In Psalm 47:6, “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.”
When I was a child in Sunday school, we would sing a little chorus that went like this: “Praise Him Praise Him all you little children. God is love. God is love. Praise Him Praise Him all you little children, God is love, God is love.” We all know that the Bible reminds us that our God inhabits or dwells within our praise. Praising Him is such a vital part of our Christian experience.
I was thinking of a simple way to illustrate that point, and it came to me at the sink the other day. I had a cup of coffee ready to drink as I was drying my hands on a paper towel. The towel slipped into the top of my coffee cup and immediately absorbed some of my coffee. It jumped right out of the cup and into the paper towel. Then I began to think about how we as Christian’s must act and respond so that God knows how much we love Him. We must not simply think He knows we have to tell Him. We should want to tell Him. We should tell Him so that He is blessed by our praise.
If you will allow the simplicity of my illustration, let us be represented by the cup of coffee, and let the paper towel represent God. If I happen to have all of the praise I could possibly hold deep within me, and if I truly love the Lord with all of my heart and soul, it still will not do much good unless I give all of my praise to Him. If I will (symbolically) move my cup over to where the paper towel can begin to absorb my coffee, then the Lord not only receives it as I give it to Him, but He draws it up close to Himself.
I have asked myself many times what it is that God does with the praises I send to Him. The answer I keep receiving is very simple. I believe He turns our praises and our thanksgiving in many more blessings and showers them right back on us. It would be like taking the now coffee absorbed paper towel, and start squeezing it right back into my cup. The truth is, my friends, there is one huge difference between God and my paper towel. Because our God wants us to delight ourselves in Him constantly, He in turn gives us the desires of our hearts. David wrote in Psalm 37:4-“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” In other words, God always squeezes so much more back to us than we give to Him because He loves us and because He wants to give us the very things we hope for in our hearts.
So why not on this very busy Tuesday, just pause for a few moments and tell God how much you love Him. Stop and thank Him for all that He has done for you and your family. Wait just a few moments and simply “Praise Him, Praise Him, all you grown up children”, and Let us never stop praising the Lord.
Remember, God is Love. God is Love.
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
December 29, 09 Devotioal
BECAUSE JESUS KNOWS EVERYTHING WE CAN COUNT ON HIM
In Luke 5: 1-7 (NLT) we read: “ 1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.”
What a great story Dr. Luke gives us. Simon and his fellow fishermen were washing their nets. They had finally given up. It’d been a long night. They were going home without a catch that night. Jesus hollers to them to go out where the water is deeper to catch some fish. They told Him something like, “Come on Jesus, we’ve been at this all night. There are just no fish biting.” Perhaps under their breath they were actually saying something like: “Give me a break! He’s just a carpenter. He still doesn’t realize we know what we’re doing when it comes to fishing. We’ve fished all night and caught nothing many times before.” These men truly were experienced fishermen. They had done all they could and had caught nothing! Indirectly, they were actually saying to Jesus, “look Jesus, it’s just been one of those nights. We’ve failed; Okay? No big deal. We just caught no fish, we did our best.”
In our day we might put it this way, “Hey, let’s face it, the economy is bad, business is not doing well, have not sold anything the whole day, employers are retrenching and many people are being laid off, companies are moving their businesses to Mexico and India, and we all know that the banks are not lending, the stock market is not doing well, the government can’t agree on health care or cap and trade, and small businesses are struggling everywhere, and so on.”
As this year draws to a close friends, I have some really good news for us all, Jesus is All-Knowing. He knew what the fishermen had gone through and He had the solution for them. When they did what He asked them to do, verses 6 and 7 tell us that the nets overloaded and both boats almost sank. In the same way my friends, Jesus knows everything you are going through right now and believe it or not, He has the solution for every one of those challenges yet to be resolved. He has all that you need to finish our 2009 and to embark upon 2010 with a positive outlook!
