthew 4:18-22      (The Message) Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew.   They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake.  It was their regular work.   Jesus said, ”Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you.  I’ll show you how to catch men, and women instead of perch and bass.”

They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. 

A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee’s sons.  These two were sitting in a boat with their father,  Zebedee, mending their fishnets.  Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father. 

What dawned on me after reading this passage, is that this is the beginning of Jesus ministry and the beginning of his church!

These men were the first of twelve to be personally called by Jesus to follow him.

What caught my attention first, was how they responded.

It says they just dropped their nets, left their boats and their families and “followed” Jesus “at once” and “immediately”.

What does it mean to “follow” someone?

The dictionary definition is:  a person who follows the ideas,  or beliefs of another. (Thorndike & Barnhart)

So they followed Jesus and learned from him how to be connected to God.  Jesus set the example of how to live connected to God through prayer, studying the scriptures, and obeying him.  They witnessed the relationship that Jesus had with his Father in Heaven.

What also was interesting about their response is that they went “at once” and “immediately”.  They did not delay; they did not go home first and talk to their families or check their schedules to see when they would be available.   They went right then!

Thinking about this, I asked myself, what would I leave everything for?  If Jesus were walking down my street as I’m making dinner or whatever, and asked me to follow him right now, would I?

Well knowing who he is, I’d have to say…Yes!

I think back to my own experience of realizing who Jesus was and that he loved me and wanted to live in my heart.   I needed him!  He poured his love into my wounded heart and helped me out of the darkness!  I was searching for him and He came into my life at just the right time.  He opened my heart and my mind to God!

What was it about Jesus that motivated these men to just drop everything and walk away with him?

Did they know who he was?  It’s hard to understand what their lives were like.  What they hoped for?

We hope for Jesus to return; they were waiting for his first coming!

The other thing that caught my attention is the purpose for which Jesus was calling them to follow him. The first thing he was calling them to do was to go out and bring other people to God.  He taught them about God’s Kingdom and how much he loved them.  Then he sent them out to tell others.

Delton talked about this on Sunday about the “reason we exist” the “purpose for Jesus’s Church” (after getting connected ourselves), is to “Connect Others”.

Connecting others to God happens in all kinds of ways:

I was connected at a Christian Camp that had a music camp.  I went to get better at playing my instrument and found Jesus too.  My two favorite things, Jesus and music!

My husband was connected with God during a really boring church service. As he tells it he was sitting in church, but he wasn’t really paying attention.  The music and sermon were going on and on, but he was having a different experience.  God was talking with him through the Holy Spirit and he was telling him to believe! Now! He could no longer deny that God was real or that he loved him.   Afterwards he talked about what happened with a friend who was watching him throughout the service and could see that something was going on.  He finally accepted Jesus as his Savior and he turned his life over to God!

He came home and told me about it, and our lives together have never been the same!

Are you Connected to God?

If so how are you staying Connected?

Have you helped connect anyone to God?

What is your story?

Jesus, thank you for coming to earth, and for calling the first disciples to follow you and to bring others to God.   Thank you for calling me to you and helping me to love you and have a relationship with God through you.  Thank you for calling me to serve you daily by reaching out to  others all around me and sharing your love and personal invitation to know you for themselves.

“I love you Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship you, oh my soul rejoice! Take joy my king in what you hear, let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear!”  ( one of  my favorite songs I learned long ago and taught to my kids) 

Patrice

01.27.15 "The Connector"

John 4:25-30 The Message (MSG)

²⁵ The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”

²⁶ “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

²⁷ Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

^28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.

We’re concentrating on connections at Point of Grace right now.  Connection with our Savior, with each other, and with the people around us.  The lady in these verses was all about connection.  She was “connected” enough with the Jewish faith to know that Jewish people yearned for a Messiah, a Savior.  She was drawing water from a well in the middle of land given to Joseph by his father, Jacob.  I imagine, giving the kind of life she was leading, that she was yearning for a “savior” too.  Because Jesus knew all about her life, without ever having met her, she was guessing that he was a special man.  He flat out told her HE was the one, the “I am”.  It appears from these verses that she knew EXACTLY what that meant, and didn’t hesitate to go share this knowledge.

