Category Archives: Messages

Being Vulnerable

There is a popular author whose thesis is that in order to achieve things in life, we need to make ourselves vulnerable.   We have to put our ideas out in public and risk being criticized.  For most people, this is a frightening idea.
In a similar way, to grow and be everything God wants us to be as Christians, we need to do the same thing; to live our lives openly as Christians without excuse or apology.  The difference is that we know God is there supporting us when we make ourselves vulnerable for him.
Psalm 25:3 says, “No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.”
Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance that you, the most powerful force in existence, are there to support us when we honor you.  Help us trust in you and live our lives as Christian examples, glorifying you.  In Jesus’ name we pray.   Amen.
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Always Be Joyful

Many people we encounter daily are rather negative.  It is so easy to think the negative things are the things to discuss; bad weather, traffic, our physical ailments, car trouble, etc.  Not to minimize people’s problems, but even with our problems, we all have much to be happy and grateful for. We should try to be the person that turns the conversation to the positive things.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul writes to the believers there, “Always be joyful, Always keep praying, No matter what happens, be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” TLB  I am sure the folks Paul was writing to had problems like we do.  Arguably, their problems were more dire than we can imagine in the developed world of 2022.
Dear Lord, Help us remember Paul’s words, and be Joyful and Thankful.  Joyful because we are saved and we know you will support us through our problems, and Thankful for this amazing gift.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.
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Wake Up Praising God

Do you sometimes wake up in the morning with negative thoughts; negative thoughts about a bad experience, or someone who mistreated you, or a problem you have?
I believe that often times these thoughts are being placed in our heads by the enemy, trying to get our day started with a sour and defeated attitude.
I have a technique that I use to overcome these negative influences.
When I wake up with these negative thoughts, before I get out of bed, I try first to remember the words Jesus used in Matthew 16:23, when Peter comments about Jesus upcoming suffering and death.  Jesus said, “get behind me satan.”  Or the words Jesus used when tempted in the wilderness, He tells the devil “away with you satan”. This shows we recognize the deception and in Jesus’ name we are sending it away.
Second, In my mind I recite the common doxology,
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Alternatively, I remember David’s words in Psalm 118:24 “this is the day that The Lord Has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Finally I say a quick prayer or the Lord’s Prayer, thank God for a new day, and ask for his guidance.
If you experience this negative ambush in the morning, give these techniques a try.
Dear Lord, protect us from the undermining influence of the Devil, and help us live our lives as positive, cheerful, advocates for you.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.
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At The Right Time

People that do “good,” or that strive to do what they understand is God’s direction for them typically are not doing that because they expect some reward. However, it is interesting what Paul writes in Galatians 6:9,10 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

I think there are two messages for us in this verse. First, we will receive blessings for doing good. Second, the blessings will come at the right time for us. We may hope and pray for certain things, but they may not be good for us now. If we keep striving to do what the Bible teaches, and not give up as Paul says, God will give us the blessings we need at the “right time” for each of us.

Dear Lord, we know you are watching each of us, and know our needs and desires. Help us keep doing your will, being blessings to others. Thank you for blessing us in your time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Intellect

There are numerous reasons people resist or reject the message of Jesus Christ. One that has been common since the beginning of Christianity is the difficulty scientific and academically “smart” people have with not being able to figure things out. During early Christianity, the brilliant academics were the Greeks. Even today, we study writings of Plato, and Aristotle, and the creations of the ancient Greeks.

The apostle Paul recognized this challenge that the “intellectuals” had with Christianity and wrote about it in 1 Corinthians 1:21-25. He wrote, “Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Greeks say it is all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”

What if you needed to be smart enough to figure out how salvation worked in order to be saved. It would no longer be God saving, it would be the smart saving themselves; Which would essentially make them their own god. Ultimately, when people put their intelligence above their faith they are making themselves or their intellect their own god.

Dear Lord, we all have our struggles to overcome in order to surrender ourselves to you. Help us all see and believe the power and peace of salvation, your gift to us, and accept it with humility. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.