Remember friends, God knows everything. According to what David said in Psalm 139:2 He knows when you have your down moments and he know when you have your up moments. It says in the NLT: “You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.” His plans or you are not for evil but for good, to give you a future and an expected very blessed finish. The truth is friends, no matter how tough this year has been, no matter how many difficulties you have faced, no matter how you might be ‘feeling’, no matter what may still be ahead of you, I can tell you with absolute certainty that God still has a plan for you! On this busy Tuesday when this year is near its end and all the unknowns of what 2010 holds is almost in sight, let’s be encouraged reminding each other that Jesus does know everything,. Because Jesus knows everything, we can count on Him!
Have a Great week and a Blessed New Year!
In His service by your side,
Pastor Darryl
In Luke 5: 1-7 (NLT) we read: “ 1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.”
What a great story Dr. Luke gives us. Simon and his fellow fishermen were washing their nets. They had finally given up. It’d been a long night. They were going home without a catch that night. Jesus hollers to them to go out where the water is deeper to catch some fish. They told Him something like, “Come on Jesus, we’ve been at this all night. There are just no fish biting.” Perhaps under their breath they were actually saying something like: “Give me a break! He’s just a carpenter. He still doesn’t realize we know what we’re doing when it comes to fishing. We’ve fished all night and caught nothing many times before.” These men truly were experienced fishermen. They had done all they could and had caught nothing! Indirectly, they were actually saying to Jesus, “look Jesus, it’s just been one of those nights. We’ve failed; Okay? No big deal. We just caught no fish, we did our best.”
In our day we might put it this way, “Hey, let’s face it, the economy is bad, business is not doing well, have not sold anything the whole day, employers are retrenching and many people are being laid off, companies are moving their businesses to Mexico and India, and we all know that the banks are not lending, the stock market is not doing well, the government can’t agree on health care or cap and trade, and small businesses are struggling everywhere, and so on.”
As this year draws to a close friends, I have some really good news for us all, Jesus is All-Knowing. He knew what the fishermen had gone through and He had the solution for them. When they did what He asked them to do, verses 6 and 7 tell us that the nets overloaded and both boats almost sank. In the same way my friends, Jesus knows everything you are going through right now and believe it or not, He has the solution for every one of those challenges yet to be resolved. He has all that you need to finish our 2009 and to embark upon 2010 with a positive outlook!
Remember friends, God knows everything. According to what David said in Psalm 139:2 He knows when you have your down moments and he know when you have your up moments. It says in the NLT: “You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.” His plans or you are not for evil but for good, to give you a future and an expected very blessed finish. The truth is friends, no matter how tough this year has been, no matter how many difficulties you have faced, no matter how you might be ‘feeling’, no matter what may still be ahead of you, I can tell you with absolute certainty that God still has a plan for you! On this busy Tuesday when this year is near its end and all the unknowns of what 2010 holds is almost in sight, let’s be encouraged reminding each other that Jesus does know everything,. Because Jesus knows everything, we can count on Him!
Have a Great week and a Blessed New Year!
In His service by your side,
Pastor Darryl
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday Devotional November 10, 2009
FORGIVENESS IS SPELLED: J-E-S-U-S!
Just as I did last Tuesday, I’ve decided to keep a small theme throughout my November devotionals by using three simple scripture verses in each one. As you can see, the topic is forgiveness. Wow! Now that can really be a hot topic. Let’s look at the three scriptures dealing with the topic.
Matthew 18:20-21 (NIV) – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me, up to seven times?" Matthew 6:14 (NIV) - “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The first scripture is Jesus speaking to His disciples regarding conflict resolution and Peter tacks on a request at the end of Christ’s lesson, proving that he hadn’t quite gotten it yet. The second passage is Jesus reminding His followers that if we’ll forgive others for what they’ve done to us, then His Father, God Almighty, will forgive us of the sins we’ve committed against Him. The third scripture is Paul telling the church at Colossae that as Christians, when they’re facing difficulties in the church that they need to resolve things between each other. Since God has forgiven us, we in turn must forgive each other.
On this very busy Tuesday, let me ask us all this question: Is there anyone you have not forgiven? You might say, “Wait a minute Pastor Darryl. You don’t know what they did to me, you don’t know how much they hurt me, you don’t know how they made me look, you just don’t know what all I’ve been through because of them”, and so on.
