Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Something to think about.
“Everyone loves praise. So look hard for ways to give it to them.” (Life’s Little Instruction Book”
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Nov. 1st
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
According to the Jewish custom at the time of Jesus, when a man and woman wanted to marry there was a certain protocol they had to go through before they lived together. The bridegroom would return to his father’s home and build new rooms onto it so that he could bring his young bride home. This betrothal typically lasted a year, giving the man time to build a home for himself and his bride and for the young girl to prepare herself for marriage. However, the young man could only bring his bride home when his father declared that the building was complete. Once his father approved of the dwelling he could then go and get his bride and bring her home. Perhaps this is the picture Jesus had in mind when He said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2—3). This word-picture presented Jesus as a bridegroom, preparing new rooms for his bride in His Father’s house. Perhaps too, when Jesus describes his second coming He’s referring to this tradition of a young bridegroom, waiting for his father’s approval to return for his bride: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36). Imagine the bride’s anticipation as she waited for her groom to come and take her to their new home. She wouldn’t know when her groom was coming, just that he would come as soon as their home was ready. Wouldn’t she be thinking, “Hurry and finish preparing our home so we can be together.”? As for me I can’t wait!
Pastor Don.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
According to the Jewish custom at the time of Jesus, when a man and woman wanted to marry there was a certain protocol they had to go through before they lived together. The bridegroom would return to his father’s home and build new rooms onto it so that he could bring his young bride home. This betrothal typically lasted a year, giving the man time to build a home for himself and his bride and for the young girl to prepare herself for marriage. However, the young man could only bring his bride home when his father declared that the building was complete. Once his father approved of the dwelling he could then go and get his bride and bring her home. Perhaps this is the picture Jesus had in mind when He said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2—3). This word-picture presented Jesus as a bridegroom, preparing new rooms for his bride in His Father’s house. Perhaps too, when Jesus describes his second coming He’s referring to this tradition of a young bridegroom, waiting for his father’s approval to return for his bride: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36). Imagine the bride’s anticipation as she waited for her groom to come and take her to their new home. She wouldn’t know when her groom was coming, just that he would come as soon as their home was ready. Wouldn’t she be thinking, “Hurry and finish preparing our home so we can be together.”? As for me I can’t wait!
Pastor Don.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Something to think about.
"Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
Robert L. Stevenson
Robert L. Stevenson
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday October 25
“…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) If you’ve ever taken a hard honest look at yourself you may have wondered if you are really saved. Sometimes the slow progress we’re making is discouraging; it may seem like you take one step forward and two steps back. This scripture is a promise from God that He will finish what He started. This work of grace in your heart is something that HE began and since He started it He will finish it! God always finishes what He starts. The Christian life is often referred to as a race, but it’s not a race that you win by being first. It’s not important to get there first it’s only important that you finish! And God has made the commitment to you that He will make sure that you cross the finish line. Why would He do that? Because it brings glory to Him. Knowing this gives us the confidence to live boldly for God. Boldness to live out each day without fear that something may happen to me or that I will do something wrong that will rob me of my destiny. Everything that happens in your life God is using to bring you to glory. God will finish what He has started - now, isn't that good news?!
Pastor Don
“…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) If you’ve ever taken a hard honest look at yourself you may have wondered if you are really saved. Sometimes the slow progress we’re making is discouraging; it may seem like you take one step forward and two steps back. This scripture is a promise from God that He will finish what He started. This work of grace in your heart is something that HE began and since He started it He will finish it! God always finishes what He starts. The Christian life is often referred to as a race, but it’s not a race that you win by being first. It’s not important to get there first it’s only important that you finish! And God has made the commitment to you that He will make sure that you cross the finish line. Why would He do that? Because it brings glory to Him. Knowing this gives us the confidence to live boldly for God. Boldness to live out each day without fear that something may happen to me or that I will do something wrong that will rob me of my destiny. Everything that happens in your life God is using to bring you to glory. God will finish what He has started - now, isn't that good news?!
Pastor Don
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Something to think about.