There are times in my life that I’m yearning for a “savior”, when I’m anxious, afraid, or hesitant.  I know I have a Savior in Jesus, but am I like this Samaritan woman, running to the people around me, and claiming Jesus as the Messiah?  Not as often as I would like.  I tend to wait until I know a person well enough – and know that it is “safe” for me to confess my connection to the “I am”.  I’m so blessed, and so spoiled – these verses remind me that I need to be enthusiastic and bold about declaring to anyone around me where my hope lies… in The Lord!

Dear Jesus, Thank you for your sacrifice and resurrection that makes us clean every day.  Send your Holy Spirit to nudge us to be bold and enthusiastic about declaring your love and grace to all around us!  Make us “connectors” between You and those around us seeking, love, forgiveness, and life with You!  Amen.

kristi

1.26.15 "Living Water Brings Transformation!"

John 4:7-14 ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.^[a])

¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

¹¹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

As a youngster sitting in Sunday school I always enjoyed hearing the story of the “woman at the well.”  Even though I enjoyed it, I never really understood it.   As a child I was entertained by the fact this woman was blessed to encounter our HERO and have HIM reveal HIMSELF to her.  Imagine a perfect stranger telling you your own life story.  Imagine never ever being thirsty ever again.   Imagine the stranger is GOD in the flesh!  This story captured my attention because it was JESUS, our HERO, doing what HE does; Making impossible things happen.

As I grew older it became clearer to me that JESUS was using the water symbolically.  Water is the essence of life.  In fact there is no life where there is no water.  Water or signs of water is the first thing scientists look for in their search for life on other planets.  One of the most awesome images ever captured was the “earthrise” photos taken from Apollo 8 in lunar orbit.  There was earth, this stunningly beautiful blue globe in the darkness of space.   Water is not only essential for life, it also cleanses, refreshes, and transforms.   That’s what our LORD was offering the woman at the well that day, a chance to change.

At a recent prayer gathering I was blessed to hear the testimony of Frank, a 92 year old war veteran.   With pride he spoke about how for years he’d lived life the only way he knew how.  He worked and played hard.  His evenings and weekends were spent, as he put it, drinking, smoking, cussing, and gambling.  But one day while at work a man came by and handed him a flyer announcing an event called a revival.  Almost immediately he said something touched him and he knew he had to go.  After work and supper, instead of going out drinking he showed his wife the flyer and was astonished when she told him that she had been having a feeling all day that they needed to be somewhere that night.  That evening they went to the location where the revival was taking place.  There was a tent filled with people and music and when the preacher asked for people to approach the front for blessing he fell to his knees and then flat on his face.  Something he said, that he had never felt before welled up inside him and he knew he would never be the same.  That, he said, was more than 40 years ago.  He and his wife gave themselves to the LORD that evening and their lives were forever changed.  He sobbed as he explained how he had recently lost his beautiful wife, and even though he longed to be with her he knew GOD still had some unfinished business for him to attend to.  Perhaps it was being right there, right then, giving his testimony and glory to GOD.   Cleansing, refreshing, transforming testimony!

Great GOD of all things, thank YOU so much for cool cleansing, refreshing, life-giving, life-changing water!  Whenever we face the challenges that will come today let YOUR eternal springs gush from inside us like a great fountain reminding us of who we are and whose we are.   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 32:1-7

¹ Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ² Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. ⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. ⁷ You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

In Need of "Living Connected"!

1 John 1:5-2:2 " ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

When I think about "living connected" with my Real God - which was our theme Sunday - these verses speak volumes.  On Sunday we focused on the "vine and branches" kind of living connected described in John 15.  Now the same author is describing elements of "living connected" with Jesus as he writes a letter of encouragement to Christ followers like you and me!

As I write this I am struggling a bit on the inside!  I am wrestling with the fact that I may not have trusted God fully in a particular situation and let fear creep in and take over!  It is that icky feeling inside when you know you are functioning more out of anxiety than faith!  I do not want to disappoint Jesus!  I take that very seriously!  I want Him to be able to trust me with whatever He needs me to do!  For Him to trust me - I have to trust Him - and He needs to be able to count on me trusting Him - otherwise He can't do much with me!  You might have to read that sentence again - it sounds confusing! I sense I have not been completely "trusting"!  The "living connected" feels a little strained!

Now I read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.... and .... if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."  

