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 A Cow At A New Gate

Rules. People sure don’t like rules. I understand it, too. I mean, isn’t that why we grow up? So we dont have to follow rules anymore, right? 

Of course, I’m joking. We know as we mature that rules are necessary to sustain life and keep us safe. The truth is, there is still a part of us that doesn’t like being told what to do. If there is any place I have seen this, it’s in the church.

Recently my wife and I were driving on our road when we came across a cow that had somehow escaped the fence. She was standing on the side of the road and watched me closely as I slowed down to talk with her. (I like to talk with animals on the side of the road!) In the moment, ol’ Bessie wasn’t considering who I was in particular but there was an interaction between us that I found both amusing and interesting. You could tell she was pretty sure I was there to put her back in her fence. Though I was not, her defiance at my being there was hilarious. She mooed loudly and nervously as she hurriedly moved away from us. She wanted to keep her freedom!

Now, we know animals don’t think on the highest plane. Much like children, they want what they want regardless of the consequences. Much like people they want what they want regardless of the consequences. See, the farmer that owns this cow didn’t put up a fence because he was trying to make her suffer. He did so to protect her. The fence or the rule, is strictly for the cow’s benefit. I know, this is basic, but I am building to a point.

We have a Book that is full of fences. Directions and rules and various instructions to keep us in a place of blessing and bring as many others as possible along too. God desires that we live long and see good days (Psalm 91:16 & 1 Peter 3:10). He knows though that there is one who is opposed to us and is doing all be can to keep us from it. Beyond that there is our flesh which is sure that the grass on the other side is much better. Nevermind the wolves waiting for you to come over so they can freely attack. Fences serve many purposes.

I find when I preach there is sometimes a bit of defiant mooing. People do not like to hear that they are wrong. They don’t like to hear that the side of the fence they chose will hurt them but sometimes it does. Pastor literally means shepherd. Don’t make the mistake of thinking God accidentally used this word. He gave us pastors (shepherds) to help us stay on the right side of the fence. Those pastors are to protect us and help guide us to the proper place of supply, and I for that, am thankful. See, though I am a pastor, I too have a pastor. 

Don’t be upset when God uses the ones He put there to help you to correct you and keep you right. Don’t grow weary by direction and correction in righteousness. God is building things in us that cannot be broken. He wants to take us to places the devil can’t stop. If we didn’t need shepherds, He wouldn’t have given us them.

Matthew 9:36 (NKJV)

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Put the Right Stuff In

When you squeeze a sponge you’ll see very quickly what it’s been absorbing. If it’s been used to soak up something dirty, oh it’ll be something dirty coming out when it’s squeezed. If you just put a clean sponge into clean water, it’ll just be clean water coming out when it’s squeezed. It’s the same with a person. What we’ve been absorbing is what will come out when we’re squeezed. 

The Word makes it very clear that we will face trials (1 Peter 1:6, James 1:2). The Apostle Paul had this figured out. He knew what this looked like, more than most of us ever will. But look at Philippians 4:12 (NKJV), “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” What was Paul saying here? He knew how to be squeezed the right way! Sure, it’s easy to respond correctly to good circumstances but it’s when we face the press, the lack, the illness, the fear, that what’s in us will truly come out. 

Do you know how to abound? Well, most of us would say “sure”, but as Christians we should expect both blessing and trials. Neither should move us. We should not be shocked by either. Just as we’ve learned to expect both rainy days and sunshine, we need to learn to expect times of trial mixed in with the times of sunshine, while not curling up in a ball and crying every time it storms a little. If the report comes back from the doctor saying we’re cancer free, although we rejoice, it shouldn’t surprise us. If the money comes in to pay that bill right before it’s due, we shouldn’t be surprised it came. At the same time, if that colleague or family member is fighting our every move, we shouldn’t let it move us. If your body is dealing with symptoms and illness, it shouldn’t rock your faith. The sun comes out and the rain comes down, but a true Christian remains steady. Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV), “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The only reason the Apostle Paul could both abase and abound without losing faith is because he put the right stuff in. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) says,  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Look at Colossians 3:2 (NKJV), “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Now remember, Romans 10:17 (NKJV), “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

What are we meditating on? What do we spend our time putting in? What are we hearing and building our faith in? Whatever we put in will be what comes out. Let’s learn how to both abase and abound, sit in the sunshine and dance in the rain, all while our faith remains in Him and His Word! Amen.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renee 

Faith Always Does What It Takes

 

Faith is always forward moving. Faith is not idle. It does not cower. It presses through and it keeps going because faith does what it takes to see the outcome that faith is calling for. Faith does not accept defeat, make excuses, or stop believing because of pressure. Faith is inexhaustible and limitless in its reach. True, Godly faith can never be stopped or conquered but overcomes every obstacle.

