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AN ATTITUDE OF HEART
Have you ever compared your attitude of heart to that of the young boy who gave his sack lunch of five small loaves of bread and two little fish to Jesus to feed the hunger of thousands? John 6:5-13 (NLT) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. The bread size of the boy’s loaves was probably about the size of what we call an English muffin and the fish probably only two or three inches long (that was bigger than what I usually caught when I went fishing). If we prepared a Hero sandwich that would provide a six-inch portion to each person, it would be almost a half mile long sandwich to feed a group of 5000 people and here we find Jesus feeding 5000 people plus women and children. This could mean a crowd in size from 10,000 to 20,000 that were fed. All because of a little boy’s generous heart. It was just a very small sack lunch, but the young boy had the same compassion for people as Jesus and gave what he had to help others. Compare the boy’s motive to that of the disciple’s or even our own motives when we give. Is our attitude moved with compassion for the needs that are present or are they likened to “if you give then God will” or “if you don’t give then so what”? It is about our heart attitude. Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks, and distributed them, all because of the innocence of a child wanting to help. Because of their attitude of heart, a loving heavenly Father multiplied the gift to feed the multitude and increased the giving to return 12 baskets full of loaves and fish. Sadly, many of those who had eaten searched for Jesus the next day only for another free lunch. However, Jesus told them to look beyond their physical needs to their spiritual needs: "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval" (John 6:26-27). For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world", "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:33, 35 Our attitude of heart is not about wanting what we are entitled to; as we hear in many commercials today, but rather what am I willing to do for Christ and give out of compassion to others. If Jesus asks you how is your attitude of heart, how will you respond? Do you hear that small voice whispering to your heart? He’s asking. May God Bless and Keep you. Yours in Christ, Rev. Jerry Schmid
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We took our family to Fantastic Caverns on our way to Ministry Team Retreat. Growing up I wanted to be a geologist so I was geeking out on this one, it was so fun to experience the wonder of the underground with my family. As our guide was talking, we got to one point in the Cavern and they shut the lights out completely, explaining that this utter darkness was the natural state of the cave. He began to explain the different types of light that the Cavern had been explored with. The first person to explore saw the complete darkness, he then asked a team of people to explore the Cavern and they came in by candlelight. Then they brought in another type of light and they backlit the place. Then they showed todays lighting where you could see nearly every nook and cranny.
While we were sitting there in total darkness I couldn't help but look for light. My eyes were frantically looking for even the smallest ray of light, but I couldn’t find it. Our guide explained that in total darkness a person will go blind within 40 days. I thought, well, that’ll preach! Many people go their whole lives searching for the smallest ray of light. They don’t have a candle and they don’t have a match. We have to share that light with them to begin to help them to see The Light. "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. May you walk in the light, and be the light. Don’t allow yourself to be blinded. Blessings, Pastor Delinda For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help.” (Isaiah 41:13)
Do you remember Popeye the Sailor Man? It was a classic cartoon I remember watching as a kid. He was the hero every episode all because of a can of spinach. Brutus, his relentless enemy, regularly threatened poor Olive Oil, the love of Popeye’s life. In every episode, it never failed. Somehow Brutus bullied his way around until Popeye had enough. Popeye would often say, “That’s all I can standz, and I can’t standz no more.” Then, out of nowhere a can of spinach would appear, pop open, work its way down. Suddenly Popeye’s muscles popped and fists went flying. Brutus never stood a chance! Do you need a “Popeye moment?” Our enemy attacks, bullies, and taunts us every day. We keep struggling. Sometimes we just need a moment where we declare—just like Popeye, “That’s all I can stand!” It’s time to change. Today, what are you fighting? Are you overworked, missing what’s most important in life? Are you battling an addiction but keep telling yourself that it’s no big deal? Are you putting off a conversation, hoping the problem will solve itself? Are you making excuses as to why you act a certain way, making jokes about it to help relieve your pain? Then maybe it’s time to stop. Maybe it’s time to make a decision. Enough is enough. It’s time to change. Here’s the best news: Your strength doesn’t come from a can of spinach. Your strength comes from Almighty God. His power is available to you. And his spirit will help you do what you can’t do on your own. -Pastor Michael God’s Answer to Doubt Exodus 4:1-17 October 24, 2021 This One Thing: Moses doubt leads to a demonstration of God’s power.