“Don’t confuse comfort with happiness and don’t confuse wealth with success.” (Life’s Little Instruction Book. Vol. II)
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday October 18th
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”(Phil. 4:6-9) The apostle Paul gives us several key elements in building our relationship with God. First: pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that he has done. Second: fill your mind with things that are honorable, true and right. Don’t let the lies of the devil control your thought life. Truth about God; truth about His promises; truth about the right way to live your life, these are the things we should be thinking about. And thirdly: practice all that you have learned. You have to get out there and put all this into action. Action means we are convinced in the truthfulness of God’s claims and promises, if we don’t do it we don’t really believe it. Action pulls it all together. A cord of three strands is hard to break, a relationship with God that is characterized by prayer, meditation and action will be strong and unbreakable. Read those verses again, they really are worth thinking about.
Pastor Don.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”(Phil. 4:6-9) The apostle Paul gives us several key elements in building our relationship with God. First: pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that he has done. Second: fill your mind with things that are honorable, true and right. Don’t let the lies of the devil control your thought life. Truth about God; truth about His promises; truth about the right way to live your life, these are the things we should be thinking about. And thirdly: practice all that you have learned. You have to get out there and put all this into action. Action means we are convinced in the truthfulness of God’s claims and promises, if we don’t do it we don’t really believe it. Action pulls it all together. A cord of three strands is hard to break, a relationship with God that is characterized by prayer, meditation and action will be strong and unbreakable. Read those verses again, they really are worth thinking about.
Pastor Don.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Something to Think About
"You can measure a man by the size of the thing that discourages him." - Winston Churchill"
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday October 11th
Life is most difficult when God’s promises seem incompatible with my reality.
Abraham and Sarah were promised a son when they were both past that age of being able to have children. David was anointed king and then was hunted like a fugitive by King Saul. Israel was promised a land of their own but they were slaves in Egypt.
Often we experience the same thing. Our reality seems to make God’s promises impossible. For example, God has promised that He will take care of all our needs yet there is a LOT of month at the end of the money! We just don’t know how we’re going to make it. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us yet my marriage is falling apart; or the kids are out of control; or my job is totally draining emotionally and God just doesn’t seem near at all! We’re tired and frustrated and we just want out, so we quit our jobs for bigger money and better benefits; or we get divorced because we’re tired, angry, bored and unhappy. No, it’s not easy when God’s promises seem incompatible with the reality of my life. This is why the bible encourages us over and over to stand firm on the promises of God in spite of the storm the rages around you. Focus on God not the storm; believe in Him not the apparent “reality” of your life. Despite the seemingly impossibility of Abraham, David and Israel’s situation mentioned above, God’s promises did come true. Don’t run from the struggle God intends for your good because, God’s greatest blessings arrive after we have struggled through the uncertain misery of today.
Pastor Don.
Life is most difficult when God’s promises seem incompatible with my reality.
Abraham and Sarah were promised a son when they were both past that age of being able to have children. David was anointed king and then was hunted like a fugitive by King Saul. Israel was promised a land of their own but they were slaves in Egypt.
Often we experience the same thing. Our reality seems to make God’s promises impossible. For example, God has promised that He will take care of all our needs yet there is a LOT of month at the end of the money! We just don’t know how we’re going to make it. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us yet my marriage is falling apart; or the kids are out of control; or my job is totally draining emotionally and God just doesn’t seem near at all! We’re tired and frustrated and we just want out, so we quit our jobs for bigger money and better benefits; or we get divorced because we’re tired, angry, bored and unhappy. No, it’s not easy when God’s promises seem incompatible with the reality of my life. This is why the bible encourages us over and over to stand firm on the promises of God in spite of the storm the rages around you. Focus on God not the storm; believe in Him not the apparent “reality” of your life. Despite the seemingly impossibility of Abraham, David and Israel’s situation mentioned above, God’s promises did come true. Don’t run from the struggle God intends for your good because, God’s greatest blessings arrive after we have struggled through the uncertain misery of today.
Pastor Don.
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