I am so thankful that "living connected" includes grace!  Lots of it!  I am in desperate need of "forgiveness" being "purified of all unrighteousness..."!  I have an advocate - I have hope!  I have life!  Who He is and what He has done is my focus not what I have done or failed to do!  I am free to live today "connected" regardless of my performance yesterday! Wow!

delton

1.21.14 Love Each Other!

John 15: 9-12 (NIV) ⁹ “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

The 11^th Commandment

As we explore “What is our Mandate?” for Point of Grace, we clearly should search the scriptures for why it is that we are here. There are no clearer instructions from Jesus to his disciples (and to us now) than this passage in John. We are to Love! Just as God (the Father) has loved Jesus (the son), and Jesus loves us, we are to “Love each other.”

Loving each other is such an easy concept, but so hard to put into practice. It’s easy to love our family and friends and those that are like us. But what about those that are not like us? Samaritans? Tax Collectors? Muslims? Atheists? The Bible can help us here also. Below are just a few verses …

“the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” 2 Tim 2:23-26

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.” Luke 6:27-35

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:9-21

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Cor 13:4-7

Exhibiting Christ-like love for others often seems like a daunting and unachievable task. Yet that is His commandment … His Mandate to us. Fortunately for us, we have Christ’s grace and forgiveness to keep us in abide with him when can’t live up His example of perfect love!

Blessings, John H

1.20.15 His Abiding Love

John 15:5-8 New King James Version (NKJV) ⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

It seems that almost every time I read these versus, I’m really drawn to the words “remain” and “abide”. They feel as though there is much more to them than just a static posture…

Remain (verb): to continue in the same state; continue to be as specified

Synonyms: abide (to remain steadfast or faithful to); live; persevere; endure

That’s it…they’re words of action! Jesus is calling us to not only remain steadfast and faithful to Him, but to live…to persevere…to endure…by holding onto Him by faith and in trust!...and when coupled with Pastors “new lens view” of vs 8…our “clear” purpose in life…is to be disciples of Jesus…bearing much fruit…all to the glory of the Father! Wow…we have great marching orders for the day!

And then there’s those dreaded…scary words of warning: “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

You see, the Master Gardner is all about maintaining the health and integrity of the Vine…and just because I might choose to go my own way…and I have at times…and not stay grafted into Jesus…I’ll wither and fall away. Dead branches and prunings cannot be allowed to clutter the vineyard…His Church…either. They will attract disease and pests of all types. Therefore, they must be gathered… and burned to utter oblivion.

But then Jesus re-affirms His promise and the power He brings to the table for all… “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”.

“By means of His teaching, of His Gospel, Jesus abides in His disciples, and by the power of that same Word they are enabled to bear fruit which is acceptable to Him. But this same relationship also teaches them to pray in the proper manner….and by this granting of prayer, flowing out of the intimate relationship between Christ and the believers, the Father is glorified. And the result is a strengthening of the bonds of love, an increase in the amount and in the quality of the good works, and a confirming of discipleship.”

Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Thanks be to God!

jim

Gardening

The Scripture for today is John 15:1-4 Living Bible (TLB) 15 “I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. ² He lops off every branch that doesn’t produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops. ³ He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you. ⁴ Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me.

One of the ways that I really enjoy studying God’s word is seeking a more thorough understanding by reading at least a couple of different bible translations.  I found the above translation to be especially meaningful this evening.  The beautiful sunny day that we had yesterday was the perfect excuse for me to spend hours out in my yard pulling weeds, cutting back dead perennials and preparing for the spring planting that I hope to do.  Weeds choke out the more valuable plants in my garden, stealing nourishment, health and vigor from them.  When I fail to root out the weeds in my life – weeds of anxiety, worry, bitterness, self-pity, selfishness, materialism; I allow them to choke out the growth that God desires to see in me.  When I stubbornly hold on to these things, I don’t allow him to prune me in ways that help me produce fruit.  As I pruned dead branches from my lantana plants, I found signs of new life in the roots and stems of my plants.  Small shoots that if properly tended will burst into vigorous, beautiful growth.  I tend my plants with water, fertilizer, sunshine, weed control – how do I allow God to tend ME?  Do I nourish my soul with His Word?  Do I receive His Life-giving Water?  Do I bask in the sunshine of His Presence?  Do I allow him to use the circumstances in my daily life – even the sad and hurtful ones – to prune me into the daughter that He calls me to be?  He has tended me by pruning me “back for greater strength and usefulness” by means of the commands he gave ME.  Will I, in love and obedience, allow him to continue the pruning process?  Will I take care to live in HIM and let HIM live in ME so that I can produce fruit?

