I Love My Church - Day 5

Whenever I see snow it reminds me of Psalm 51. 

Read Psalm 51 and pay attention to verse 7 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Kind David had committed a terrible sin.  In this passage David is pleading with God to forgive him.  To remove the stain of sin from his heart.  He's asking God to wash away all his iniquity.  And that washing will make him whiter than snow.

Every year when snow falls, at least once I'm reminded of this wonderful blessing in being a part of God's family through Jesus.  This snow reminds me that I'm forgiven.  And boy, do I need it.  I need forgiveness.  I mess up.  At times I say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, and think the wrong thing.  It would be a miserable life not having the forgiveness of God.

Do you realize that your life is a testimony of God's forgiveness?  Yours and mine are His testimoney to the world.  That is one of the many reasons why I love the church.  I'm forgiven and God uses me to point others to Him in order for them to find forgiveness.  Wow! 

Is there someone in your life who you know needs to know that they can be forgiven?  They may not feel worthy of forgiveness and choose to reject it from Him.  Mercy is not earned, it is given/received.  Offer that hope of forgiveness to someone.  Pay attention to the stories of their lives.  They may be carrying baggage around that Jesus can free them from.

Is there something you haven't found forgiveness with?  Is there something in your past that you feel God could never forgive and that you should hold onto it to remind you of your guilt?  Be free today.  Ask for His forgiveness.  He will offer it to you freely.

Forgiveness is why you can love the church.

As you close:  Thank God for the forgiveness found through His Son.  And then next time you look at snow, let it remind you of the washing and cleansing power of God in your life.

God bless! 

I Love My Church - Day 4

I don't know about you, but saying goodbye is hard to do.  It could be a friend who is moving away; it could be a spouse who has to travel for work or family emergencies; it could be someone who leaves the church.  Regardless of the situation, it's still hard to say goodbye.  But there is good news in the sadness.

When Jesus died on the cross, people were weeping as they were saying goodbye to a major influencer in their lives.  He has given them wisdom, healing, hope and encouragement.  At that moment, He was gone.  But Jesus knew it would be for only a moment.  He knew that He would be alive again.  So He gave His disciples some hope in response to their sorrow.

Read John 14:1-4 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A1-4&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return).

The hope Jesus gave to the disciples was that they were going to see Him again.  Life doesn't end when the last breath is exhaled.  We have Heaven.

That is the good news we all have.  In every moment we say goodbye to someone, we are reminded again that we will see each other again.  It may be here, there or in Heaven.  But the fact still remains, we will see each other again.

That is why I love our church.  We have the opportunity to build friendships that will last forever.  Sure, people move away; sure people die; sure people leave for work.  We have hope that we will see each other again.

I hope this encourages you today as it does me.

As you close:  Thank God for eternity.  Thank God for heaven.  Thank God for friendships/relationships.  Thank God that in the church, those relationships will last forever.

God Bless!

I Love My Church - Day 3

Have you noticed how quickly certain things go out of fashion?  I was at the Outlet Mall the other day and saw the new lines for winter.  After looking at those styles and then reviewing mine, I concluded that I was out of fashion.  The fashion world moved on and I guess I stayed behind.

Things come and go in our world.  Few things really stand the test of time.  Aside from the basic necessities of life, there is one thing that has stood the test of time: the Church.

Those committed followers of Christ have stood the test of time.  People still gather, people still read the Bible, people still fellowship, people still prayer, etc.  While other things have come and gone, the church has remained.  Why?  Because Jesus said, "...I will build my church upon this rock and the gates of Hell will not stand against it."  What Jesus started 2000 years ago is still going strong. 

When Jesus left this earth and ascended to Heaven, the disciples could have just turned their backs and went home; they remained.  They remained faithful. Read about the beginning of the church in Acts 1 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return).

Did you notice what happened?  They pressed on.  They replaced Judas and moved on.  Because they moved on and were faithful in following Jesus, we have the message, and the church body today.  This family has been together for over 2000 years and it doesn't go out of fashion.  Now some churches thrive and some take a dive but regardless, what Jesus started is still kicking.

Another reason why I love the church and I love my church family with it.

As you close:  Thank God for His guidance and protection over His church.  Ask God to move your heart towards love for the church family.  They will always be there for you. 

God bless!

I Love My Church - Day 2

One reason why I love the church is because there is a strong passion for this book; the Bible.

This book is filled with God's words whispered to humanity.  The Apostle Paul writes, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, sot hat the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

This book is God-breathed.  It breathes life into everyman.  Just like in the beginning when God breathed life into Adam, He breathes life into our soul through these words.

When was the last time we took the time to read these words?  Really read these words and learn who God is, what God has done and what He desires to do in our lives.  For some of us, we get too busy with everyday things that we lose sight of this book and the power it contains to help us live a great life.  For some of us, we get too confused and we lose motivation in digging for the truth that isn't that far under the surface.  And the great thing about this book, the more you dig the more you find.  It marvels us.

We presently enjoy the freedoms in reading this book at any time, anywhere.  Are you taking advantage of those freedoms? 

Paul and Silas traveled to a town called, Berea, in order to teach them about the scriptures.  And they made sure that what Paul was teaching was correct.  Read about it in Acts 17:10-12 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A10-12&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return).