Doesn’t faith sound like something to have? Look what Jude 1:3 says, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Notice the same faith that was given to them was given to us. Jude tells us it was ONCE FOR ALL delivered. What does that mean? It means it was delivered once, for all. But the very nature of faith tells us it must be received. Besides from scripture, we know this because we can see that not all have that same kind of faith.

I encourage you, truly look at the life of the apostles after Jesus left and tell me if they looked weak. You won’t see weakness but what you will see is the faith I wrote about in the beginning of this Faith Fix. It is through their lives that we see the transition of this power that Jesus carried transferred upon ordinary men. Yet here is the truth, we, like them, MUST CONTEND for it if we want to walk in it. It is not enough to simply be enamored by it. You must desire it in the true sense of the word.

Faith is the muscle of God but like any muscle its strength is determined by the extent it is exercised. 1 Timothy 4:8 says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Godliness, or thinking like God thinks, living by faith is profitable for all things. Faith is the promise for eternal life as well as life now. Faith is how we are meant to live.

Like any engine, each is designed to operate most effectively on a certain type of fuel. Imagine buying a vehicle with a diesel engine and putting gas in it. Imagine trying to run a gas engine on water. It just won’t work. Similarly, God designed us intending that we exist in faith, meaning that all we do and accomplish would be by and through faith. Contend for it the Word says. To contend for is to fight for. When trial comes against you do you fight to think as you should? Do you say it’s too hard or do you say what God says about it? Do you listen to the doubt in your head or do you quote the scripture back to it, answering doubt? This is what it means to contend for the faith, when it’s hard you do all you can do to stay there.

Sure you can give up. If you give up in your saying you’ve given up in faith. The result however will not be enjoyable. When the heat gets turned up in your life you can decide where it goes. The fire can either propel you forward or consume you but the choice is yours. Live by faith! Contend for it! Don’t give that devil any ground and live the way God made you! He’s got you, so you’ve got this!

Be Blessed, 

Pastor Jeff 

He’s Healer, Not Destroyer

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) says, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of our sin and all of our sickness upon His own body so that we wouldn’t have to live in it. From the fall of man until the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, death reigned on this earth (Romans 5:14). But Jesus! Jesus came so that we wouldn’t have to live in the error of Adam anymore, but that we could be restored back to the blessed plan God had for us from the beginning.

So many people, even Christians, think sickness and disease are some sort of loving spanking from God the Father. It’s as if He’s punishing a child for stealing a candy bar by forcing them to starve and die. It’s ridiculous thinking! God is not the author of death. He’s not the author of disease! He’s the author of life! And of that life, more abundantly! It’s always been and will always be, the plan of the devil to destroy mankind. Look at John 10:10 (NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 

Who comes to destroy? The thief, Satan, not God, the Almighty, loving Father and not Jesus! Look at the next verse, John 10:11 (NKJV), “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Why would Jesus have come to live and die to take our sins and yet, all along God wants to put sickness and disease on us anyways? Why would God be His own enemy? Why would our advocate also be our opponent? This is backwards, confused thinking, folks. 

1 John 3:1 (NKJV) tells us a very important truth, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” The ultimate example of a good father is our Father God. Look at Matthew 7:11 (NKJV), “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” The Word of God describes our love towards our own children as evil compared to His love towards us! Yet, I don’t know any good mother or father who would willingly put sickness on one of their children. “Here, Sweetie, let me inject you with cancer today.” That’s so sick and twisted you’d be seeking justice, lock them up without a key type justice, if not worse. Why do people, even God’s people believe the lie from the enemy that God the Father wants to punish us and teach us a lesson through sickness and disease? 

God is Love! (1 John 4:8) He is a love more extreme, more wonderful, greater, higher, deeper and wider than we can imagine, yet His love is not opposite what we know about love. Love wants the best. Love watches out for safety. Love blesses. Love doesn’t destroy. Love doesn’t kill. Loves doesn’t make sick. 

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” I encourage you, find the truth about God through a good Bible teaching local church. Get knowledge and get to know the one true living AND loving God.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renee 

Whom Are You Seeking?