• There are TWO SIDES to the doubt issues: A) When OTHERS DOUBT you. B) When YOU DOUBT yourself. • God’s answer to DOUBT and EXCUSES is His POWER and His PRESENCE • PARTIAL obedience carries UNINTENDED consequences. • God PROVIDES where He DIRECTS. • God NEVER ACCEPTS excuses. • What’s in your HAND? ![]()
There were ten. A common number, but they were anything but common. These ten were sick, seriously sick! So sick they could not even communicate face to face with those they loved. They needed physical and medical help. Short of a miracle their lives as they had known them was over. (Luke 7:11-19)
Their sickness was leprosy. Their miracle was Jesus. Their problem was lack of thankfulness. Perhaps they were just too eager to see their loved ones and to share their miracle of healing. We really don’t know. What we do know is they left. They did not pause to speak to the One who had provided their healing. They just left, and I oftentimes wonder if they left more than their leprosy behind. One did stay behind though. We don’t know his name, but we do know his heart. Maybe he was in awe of the Miracle Maker. We are really not sure, we just know he stayed while the others walked or rather ran away. It doesn’t take long to say thank you. But it does take a thankful heart. In your devotional time today, pause for a moment and enumerate some of the things you are thankful for. Then stick around for a while and say thank you! Maybe, just maybe, Jesus would like to do something unexpected for you! One thing we know for sure. The unexpected blessings do not always occur instantly. Those deeper unexpected gifts come from spending time with the Gift Giver! Thankful, Pastor Holmes In Matthew 6:25 our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
I was not raised in a Christian household, and because of the worldly values I was raised with, anxiety was a frequent part of my life. I found that alcohol seemed to help ease my severe bouts of anxiety. This led to self-medication, dependency, and full-blown addiction. As happens frequently, tolerance to the “drug” increased, requiring more and more alcohol, followed by other drugs. I became “poly-substance dependent” and ended up on skid-row, suicidal. I was sleeping in a dirt-floor garage and looking for something to use to hang myself when the Holy Spirit intervened. This began the process of repentance and brought me into a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I have to tell you that my anxieties did not disappear right away as I became a believer. During the first few months of sobriety, I frequently didn’t know where my next meal was coming from, and I came closer to being “under the bridge” as a new Christian than I ever did while I was in my addiction. Even getting together enough money to launder my clothes was a challenge. It took time and a certain amount of Christian maturity before I could look back with eyes of faith and recognize that the Lord was providing for my needs all the time. I never went hungry, my clothes held up just fine, and I always had a bed to sleep in with a roof over my head. Let’s go back to Matthew 6:25 for a moment. Any time you see “therefore” in a passage, it’s a good idea to see what it’s there for. In verse 24 Jesus is telling us that we can’t serve two masters: “ … for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Therefore, don’t be anxious! Way too often anxiety leads to putting our faith in the wrong thing(s), and this can lead to various forms of idolatry. I share this because it seems that anxiety is on the increase, including among believers. We are living in challenging times. Where are you putting your faith? May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Pastor Bill I was singing “Only a boy named David” with my granddaughter this morning, and the thought occurred to me that this is one of many stories in the Bible that causes some people to discount the entire Bible. Really? How could a little boy kill a giant with a slingshot? And how, indeed, could a man be swallowed up and then spit out by a whale? Giggle, giggle; snicker, snicker… My answer to those questions is, “Why not?”