May I tell you today that you are absolutely right? There is no way I could ever know. I don’t even know to what lengths this devotional is being read. It may be that you’re in another country, because I’ve often received comments on my devotionals from across the globe. I am humbled and also blessed by that. But, it remains true, I do not know, and I don’t have to know. You see, there is someone who does know. He knows everything wrong that has ever been done to you. He is aware of all the pain you may have carried or are still carrying. He is cognizant of every unkind word you have endured, every painful moment you have experienced and every discomfort someone else has caused you to endure.
Friends, may I say to you today with the most sincere heart that no matter how much we may have endured, it is not enough to measure up to what Jesus experienced prior to the cross, upon the cross or even after the cross when those He loved felt He had let them down. He went through all of that for you and me. He willingly died for all mankind. He loved us so much that even in our sin, Christ died for us that we might receive His forgiveness and have the assurance of a home one day in the Heaven He has gone to prepare for His own.
As we move even closer to Thanksgiving Day, is there anything more important for us to be thankful for than the forgiveness that Christ has made available to us? I just don’t think so. Is there anything we have endured that is so bad that we cannot offer our forgiveness to the perpetrator because Jesus Christ Himself has offered His forgiveness to us and to them as well? I have to say it friends, there just is nothing we’ve endured that will allow us not to forgive and be justified in doing so.
Why not pause on this busy Tuesday and ask God to bring to mind anyone and everyone that you have yet to forgive. Ask Him to help you to freely give to them what Christ has given to you - Forgiveness! Oh friends, I promise you that it will lighten the load you are carrying. Forgiving someone else will set you free. Do not allow someone else’s actions to carry so much weight in your life that the negative feelings you have for them are so strong that it keeps you down. Get up, let go and give to that person what no one else can give to them. Give them your forgiveness. You’ll be so glad you did!
Remember, when you take time to truly spell things out so that they make the greatest sense, you are so much better off. So let’s spell it together, okay? Ready? Forgiveness is spelled: J-E-S-U-S!
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Just as I did last Tuesday, I’ve decided to keep a small theme throughout my November devotionals by using three simple scripture verses in each one. As you can see, the topic is forgiveness. Wow! Now that can really be a hot topic. Let’s look at the three scriptures dealing with the topic.
Matthew 18:20-21 (NIV) – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me, up to seven times?" Matthew 6:14 (NIV) - “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The first scripture is Jesus speaking to His disciples regarding conflict resolution and Peter tacks on a request at the end of Christ’s lesson, proving that he hadn’t quite gotten it yet. The second passage is Jesus reminding His followers that if we’ll forgive others for what they’ve done to us, then His Father, God Almighty, will forgive us of the sins we’ve committed against Him. The third scripture is Paul telling the church at Colossae that as Christians, when they’re facing difficulties in the church that they need to resolve things between each other. Since God has forgiven us, we in turn must forgive each other.
On this very busy Tuesday, let me ask us all this question: Is there anyone you have not forgiven? You might say, “Wait a minute Pastor Darryl. You don’t know what they did to me, you don’t know how much they hurt me, you don’t know how they made me look, you just don’t know what all I’ve been through because of them”, and so on.
May I tell you today that you are absolutely right? There is no way I could ever know. I don’t even know to what lengths this devotional is being read. It may be that you’re in another country, because I’ve often received comments on my devotionals from across the globe. I am humbled and also blessed by that. But, it remains true, I do not know, and I don’t have to know. You see, there is someone who does know. He knows everything wrong that has ever been done to you. He is aware of all the pain you may have carried or are still carrying. He is cognizant of every unkind word you have endured, every painful moment you have experienced and every discomfort someone else has caused you to endure.
Friends, may I say to you today with the most sincere heart that no matter how much we may have endured, it is not enough to measure up to what Jesus experienced prior to the cross, upon the cross or even after the cross when those He loved felt He had let them down. He went through all of that for you and me. He willingly died for all mankind. He loved us so much that even in our sin, Christ died for us that we might receive His forgiveness and have the assurance of a home one day in the Heaven He has gone to prepare for His own.
