I Love My Church - Day 10

On Tuesday, when the big snow storm hit our area, Tiffany, the kids, I and another family were on our way for a scheduled mini-break at Kalahari Waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio.  Imagine this picture with snow covering the ground and people wrapped up in winter coats.

We were able to stay ahead of the storm and return after everthing was plowed.  We even came home to a plowed driveway and shoveled sidewalk.  It was such a blessing to come home to that loving act and I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.  You know who you are and you are much appreciated.

While we were enjoying the waterpark, something caught my attention.  It was both our families enjoying each others' company.  Laughing, talking, eating and playing (and the momentary emotional breakdowns, but that is to be expected with kids.)  On the drive home I kept thinking, this was a great trip.  A great break and a great time with friends.  This must be what heaven will be like. 

Audio Adrenaline wrote a song, "A Big House" describing what they thought the glories of heaven will be like.  Whether they are right or off by a little, it will be a place for God's people to enjoy Him and to enjoy each other.  And He instructs us to take time off each week to have a touch of heaven here on earth.

He says in Exodus 20, "Honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy."  We are to be a people who take a break each week and enjoy life with our family, friends and God.  Jesus also addresses this issue of the sabbath when he answered the Pharisees about the sabbath in the Gospel of Mark. 

Read Mark 2:23-28 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A23-28&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

The Sabbath was made for man.  We were given a weekly gift from God; the Sabbath.  It is a time to refresh and enjoy life.

Are you taking time to enjoy life? Family? Friends? God?

What are you waiting for, take a day off and you will see what God can do through it.

As you close: Take some time to thank God for your family, friends and the gift of the sabbath.

God Bless!

I Love My Church - Day 9

The Super Bowl is next Sunday and many people are gearing up for it.  Who will win and who will lose?  Which has the best offense and which has the best defense.  Who will be victorious in the end?

I love watching the big game.  The thrill of victory.  The smell of chips and salsa.  Children running in front of the television. Women playing board games.  Ahhhh.  What a night. Sunday night can't get here fast enough.

Something to consider though, at the end of every game, there is a winner and there is a loser.  It's all part of the game.  And when it's your team that wins, the victory makes it a sweet event.

We are in the middle of a contest and that contest is between Elohim and Diabolos.  Huh?  Who are they?  Elohim is the Hebrew name for God and can you guess who Diabolos is?  Yep.  That is the Devil.  The Devil has been at odds with God since the creation of the world. 

You can examine their offenses and defenses.  You can examine their players.  You can look at the stats.  But in the end there really is no contest.  The Devil is completely outmatched on every detail.  And we already know the end of the game.  The book of Revelation describes for us how God finishes what He started.  The Devil is thrown into the lake of fire and the children of God enjoy eternity with Elohim in paradise.

Read about it in Revelation 20:7-10 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+20%3A7-10&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

You have reason to be excited.  Our team wins.  We are still in the middle of the game but we already know that Elohim wins.  You are victorious because you are His child.

How do you become His child?  By surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.  When you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, He will do just that.  At that moment you become His child and you my friend join the winning team.

If you are a child of God, are you living a victorious life?  Are you living with Hope?  Are you living with joy?  Are you living with love?  Because the game has already been won, you can live a life that is victorious.  Let's get a little excited.  Put a smile on your face and walk a little taller.  Give a helping hand to someone...

As you close: Thank God for the victory we have because of Jesus.

God Bless!

I Love My Church - Day 8

I was at Winter Jam last night with my daughter and many others from our church family.  For those of you that don't know, Winter jam is a Christian Music Concert featuring many bands.  It was terrific.  Food was okay, music was good, and daughter and friends to enjoy it with, priceless. 

One thing did stick out to me though.  The entire stadium was filled to capacity and something happened when we all worshipped together.  The Holy Spirit became visible and I felt the heart of God must have been pleased.  This must be what God's heart longs for.  A place filled with people who are worshipping Him.  Why?  Because He is worthy of all praise.

Read Psalm 93 or click to view  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2093&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Can you imagine a sea of people lifting up their voice in worship and praise of Almighty God?  We have moments of it here during our worship services but one day is coming when every tongue will confess and every knee will bow to Jesus Christ who is Lord over all.

That is why I love the church.  I have the opportunity to praise Him and join the ranks in practicing for the day that is to come.

If you need a pick me up, sing Him a song.  He'll love it!

As you close: Thank God for the privilege for worshipping Him.

God Bless!

I Love My Church - Day 7

I like to eat.  Eating is a good thing.  I find it can be very fulfilling, especially when I'm hungry.  What satisfies your tummy when you are hungry?

What about the soul?  How do we satisfy the soul?  Since birth, there is a hunger in the soul that many feel but have no idea how to satisfy.  So we satisfy it with sexual addictions, food addictions, beverage addictions, material addictions, adrenaline fixes, you name it.  We are trying to find something that will satisfy the soul.

There is only one place where you can find satisfaction for the soul, it is in God's Word, the Bible.

God told the people of Israel to remember He is the provider and sustainer in life.  They will find satisfaction for the soul in Him.  Read about it in Deuteronomy 8 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%208&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

"Man doesn't live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."  God's words will satisfy the soul.  Where do we find His words?  We find in the age old book that has stood the test of time; the Bible.  We find satisfaction as we read and obey His words.

You've read one chapter today already.  Make that a habit of yours to read a passage or chapter every day.  You can reach for the protein bar and have your tummy filled.  Reach for the Soul satisfaction bar found in God's word and satisfy the soul.

As you close: Thank God for His Word, the Bible.  Thank God it is trustworthy and life giving.  Ask God for consistency in reading it.

God Bless!

I Love My Church - Day 6

One reason I love the church is that we get the chance to develop wonderful friendships. 

Facebook has become the face of our friendship world. It gives us an opportunity to see how people are doing and an opportunity to connect quicker than ever.

What is friendship?  Wikipedia defines friendship, "In a comparison of personal relationships, friendship is considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations."

In short, we have varying degrees of frienships but the intent is that it is closer than just knowing someone exists.  The degree of intimacy, closeness, is up to each individual.  I choose to get closer to some than others. Others I keep at an arms distance.  I know you do the same.

Frienships are meant to be a part of your church family experience.  You are meant to find a friend, someone you can be open with and be someone for others to open up with.  Do you have that kind of friend in the church? 

King David was a friend of Jonathan.  Jonathan's father, Saul was king of Israel and desired to kill David over a jealous spirit.  David was a mightier warrior than Saul and that produced an anger in Saul and it drove him to attempt murder of David.  God protected David and used Jonathan to protect him.  In I Samuel 20 we read about their last time together as close friends.

Read about it in I Samuel 20 or click to view http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+20&version=NIV (Click back arrow on web browser to return)

Do you have this kind of friendship in the church?  Being new to Brighton Chapel, it will take some time but I look forward to friendships God will develop in my life in our church. 

That is another reason why I love this church!

As you close:  Thank God for friendships.  Ask God for a good friend.  Ask God to help you be a good friend to someone in our church!

God Bless! 

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!