Dear Jesus, I thank you the pruning that you have begun in me through your Word.  I thank you for your tender preparation for the fruit that you desire me to produce. I ask you to cut off the branches in me that are withered, decayed, or unproductive.  Give me discernment to see your work in my life and heart and bold courage to step out in obedience. I love you Jesus!  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:    Psalm 95

¹ Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. ² Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

³ For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. ⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. ⁵ The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; ⁷ for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice, ⁸ “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,^[a] as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, ⁹ where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. ¹⁰ For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ ¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

1.16.15 COMMISSIONED BY GOD

Ephesians 2:8-10New International Version (NIV) ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Three things jump out at me in these passages- grace, saved through faith and created in Christ Jesus to do good works. First is grace. Grace is an unmerited favor. I didn’t have to do anything to gain God’s grace. He offered it freely.

But His grace does not offer me salvation. I am saved through faith. I must believe God’s promises of salvation. I must believe in my heart and soul that God sent His Son to die for me so that my sins may be forgiven through His Grace. I am not saved by His grace. Without faith there can be no salvation because we are saved through faith.

Therefore, we are saved “by grace… through faith.” Grace can’t be realized without faith and salvation can’t be realized without God’ grace. I can’t have one without the other.

Through this faith I must act on God’s promises. Works are the actions that I take to show my faith that God has offered me His Grace and my salvation. My actions don’t earn me grace and salvation. But my actions to all that I come in contact with daily, allow others to see God’s grace and eventually be saved through their faith.

I can be a light. God created us and prepared us to “do good works.” As Pastor said Sunday- that is “Our Missional Mandate”. “God prepared in advance for us to do good works”. We don’t need no formal training! (Yes I know it should be any, but I liked it better this way) He has prepared us in advance to be His disciples. We have been saved through our faith by God’s grace to do His good works. That is my mandate from God through scripture and emphasized by pastor on Sunday. Another way to say Point of Grace’s missional mandate is Connect Real People to the Real God, who by God’s grace are saved through faith and connect others by our actions. Too Long? Ok- “Connect Real People to the Real God, who living connected, connect others!”

Will you join me in bringing God’s light to the world?

Let’s pray:

Lord I come to you humbled that that you prepared me in advance to do good works. Please use me as your vessel to be your Disciple reaching out to all as the light on the hill. Thank you for your grace and preparing me so that my actions become a symbol to all that I come into contact with today & in the future until I sit at the right hand of Jesus.   Amen.

Jerry

1.15.15 We are God’s Holy Temple

Heavenly Father, enlighten us by your Holy Spirit as we reflect on the words of the apostle Paul in his powerful letter to the Ephesians.  Amen Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

In setting forth a picture of the church, the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a building made by God in which He lives by his Spirit.  I love the picture.

Last summer I visited the cathedral in Milan. It is constructed out of hundreds of thousands of individual stones each one cut, carved and placed in a particular way to fit into the whole. If you tour the roof of the cathedral, it is possible to see close-up how each stone has been carefully worked.  In a way this magnificent cathedral is a metaphor for the living temple of which each of us is a part.

This living temple is all God’s work. He lays the foundation (the prophets and apostles), he sets the cornerstone (Jesus) and then, like a skilled craftsman, he chooses, shapes and connects each stone (you and me) into the magnificent temple that becomes His dwelling place.

It is a joy to know that God has chosen each one of us to be a stone in the edifice he is building. It is encouraging to know that he is at work shaping and connecting us into his dwelling place, the church and more specifically, Point of Grace congregation. It is exhilarating to know that we are part of God’s holy temple in which he dwells by his Holy Spirit.

Lord, thank you for making us part of the holy temple in which your Spirit dwells. Amen.

jhf

1.14.2015 Christ's Ambassadors!

Welcome to this time of meditation and connection with God.  I recommend beginning with prayer.  Pray that God will come to you and speak to you in this time, that you would put all else aside so that you can hear God’s voice, and that God will inspire and encourage you through His holy word. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The word that really caught my attention from the above scripture is “ambassadors”.  An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country”.  Think of what it would be like to serve as an ambassador for the United States of America.  I think of the sense of purpose an ambassador must feel; he/she is the official representative of the United States of America to the nation he/she serves.  The sense of responsibility that person feels would really motivate me.  To know that for an entire country, I AM the United States of America!

Paul is saying to me that Christ has given me a mandate.  I am to serve as his ambassador to the world, or at least the part of the world I get to live in and interact with.  Through me, his ambassador, God will make His appeal to the world.  His appeal is his offer of forgiveness, his promise of eternal life, and his assurance of a life on this earth filled with hope and joy.  And I, along with all other Christ-followers get to make this appeal to each and every person I come into contact with.  That’s a great message we get to proclaim!  That’s the kind of message that gives me a purpose for life.

