Friday, August 27, 2010
Something to think about.
“The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.”
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday August 29th
More Than Conquerors!
John Piper answers the question, “Does God want me to be happy?” in such a profound way I want to share it with you in this “Pastor’s Corner”. I can’t give all of his answer, but here’s the gist of it: “Chronic illness, difficult marriages, losing a child—doesn't God want me to be happy? God definitely wants you to be happy long-term and infinitely, and deeply now in and through those circumstances...[In Romans 8:35-36] you've got persecution and murder of Christians. And then [Paul] says, "No. In"—In—"all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." What I think "more than conquerors" means for your happiness is that a conqueror has his enemies lying subdued at his feet. You've got distress, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, persecution, and there they are, conquered at my feet. More than conquerors means they're not just at my feet. They are serving me. They're not just in chains in prison. They are serving me. My persecution, my famine, my nakedness, my loss—as painful and as tearful as they are—are my servants. God works them all together for my good...So yes, God wants you happy. But he doesn't do it with circumstance. He does it with himself. He does it with the gospel. And he does it in and through circumstances. This is a call for faith—huge faith—that God is good, God is for us, and God is using all these things for our deep happiness now and our perfect, unsullied happiness forever in the age to come.” I hope that encourages you as it did me.
Pastor Don.
More Than Conquerors!
John Piper answers the question, “Does God want me to be happy?” in such a profound way I want to share it with you in this “Pastor’s Corner”. I can’t give all of his answer, but here’s the gist of it: “Chronic illness, difficult marriages, losing a child—doesn't God want me to be happy? God definitely wants you to be happy long-term and infinitely, and deeply now in and through those circumstances...[In Romans 8:35-36] you've got persecution and murder of Christians. And then [Paul] says, "No. In"—In—"all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." What I think "more than conquerors" means for your happiness is that a conqueror has his enemies lying subdued at his feet. You've got distress, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, persecution, and there they are, conquered at my feet. More than conquerors means they're not just at my feet. They are serving me. They're not just in chains in prison. They are serving me. My persecution, my famine, my nakedness, my loss—as painful and as tearful as they are—are my servants. God works them all together for my good...So yes, God wants you happy. But he doesn't do it with circumstance. He does it with himself. He does it with the gospel. And he does it in and through circumstances. This is a call for faith—huge faith—that God is good, God is for us, and God is using all these things for our deep happiness now and our perfect, unsullied happiness forever in the age to come.” I hope that encourages you as it did me.
Pastor Don.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Something to think about.
He that will not forgive destroys the bridge over which he must one day cross.
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Aug. 8th
Praising God in EVERYTHING.
The apostle Paul gives an interesting directive to us: “Give thanks in everything.” Everything? How is that possible? Is that what he really meant? Yes Paul did mean everything and this is why. It’s easy to praise God when we are winning; when things are going well. Praising God in the tough times is much harder and is a true expression of faith. If we only praise God when we win, we’re not praising God for WHO HE IS but for what He gives us! And, that is not worship. Worship is when I acknowledge that HE is God and I am not. Worshipping God is accepting whatever comes from His hand and thanking Him for it, believing that this is good for me. The world is not impressed when we thank God for riches but they do take notice when we suffer and give thanks to God.
When your day is going bad remember “this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Worship is a faith choice. I worship Him because He is worthy and my bad day doesn’t change that fact. So praise Him in spite of where you are in your life for He is worthy!
Pastor Don.
Praising God in EVERYTHING.
The apostle Paul gives an interesting directive to us: “Give thanks in everything.” Everything? How is that possible? Is that what he really meant? Yes Paul did mean everything and this is why. It’s easy to praise God when we are winning; when things are going well. Praising God in the tough times is much harder and is a true expression of faith. If we only praise God when we win, we’re not praising God for WHO HE IS but for what He gives us! And, that is not worship. Worship is when I acknowledge that HE is God and I am not. Worshipping God is accepting whatever comes from His hand and thanking Him for it, believing that this is good for me. The world is not impressed when we thank God for riches but they do take notice when we suffer and give thanks to God.
When your day is going bad remember “this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Worship is a faith choice. I worship Him because He is worthy and my bad day doesn’t change that fact. So praise Him in spite of where you are in your life for He is worthy!
Pastor Don.
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