Maybe what we already believe determines how we react to some of the old Bible stories, and to some of the controversial topics we face in today’s world. If I already have doubts and misunderstandings about who God is, it will be easier to convince me that the Bible is full of myths and children’s stories. But what if I am radical enough to go even beyond belief and KNOW that God is who He says He is? If “nothing is impossible with God,” then we can believe that He could create the world in six days. It’s no stretch to accept that he could (and did) appoint a big fish (not a whale, thank you) to swallow up Jonah until he had learned his lesson, then spit him out in time to hear God say, “Now go!” Why couldn’t the God of the impossible shut the mouths of the lions so that his servant Daniel is spared? And send His pre-incarnate Son into the furnace to protect Daniel’s three friends? Especially when the Word clearly reflects that these incidents bring glory to God in the eyes of the king. I believe every story in the Book is true; there is nothing that needs to be explained away. And what I don’t understand reflects on my human inability to understand, NOT on the validity of God’s Word. And on the controversial topics of the day? The world, in rejecting God and His word, has elevated humankind to the role of King of the Universe, a position correctly belonging to God. If man is king, it follows that his “rights” must not be denied. And sin reigns. But ultimately, God’s Word is true. And God reigns. Period. God bless you! Nell Submission
Ephesians 5:21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. I am a huge fan of martial arts. Especially MMA and JiuJitsu. If you follow any of these sports, you will hear about submissions a lot. A submission is one of the few ways you can get a win in the sport. You manipulate your opponent's body to get them into a position where they have to submit or risk getting injured. In that moment the person submitting is acknowledging the person has gotten the upper hand and is in that moment better than them. In our culture we often see submission as a negative. We think of ourselves as less than and weak if we submit. However, this is not what scripture teaches us about submission. In this passage Paul is challenging us to submit to each other. So what does Paul mean by this? He is not telling us to think less of ourselves, rather he is giving us an opportunity to grow in Christ. Ephesians 5:21 follows a section about how we are to live in the light by being filled with the Holy Spirit. We live this out by submitting to one another, which really means putting others first and seeing everyone as worthy of our time. Jesus modeled submission in his own life by submitting to God’s will and dying on a cross for our sins. Because of this He was exalted above every other name. (Philippians 2:1-11 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.) This is how we need to think about submission. When we do we begin to transform into the people who God created us to be. Pastor Blake Moses: Following God into the Unknown (Week 2) Exodus 3:1-12 (CEB) October 17, 2021 Main Point: I can follow God into the unknown because God invites us to join him.
Main Point: I can follow God into the unknown because God invites us to join him.
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TOO OLD? I DON’T THINK SO! A Pondering by Holly Woodbridge
The kids and I are studying the book of Joshua on Wednesday nights this month. Joshua is a great warrior and a great leader. He inspires. But there is another old guy mentioned in the book that has lots to teach us, Caleb. Old, but strong, and he is faithful like his friend Josh. Joshua and Caleb had wanted to go into the Promised land 45 years earlier, but the people were afraid and would not trust God for the Victory. They had watched their generation fall away because of doubting hearts, but Joshua and Caleb held fast for 45 years. Nothing swayed their trust in the Almighty God. Nothing kept them from serving Him. Well, they are finally in the Promised land with the children of all their friends. They are now the oldest Israelites and Caleb approaches Joshua as the land is being divvied up. He says, Joshua 14 : “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. Caleb didn’t say, “Hey, I’ve done my time, let the young people do the work.” No, He walked with the younger generation, showing what faithfulness looks like. He was a role model as he fought and served side by side, shoulder to shoulder. The key was this phrase “the Lord helping me.” You are never too young or too old to serve Jesus. So if you find that you are just sitting on a pew each Sunday morning, get busy. You still have a work to do “the LORD helping you." Gardens in Babylon
