"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the word seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses." - Taylor Caldwell "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 (NIV) When you feel the most alone, it may be the very moment when you are truly least alone at all. God is there in your darkest night and coldest wind. He may be so close you cannot see him, but he is there. And perhaps he has chosen this moment to pull you closer to him than you have ever been before.
Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad. - John Greenleaf Whittier "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 (NLT)Make Room for MoreWe have heard people say, "You can't out-give God." Well, you can't out-give yourself either! You don't need to be wealthy to possess a giving heart. Give a smile, lend an ear, extend a hand. However you give, God's promise is tried and tested, and you'll see the blessings multiplied and returned back to you.
"When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility." - Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Coggan "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) Wonderful ImpossibilitiesThe birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty, it was an impossiblity. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breath life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect sinless Savior--fully God, fully human--he can accomplish through you, those things that seem impossible in your life.
"The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know." - Michael Card "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV) "Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence." Psalm 21:6 (NIV) Laugh with ImmanuelWhy do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget Him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and He is " God with us," then He must want to share in those moments of great joy--and even those times of silly laughter and fun.
"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ." - Frank McKibben "And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)Each year we are reminded that Christmas should not be just about giving and receiving presents. But, if truly think about Christmas, it is, indeed, all about gift giving! At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father!
Sometimes I don’t like what God commands me to do (Don't judge, neither do you!) Moses is one of the greatest leaders in the Bible…and he was so faithful to the Lord that his last act of obedience was to climb up a mountain and die…a death brought about by the hand of God. I don’t know about you…but…I might have tried to run from this one. However, Moses didn’t…he was faithful. There are some Scriptures where he did beg God to change His mind…but at the end of it all he surrendered. (WAIT…that reminds me of another story found in Luke 22:39-42.) One of my fears in life is that I will always be the guy who is saying, “Whatever you want Lord…I will do it,” and then when He commands me to take a step that I won’t do it because doing so will, well…it will hurt, it won’t be easy! But…I am beginning to realize that God is always calling us closer to Himself…and the closer we get the more we die. We cannot walk closer to God and remain the same. The Apostle Paul was able to pen the words of Galatians 2:20 and he was quoted in Acts 20:24 because he realized this… No price was too high No command was considered to be ridiculous EVEN when it hurt! Jesus said if we want to follow Him that we are going to have to take up our cross…translation…there are going to be times that it hurts! (See Luke 9:23) However… James 1:12 says that those times are for our development. Romans 8:28 says that He works all things out for His glory and our good. Romans 12:1-2 says if we will become a living sacrifice (ouch) then we will know His “good, pleasing and perfect will!” And…even though God asked Christ to go to the cross…Jesus was able to experience something that no one on the planet has been able to pull off either before or since. There was a crucifixion…but it led to a resurrection!!! God has greater things in mind for us than we have for ourselves. And…the path He commands us to take isn’t always going to be the quickest one, the easiest one or the one that makes the most sense. However, we can trust that He is HOLY and wants nothing more for us than the very best. I may not always like what He commands me to do…but if I will stay faithful and follow Him, even when it’s hard…then I will always be content with the results that He brings about. (Resource: Perry Noble)
One of my life verses that is always in front of me is Hebrews 11:6… “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”One of the myths that has been crippling to Christianity for years is that Jesus has called us to “play it safe”…when that is not taught OR modeled by Jesus OR His followers in the Scriptures. (See Acts 20:24 and Galatians 2:20) Jesus didn’t play it safe…Paul didn’t play it safe…none of the Apostles played it safe…the church in Acts 4:23-31 upon being threatened and persecuted did NOT pray for safety…they prayed for boldness! Yet today we seem to want to play it safe…that cannot be the goal. So what about you church leader? Church member? Whoever…what is that ONE THING that you KNOW the Lord is calling you to do? You know it’s a risk…you know that in order for it to take place you are going to need divine intervention? What is it? Why not do it? People have asked me before, “Pastor, how do I know that it’s God telling me to do it and not just an idea I had?” GREAT question…allow me to share three identifying marks that I have personally experienced. #1 – This thing that you believe you are called to do by God will not contradict God’s Word! I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit…and I believe that He speaks as loud today as He did in the book of Acts; however, I also know according to the teachings of Scripture that the Holy Spirit will not contradict the Word of God. So…if “that thing” that you feel called to is in direct conflict with God’s Word…then it’s not God telling you to do it. #2 – You can’t get away from this thought…it dominates your thinking and the more you marinade on it the more you feel like you might explode. For example…you feel God is telling you to do something. BUT…instead of running out and doing it immediately you begin to read books on it and dive into the Scriptures to see what they teach about the subject. But the more you pray, study and read about it…the hotter the fire inside of you becomes! #3 – Godly people in your life affirm it. (SEE Proverbs 15:22) What I have learned from personal experience is that if I do not want to share my idea with those in my life who I know really do love Jesus and love me…then…I usually know it’s not a “God idea” but rather a me idea. One of the things that EVERY believer in Christ needs is godly men and women who love Jesus and love the person enough to speak the truth in love…people who value the friend more than the friendship and are willing to say what needs to be said. ANYTIME I have ever shared a thought/idea that I really believe the Lord has placed in my heart and the people the Lord has placed in my life to love and challenge me push back…I ALWAYS take a step back and pray and think through the idea more until the Lord either gives me greater clarity OR shows me that the wise counsel of my friends is exactly what I needed to hear. That is what works for me…so how about you? What is that thing that you know you should do? Life is short, hell is hot and eternity is forever!!! The world has NEVER been impacted by Christians who spend their whole lives in a car seat and beg God to never let anything bad happen to them! Ask HIM to set you on fire with HIS plans…and THEN GO FOR IT (Reference: P Noble)
*God is so good! Today we had another amazing service.