As we move even closer to Thanksgiving Day, is there anything more important for us to be thankful for than the forgiveness that Christ has made available to us? I just don’t think so. Is there anything we have endured that is so bad that we cannot offer our forgiveness to the perpetrator because Jesus Christ Himself has offered His forgiveness to us and to them as well? I have to say it friends, there just is nothing we’ve endured that will allow us not to forgive and be justified in doing so.
Why not pause on this busy Tuesday and ask God to bring to mind anyone and everyone that you have yet to forgive. Ask Him to help you to freely give to them what Christ has given to you - Forgiveness! Oh friends, I promise you that it will lighten the load you are carrying. Forgiving someone else will set you free. Do not allow someone else’s actions to carry so much weight in your life that the negative feelings you have for them are so strong that it keeps you down. Get up, let go and give to that person what no one else can give to them. Give them your forgiveness. You’ll be so glad you did!
Remember, when you take time to truly spell things out so that they make the greatest sense, you are so much better off. So let’s spell it together, okay? Ready? Forgiveness is spelled: J-E-S-U-S!
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Monday, November 2, 2009
Serving The God of Miracles
How Are You And Your Clock Geting Along?
As I was praying about the topic for this weeks Tuesday devotional, I was reminded of the hour that those of us on Eastern Standard Time were fortunate enough to regain this past weekend. Of course I know as do you that it’s only good until next spring when we give it back again by moving it forward.
So I started thinking about a few of the Bible verses that speak to the issue of “Time”. I confess that I didn’t read all 566 passages, but I read many and decided to include just three.
The first is Paul’s words to the Ephesians church in chapter 5 verses 15-18 when he wrote: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The second is David’s words in Psalm 90:12 – where he penned: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
The third is James’ words in chapter 4 and verse 14 where he says: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
In each passage above, there is a warning, a challenge if you will, to be sure that we’re not wasting time and that we use it wisely and to the best of our abilities. Let me ask you the same 10 rhetorical questions I’ve ask myself on this busy Tuesday.
Q: How are you using the time that God makes available to you each day?
Q: Are you using some of it to honor God?
Q: Do you start your day off or perhaps end your day with the reading of God’s Holy Word?
Q: Do you use a companion devotional or study book as well?
Q: Do you take the time to not only pray, but also to meditate on what you have read?
Q: Do you pause before the Lord and let Him fill your heart and mind with the things that matter the most?
Q: Do you have a prayer list that you pray through? We provide a printed list weekly in our church worship folder every Sunday so folks can put it with their Bible or in their car or use it wherever they can to pray for the requests that are listed.
Q: How are you doing with the time God gives you that is not be spent but rather invested in sharing your faith with the Pre-Christians that cross your path daily?
Q: Are you seeing God work in the lives of others as you invest yourself in them? It is such a joy to see God bring spiritual victories when someone we invest our time in comes to know the Savior personally. The scripture says all heaven erupts in praise. That’ll sure make your day!
Today we both pause, writer and reader. We pause long enough to remember that the time God gives us is to be redeemed at its highest potential. Today we remind ourselves that our time is to be invested rather than spent. That means we invest it in our spouses, in our children, in our profession, in our church, and in our own continued personal spiritual development. When we do that, the dividends will have everlasting results. Let’s take the ultimate personal quiz to see if we’re being good stewards of the time God gives us daily. The best way to do that is simply to pause and ask ourselves question # 10;
Q: How Are You And Your Clock Getting Along?
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
As I was praying about the topic for this weeks Tuesday devotional, I was reminded of the hour that those of us on Eastern Standard Time were fortunate enough to regain this past weekend. Of course I know as do you that it’s only good until next spring when we give it back again by moving it forward.
So I started thinking about a few of the Bible verses that speak to the issue of “Time”. I confess that I didn’t read all 566 passages, but I read many and decided to include just three.
