Tag Archives: love

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Shine Bright!

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There is a lot of talk about churches becoming relevant to our culture!  I am all for our doing whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus, but we need to make sure that we are reaching people for Jesus and not just attracting a crowd.  Jesus said in John 8:12  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Light is not a tool that we earn, it is a gift that we posses!  Jesus is the light and when we accept Him, we become the light.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus put it this way:  “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”  As we share Jesus by shining our light in the midst of the darkness, people will be attracted to God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness!

We do not have to dumb down holiness to make it attractive to a lost and dying world.  In fact, when we dumb it down, it ceases to be real holiness.  We need to raise up the bar of discipleship and let the world know that if you are going to be a Christian, it means more than attending church and going through the motions.  To be a Christian means denying self, taking up our cross and following Him.  And this is the best and brightest way to shine our lights into this dark world – by denying self, taking up our cross and following Him!  (Matthew 16:24)  I’ve got some work to do!  SHINE BRIGHT!

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People Matter!

My Daughter Grace & My Cousin's Daughter Rayna!

My Daughter Grace & My Cousin's Daughter Rayna!

Sorry for being a little late posting this morning.  I was at the hospital to the wee hours of the morning this morning.  I then ran into the office and got a few things together that they have to have from me for the weekend services and now I am at another hospital visiting with another family.  I stepped away for a few minutes so that I could share a quick update and a few words of encouragement.

Someone asked me the other day:  “Why do you work so hard to try to be there for everybody?”  They then went on to explain that I am not a small church pastor, but that I act like one.  At first, I was not real sure how to take what they were saying, but I think on some level it must have been a compliment.

God has been very good to me by allowing me to lead a growing and meaningful ministry.  He allows me to preach in multiple services in two very beautiful facilities to some of the most wonderful people that you could ever want to meet.  He has given me a team that works hard to help me to accomplish the things that He is laying upon my heart.

When I began to understand that God was calling me into ministry, I was excited about the fact that I would have the opportunity to touch and make people’s lives better with my life.  Ministry would not be ministry for me, if I could not have personal and meaningful interaction with the people that I minister to!  People are people and sometimes people can be messy, mean and selfish, but we are all still God’s creation and we all matter!

I don’t have to make myself care about people.  I don’t have to make myself love people.  I care and love because that is what I got from Jesus.  Caring and loving people is a natural part of who I am.  I just do it because Jesus does it for me!  Jesus has done it for you too and if you will let Him, He will do it through you!

I hope this encourages you to love and be loved today!

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Yes God Does Care!

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dsc_0028Does God care?  Just look around and you will see that our world is in a mess!  Most people are living a “just getting by” kinda life!  There is unhappiness, dissatisfaction, frustration and discouragement all around.  People are just hoping that everything is going to be okay.  But, I want you to know that God does care!

If God does care – what does He care about?  Most people believe that there is a God!  But most people don’t really believe that you can have a real relationship with Him.  A relationship that changes your life today and for all eternity.  When life spins out of control we need to remember and remind ourselves that God does care and God wants to have a real and meaningful relationship with us.  And I want you to remember that God cares about you.

A lady by the name of Hannah is found in I Samuel chapter one and when we find her she is in a bad place.  She is married to a man that she loves and that loves her, but she cannot have a child.  The man that she is married to has another wife that has given him children and she picks at Hannah every chance she gets, because Hannah is barren and can have no children of her own.

It is important for us to remember a few things about this life that we live.  First – All things that come or fail to come into our life are allowed by God!  Second – God is sovereign and in control!  Third – We need to humbly recognize God’s hand behind the circumstances of life!  (GO back and read over those three again and take some time to think through them!)

Hannah was distressed and depressed.  She prayed and she wept.  Sometimes when life gets really hard, the only thing left to do is cry and pray!  Hannah was disappointed – life was not working out the way that she had planned!  Hannah was dissatisfied – life was not living up to it’s expectations!  Hannah was discontent – life was passing her by and she was not willing to sit by and watch it!  When life get so tough, that we think we can’t take another day – we have to decide what we really believe!

Some people live with an attitude of fatalism – they say to themselves and those around them:  If God is sovereign, then who am I to do anything about it?  Others choose to live life with an attitude of resentment – they say to themselves and those around them:  If God is going to treat me this way, then I want nothing to do with Him!  We need to live life with an attitude of faith – we should say to ourselves and those around us:  I know and trust in God’s sovereignty and His goodness toward me!

Romans 8:28 reminds us:  “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:38-39 says:  “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God Is Good Good And God Does Care And Don’t Let Anyone Change Your Mind And Heart About That!  Victory Is Yours – So Go Out And Get You Some!