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’ Jeremiah 29:4-7 In this passage of Jeremiah, we find God’s people are physically in exile in Babylon, but their hearts are still living in a sense in Jerusalem. Surprisingly, God doesn’t give them a pass about this. He asks them to redeem the times. He asks them to help shape their space. God says, you can’t just twiddle your thumbs until I take you on to heaven. There is work for you to do in the meantime. You have to embrace the disruption. Live in the place you don’t want to be as if it were your true home. Oh, and you know how you used to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, now do the same for Babylon. This is a radical call. In the midst of pagan and godless empires, we are called to build pockets of redemption. We are to seek to enrich this culture with the life of the kingdom of God. Were there any words or phrases that jumped out at you from this passage in Jeremiah 29? I noticed two phrases. ‘Plant gardens’, ‘Increase in number’. In these words, there are reminiscent echoes from the Garden of Eden. God is saying to his exiled people, whether you like it or not, you are here now, so grow and build this alien place into a garden Paradise - a place where God’s presence can dwell. Be fruitful! Increase! Multiply! Grow!’ What an amazing thought: Even in the worst of times, places, and situations, the people of God are called to flourish and grow in number; and together seek the peace and prosperity of where they are. Not waiting for things to get back to normal; seeking God’s redemptive purposes right here and now. I know when I feel alienated from the world around me, I am tempted to withdraw and not get too involved. Am I avoiding getting involved rather than engaging right now? Lord, help me to care for the community in which I live. Lord, I pray for my city, my town, my village. Father, I yield myself to You and the way You are shaping me through the disruptions and limitations in my life. May I find Your peace where I am, with all its noise, dirt, and challenges. There is a great song my son Joel loves to play that seems an appropriate prayer for this day. Here are the lyrics. Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdJXKqVgtg Pastor Donny FEELING FORGIVEN
Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Are you at peace with your faith? Your faith in Christ should be the source of your feelings. But you say; then why don’t I feel forgiven? Christianity has nothing to do with your feelings. It's not about how you feel, it is about the blood of Jesus being enough, enough to cover your sins. So why do we keep giving Satan credit and glory by confessing our sin over and over again? Isn’t God big enough and His Grace sufficient enough to forgive you the first time you ask for His forgiveness? Jesus, your Grace and Blood are enough! Satan loves and wants you to keep your focus on your sin and the past. Instead, look at Jesus, look toward your future. It was enough that Christ looked past the cross to the future and saw you. We only look to the past if there is sin we have harbored in our heart and never asked God for forgiveness, that is a killer of our soul. Christianity is not a focus on you or me, rather it is on God, His love, and the act of loving God. It is forgetfulness of self and re-focusing from our old sinful nature which has been forgiven and to a renewed focus on God. Paul said: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) You and I must cooperate with that gift of Grace, believe it, accept it and live it day by day growing in Grace. If we strive for Holiness in itself, it can become an object of our pride which we can never reach. Rather we should strive to love God and others more as He commanded, then we become holy, because it is a byproduct of love. Jesus tasked us to be Holy as He is Holy. But how? Live each day as Jesus lived, loving God, loving others rather than self, so that day by day we become the very image of His love and self-sacrifice for others. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. (2 John 6) You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) Christ paid the price for your forgiveness and give you peace. When you don’t feel it, it's not because of Christ, it's because you are focusing on you, not Him. Look to Him and focus on Him in prayer. The first half of the Lord’s Prayer teaches us to focus on the Father, honoring Him, then to bring our petitions and love focused on Him. Remember; you are CHOSEN, you are FORGIVEN and the LORD IS SUFFICIENT! God Bless and Keep you wrapped in His loving arms. Yours in Christ, Rev. Jerry Schmid Romans 12:4-5 (TLB) Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
When Jesus spoke of the “body of Christ” in the Bible, He was referring to all of us. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete. All of us have different gifts and talents as you discovered when you did your gift inventory. It takes all of us to do the work that Jesus spoke of. We all belong to each other and we all need each other. Someone once compared this verse to a jig saw puzzle. When you put it together and one piece is missing, what are you going to notice? The one missing piece. That’s the way it is in the body of Christ. Everyone is needed! The thumb is a very small part of our body, but have you ever hurt your thumb? It may be a very small part but it does play a very prominent role. It becomes hard to grasp things, to hold things and to even comb your hair. It may be a very tiny part of our body but you sure do notice it when you can’t use it! Never confuse prominence with significance. Something can be prominent but not really significant. I can always live without a thumb, but inside of me there are things no one ever sees like my liver, my heart, and my lungs. They are not prominent, but if I lost them I would die. You may not feel prominent in the body of Christ, but you are very significant! There are many parts to this body of Christ, known as the church. Each part is very significant! Each part is needed! We all have important work to do. We may never know in this life time just how important a role you and I might have played in someone’s life. A Sunday school teacher may never know just how important her role was until that troubled kid that was such a nuisance in class becomes a pastor or missionary. A worker in the coffee shop might never know how much that friendly hello or extra touch meant to that person who just finished a very trying week. The friendly greeter at the door may never know how much that moment meant when they were the only Jesus that stranger saw all week! That delivery person might never know just how much that visit or meal meant to that lonely shut-in that has no family or contacts outside of their four little walls. We all play a very significant role in the body of Christ! Ray Boltz has a song that says it all! I dreamed I went to heaven And you were there with me We walked upon the streets of gold Beside the crystal sea We heard the angels singing Then someone called your name You turned and saw this young man And he was smiling as he came And he said, "Friend You may not know me now" And then he said, "But wait You used to teach my Sunday School When I was only eight" "And every week you would say a prayer Before the class would start And one day when you said that prayer I asked Jesus in my heart" Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave Then another man stood before you And said remember the time A missionary came to your church And his pictures made you cry You didn't have much money But you gave it anyway Jesus took the gift you gave And that's why I am here today Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave One by one they came Far as the eye could see Each life somehow touched By your generosity Little things that you had done Sacrifices made Unnoticed on the earth In heaven now proclaimed And I know up in heaven You're not supposed to cry But I am almost sure There were tears in your eyes As Jesus took your hand And you stood before the Lord He said, "My child look around you Great is your reward" Thank you for giving to the Lord I am a life that was changed Thank you for giving to the Lord I am so glad you gave I am so glad you gave Won’t you give your talents and gifts to the Lord to be used of Him today? You never know just how much you are needed to make the body complete! Blessings, Pastor Fran Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”
The circumstances of a saint’s life are ordained of God. In the life of a saint there is no such thing as a chance. God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all,
Never put your hand in front of the circumstances and say – I am going to make my own decisions,
Am I making the Holy Spirit’s work difficult by being indefinite, or by trying to do His work for Him? I must do the human side of intercession, and the human side is the circumstances I am in and the people I am in contact with. I have to keep my conscious life as a shrine of the Holy Ghost,
Without INTERCESSION, someone will be impoverished. Pastor Dick Moses: Following God into the Unknown (Week 1) Exodus 1-2 (CEB) October 10, 2021 Main Point: I can face the unknown because God is always redeeming.
Main Point: I can face the unknown because God is always redeeming.