*TWO people rededicated their lives to Christ. Like I said... amazing.
*We are growing physically, spiritually, and financially. We have made our budget for the fourth week, to God be the glory!! Did I mention amazing??
*With today being Palm Sunday, I spoke about how Jesus was eating dinner with his friend Lazarus when his sister Mary came and poured the best perfume she had on His feet. Some thought she was wasting it but it was used to prepare and honor Jesus for his death.(John 12) That fragrance was smelled by all who passed by. Church, we need to even smell like Jesus in all that we do; Remember, people not only watch us and listen to us, but we need to be like the rose of Sharon (Song Of Solomon 2:1)
As Jesus was preparing to enter Jerusalem, He told his disciples to get two donkeys- one momma and one colt. (which was to fulfill the prophesy that jeremiah gave - Matthew 21) The disciples did as he asked and returned with both momma and baby donkey. Jesus Christ, The King of Kings, rode on two beasts of burden - two stubborn, filthy, smelly, animals! He could have chosen to use anything, but he chose donkeys. We are just like those donkeys-stubborn, filthy from sin, and sometimes even smelly, yet Jesus chose us to carry Him to all the world; to spread His good news. We are His prize posession- He can use us no matter what. No matter how stubborn, no matter how filthy, no matter how "smelly"!!
*I'm looking forward to what God is going to do at both our celebration service this Friday night and the Easter service Sunday morning.
*I am so encouraged with all that has been happening, and all that I know is going to happen at FWC. I'm proud to be the Pastor of FWC- the most amazing church... to me!
#1 – I believe there is more God given potential in you than you realize. (See Ephesians 2:10) #2 – I believe He has a plan for your life…one that He is revealing in steps because IF He revealed it all at one our minds would explode. (See I Corinthians 2:9) #3 – I believe in order to achieve what God really wants for you then you will have to embrace both the uncomfortable and the unknown. (See Luke 9:23) #4 – I believe God is after your heart, not just your behavior…and quite possible the reason He’s not taking you to the next step is because your current step is for you to let go of the idol that He has been exposing in your life. (See Ezekiel 14:1-5) #5 – I believe whenever God asks us to give something up it is because He wants to replace it with something better. #6 – I believe that God’s plan for your life IS going to include an “oh my goodness” moment, one where you finally realize that implications of Hebrews 11:6. #7 – I believe that you can do exactly what God has equipped and empowered you to do. (See Philippians 4:13) #8 – I believe that if you are faithful with the little things He will entrust you with many. (See Luke 12:48) #9 – I believe you should ask yourself the question over and over again, what woulod I be willing to attempt for God, if I knew I could not fail and allow Him to develop a holy discontent in your life. (See Romans 4:17) #10 – I believe God uses ordinary people to accomplish extrordinary things. (See Acts 4:13) #11 – I believe that as your view of God increases…so will your level of obedience. (See Isaiah 6:1-8) #12 – I believe that true desperation for God, will bring revelation from Him…that He wants us to know more than we actually want to know. #13 – I believe when God sets your heart on fire with a desire that is from Him…you should not leave Him alone until you see that desire accomplished. (See Isaiah 62:6-7) (reference P. Noble)
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