Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Something To Think About
In Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan the Levite asked, 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But the Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'" (Dr. Martin Luther King from the Mountaintop sermon)
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday October 4th
God is never late
Jesus’ friend Lazarus was very sick and so Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus hoping that He would come and heal Lazarus. By the time Jesus did arrive Lazarus had died and had been buried four days earlier. Martha was disappointed that Jesus had arrived so late, in fact in her mind He had arrived TOO late. Lazarus was dead and his body had already started to decay, what could Jesus do now?! Jesus simply raised Lazarus from the dead! Have you ever has a situation develop where you thought, “What can Jesus do now? I’m already late with the rent” or, “I have no money, no way of earning more and I need food today!” We are at the end of OUR resources but God is only getting started. Too often we feel like Martha did, that Jesus is simply TOO LATE! But, when we get to the end of our resources that’s where we find God. Not only has God got the power to do mighty things but I’m always amazed at the creative ways in which He works those miracles. He feeds Elijah with ravens; he parts the Red Sea for Moses; sends manna from the sky to feed His people in the desert for forty years! He sends an angel to free Peter from jail. We could go on and on. So when you are in a tight spot look with anticipation for God’s provision. He’s never too late and He is never out of creative ways to do it either. As Moses told the people of Israel, “Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today.” Stand back and watch Him work!
Pastor Don.
God is never late
Jesus’ friend Lazarus was very sick and so Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus hoping that He would come and heal Lazarus. By the time Jesus did arrive Lazarus had died and had been buried four days earlier. Martha was disappointed that Jesus had arrived so late, in fact in her mind He had arrived TOO late. Lazarus was dead and his body had already started to decay, what could Jesus do now?! Jesus simply raised Lazarus from the dead! Have you ever has a situation develop where you thought, “What can Jesus do now? I’m already late with the rent” or, “I have no money, no way of earning more and I need food today!” We are at the end of OUR resources but God is only getting started. Too often we feel like Martha did, that Jesus is simply TOO LATE! But, when we get to the end of our resources that’s where we find God. Not only has God got the power to do mighty things but I’m always amazed at the creative ways in which He works those miracles. He feeds Elijah with ravens; he parts the Red Sea for Moses; sends manna from the sky to feed His people in the desert for forty years! He sends an angel to free Peter from jail. We could go on and on. So when you are in a tight spot look with anticipation for God’s provision. He’s never too late and He is never out of creative ways to do it either. As Moses told the people of Israel, “Don’t be afraid! Stand your ground, and you will see what the LORD will do to save you today.” Stand back and watch Him work!
Pastor Don.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Something to Think About
“There's only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that's not learning from experience” Archibald MacLeish
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Sept. 27th
“Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Prov. 16:24) Kindness and kind words are sweet and healthy for our body. Both in receiving kindness and in showing kindness. Research has shown that a simple act of kindness directed towards another improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates the production of serotonin in both the recipient of kindness and the person extending kindness. Even more amazing is that persons observing the act of kindness have similar beneficial results. Those of us whom God has saved have experienced God rich kindness and mercy, we then need to reach out in kindness and compassion to others, we need to be looking for ways that we can affirm people, to build them up, to remind them that they have value because they are created in the image of God! There is so much in life that presses down on us; that questions our worth and value, a single act of kindness or kind words can make a world of difference in someone’s life. Your kindness and kind words may not change their lives but it will certainly change their day, and it will make your day better too. (Then again, maybe it will change their life.)
Pastor Don.
“Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Prov. 16:24) Kindness and kind words are sweet and healthy for our body. Both in receiving kindness and in showing kindness. Research has shown that a simple act of kindness directed towards another improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates the production of serotonin in both the recipient of kindness and the person extending kindness. Even more amazing is that persons observing the act of kindness have similar beneficial results. Those of us whom God has saved have experienced God rich kindness and mercy, we then need to reach out in kindness and compassion to others, we need to be looking for ways that we can affirm people, to build them up, to remind them that they have value because they are created in the image of God! There is so much in life that presses down on us; that questions our worth and value, a single act of kindness or kind words can make a world of difference in someone’s life. Your kindness and kind words may not change their lives but it will certainly change their day, and it will make your day better too. (Then again, maybe it will change their life.)
Pastor Don.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday 20 September
God’s Changes in God’s Time.