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“You do you, I’ll do me.” Have you heard this phrase? It’s pretty popular these days. To me that phrase says “leave me alone and let me just do what I want.” I was reading in Job today and I came across this verse: “Will you continue on the old paths where evil people have walked? They were snatched away in the prime of life, the foundations of their lives washed away. For they said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?’ Yet he was the one who filled their homes with good things, so I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.” Job 22:15-18 NLT
Leave me alone. Have you ever said that to God? You know what He wants you to do, you may know you’re in the wrong or maybe you know He’s asking you to take on something that may not be comfortable or convenient and you’ve blown Him off with your own version of “you do you God…” As the passage says, the very one who filled their homes with good things, blessings, was pushed away with a “leave me alone”. I hope that I never say that to God. I hope that’s not what my actions speak of me. I hope this is where I rest: “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21 I’m not looking for the riches of the world but the joy found in surrender to Gods will, purpose and plan for my life. That kind of growth. I don’t want the kind of loneliness that comes with saying “Leave me alone”. I want the richness of communion with God and knowing Him intimately. I want to submit or yield to Him rather than turn my back and say, “leave me alone”. Even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it means I was wrong or I need to change. There’s a joy in knowing I am at peace with God. I leave you with a couple questions that stuck out to me this week in my Bible study: “Are you distracted by urgent but empty pursuits and ambitions? Will you trust the One who offers God’s acceptance and transformation to real security and peace? The King is at hand, here for you.” May peace fill your heart as you rest and submit to His love. Pastor Delinda "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seek, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
We all have moments in our life where things do not go the way we want. Cars break down. Bills pile up. Kids keep needing new clothes. Work demands more and more. Pandemics strike and change everything. Before long, some unproductive messages play over again in our minds: You’ll never have enough. You aren’t good enough. God doesn’t care about you. You don’t have what it takes. God won’t hear your prayer. Sometimes it feels like our faith is incredibly small. But remember, Jesus said that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed—think about the size, small like a grain of sand—you could move mountains. In Jesus’ day, the mustard seed was the smallest seeds known. Mostly like that wasn’t a coincidence to Jesus. He understood something about our faith. Jesus knew we would sometimes feel like our faith is stretched to the breaking point. Jesus knew we would often look at situations and feel absolutely hopeless. But Jesus knew all it takes is a tiny amount of faith in a great, big God. If you are praying for a miracle—even one that feels small or unimportant—then keep the faith. If you are praying for someone to be saved, continue believing. If you are trusting God to restore your marriage, don’t stop. If you are begging God to help you change, keep seeking him. It’s not the size of your faith that matters—it’s the size of your God. And with Him, all things are possible. -Pastor Michael God is not looking for exceptionally talented, educated, or gifted people. These qualities are certainly admirable and beneficial, but they are not required. What he is looking is men and women who are willing to relinquish whatever they have to him.
Too often we think there is power in holding on. The laws of the kingdom are in reverse. We must turn loose. Jesus wants us to tell him, “Lord take me and use me wherever you want me to go, whoever you want me to speak to, whatever you want me to do I am yours.” Total relinquishment of self will brings God’s power into your life; this is the power of relinquishment… Keep Looking Up, Pastor Holmes You know, when you think about it, the entire Bible is the story of good vs. evil. God, who is always and eternally good, is at war with Satan and the fallen angels, whose only goal is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). It’s not about me at all, but I, along with all of God’s children, am caught on the battlefield.
One of the places in Scripture where this ongoing battle is very clear is in Genesis chapters 37-50, the story of Joseph. The bad guys are Joseph’s own brothers. They threaten to kill him, throw him in a pit, and sell him into slavery. Wow! Talk about sibling rivalry! And what does Joseph, representing Jesus, do? He feeds them. And then he brings them to Egypt so that he can more effectively meet their needs. Doesn’t it seem that people expect others to think like they do? Joseph’s brothers, though bathed in love for years, in the end still expected Joseph to think like they did. They couldn’t believe that he was caring for them out of genuine goodness; they thought he only did it out of respect for their father. And once Dad was dead, they expected Joseph to take his revenge on them. But no. That wasn’t who Joseph was. And it’s not who God is, either. His love is genuine. How did Joseph do it? How did he respond graciously year after year, trial after painful trial? The answer is simple, but so, so difficult: He took himself out of the equation. It’s not about me, he realizes. I am a tool in the hand of a mighty God, being used to bring good to many people. “You intended to harm me,” he tells his brothers, “but God intended it for good.” There’s a goal to reach for: recognize that God intends good, not only to me, but to everyone with whom I interact. When stuff happens, it’s not necessarily about me. Sometimes problems are God’s way of helping others through me. Every believer, over the course of his or her life, has the potential to impact literally thousands of people for Christ. No wonder the enemy tries to stop us, to distract us, to harm us. Let us remember, with Joseph, that what the devil intends to harm us, God intends for the good of those around us. God bless you! Nell The Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:3-9, is a well known teaching of Jesus. Here the Lord is the Sower of the Seed which falls on different types of soil, ranging from fertile to rock hard. Jesus said that the seed represents the Word of GOD.