The first is Paul’s words to the Ephesians church in chapter 5 verses 15-18 when he wrote: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The second is David’s words in Psalm 90:12 – where he penned: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
The third is James’ words in chapter 4 and verse 14 where he says: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
In each passage above, there is a warning, a challenge if you will, to be sure that we’re not wasting time and that we use it wisely and to the best of our abilities. Let me ask you the same 10 rhetorical questions I’ve ask myself on this busy Tuesday.
Q: How are you using the time that God makes available to you each day?
Q: Are you using some of it to honor God?
Q: Do you start your day off or perhaps end your day with the reading of God’s Holy Word?
Q: Do you use a companion devotional or study book as well?
Q: Do you take the time to not only pray, but also to meditate on what you have read?
Q: Do you pause before the Lord and let Him fill your heart and mind with the things that matter the most?
Q: Do you have a prayer list that you pray through? We provide a printed list weekly in our church worship folder every Sunday so folks can put it with their Bible or in their car or use it wherever they can to pray for the requests that are listed.
Q: How are you doing with the time God gives you that is not be spent but rather invested in sharing your faith with the Pre-Christians that cross your path daily?
Q: Are you seeing God work in the lives of others as you invest yourself in them? It is such a joy to see God bring spiritual victories when someone we invest our time in comes to know the Savior personally. The scripture says all heaven erupts in praise. That’ll sure make your day!
Today we both pause, writer and reader. We pause long enough to remember that the time God gives us is to be redeemed at its highest potential. Today we remind ourselves that our time is to be invested rather than spent. That means we invest it in our spouses, in our children, in our profession, in our church, and in our own continued personal spiritual development. When we do that, the dividends will have everlasting results. Let’s take the ultimate personal quiz to see if we’re being good stewards of the time God gives us daily. The best way to do that is simply to pause and ask ourselves question # 10;
Q: How Are You And Your Clock Getting Along?
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
From A Pastor's Heart
Being Driven By Jesus On the Highway of Life When the writer penned in I Kings 8:58: –“May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our father”, although the author is unknown, it is pretty clear that he really wants us to be sure that we have given God complete control of our lives.
King David gives a similar challenge when he said in Psalm 119:1-2 “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”
As I compared the words of these two powerful passages of scripture, I couldn’t help but visualize the highway of life. When you think about it, both writers were not speaking of a short trip, they were speaking of long journey. It’s a journey that each and every one of us should understand, is filled with many potential dangers as well as many potential blessings.
So let me ask you today; are you just traveling along in a carefree state oblivious to the challenges you encounter on your journey? Are you perhaps frustrated because it seems like all you’re doing is hitting every pot-hole that exists? Does your journey seem to be filled with detours and roadways that are constantly narrowing? Are you struggling because it appears that others are holding you back and impeding your travel? Or, do you possibly feel like you’ve had so many issues on your journey that you’ve had to pull over and lament about the road you seem unable to make headway on? Maybe you’re like so many who recognize that you’ve faced your share of break-downs. You’ve had your fill of flats. You’re tired of the struggle to get around others who seem to be blocking your path and you just aren’t sure how to proceed. Some may have even tried to encourage you by saying, “Hey, Why not hook-up to the Savior and let Him tow you for a while?”
Friends, on this busy Tuesday, I have a better idea. Why not pull over and shut things off for a few moments and talk to the Heavenly Highway Master Engineer. He knows the road you’re traveling so much better than you do. The answer is simple. Just get out, and walk over to the passenger side and get in. Ask Him to slide over and take the wheel. Oh yes, it’s still your car. It’s still your life. BUT, you’re now asking Him to drive. Friends, I learned a long time ago, there’s no better way to travel than Being Driven By Jesus on the Highway of Life! When we are driven to the place where we ask Him to drive, that’s when we’ve really started the best part of our journey. There is no one who knows exactly where you are going and exactly how to get you there than the very one who has planned your trip. It’s a trip that is designed by Him for you to follow. It is His will. It is His plan. Now that’s a journey we can all be sure, will help us arrive safely at our destination. What’s our final destination? It’s Heaven!
