Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Something to think about.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10) God won’t give you big things to do until you learn to do the small things.
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday October 2nd
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psa. 119:11) “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds” (Deut. 11:18). The heart is who you are and this is what God loves and so He would have your heart full of His word and therefore full of Him. How does God’s word become hidden in our hearts? I hear the word and understand it. I then reflect upon it and meditate upon it. But at this point it’s not in the heart; it’s only in the mind. Only when in faith I believe what I’ve heard and surrender to it does it become hidden in my heart. With His word filling your heart He will greatly bless your life because “His word won’t return to Him empty”. God’s word is seed and seed must have time and stay in the ground in order for it to grow. So God’s word must be carried in the heart and with time fruit will grow. Read again the verses at the beginning and hear them as God’s word to you. Continue reading His word every day, God has promised to make His word a blessing in your heart and He will make His word living and powerful in you.
Pastor Don (Adapted from an article by Andrew Murray)
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psa. 119:11) “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds” (Deut. 11:18). The heart is who you are and this is what God loves and so He would have your heart full of His word and therefore full of Him. How does God’s word become hidden in our hearts? I hear the word and understand it. I then reflect upon it and meditate upon it. But at this point it’s not in the heart; it’s only in the mind. Only when in faith I believe what I’ve heard and surrender to it does it become hidden in my heart. With His word filling your heart He will greatly bless your life because “His word won’t return to Him empty”. God’s word is seed and seed must have time and stay in the ground in order for it to grow. So God’s word must be carried in the heart and with time fruit will grow. Read again the verses at the beginning and hear them as God’s word to you. Continue reading His word every day, God has promised to make His word a blessing in your heart and He will make His word living and powerful in you.
Pastor Don (Adapted from an article by Andrew Murray)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Something to think about.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Albert Einstein
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Sept. 26th
Jesus told his disciples, “Be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down.” I suppose there are many things that can “weigh” upon our hearts, but perhaps the most common is the “baggage” we carry around with us. Those “blunders” we’ve made in the past that remind us that perhaps today would be different if we hadn’t messed up yesterday. But, no matter how many times we consider our issues, we’re never going to have a better past. Jesus wants us to remember that He has set us free from our past, that we are a NEW creation! Our sins are FORGIVEN! This is the reality that we must live in TODAY! And let this reality fill your heart with joy. Leave your past in the past and remember every day is a new day and God’s mercies are new every morning! Remember, it’s just too hard to laugh with your head down.
Pastor Don.
Jesus told his disciples, “Be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down.” I suppose there are many things that can “weigh” upon our hearts, but perhaps the most common is the “baggage” we carry around with us. Those “blunders” we’ve made in the past that remind us that perhaps today would be different if we hadn’t messed up yesterday. But, no matter how many times we consider our issues, we’re never going to have a better past. Jesus wants us to remember that He has set us free from our past, that we are a NEW creation! Our sins are FORGIVEN! This is the reality that we must live in TODAY! And let this reality fill your heart with joy. Leave your past in the past and remember every day is a new day and God’s mercies are new every morning! Remember, it’s just too hard to laugh with your head down.
Pastor Don.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Something to think about.
“It’s impossible to get out of a problem by using the same kind of thinking that it took to get into the problem.” Albert Einstein
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Sept 19th
Look to Jesus and Live!
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-16) The occasion mentioned here is when the children of Israel sinned against God by complaining and grumbling and as a punishment God sent snakes into the camp. The people repented and cried out to Moses to ask God to take away the snakes. So God told Moses to make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole and whoever looked at the bronze snake was healed. Now, suppose someone said, “This is ridiculous! How can looking at some bronze snake hanging on a pole heal me?!” What would have happened to this person? They would die. So, to be healed one had to believe God’s promise to heal them if they looked at the bronze snake. This is the context of John 3:16. Jesus is making a parallel between Himself and this bronze snake in the desert. We all, every one of us, have been bitten by the serpent (the devil) and we will die from his bite. But there is salvation for everyone who will look to Jesus hanging on the cross. Jesus became sin, that is, He took my sins upon Himself and was punished for them. And now God says, “Look to the cross and you will be saved.” Here too someone might say, “This is ridiculous! How can someone hanging upon a cross over two thousand years ago save me from sin?!” Thus, only those who believe the promise of God and, in faith, repent of their sins and trust Jesus for their salvation will live; those who will not look to the cross will die in their sins. Look to Jesus and Live!
Pastor Don.
Look to Jesus and Live!
