John 15:27 says, "And you must tell others about me because you have been with me from the beginning." This was the words of Jesus to His disciples. They were to tell others what they had experienced in the presence of Christ. They had been with Him from the beginning and they were to tell others all about it. They were to talk about the things they had seen and heard for themselves.
What a challenge for us! To tell others what we have seen, heard and experienced for ourselves. May we talk about His love. May we tell about His grace. May we speak about how He has changed our lives. This message of redemption and forgiveness has been told for generations. The challenge for each of us is to continue to carry the torch.
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Mary
The Christmas season is here! What a great time of the year. Take a moment and think back to that first Christmas. Imagine what it must have been like for Mary when the Angel Gabriel arrived in her little obscure town of Nazareth in Galilee. Think about how awe-struck she must have been when the Angel addressed her. Let us take a moment and ease drop on a part of his conversation with Mary: "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28) But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. (Luke 1:29) Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30)
I can only imagine how afraid Mary was. She suddenly found herself at the center of God's redemptive plan for mankind. She found herself at the center of all that God was about to do in "the fullness of time." This is what the nation of Israel had been waiting for since its very conception. This was going to be the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise that God made in the Garden of Eden that there would be a champion from the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." This is what the patriarchs had believed in and what the prophets spoke about, and, Mary finds herself in the middle of this great salvation plan.
Is this not how God still operates today? He takes ordinary people (the Mary's) and He uses them to bring about His great plan. God wants to take you and place you at the center of all that He is doing. Do not be afraid. Ponder what He is doing around you and say like Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant" (vs. 38).
This is today,
Pastor Gary
I can only imagine how afraid Mary was. She suddenly found herself at the center of God's redemptive plan for mankind. She found herself at the center of all that God was about to do in "the fullness of time." This is what the nation of Israel had been waiting for since its very conception. This was going to be the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise that God made in the Garden of Eden that there would be a champion from the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." This is what the patriarchs had believed in and what the prophets spoke about, and, Mary finds herself in the middle of this great salvation plan.
Is this not how God still operates today? He takes ordinary people (the Mary's) and He uses them to bring about His great plan. God wants to take you and place you at the center of all that He is doing. Do not be afraid. Ponder what He is doing around you and say like Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant" (vs. 38).
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Friday, November 28, 2008
Great Deals
Everyone loves a great deal. Many people rise early in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving with the thought of finding a good deal. Some wait in line's for hours in the wee hours of the morning just to be one of the first people in the store to get a "great deal." It is amusing to watch the evening news the day after thanksgiving as they show the video clips of people rushing into the store as the doors open early. By nature, most of us love a great deal. It is just a part of who we are.
Think about the great deal God the Father offers us. He offers freedom to those who are bond. He offers peace to the troubled heart. Joy to the saddened. Forgiveness for the guilty. Strength for the weak. He offers eternal life. This is the deal of a life-time. I am grateful I found this great deal, or should I say, He found me.
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Think about the great deal God the Father offers us. He offers freedom to those who are bond. He offers peace to the troubled heart. Joy to the saddened. Forgiveness for the guilty. Strength for the weak. He offers eternal life. This is the deal of a life-time. I am grateful I found this great deal, or should I say, He found me.
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankfulness
Thanksgiving is a great holiday. A time when all of us take the time to think upon the blessings we all have. As Christians, we have a lot to be thankful for. Family, friends, health, life, work, salvation, forgiveness, mercy, and the list can go on and on. I am reminded what Paul said to the Church at Thessalonica, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
"In everything," that is, all things, in every circumstance give thanks. In all situations, yes, the bad and the good, give thanks! Lord, help us, that is me, learn to live with a heart of gratefulness. Help us to see your hand in all things that come our way. We can give thanks because your promise is, "and all things work together for good" for every believer. What a great promise!
May thanksgiving simply not be a holiday, may it be a way of living for each of us. Jesus, when I am tempted to grumble help me to be reminded that you have called me and placed your hand upon me. When I am tempted to focus only on the negative, help me to refocus my attention on the good. For you are good and your mercies are new every morning and great is your faithfulness.
Take the time today to list a few things you are thankful for and tell someone about it. Express your thankfulness!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
"In everything," that is, all things, in every circumstance give thanks. In all situations, yes, the bad and the good, give thanks! Lord, help us, that is me, learn to live with a heart of gratefulness. Help us to see your hand in all things that come our way. We can give thanks because your promise is, "and all things work together for good" for every believer. What a great promise!
May thanksgiving simply not be a holiday, may it be a way of living for each of us. Jesus, when I am tempted to grumble help me to be reminded that you have called me and placed your hand upon me. When I am tempted to focus only on the negative, help me to refocus my attention on the good. For you are good and your mercies are new every morning and great is your faithfulness.
Take the time today to list a few things you are thankful for and tell someone about it. Express your thankfulness!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Word
The Word of God is always a source of strength. If you need guidance, comfort, direction, hope, encouragement (and the list goes on and on), whatever your need or circumstance is, the Word of God is your place to go.
A great verse for today is found in 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." May you find strength and encouragement in this verse today. The following is a quote I read recently, I actually do not know the author but may you find encouragement in this thought today:
HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT. God knows how we are doing at all times. He knows when we are strong and when our strength begins to falter. God created a special niche for us to fill. He wants us to go for the long haul and fulfill our mission. He needs us to serve right where He placed us. Therefore, He will give us the strength we need to make it through. With His strength, we can go all the way to the end and complete His goal.