How about just checking today to be sure that you’ve not tried to take the steering wheel away from Jesus? If you have, just be willing to admit it, let go of it and let Him drive. After all, He knows your road so much better than you do. He will be sure you reach your destination. Let’s face it, if we’re going to make this journey called life a success, there’s no better way to travel than Being Driven By Jesus On the Highway of Life.
Have a Great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
King David gives a similar challenge when he said in Psalm 119:1-2 “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”
As I compared the words of these two powerful passages of scripture, I couldn’t help but visualize the highway of life. When you think about it, both writers were not speaking of a short trip, they were speaking of long journey. It’s a journey that each and every one of us should understand, is filled with many potential dangers as well as many potential blessings.
So let me ask you today; are you just traveling along in a carefree state oblivious to the challenges you encounter on your journey? Are you perhaps frustrated because it seems like all you’re doing is hitting every pot-hole that exists? Does your journey seem to be filled with detours and roadways that are constantly narrowing? Are you struggling because it appears that others are holding you back and impeding your travel? Or, do you possibly feel like you’ve had so many issues on your journey that you’ve had to pull over and lament about the road you seem unable to make headway on? Maybe you’re like so many who recognize that you’ve faced your share of break-downs. You’ve had your fill of flats. You’re tired of the struggle to get around others who seem to be blocking your path and you just aren’t sure how to proceed. Some may have even tried to encourage you by saying, “Hey, Why not hook-up to the Savior and let Him tow you for a while?”
Friends, on this busy Tuesday, I have a better idea. Why not pull over and shut things off for a few moments and talk to the Heavenly Highway Master Engineer. He knows the road you’re traveling so much better than you do. The answer is simple. Just get out, and walk over to the passenger side and get in. Ask Him to slide over and take the wheel. Oh yes, it’s still your car. It’s still your life. BUT, you’re now asking Him to drive. Friends, I learned a long time ago, there’s no better way to travel than Being Driven By Jesus on the Highway of Life! When we are driven to the place where we ask Him to drive, that’s when we’ve really started the best part of our journey. There is no one who knows exactly where you are going and exactly how to get you there than the very one who has planned your trip. It’s a trip that is designed by Him for you to follow. It is His will. It is His plan. Now that’s a journey we can all be sure, will help us arrive safely at our destination. What’s our final destination? It’s Heaven!
How about just checking today to be sure that you’ve not tried to take the steering wheel away from Jesus? If you have, just be willing to admit it, let go of it and let Him drive. After all, He knows your road so much better than you do. He will be sure you reach your destination. Let’s face it, if we’re going to make this journey called life a success, there’s no better way to travel than Being Driven By Jesus On the Highway of Life.
Have a Great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Pastor Darryl
Monday, October 19, 2009
Why Not Be A Titus To Someone Else Today?
WHY NOT BE A TITUS TO SOMEONE ELSE TODAY?2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (The Message) 5-7”When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn't settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn't relax because we didn't know how it would turn out. Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus. We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time!”
As Christians, we know that all of us have faced those times of sheer discouragement, and when the challenges just seem to pile up. It’s at those moments that we could all easily shout out that we feel like we are the poster child for “Murphy’s Law”.
You know friends, the Apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary of all time, faced those same struggles that we face today. In our passage we see that Paul, after arriving in Macedonia, was writing to the church at Corinth. He was telling them that he was pretty discouraged. He knew they were upset with the first letter he had sent them chastising them and urging them to get their lives right. Things were going on in the church that had him totally dismayed and upset. Issues were creating divisions and he admits that they were all very nervous and quite concerned because they just didn’t really know how it would all turn out.
Then in the midst of the difficulties, enter Titus, the bearer of good news. Titus told Paul and his team that the church in Corinth had decided to get things right. They were coming together. The letter he had written that was used to bring challenge and a call to repentance was indeed heeded. That made Paul ecstatic. He went from discouraged to encouraged with one quick conversation with his friend Titus.
