What is Reality?

John 16:13 ESV 

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Recently a couple of comments made by my children got me to thinking about reality and what is truly real. One day my son who is a law enforcement officer on a University Campus stated that he didn't feel like the "real' police. And one day my youngest son who suffers from Autism spoke about his post high school education at a state run training school. As we drove through the campus of the University of Kentucky, he stated: "I wish I had gone to a real college like this"!

Beloved, how often do we think of who we are and what we do as being inadequate, at least in the world that we live?

My friends, each and every one of us is given a clear path to walk by God, and we are guided on that path by the Holy Spirit. 

My advice for my sons is that what you are doing and what you have done, truly is making a difference. When we do things in love of God, we call that ministry, and when we do things in ministry, they are truly real.

This does not mean that we should stop wishing and hoping and dreaming for better and bigger things, but it does mean that we can be and should be happy about the amazing things that God has done in our lives already.

The true reality of our existence is that God created us, God loves us so much that he gave His Son to die for us, and that Jesus is coming back. Until that time God has given us the Holy Spirit to walk with us step by step and to guide us along our way. 

Beloved this is the true reality that we can trust and it is the true reality that we can trust with our past, present and future.   

Be well in the reality, truth, and promise of God, this day and always.

Pastor Tim. 

Tim's Topics: Five More Minutes Could Be Too Late.

Tim's Topics: Five More Minutes Could Be Too Late.: Hebrews 9:28 So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to sav...

Praying for our leaders.

http://carrolltonchristianchurch.com/c/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160918_0138.mp3

Pastor Tim's Message 9-18-16

Praying For Our Leaders.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

(Click on the above link)

Tim's Topics: How an Effective Shepherd Should Act

Tim's Topics: How an Effective Shepherd Should Act: Jeremiah 3:15   ESV  “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Recen...

How an Effective Shepherd Should Act

Jeremiah 3:15 ESV 

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Recently I saw an article that stated that churches do not like "Cocky" preachers. As I looked up the definition of  "Cocky", I noticed the definition in the dictionary states it to be self-assertive and self confident.

As we enter the era of everyone becoming a church pastor and church growth professional, I am sure that we will see an article next week that states churches do not like "Timid" preachers. The dictionary states that being "Timid" is to be one that lacks self confidence and one that is fearful and shy.

As we think of pastors and shepherds of a flock, would you prefer the Cocky or the Timid pastor as to lead congregations in the Word? Would you prefer a Cocky Pastor or a Timid pastor to guide God's people that God has entrusted to them?

In a perfect world which of course can only be of God, we would like a pastor who is somewhere in between, someone that is liked by everybody. But this is an imperfect world full of imperfect that thanks be to God serve a perfect God and a perfect Savior.

In a recent online storyline blog.com article lists the Top Ten Reasons Pastors Are Important:

1. They lead social movements that change the world.

2. They speak truths that create guardrails to keep us out of danger and stop us from hurting each other.

3. They introduce us and remind us about God, who redeems us and guides us in love.

4. They model good marriages and families (Your mind may have gone to an exception, but quickly list five who do. It’s an easy list to create.)

5. They bring people together to live and work in community.

6. They counsel hurting and broken people.

7. They bring the presence of God into the most dark and painful circumstances.

8. Most of them could be making lots more money doing something else, but they sacrifice to build God’s kingdom.

9. They put up with our crap.

10. Because without them the world would be unimaginably dark.

Would you rather have an Over Confident (Cocky) pastor or a Luke Warm (Timid) pastor? The choice is yours. Be bold my friends.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Pastor Tim.

http://storylineblog.com/2010/03/31/ten-reasons-pastors-are-important/

Tim's Topics: Seeking God's Password

Tim's Topics: Seeking God's Password: Jeremiah 33:3   ESV. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Recently I up...

Seeking God's Password

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Recently I upgraded the Windows program on my home computer, as well as completing the required program upgrade on my I-Phone. When all was said and done I found that all of my programs required me to remember my password before I could re-enter them.

Often when I set up a password I always say to myself that I will remember the password, then when it comes time to remember the password I can never remember it.

Could you imagine if we were required to have passwords, secret codes, or handshakes to get to God? Beloved, He created us and new us before we were born and He even knows when we will die. Everything that God has done and will do for us was and is done out of relationship.

The Father makes it easy for us to find him, because he has never left us and will never leave us. The text from Jeremiah was written for those in captivity and was written to give them peace in the fact that God had not left them. God said reach out to me in prayer and I will hear you.

The same goes for us today that may feel captive to something or someone. God says that there is no code, no password, just reach out to me in prayer and I will here you. 

My prayer for you today is that you will seek out the Father for comfort just as the early Hebrews did. 

God listens, God hears, and God responds. No password needed.

If only it was that easy to remember my computer passwords =)

This is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Pastor Tim.