They examined the scriptures every day.  Could I be that passionate for God's words?  I hope this year I will be even more passionate for His life giving words.  How about you?

As you close:  Thank God for His words.  They were written down and preserved for you to be able to be read on your own.  Thank God for the ability to read and the ability to read His words in your language.  Because there are many who don't have His words in their language.

God Bless! 

I Love My Church - Day 1

God treasures you as grandparents treasure grandchildren. This is a photo of my parents with eight of their ten grandchildren.  This was taken during our recent christmas vacation.  We had such a wonderful time.  My parents treasure all of their grandchildren. 

God treasures you as well.  He is so emotionally connected to you, that whatever happens to you, impacts Him personally, emotionally causing Him to react.  Whether it is joy or sorrow, He is so connected to you that you will see Him move.

Sometimes we think God feels very distant, but in fact, He is truly up close and personal.  That is the way He intended things to be with His creation. 

Read about it in Genesis 1 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=NIV (Click Back Arrow on Web Browser to return)

This text says that He made you in His image.  You and I can never be God.  We could never take His place.  Many will try and fail.  The word "image" means shadow, resemblance or likeness.  We were made to be very close in likeness to Him.  He did it for the purpose of relationship.  He did it so that we can have an up close and personal relationship with Him.  To be able to understand Him and be confounded by Him all at the same time. 

He is emotionally connected to you.  He cares for you.  He is working in your life in ways you will not know immdiately but will come to understand eventually.  He knows your name and calls you out.  He knows what you need and when you need it.  He is emotionally connected to you.

This new year, let us remember how God feels about us.  That connection is not just between you and Him, it is a connection He wants you to feel in the family of God, in your local church.  We'll talk more about that this week.

As you close:  Thank God for making you in His image.  To bear a resemblance to Him in many ways.  Thank Him for being there for you even at times He seems distant. 

God Bless!

HOPE - Peace with God Day 3

This morning I was watching the news and they were talking about a deal with the Russians.  One guy stepped up to the podium and told how the Russians can't be trusted. 

Who can you trust these days? We have enemies around every corner.  Even though we are a major provider of humanitarian aid, we still have everyone gunning for us.  When can we just be at peace?

According to the scriptures, we were enemies of God.   As a result, we had no peace with Him.

Read about it in Romans 5:1-11 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:1-11&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

The Apostle Paul teaches that because of our sin, we had become enemies of God.  Remember, sin is rebellion against God.  It is like Pinocchio rebelling against his creator, Geppetto.  Not willing to listen to him, despising him and at times intentionally doing things to hurt him.  That is what our sin has done to our creator, God.    As a result, we are enemies.

In war, it is better to kill than to be killed, right?  Most Generals and Commanders understand loss but they don't go into battle desiring everyone of their men to die.  Victory in battle is connected to life, not death.  Since we are enemies of God, victory would be our death and His life.  But God did the opposite.  He died and let us live. 

He died so that we could have peace with one another.  His death brought reconciliation.  His death brought about forgiveness for those who request it.  His death brought life to our dead souls.  He made peace between us.

That is good news this Christmas.  God did something so extraordinary, that it won't ever be forgotten.

Are you will to let something go instead of getting revenge?  Are you willing to take the hurt instead of hurting?  Are you willing for peace instead of war?

As you close:  Thank God for His brave act in dying for us when it should have been us dying.  Thank God for forgiveness and mercy because of Jesus.  Thank God that we are no longer enemies of God, but His children when we surrender our lives to His Son, Jesus.

God Bless!  

HOPE - Peace with God Day 2

If pleasing God was based upon works, how will you ever know if you have done enough?  You can not find peace with God based upon works.  You will never be able to do enough and you will never know if you have arrived at the required destination.  So what is it that pleases God?  How can I know that Him and I are at peace with one another?

One day a student of the "Law" approached Jesus with this very thought in mind. 

Read about it in Matthew 22:34-40 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A34-40&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

What is the greatest commandment?  What is it that I can do to make God happy with me?  Those are the questions that are filling this guys mind.  We have lived with those questions in mind too.  We wonder at times if we did enough good things, would God make life easier for us.  We wonder if we were nice enough, or gave enough, would he give us more than we could ever imagine.  We all want God to be happy with us.  But what does Jesus say to answer his questions?

Love! Love God.  Love people.  It's not in doing, it's in loving.  Loving will be reflected in some sort of doing but loving and doing are two distinct things.  If you do and have no love, it means nothing.  If you love without doing, it means nothing.  This love is a choice.  It is a choice to love God and by choosing to love God, you are also choosing to listen/follow Him.  If you choose to love others, you are choosing to do that through compassion, mercy and generousity. 

What pleases the heart of God is love for Him.  That means you have chosen to believe in Him and have chosen to surrender your life to Him.  As a result, you experience a new start in life, forgiveness of sin and the willingness to listen/follow Him.  This is the peace that you can find with God.  This is what pleases the heart of God.

Do a little heart examination.  Do you love God?  Do you believe He is God, Creator of all things, Redeemer of mankind, and Guide for your life?  Are you willing to follow Him to whatever end?

If you can say, "I love God.  I have given Him my heart, mind, soul and all my strength," you have peace with God.

As you close:  God is looking at your heart.  Be honest with Him about your heart right now.  Let Him know where you need His help in loving God to the fullest. 

God Bless!