On this busy Tuesday, perhaps you are discouraged. David said in Psalm 27:14; “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” He also said in Psalm 42:5-6; “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"
Maybe you are working with someone that you know is definitely discouraged. It’s possible that someone very close to you has shared their struggles with you and now they are awaiting your thoughts. Why not decide right now to give them an encouraging word? Why not pause and ask the Lord to help you right now, to be a Titus to someone today? Just stop for a few moments today and let God give you the words you need to share with someone else. Let Him help you to be the listening ear they truly need right now.
The songwriter offered encouragement years ago with these words: “Got any rivers you think are un-crossable? Got any mountains, you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible; and He can do what no other power can do.” Let’s take a Hebrews 12:1 approach to discouragement. It says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, (and friends, discouragement will surely weigh us down)…and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” How about it friends? Let’s be a Titus to someone today. Let’s help them to get up and get on with the race God has set before us all.
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Serving by your side,
Pastor Darryl
As Christians, we know that all of us have faced those times of sheer discouragement, and when the challenges just seem to pile up. It’s at those moments that we could all easily shout out that we feel like we are the poster child for “Murphy’s Law”.
You know friends, the Apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary of all time, faced those same struggles that we face today. In our passage we see that Paul, after arriving in Macedonia, was writing to the church at Corinth. He was telling them that he was pretty discouraged. He knew they were upset with the first letter he had sent them chastising them and urging them to get their lives right. Things were going on in the church that had him totally dismayed and upset. Issues were creating divisions and he admits that they were all very nervous and quite concerned because they just didn’t really know how it would all turn out.
Then in the midst of the difficulties, enter Titus, the bearer of good news. Titus told Paul and his team that the church in Corinth had decided to get things right. They were coming together. The letter he had written that was used to bring challenge and a call to repentance was indeed heeded. That made Paul ecstatic. He went from discouraged to encouraged with one quick conversation with his friend Titus.
On this busy Tuesday, perhaps you are discouraged. David said in Psalm 27:14; “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” He also said in Psalm 42:5-6; “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!"
Maybe you are working with someone that you know is definitely discouraged. It’s possible that someone very close to you has shared their struggles with you and now they are awaiting your thoughts. Why not decide right now to give them an encouraging word? Why not pause and ask the Lord to help you right now, to be a Titus to someone today? Just stop for a few moments today and let God give you the words you need to share with someone else. Let Him help you to be the listening ear they truly need right now.
The songwriter offered encouragement years ago with these words: “Got any rivers you think are un-crossable? Got any mountains, you cannot tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible; and He can do what no other power can do.” Let’s take a Hebrews 12:1 approach to discouragement. It says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, (and friends, discouragement will surely weigh us down)…and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” How about it friends? Let’s be a Titus to someone today. Let’s help them to get up and get on with the race God has set before us all.
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.
Serving by your side,
Pastor Darryl
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
HOPE, INHERITANCE AND POWER, A THREE-FOLD LOVE GIFT FROM GOD
HOPE, INHERITANCE AND POWER, A THREE-FOLD LOVE GIFT FROM GOD
Text: Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
“18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength…”One of my pastorates was on the east coast 13 miles from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Oh my, what an educational place to pastor. I still have many friends that live there, like Jeff McDowell and Don Hedman who are still working at the Kennedy Space Center, more commonly known as “The Rocket Ranch”. Whenever there was a Space Shuttle launch, all the surrounding towns swelled by the thousands. When there was a night time Shuttle launch, or when word slipped out about a “Delta” rocket night launch, the skies would light up, and the sounds that shook our windows and filled the air, to me still remain incomparable. Honestly, I can’t explain it well enough, you just had to be there.
I learned that the “Delta” rockets and the Space Shuttle Solid rocket boosters (the SRB’s), all burn a fuel mixture that creates such explosive power, that those massive birds can leave their earthly perches and be propelled into the vast skies and be totally out of sight in just minutes. Simply put, as the fuel burns, it then turns into a gas that causes a powerful pressure to build. Ultimately that pressure is pushing out in all directions. Naturally, the rocket is open at the bottom end so the gas burns and escapes because the pressure is building inside, and that in turn releases that power, causing the rocket to be propelled in the opposite direction.
