Staying Spiritually Nourished

Galatians 5:7 ESV

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

There is a story about a foolish farmer that concluded one day that the oats he had been feeding his mule for years were simply costing him too much.  So the farmer began to mix a little saw dust in with the oats, and then a little the next day, and a little more the next day. The mule didn't notice the gradual change in the feed, but after time the oats were gone, replaced completely with saw dust. After eating nothing but saw the mule finally fell over and died.

This is a silly story but serves as a parable for those that have become back-sliders in their faith. As a Christian moves further and further away from God through un-repented sin and neglect, we know that our spiritual souls cannot survive on eating only spiritual sawdust.

We may well convince ourselves that a little sin and neglect won’t hurt too much, and a little less spiritual food won’t be missed. Then, over time the proportion of sawdust increases while our spiritual oats begin to disappear. Before long the change is complete, and our starved sawdust-stuffed spiritual life has collapsed.

Beloved, my prayer for you this day is that you continue to feed your spirit the food that it needs to stay healthy and that you stay well nourished in God’s Word and the Good News of Jesus Christ this day and every day.

This is the day that the Lord has made. 

The Fruits of the Spirit and The Christ Centered Life

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Yesterday we celebrated the day of Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit came down after Christ’s ascension to the Father, thus fulfilling Christ’s promise that we would not be left alone.  Yes, Christ’s promise was fulfilled and the church was born, but much more occurred with the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

In his book “How to be filled with the Holy Spirit” Bill Bright said the following: “To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with Christ. Therefore, if I am filled with the Spirit, I am abiding in Christ…And if I am controlled and empowered by Christ, He will be walking around in my body, living His resurrection life in and through me.” 

  

Beloved, as we go on after Pentecost we not only have been given the Fruits of the Spirit, we have truly been made the Body of Christ. As God’s united family in His body, we are called to live Christ-Centered lives in all that we do and say in this life.

My prayer for us as we proceed with this day is that we truly understand that we are not alone, and that Christ lives and dwells within us. May we come to this realization as we encounter others and make decisions in this world that God has provided for us.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Getting Ahead of Yourselves

Psalm 32:8 ESV

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Good morning brothers and sisters, how often have you been so busy thinking ahead of yourself that you make mistakes and forget about the present?

We live in a world in which everything comes with instructions and many of our careers are focused on completing goals. Often people can be so intent on completing the task that they fail to dedicate themselves to the present and the now.

Elizabeth S. Craig recently wrote on her blog page about what occurs when she goes to fast or gets ahead of herself when she is writing. When she gets ahead of herself it is due to the fact that she is already thinking about her next project, instead of the one that she is on. She tells us what occurs when we move to fast and get ahead of where we should be.

1.      We get overwhelmed and then immobilized by the big picture.

2.      We being setting expectations so high that we’re too eager and we take shortcuts with the task at hand.

For her, it’s most helpful to look at what she is doing each day. 

·         Work on that day’s goals instead of jumping ahead.  There’s definitely a time to set long-range goals and plan, but not at the risk of the task at hand getting completed correctly. She states that slow and steady wins the race.

My prayer for you this day is that you make God part of your planning and goal setting, when working on projects as well as planning your life. When we place God in the equation, He will keep us on task, on schedule and not three steps ahead ourselves.

Be slow and steady today my friends!

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Getting Our Spiritual Sight

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

There is a story about famous blind hymnist Fanny Crosby in which she was in a prayer meeting in which someone died. Fanny began to ponder the suddenness of death, and she asked herself what it would be like when she died, and what her first impression of heaven would be like? A moment later she answered her own question with a sudden insight: “Why my eyes will be opened and I will see my Savior face to face.”

Brothers and sisters as we go throughout this day and this week, let us be in prayer for those who are spiritually blinded and have not yet been given their spiritual eyesight as to see Jesus.

 May we be the Body of Christ that leads them to the Kingdom of God, in which we will all see the glory and the sight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face.

This is the day that the Lord has made

Pastor Tim

God's Mission and Vision for Your Life.

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Recently mission and vision statements have been on my mind in reference to who we are as a church, and what God is seeking of us to do in mission, ministry, and vision and love with and for His Kingdom.

Often many businesses and organizations attempt to place in a few defining words, who they are and what they are about. These statements attempt to get to the core of their main focus and purpose as well as their reason for being.

If groups delve in the question of identity and purpose, I began to wonder if individuals should have a mission statement and vision statement for their own individual lives.

The scripture from Jeremiah represents Jeremiah’s early call to office as a prophet, but it also discusses our identities as those that have been created and known by God. I like to call it “God’s Out of This World Plan” for our lives.

Beloved, God has already set forth our gifts, talents, and resources for our identities for mission and service. You were given these by God even before you were formed, and God’s plan and identity is set and waiting for you to discover and to share.

My prayer for you this week is that you will pray and work on God’s mission and vision for your life. Once you have gleaned God’s mission and vision for your life, may you share it with others as you share the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Our Commitment to Staying

Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV / 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Recently I read the following story. Several years ago I visited a man who had stopped attending our church. Joe was getting up there in years but was still in fairly good health. He greeted me at the door, but hesitated to let me in. “Joe” I explained through the screen, “we’ve missed you at church. Is there any problem that I should be aware of?”

“No” he replied. “I’m getting older and I’m having some trouble getting around. It is just too difficult for me to make it to church anymore.”  “I’m sorry to hear that. There are a lot of steps here and at the church. I know you don’t have a car; and it’s a good mile from here to the church. Is there any way that we can help?”

“I don’t know who I would ask for a ride.” He said, and I detected the implication: And I don’t want you to arrange one either. “How about if I visit you regularly as a shut-in, instead? I could come to your house each month with communion and a tape recording of one of the services for you to listen to at your convenience. How would you like that?”

Joe's face dropped suddenly, and his eyes averted mine. “That wouldn't work out because I’m gone so much. You’d seldom find me at home.”

Brothers and Sisters, we often find ways to walk away from things while often creating ways to go in other directions.  My prayer for you this week is that instead of finding ways to walk away from God and others, you will re-commit yourselves to your relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Remember, when you walk away, God will remain right where you left him.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Following in Loyalty

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Ruth: 1:16

Hitler imprisoned a German pastor, Martin Niemoeller, for eight years. He spent some time in prisons and concentration camps, including Dachau. Hitler realized that if Niemoeller, a First World War hero, could be persuaded to join his cause then much opposition would collapse, so he sent a former friend of Niemoeller to visit him, a friend who now supported the Nazis. Seeing Niemoeller in his cell, the one time friend is reported as saying, "Martin, Martin! Why are you here?" To which he received from Niemoeller the response, "My friend! Why are you not here?" 

Brothers and Sisters, Pastor Niemoeller refused to stray from his convictions as a follower and witness of Jesus Christ. Another story of loyalty resides in the Book of Ruth when Naomi was leaving Moab and going back to Judah. We see that Naomi released Ruth and Oprah from loyalty, as Oprah returned home Ruth fell at the knees of Naomi and begged to go to Judah with her. Yes, we see stories of loyalty to others as well as loyalty to God in the form of Ruth and Pastor Niemoeller.

Brothers and Sisters, my prayer for you this day is that as followers of Christ, you will stay true to your convictions. Witness to others as the Body of Christ, and go in the knowledge that the path of Christ is the path that will always lead you home. Don’t stray from God's path but stay true to the one who paid our eternal debt.

This is the day that the Lord has made.