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-16) The occasion mentioned here is when the children of Israel sinned against God by complaining and grumbling and as a punishment God sent snakes into the camp. The people repented and cried out to Moses to ask God to take away the snakes. So God told Moses to make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole and whoever looked at the bronze snake was healed. Now, suppose someone said, “This is ridiculous! How can looking at some bronze snake hanging on a pole heal me?!” What would have happened to this person? They would die. So, to be healed one had to believe God’s promise to heal them if they looked at the bronze snake. This is the context of John 3:16. Jesus is making a parallel between Himself and this bronze snake in the desert. We all, every one of us, have been bitten by the serpent (the devil) and we will die from his bite. But there is salvation for everyone who will look to Jesus hanging on the cross. Jesus became sin, that is, He took my sins upon Himself and was punished for them. And now God says, “Look to the cross and you will be saved.” Here too someone might say, “This is ridiculous! How can someone hanging upon a cross over two thousand years ago save me from sin?!” Thus, only those who believe the promise of God and, in faith, repent of their sins and trust Jesus for their salvation will live; those who will not look to the cross will die in their sins. Look to Jesus and Live!
Pastor Don.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Sept. 12th
Are you thirsty?
“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you… My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.” (Psa 63:1,5 TEV) King David wrote this song while in the wilderness of Judah. His son Absalom wanted to kill him and take the throne for himself. These are words written by a man, who knows betrayal; who knows hardship and struggle; who knows what it feels like to be unjustly accused and attacked. Yet, it was these very things that emphasized to David that there is nothing certain in life. His life at that time was like a desert without water, his life left his soul empty and hungry. But through this he learned that just as water is the only thing that can really quench your thirst so God is the only one who can satisfy our souls hunger and thirst. Many try to “quench their thirst” with money, fame or prestige but their thirst is never quenched, their lives retain that hollow ring. Jesus and only Jesus is the living water and all that come to him will never thirst again. Are you thirsty? Come and drink freely from the river of life and you will never thirst again!
Pastor Don.
Are you thirsty?
“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you… My soul will feast and be satisfied, and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.” (Psa 63:1,5 TEV) King David wrote this song while in the wilderness of Judah. His son Absalom wanted to kill him and take the throne for himself. These are words written by a man, who knows betrayal; who knows hardship and struggle; who knows what it feels like to be unjustly accused and attacked. Yet, it was these very things that emphasized to David that there is nothing certain in life. His life at that time was like a desert without water, his life left his soul empty and hungry. But through this he learned that just as water is the only thing that can really quench your thirst so God is the only one who can satisfy our souls hunger and thirst. Many try to “quench their thirst” with money, fame or prestige but their thirst is never quenched, their lives retain that hollow ring. Jesus and only Jesus is the living water and all that come to him will never thirst again. Are you thirsty? Come and drink freely from the river of life and you will never thirst again!
Pastor Don.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Something to think about.
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination”
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday Sept 5th
Feeling Puzzled by God’s Ways
God’s ways can be confusing sometimes, the way up is down; the first will be last; those who save their lives will lose them. God’s way seems to be full of paradoxes. Often times when we do what God says we get ourselves into trouble. Joseph was put in prison when he did the right thing and didn’t sleep with another man’s wife. Daniel was thrown to the lions for praying to God. The apostles were arrested, beaten and put in prison for preaching the gospel. And of course, Jesus Himself was crucified and He never did anything wrong. Sometimes God’s way just seems so counter-intuitive. I do not say this with any irreverence but to actually admit to the truth that His ways often don’t make sense (which when you think about it, actually makes sense). For God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:8-9) and, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Prov. 14:12) If God’s ways seem puzzling remember we don’t obey God because it makes sense but because, in faith, we believe He is right.
Pastor Don.
Feeling Puzzled by God’s Ways
God’s ways can be confusing sometimes, the way up is down; the first will be last; those who save their lives will lose them. God’s way seems to be full of paradoxes. Often times when we do what God says we get ourselves into trouble. Joseph was put in prison when he did the right thing and didn’t sleep with another man’s wife. Daniel was thrown to the lions for praying to God. The apostles were arrested, beaten and put in prison for preaching the gospel. And of course, Jesus Himself was crucified and He never did anything wrong. Sometimes God’s way just seems so counter-intuitive. I do not say this with any irreverence but to actually admit to the truth that His ways often don’t make sense (which when you think about it, actually makes sense). For God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is 55:8-9) and, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Prov. 14:12) If God’s ways seem puzzling remember we don’t obey God because it makes sense but because, in faith, we believe He is right.
Pastor Don.
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