Category Archives: Messages

Joy In Heaven

I think we have all seen the basketball game with the half court shot at the buzzer that wins the game, or the “walk-off” home run in the crucial baseball game, or the seemingly impossible kick to win the soccer match, and the thousands of spectators in the stadium jump to their feet and cheer.
This is the image I envision when reading Luke 15:7, “..there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”
I can see the saints and angels jumping to their feet and cheering when someone who has rejected Jesus for years, drops his or her resistance and accepts Salvation.
Dear Lord, it is amazing to know that those in heaven cheer for the salvation of those on earth.  Help us remember to do our part in helping those who are lost become saved.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.


Change

It is amazing to think about the changes that have occurred in recent years, and in our lifetimes. The first hand-held personal mobile phone was available just 35 years ago, and the first IPhone was introduced only 12 years ago, now virtually everyone in the developed world has one. The internet as we know it is only about 25 years old. The first earth orbiting satellite was launched in 1957, and now there are nearly 2000 orbiting the earth. 150 years ago, there was no electricity, there were no cars, and only 40 million people lived in the entire US (about the same as California’s current population)

As amazing these changes are, things are changing even faster every day. The speed of change can be scary to us, however, we know one thing that does not change. In Malachi 3:6 God tells us “I the Lord do not change.” and Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

We can have confidence that the promises God has made and the salvation we receive through Jesus Christ has not changed for thousands of years, and will not change.

Dear Lord, when all earthly things around us are changing, what peace and joy it provides us knowing that you and your love for us will not change. With thanks and praise, we pray. Amen.

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Here To Serve

I have a list of short wise sayings and ideas that I have accumulated over the years, and one of them is:

“Producing or contributing more than you consume is the only justification for your existence.”

I think Jesus is conveying this idea in Mark 10:43-45 when he told the disciples, “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Our nature leads us toward wanting to “take, take, take,” but what we are really here for is to serve others with the skills and talents God has given us. If we really think about it, it is the times our skills and talents benefit others that we are most fulfilled.

Dear Lord, You are the example of service for us. Help us strive to be like you and live lives of service, which how you design us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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How Do We Get Faith?

Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Great we think, “Faith is confidence in something we want, but don’t see how it can happen.” That doesn’t help us if we don’t know, “How do we get faith?”

In Paul’s letter to the Romans 10:17, He answer’s that question, writing, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

Do you want faith? Read God’s word and hear it preached.

Dear Lord, You lead us to the answers in the Bible. Help us overcome our resistance to read and hear your word preached, so that we might have the faith in what we hope for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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