In my last devotional I referred to the importance of sharing one’s individual story, our testimony of coming into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. I shared the basic outline I like: what it used to be like, what happened and what it is like now. Since Jesus Christ is the living Word of GOD, the Logos, I believe it makes sense that when we share our story/testimony we are spreading the word/seed. This is something all Christians are called to do – to be a sower of the Word. (See John 14:12) Just like in Matthew 13, some, maybe even most of the seed we sow will not produce fruit; but some will fall on good soil and produce a crop – some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Jesus goes on to tell us in verse 9, “He who has ears, let him hear.” If you don’t see immediate results, the enemy may attack and seek to deceive you into believing your efforts are wasted. This is not what we are being taught in GOD’s word. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of GOD, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Each of us has been created for good works. Those works may vary, but we all have a story to tell, a testimony to share. Be prepared! Opportunities will arise to be a sower of the seed GOD has given you to share. Pastor Bill Rad
This past month we have been in a series with our youth called Rad. We have been examining the radical way that Jesus lived and how we can make radical changes in the world around us. I think we can all see that the world around us is broken, and our culture is straying away from God more and more every day. We all want more love and peace in the world. How do we accomplish that? The book of James gives us some very practical straightforward advice on how we radically change the world around us. 1. Radical People Listen More than they Speak. James 1:19-20 This is one of the best ways we can love people. We are often quick to have our voice and opinions heard. It seems to be against our sinful nature to allow ourselves to take time to really listen to those who are around us. When we learn to listen instead of speak, it gives us opportunities to truly know someone's heart. Which then gives us opportunities to love them like Christ would. 2. Radical People Don’t Play Favorites. James 2:1-10 Pull out your bible and read those verses. If you are struggling to relate to the words James is using in this passage, replace rich and poor with other words; Conservatives and Liberals, Liberals and Conservatives, People Who are like me and people who are different, Christians and Non-Christians, Boss and employee, ect. James forbids favoritism. Why? Because we cannot bring people into a life saving relationship with Jesus Christ if we allow superficial things to influence the way we treat others. God made us all, and Jesus died for us all. 3. Radical People Watch Their Words. James 3:1-12 Our words have the power to heal and to destroy. Like a tattoo the things that we say can never be unsaid. James challenges us to think about the words we say. How can we sing to God on Sunday and insult our co-workers on Monday. How can we post bible verses on our social media feed but also leave a hateful comment on something we disagree with. How can we lead others to Christ if we are saying things that bring others down? Our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts. So how can we claim to love God and yet choose to say things that are divisive and destructive. Instead speak words that heal. Speak life. 4. Radical People Fight For Peace. James 3:16-18, 4:1-3 We are called to be peacemakers. This implies that peace is not something that happens naturally, but rather is something that has to be made. Our culture tends to be selfish. We want what we want when we want it. And when we don’t get it we fight each other. Jesus doesn’t tell us to never have conflict. Rather, when we have conflict our goal should be to strive for peace. Jesus fought for us selflessly when he gave his life for our sins. Are we willing to fight for others, and to fix broken relationships. Jesus is pretty rad (meaning both cool and revolutionary). What about you? Are you willing to be radical? Are you willing to do something different in order to change the world around you and to show everyone the love of Jesus? (Adapted from Grow Curriculum) Pastor Blake |
AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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