If you’ve owned a house or own a house you know that maintenance is an ongoing dynamic. And, if you’ve ever lived in your house while some extensive remodeling is being done you will have experienced some inconvenience to say the least. But you grit your teeth and work around it because you know that the result will be worth the inconvenience and you also know that worthwhile changes don’t happen overnight. Perhaps you live in an old house you have wanted a newer house so that there won’t be as much to fix, but you know that ALL houses, new and old, have to be maintained.
Our lives are like that too. New Christian or old we need constant maintenance, no one gets to a place where they no longer need change, in fact ALL of us need such major remodeling that it will take the rest of our lives to finish. When it comes to our houses we know and expect to have to do changes and ongoing maintenance. Yet when we come to our lives we’re impatient with how long it takes to change; and of course, we hate the inconvenience that change brings. Here’s a verse that may help us keep our perspective, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:16-18.) Remember that God is remodeling you to look like Jesus; the result will be worth the wait and the inconvenience, I promise.
Pastor Don.
God’s Changes in God’s Time.
If you’ve owned a house or own a house you know that maintenance is an ongoing dynamic. And, if you’ve ever lived in your house while some extensive remodeling is being done you will have experienced some inconvenience to say the least. But you grit your teeth and work around it because you know that the result will be worth the inconvenience and you also know that worthwhile changes don’t happen overnight. Perhaps you live in an old house you have wanted a newer house so that there won’t be as much to fix, but you know that ALL houses, new and old, have to be maintained.
Our lives are like that too. New Christian or old we need constant maintenance, no one gets to a place where they no longer need change, in fact ALL of us need such major remodeling that it will take the rest of our lives to finish. When it comes to our houses we know and expect to have to do changes and ongoing maintenance. Yet when we come to our lives we’re impatient with how long it takes to change; and of course, we hate the inconvenience that change brings. Here’s a verse that may help us keep our perspective, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:16-18.) Remember that God is remodeling you to look like Jesus; the result will be worth the wait and the inconvenience, I promise.
Pastor Don.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday 6th September
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” (Psa. 37:7)
In the movie “Star wars” the recurring theme for Anakin is, “Wait”. He is encouraged over and over to wait for time and maturity to make him the master Jedi he aspires to be. But Anakin does not want to wait which causes him to make bad choices which in turn lead him down a path of self destruction. But Anakin is not the only one who struggles with “waiting”. The bible often exhorts us, like the verse above, to “Wait upon the Lord”. This is a recurring theme in the bible, but how often do we listen? We convince ourselves that we must have this now which leads to bad choices and then we find ourselves in a relationship that doesn’t work; or with debt that is causes huge stress in our lives and marriages; etc. God knows that this is a struggle for us and so He frequently tells us to “wait for Him”. So, it boils down to trust, doesn’t it? Do I really believe that God will supply, not only my needs but also the “desires of my heart”? (Psa 37:4) When I become convinced that God has my best interests at heart then I “wait patiently for Him”. I’m not in a hurry to get married; get another job; buy that “once-in-a-life-time” bargain; get that new car, house, etc – because He will supply my need “in time, on time, every time”. So, relax and wait upon the Lord. His timing is always perfect.
Pastor Don.
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” (Psa. 37:7)
In the movie “Star wars” the recurring theme for Anakin is, “Wait”. He is encouraged over and over to wait for time and maturity to make him the master Jedi he aspires to be. But Anakin does not want to wait which causes him to make bad choices which in turn lead him down a path of self destruction. But Anakin is not the only one who struggles with “waiting”. The bible often exhorts us, like the verse above, to “Wait upon the Lord”. This is a recurring theme in the bible, but how often do we listen? We convince ourselves that we must have this now which leads to bad choices and then we find ourselves in a relationship that doesn’t work; or with debt that is causes huge stress in our lives and marriages; etc. God knows that this is a struggle for us and so He frequently tells us to “wait for Him”. So, it boils down to trust, doesn’t it? Do I really believe that God will supply, not only my needs but also the “desires of my heart”? (Psa 37:4) When I become convinced that God has my best interests at heart then I “wait patiently for Him”. I’m not in a hurry to get married; get another job; buy that “once-in-a-life-time” bargain; get that new car, house, etc – because He will supply my need “in time, on time, every time”. So, relax and wait upon the Lord. His timing is always perfect.
Pastor Don.
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