Usually every “Delta” rocket or every Space Shuttle that launches has a very valuable “Payload” that it takes into outer space, for some very specific science related purpose. Of course the astronauts are the most valuable payload any rocket, or solid rocket booster and external tank could ever propel into space.
It’s that process that got me thinking. When we read the Word of God, we see that God provides to us His wonderful payload. He has all the power we need to accomplish any mission He gives us in our Christian walk. The key to the success of our ventures is our faith. Our faith is the key ingredient in the power of God. The more we grow in His love and the more we mature in our Christian walk, the more power He provides to us daily.
As we daily read the Bible it becomes clearer all the time that the greatest power that God gives to us is the power of His wonderful love. His love is a force like none other. His love is what led Him to the cross to die for our sins. His love gives us our hope. His love is what gives us a promise of a heavenly inheritance, and His love is what gives us the power we need to do whatever He needs for us to do, as we follow His will. As God guides our life’s ship, He also provides for every mission. That is our three-fold love gift from God; Hope, Inheritance and Power.
On this busy Tuesday be sure your launch pad is pristine. Let nothing block the power of God in your life. Make yourself available to whatever mission God has for you. Be sure that your faith is always at the ready. You never know when God will call you to launch out into a new area of service.
Your mission today is to have a great day and do all you can to stay on course in your mission the rest of the week.
Ready? Three…Two…One… Blast off!
Pastor Darryl
Text: Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
“18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength…”One of my pastorates was on the east coast 13 miles from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Oh my, what an educational place to pastor. I still have many friends that live there, like Jeff McDowell and Don Hedman who are still working at the Kennedy Space Center, more commonly known as “The Rocket Ranch”. Whenever there was a Space Shuttle launch, all the surrounding towns swelled by the thousands. When there was a night time Shuttle launch, or when word slipped out about a “Delta” rocket night launch, the skies would light up, and the sounds that shook our windows and filled the air, to me still remain incomparable. Honestly, I can’t explain it well enough, you just had to be there.
I learned that the “Delta” rockets and the Space Shuttle Solid rocket boosters (the SRB’s), all burn a fuel mixture that creates such explosive power, that those massive birds can leave their earthly perches and be propelled into the vast skies and be totally out of sight in just minutes. Simply put, as the fuel burns, it then turns into a gas that causes a powerful pressure to build. Ultimately that pressure is pushing out in all directions. Naturally, the rocket is open at the bottom end so the gas burns and escapes because the pressure is building inside, and that in turn releases that power, causing the rocket to be propelled in the opposite direction.
Usually every “Delta” rocket or every Space Shuttle that launches has a very valuable “Payload” that it takes into outer space, for some very specific science related purpose. Of course the astronauts are the most valuable payload any rocket, or solid rocket booster and external tank could ever propel into space.
It’s that process that got me thinking. When we read the Word of God, we see that God provides to us His wonderful payload. He has all the power we need to accomplish any mission He gives us in our Christian walk. The key to the success of our ventures is our faith. Our faith is the key ingredient in the power of God. The more we grow in His love and the more we mature in our Christian walk, the more power He provides to us daily.
As we daily read the Bible it becomes clearer all the time that the greatest power that God gives to us is the power of His wonderful love. His love is a force like none other. His love is what led Him to the cross to die for our sins. His love gives us our hope. His love is what gives us a promise of a heavenly inheritance, and His love is what gives us the power we need to do whatever He needs for us to do, as we follow His will. As God guides our life’s ship, He also provides for every mission. That is our three-fold love gift from God; Hope, Inheritance and Power.
On this busy Tuesday be sure your launch pad is pristine. Let nothing block the power of God in your life. Make yourself available to whatever mission God has for you. Be sure that your faith is always at the ready. You never know when God will call you to launch out into a new area of service.
Your mission today is to have a great day and do all you can to stay on course in your mission the rest of the week.
Ready? Three…Two…One… Blast off!
Pastor Darryl
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