May God bless and strengthen us as we serve as His ambassadors today!

Mark

1.13.2015 Jesus Appears to His Disciples

Jesus Appears to His Disciples John 20:19-23

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

I can't imagine how scared the disciples must have been - their loving Lord had been crucified!  The one thing that struck me about verse 20 was that Jesus didn't just assume they would automatically believe he was risen.  He knew - he had walked the earth as a human being - he had experienced all of the emotions we experience - fear, anxiety, joy, humor, dread.  He automatically knew they would want some kind of proof it was really him.  AND the first words he spoke were to dispell some of the negative emotions we experience - fear, anxiety, dread.  "Peace be with you!"

We have an empathetic, loving Lord!  He knows the emotions that can paralyze us from the missional mandate Pastor spoke about on Sunday.  Jesus, further, sent us help!  He sends the Holy Spirit to us NOW even as he "breathed on them" back then.  Jesus gives us the purpose, the authority, and the urgency to act now.  I believe this - do you?

kristi

1.12.2015 The Great Commission - Our Mission Mandate

Matthew 28: 18 -20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always,  to the very end of the age.”

I was so inspired by Pastor Delton’s message on Sunday, as he shared with us our Mission Mandate at Point of Grace:

“Connecting Real People to a Real God, who Living Connected, Connects others”

The first part of this statement:  “Connecting Real People to a Real God” is the original mission from the beginning of this church 15 years ago.

The second part:  “Who Living Connected, Connect others”  is what the Spiritual Leadership Team wants to add to our mission to make it more complete.

This addition to the original is right in line with Jesus’ “Great Commission”.

First Jesus came and connected the disciples and others to God,  and then commanded them to go and do the same for others.   The disciples in order to fulfill this commission had to first believe and then stay connected to God through the Holy Spirit and then went out and began helping others to connect to God.

We are to continue with Jesus “holy orders” we are to Be Followers of Jesus ourselves and also “Make Followers of Jesus” as in Delton’s sermon notes.

The wonderful thing about this Mission Mandate is that everyone who becomes a believer and follow of Jesus becomes a part of the mission mandate!

It’s also exciting to know that we matter to God so much, that he values us and wants us to be a part of the team.

WE connect to God, get excited about it ,  we share with others who get connected and so on.    Like  when we all joined hands in church to illustrate how we are each connected to God through the Holy Spirit and to each other through Jesus.

WE don’t have to go very far either to look for others to connect to God, they are right in our own families, our neighborhoods, communities and at our work places.

We are to continue this commission until the end of the age!

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for coming, and reconnecting us with God.   Thank you that we get to be a part of your mission to reach the whole world and connect them with God too.

We know that it is a big task and that we cannot do it with out the Holy Spirit.  Help us to stay connected to you each day through prayer, reading your word and obeying what you have commanded us to do.

Help us to be connected to other believers through you.  That we may help each other as needed to stay connected to you.

Amen!

Patrice

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 93

¹ The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. ² Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.

³ The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. ⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.

⁵ Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

"Before you know it"

“Don’t fret or worry.Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness (peace) everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

-Philippians 4:6-7

This is one of my favorite sections of Scripture.  I think because it has often challenged me in my thinking about worrying.

First – “let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.”   I think this is saying “don’t just present your list of worries to God when you pray, but to take the worries, and to re-word them with praises and petitions in such a way that the worries are SHAPED into prayers.  PRAYERS are a little bit different than LISTS.  It’s not too difficult for me to go to God and list off the things I am worried about.  But, it’s another thing to take this “list” and to talk them out to God in the essence of praise.  To take a major worry – like health or finances or an argument or conflict – and praise Him amidst talking to Him about those specific worries until they are SHAPED into a prayer.  I feel like it changes from a “list” of worries that I bring to God – a cold, sterile list, into something like a warm conversation with a Father.

It reminds me of being a potter at a potter’s wheel.  I take the present worry that I am having, imagine it as a lump of cold, hard clay, start spinning the wheel, warm it with my hands, add some moisture, and slowly begin to caress it, shape it, mold it, and transform it into a beautiful object worthy of praise!  “Before you know it….. (spinning the wheel) ... before you know it…. (adding water, shaping it with your hands) ... before you know it... the lump of worry has been transformed into a praise on the potter's wheel of prayer.  That’s how I look at this scripture.  Take my worry, and by praising and having a conversation with our kind, loving Father, shape the worry into a prayer instead of a list.