John 18:7 (NKJV)

Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

It’s a question that should be heavily pondered, “whom are you seeking.” There’s a lot today to grab our attention. There’s a lot of things enticing indeed but only one gives life. Jesus said as recorded in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life…” This scripture obviously isn’t just talking about living and breathing because there are a lot of people who do that without Jesus. What it is referring to is real life, blessed life, life with purpose, life as God intended. See everything made is made with a purpose. If what is made doesn’t operate accordingly it becomes worthless to its creator. You have a God given purpose and you will only get there by seeking Jesus.

So many people, Christians included, have this idea that the purpose for their life is just to figure out who they are. The problem with this is that it creates a uselessness in people that is hard to see past. Our God has spelled out what it is to be created in Christ, making it plain in the scriptures. The good news is we don’t have to find who we are, we just need to seek Him and let Him guide us into what our specific role is.

Seek Him. This is the answer to all the questions we face. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” God is not mysterious. He wants you to know exactly what to do. The truth is, and something that many don’t even realize, He hasn’t made it hard to know. The problem is not that God is withholding pertinent information, it’s that people all too often are so distracted by things that don’t matter that they cannot begin to receive God’s direction. Either that, or they reject His direction because it’s not what they want. Do you have ideas about things that you can’t give up? Is your way of thinking so important to you that you won’t see the truth? As a Pastor now almost five years I have seen this over and over again. Our problems are never that God won’t come through. Our problems aren’t even necessarily the devil. Our problem is generally a certain way of thinking that we won’t allow to be corrected. After all, if you know everything then you will never ask God for the wisdom. The Bible tells us to ask for wisdom, not mull it over in your brain and figure it out. Your solutions are not what will help you, His are.

Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness or way of thinking and living. These things are not what you can come up with in your own mind, they are clearly spelled out for us in Scripture. They are not what you can imagine them to be, they are His and they are not hidden from us. 

Follow God and His plan not what you want or think. The end of pursuing only desires always leaves people empty and still searching. This is because these things are not sufficient to fill the God void in your life. You think it’s things or people you need and the whole time it’s been Jesus. Who are you seeking? Your answer should be Jesus of Nazareth. In Him are all the answers to every question. In Him is the fulfillment of abundant life.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff 

Summer Time and The Living’s Easy

So often the summer season is a very bitter sweet time as Pastors. We love the beautiful sunshine like the rest of the world, but we also know what it means for the local church as a whole and also for many individual lives. Oh yes, summer time… picnics, putt putt, boating, vacations, late nights and open fires…these are a few of our favorite things. Summertime and the living’s easy! Or is it?

The worst D word for a Christian is DISTRACTION. And summertime seems to pull out all the stops in that area. Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) says, “You (God) will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” One thing we notice during the summer months is quite the opposite of peace. Instead, it seems good-hearted Christians struggle with anxiety, lack, depression and the like, and there’s one major factor in it all. It’s distraction. Christians are too busy having fun to think about God. Christians are too busy with recreational spending to put God first in their finances. It seems the pull of the world wins out against the pull of the things of God, especially in the summertime. But notice what the Word said in Isaiah, as we keep our mind stayed on God, we keep peace in our lives, perfect peace, God’s way. 

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) takes this further saying, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” When you spend time with God, when you base your life on spiritual things, these are the byproducts that come along with it! If you’ve been experiencing the opposite in your life, you’ve got to ask yourself, how much time have you been spending with God? You can do an assessment of your life very quickly and discover the answer to this important question. Have you been walking in love and kindness with your family? Have you been patient with your spouse and colleagues?  Is there peace in your home and throughout your day? Have you been faithful to come and to serve in your local church or has summertime made you less faithful? Yes, the devil uses the distractions of summer to keep Christians out of the highest and best that God has for them, if we choose to let him. 

Look at Romans 14:17-19 (NKJV), “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Let’s not pursue a life that only revolves around the natural realm, what we will eat, what we will drink, how we will earn money, how we will buy our kids clothes, how we will go on vacation, etc. As we focus on God, all things we need will come to us (Matt. 6:33), and we will walk in peace and joy, which is what God considers acceptable. We should likewise consider it unacceptable not to live in joy and peace as we’re commanded to do in scripture. Pursue the things which make for peace. Pursue the things which edify and build up your life and the lives of those around you. Stop allowing that nasty D-word to rule your life. Amen?

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée