Raising Children and Building Memories

Deuteronomy 6:7

English Standard Version (ESV)

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

As I had an opportunity to reminisce this weekend on my children, I think of when they were infants as well as now when they are young men. Where did the time go? Where did the young boys voices and mannerisms go? Yes, time flies when our children are growing

We as parents have a limited time to teach and share events with our children. Our children are young one moment and off leading their own lives the next. Brothers and Sisters, as parents, God has given us the responsibility of stewarding in the raising of the children He has blessed us with.

My prayer for you this day is that you won't take times with your children for granted and that you take every opportunity to be with them, teach them, love them. As you raise and nurture your children,build and make memories, make sure that they know about the love of Jesus Christ, the love that will never let them go.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Clearing Away Adversity

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV / 315 helpful votes

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

As I sit here today on this snow day working at home and looking out the window, you would imagine I would be thinking about all the bad things about snow days. Many of us may feel stuck at home as well as knowing that this day adds another school day to our children's calendars. We may be thinking about the snow that we have to clear off of our driveways and our vehicles.

My thoughts today go to the positive in the fact that God has given us this day to do great things for His kingdom. Have you called to check on the home bound, the elderly, those in need? Have you prayed for those that have no choice but to be out in this weather, such as your street department, your mail folks, your emergency service providers, and caregivers?

Brothers and Sisters, the adversity that we believe we are facing is truly a way to dig deep and do God's work for His creation. Today is a day to think out of the box, today is a day to be God's radical thinking creation.

Bake some cookies for your neighbors, write that letter of encouragement that you have been wanting to send, read that scripture passage that you have been wanting to read, and finally as you are home with your loved ones take the opportunity to tell them you love them.

Beloved, every day is the possibility of affliction, but remember that every day is an opportunity to overcome that affliction by serving God and serving others. My prayer for you this day is that you look at all the snow and ice and thank God for another opportunity to serve Him and others as the Body of Christ.

This is the day that the Lord has made.  

Throwing Dirt in a Hole!

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 500 helpful votes

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

There was a story about two men that went out two work on a problem underground, and they had to dig a hole as to get at the wiring.  As one man dug the hole, the other sat on the ground and watched and occasionally threw dirt back into the hole as the other continued to dig.

Needless to say, nothing was getting accomplished  and the job was at a standstill. 

Brothers and Sisters how often in our lives do we throw dirt in the hole of someones dream, just as they are making progress with the vision, ministry, and task at hand? Our text from Proverbs tells us that iron sharpens iron and we sharpen each other. 

True goals for life and ministry cannot truly get accomplished if we constantly are covering up the holes of our dreams, as well as God's calling for ministry and grace to those that he has us come into contact with.

My prayer for you this day is that you help others in their visions and God's calling for their lives. When we do this we sharpen one another and make a fine edged tool for God. Likewise, when we gather as God's people and God's team, great things are accomplished and we are never left staring at a hole that never gets dug.

By the way, this is a true story =)

This is the day that the Lord has made

Too Much of A Good Thing!

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Proverbs 25:16 ESV

When I was a small boy I had a favorite cereal, and on one occasion I had one too many bowls at a sitting and found myself sick. From that day on, the taste of that cereal was never the same, I had partaken too much of a good thing.

Recently I have encountered e-bay and found it to be a great place to find things that I collect, but as I purchase things on e-bay and discover the good things on it, I have discovered that it comes with a cost. When I see the things that I have purchased, I have realized that this could become an addiction if not conducted in a healthy balance. For me (at least) e-bay can be too much of a good thing. This is why I'm thankful to a wife that keeps my purchases in "check" and our checkbook healthy.

The text this morning from proverbs tells us that we only partake of good things enough to sustain us, because partaking too much will make us sick? Yes, like everything that we do in our lives, a healthy balance is the key to enjoying life's treasures without going overboard.

What in your life needs a healthy balance? How much of a good thing is to much? Moderation is the key to life in the partaking of what this world has to offer, because too much will leave a bad taste in our mouths and will eventually turn our likes to dislikes. 

The one type of honey that we can partake in unlimited portions is the goodness of the gospels. Brothers and Sisters my prayer for you this day is that when you are seeking to partake on unlimited portions, dive in to the fullness and love of God 

(I Cor 12:31)! Choose good honey. O Lord, fill me with your Spirit, until I am filled to overflowing, and then give me a little more.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Was It Worth It?

Was It Worth It?

Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Recently I saw the movie The Monuments Men that portrays the true story of a group of soldiers that are tasked to find art and national treasures being stolen during World War II. In the movie the character portrayed by George Clooney was asked if the sacrifice of the men in this task was worth it, and if in thirty years the sacrifice would be remembered? 

As you go forward in your daily ministry and mission, how often do you look for a return for your sacrifice and how often do you ask yourself: "Was it worth it"?  

• How often do you sacrifice in our best and most significant labors in ministry, and then feel depressed when you receive diminished returns?

Brothers and Sisters, the true meaning of sacrifice that Hebrews 13:16 is speaking of are tasks done for others out of love and with a loving heart. The sacrifices made by you out of love are truly not about your returns and what makes you feel good, but rather that God embraces your loving witness and is very pleased by your loving heart in witness to others.

So the answer is not whether the sacrifice is remembered or embraced by humanity? The answer is that God will remember your sacrifice and will place your actions, deeds, and sacrifices into His Master Plan for His creation.

My prayer for you this day is that you go out in the knowledge that your sacrifices of love may not supply you the returns that you require, but rather the fact is that what you do in love and sacrifice is always good and acceptable to God.

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Pastor Tim.

Memories Like the Corner of My Mind

Philippians 1:3-5 ESV 

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

As many people watched the Superbowl for the new commercials that speak to the future, I did something different. Recently I have been enjoying old-time radio programs from the early days of radio. The programs and the commercials make my mind travel to a time when times were simpler. Notice I didn't say life was easier, but the memories of these times carry my mind away to places that I prefer my mind to go to. Yes, memories are important even the not so happy ones, because they help us to focus on the strengths that helped us to overcome the painful event. Recently my mind has been going back to memories of my late father who passed away in July of last year. Memories of dad have been even coming back to me in my dreams, and when I have communicated this to my mother she told me the following,"Seeing your father in your dreams is a way of knowing that he is always with you". 

For those of us that embrace Jesus Christ, I believe the same can be said that our thoughts of Christ are His way of letting us know that He is always with us. Through our shared memories of our fellow followers of Christ, we are to acknowledge that the Body of Christ is ever present in our lives in the past, present and in the future.

My prayer for you this day is that you will look back to your memories. May you bask in the memories of God and His people that were with you in times of joy, as well as through times of sadness and distress. 

"The Way We Were"

Mem'ries,
Light the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? Could we?
Mem'ries, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were...

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim

Not Knowing the Music

Isaiah 46:4

English Standard Version (ESV)

even to your old age I am he  and to gray hairs I will carry you I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Last night I tried to watch the Grammy Awards and as I watched the performers, I didn't recognize anybody but the Beatles. Most of the music I didn't understand and some of it I found to be distasteful in the lyrics as well as the image the music and performer attempted to portray.

As I approach my fiftieth year of life I wonder if I have grown to old to accept new things, and if I have become that old person that I made fun of in my younger days?  In my younger days I considered fifty to be old, but as I approach it I consider it to be young.

For those of us that are growing older, do we find it harder to accept new things and do we find ourselves lost in our own generational space? The answer to this question at least for myself is maybe, but it also brings me to the knowledge that the Lord was with be in my youthfulness and still stands with me in my middle age as well as my future years.

Beloved, as we were born with God, crawled with God, walked with God, and will be carried by God, we will have God with us all the days of our lives. Additionally, because of Christ Jesus we will have this relationship for an eternity that will never grow old and will be as fresh as the day when we were born. 

My prayer for all of us as we grow older and feel left behind or passed over by modern society, is in the understanding that God is with us always. As the music changes, as the world changes, the love of Christ Jesus for His people and his Word has not changed nor will it ever change.



Blessings and Peace
Pastor Tim