Allow the truth of this to sink deep into you spirit. May you feel the perfect strength of God with you today. Now go out and accomplish His great design for your life!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
A great verse for today is found in 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." May you find strength and encouragement in this verse today. The following is a quote I read recently, I actually do not know the author but may you find encouragement in this thought today:
HIS STRENGTH IS PERFECT. God knows how we are doing at all times. He knows when we are strong and when our strength begins to falter. God created a special niche for us to fill. He wants us to go for the long haul and fulfill our mission. He needs us to serve right where He placed us. Therefore, He will give us the strength we need to make it through. With His strength, we can go all the way to the end and complete His goal.
Allow the truth of this to sink deep into you spirit. May you feel the perfect strength of God with you today. Now go out and accomplish His great design for your life!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Friday, July 25, 2008
It's A Small Miracle
I am trying to learn how to "de-stress" and this is not as simple as it sounds. The teachings of Jesus talk a lot about "de-stressing" by using words like, "worry not," "take my yoke," "learn of me," "have faith in God," "listen," etc. However, the other day the Holy Spirit showed me something in my life that would help me "de-stress." I was pondering the idea of learning to live more stress free and thinking of what the Word had to say and also some other good books I have read lately and then suddenly the Holy Spirit showed me something about myself.
He showed me, that I have always been in a hurry about things. I want things done quick. I want to be the first one to finish the project. I can remember as a kid in elementary school, running the mile in P.E., I had to be first. Then the Holy Spirit turned my attention to the way I drive my vehicle. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my driving. He showed me I always have to be in a hurry in my driving, almost never going the speed limit, but driving on grace! I believe the Holy Spirit told me that if I am going to learn to "de-stress" then I have to learn to slow down in my driving. Now this may sound simple to you or even silly, and it even may be; however, for me it may actually be something profound.
The small miracle is, "I did it for a whole 320 mile trip." I did not speed, even though other cars were zipping past me (I felt tempted to chase them down, but I did not). It was not so much how quick I could get there, it was "how could I learn to prioritize my life and enjoy the journey" as I traveled. What I found out is, it really did not bother me, and I actually felt more relaxed, and, it only took me about 15 or 20 minutes longer.
Today, I found myself not getting frustrated in the traffic, not feeling rushed, and thinking, "it is okay not to be the lead car in the pack." Now I am looking for the "big miracle" and that is, for this not to be the rule just for yesterday, but for everyday.
Ask the Lord to show you what simple things can you do to "de-stress" your life?
This is today,
Pastor Gary
He showed me, that I have always been in a hurry about things. I want things done quick. I want to be the first one to finish the project. I can remember as a kid in elementary school, running the mile in P.E., I had to be first. Then the Holy Spirit turned my attention to the way I drive my vehicle. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me about my driving. He showed me I always have to be in a hurry in my driving, almost never going the speed limit, but driving on grace! I believe the Holy Spirit told me that if I am going to learn to "de-stress" then I have to learn to slow down in my driving. Now this may sound simple to you or even silly, and it even may be; however, for me it may actually be something profound.
The small miracle is, "I did it for a whole 320 mile trip." I did not speed, even though other cars were zipping past me (I felt tempted to chase them down, but I did not). It was not so much how quick I could get there, it was "how could I learn to prioritize my life and enjoy the journey" as I traveled. What I found out is, it really did not bother me, and I actually felt more relaxed, and, it only took me about 15 or 20 minutes longer.
Today, I found myself not getting frustrated in the traffic, not feeling rushed, and thinking, "it is okay not to be the lead car in the pack." Now I am looking for the "big miracle" and that is, for this not to be the rule just for yesterday, but for everyday.
Ask the Lord to show you what simple things can you do to "de-stress" your life?
This is today,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, July 19, 2008
At Home
In my devotional time I was reading in the book of Ephesians, and what a powerful book it is. I was reading out of a new bible I received in the mail a few weeks ago. The translation is called "Recovery Version." I don't know a whole lot about it, however, I like how it translates the first part of chapter 3 verse 17. It says, "That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith ..." What a great thought! Christ at home in my heart.
When I think of being at home I think of being comfortable, being at ease. I think of rest. The thought hit me, "Is Jesus at home in my heart?" Then I thought, "How can I make Him at Home in my life, even to a greater degree then He is now?"
It takes me inviting Him to be at home. When I think of this, I think of Lordship. Lord of everything, that is, master, the one who is in control. Lord, my prayer is, I want you to be at home in me. I don't simply want it to be some spiritual quest. I desire it to be a reality. To feel your presence. To know your will. To feel your heartbeat. This is the journey I seek!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
When I think of being at home I think of being comfortable, being at ease. I think of rest. The thought hit me, "Is Jesus at home in my heart?" Then I thought, "How can I make Him at Home in my life, even to a greater degree then He is now?"
It takes me inviting Him to be at home. When I think of this, I think of Lordship. Lord of everything, that is, master, the one who is in control. Lord, my prayer is, I want you to be at home in me. I don't simply want it to be some spiritual quest. I desire it to be a reality. To feel your presence. To know your will. To feel your heartbeat. This is the journey I seek!
This is today,
Pastor Gary
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