Second – “before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness will settle you down.”   God truly does come and settle us down.  Imagine a child who is agitated and climbs up into their parent’s lap.  After some calm hugging, soothing back-rubbing, caressing, and “shh-shh"-ing, the child is settled down.  I love this image. I allow my grown up 50ish year old self to imagine myself climbing up on my Father’s lap, crying, agitated, tell Him my worries, and imagine Him rubbing my back, “shh-shh” ing me until I settle down.  Try it.  It is wonderful.  And it is what the Holy Spirit is very good at as our Comforter!

Finally, the part of this verse that says, “It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”   It is very accurate that when I am consumed with worry – I have allowed the worry to take over my life and specifically – the very center of my life.  The worry is all I focus on – and where is Christ?  Outside of my thoughts and heart – standing on the side-lines – waiting to see if I will allow Him to help me.    But it’s wonderful what happens when I take my worries, let praises shape the worries into prayers, let God “shh-shh” me and settle me down, and then, “before you know it” Christ has now taken over the center of my life.  The circumstance that caused my worry has not changed, but it is no longer in the center of my life – Christ is!  I love this!

So today – try it out – be a potter at a potter’s wheel with your worries. Let your petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers not just a list. Allow God to then come, "shh-shh" you  and settle you down. And then experience how wonderful it is when Christ takes back the center of your life and displaces the worry.

Instead of letting worry be in the center of my life today – with Christ on the sidelines - I want Christ to be in the center of my life today – with worries on the sidelines!

-dawn

1.6.2015 Is Jesus Enough?

Philippians 3:8-11 (NIV) ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul gladly gave up everything, his status, power and all he had, to follow Jesus.  That was all he wanted from the time he met Jesus for the rest of his life.  Jesus was everything to him.  If he had plenty or nothing he still had everything in Jesus.  If he was safe or persecuted he always trusted Jesus.  Meeting Jesus changed everything for Paul and after that he did not need or want anything that would change his relationship with Jesus.

That is the kind of faith I want.  Everything else should matter only if it does not distract me from my relationship with Jesus.   All I desire would be meaningless if it would pull me away from Jesus.  I am not there yet but I know that is all that will satisfy me.

I have had dreams in my life that never happened and some things have happened, that caused great disappointment.  When I let those thoughts into my mind and keep asking “Why?” and “What difference would it have made?” bitterness creeps into my heart.  I become bitter and that is what people see in me, a bitter person.  I have been blessed with so much yet I whine about the disappointments and let them over shadow all my many, many blessings.  Jesus, please forgive me.   I need to and want to trust God with all of my life and live fully surrender to Him.  I want to live a life of thankfulness for all of my blessings and for all of my disappointments because they have made me the person I am.  The person God wants me to be.  God is perfect and does not make mistakes.  Do I trust Him and will I see Him as everything I need?

Last year I picked a word for the year.  It was contentment.  I wanted to be content and feel the love, peace and joy in my heart that only comes from a relationship with Jesus.  I could have gotten everything I wanted and had no disappointments in life and that would not have made me a content person.  I would still have bitterness.  Only Jesus can change me and fill me with love, joy and peace.  Then, bitterness cannot come into my heart.  I need to daily choose Jesus and pour out my gratitude and thankfulness to Him.   Jesus has given me unconditional love, mercy, grace, faith, acceptance, forgiveness of all my sins, salvation, eternal life with Him forever, a righteousness that comes from faith in Jesus and much more.  I am eternally grateful to Him and want to praise and thank Him for all these things and more.  He is worthy of all the praise and thankfulness I can give Him.  I pray the love, joy and peace Jesus has given me will flow through me to everyone I meet each day.

How about you?  Is Jesus enough for you?  Is He all you need?

Will you join me in thanking God for everything He has willingly given us?

Dear Heavenly Father,   You are my caring Father!  You are Holy, Perfect, Loving, Complete, and Everything I need.  Thank you for all the many blessings you have blessed me with.  Forgive me for whining about others things.  Help me surrender my life completely to you and to see you as everything I need.  Nothing matters that draws me away from my relationship with you.   I Love You Lord Jesus!

In Jesus Holy and Precious name I pray!   Amen!

Charleen