February is the month of Groundhog's Day and Valentine's Day. It is interesting that those two holidays fall in the same month.
Valentine's Day has been celebrated for years. We see cherubs, cupid, hearts, candy hearts with messages on them, etc. Groundhog's Day is a crazy day in which for some reason all eyes are fixed upon a hole in the ground and a furry little rodent who supposedly foretells the time remaining until winter's end.
One of the holiday is about love and the other is a fun but really pointless exercise. Which holiday will you live out this month? Most people remember the movie Groundhog's Day. Bill Murray is a reporter sent to cover the event in small town Pennsylvania, and he gets stuck in that town and in that day. He works hard to get out of the time loop, but he remains there until he personally changes.
This month instead of going through the same old motions over and over, instead of fighting the same old battles again and again, embrace the holiday of love. Not just the love of your family, focus on the source of love. 1 John 4:8 says, "God is Love." This month reach out not just for love but for God who is love and break the hold of the same ol' same ol'. Change, learn, grow. Say goodbye to Groundhog's day and the fun but pointless exercises of life.
Pastor Chris
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Do You Not Perceive It?
The beginning of a new year has always seemed to hold out so much hope to me. I think about Isaiah 43:16, “See I do a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
The part of that scripture that grabs my attention is the question, “do you not perceive it?” Here the Lord is speaking to His people telling them He is up to something new and He stops to ask if they have noticed it!
Look, He is making a way in the desert. Deserts are inhospitable, yucky, sand and heat. They are difficult to travel across now, let alone in the days of the Old Testament, and God is telling His people, “I am making a way, in the desert.” God is taking a place of difficulty and making it easier to get through. They still have to go through it but it is easier now than before.
Further, He is taking wasted space, wastelands and putting streams in them. What was wasted space, not good for farming or anything is about to become fertile land! God is saying He is taking what we consider wasted, or troublesome and making it fertile soil with refreshing streams flowing through it.
If last year looks like a desert or wasted space, praise God! You are about to look back and see that He made it easier to get through than you thought. You are about to be refreshed from what you thought was a wasteland.
The question remains, though; will you perceive it? Stop looking through the eyes of worry and defeat. Stop counting all the bad, start looking at things through redeemed eyes Don’t miss what God is doing in your desert wastelands; perceive in Jesus’ name perceive!
Pastor Chris
Pastor Chris
Sunday, July 3, 2011
What Will You Do With Your Freedom?
"You've come to fight as free men... And free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"
"Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live."
"Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!" (Braveheart)
What will you do with your freedom in Christ? Will you show the enemy that he can't take that away from you, or will you run and stay in bondage? Choose to stand up to the enemy and be free in Christ.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a toke of bondage.". Galatians 5:1
- Submitted by Brittany Wooden
"Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live."
"Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!" (Braveheart)
What will you do with your freedom in Christ? Will you show the enemy that he can't take that away from you, or will you run and stay in bondage? Choose to stand up to the enemy and be free in Christ.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a toke of bondage.". Galatians 5:1
- Submitted by Brittany Wooden
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Happy Dependence Day!
It is July and our nation celebrates its independence this month. I love the fireworks, cookouts and family fun associated with the Fourth of July as much as anyone. I just want to take a minute to reflect on another thought.
As our country celebrates independence don't forget to celebrate your dependence. As a Christian we recognize our dependence on Christ. We are not saved because we are smarter, prettier or better than anyone else. We are saved because of what He did for us. Without his love, mercy and sacrifice we could not know the joy of relationship with our Father. We are dependent on Him. The Bible says, He gives help to the needy, strength to the weak, the power to get wealth and every good and perfect gift comes from him. We depend on Him for salvation, health, wealth, joy, really each breath we breathe is a gift from Him.
Happy Dependence Day!
Pastor Chris
As our country celebrates independence don't forget to celebrate your dependence. As a Christian we recognize our dependence on Christ. We are not saved because we are smarter, prettier or better than anyone else. We are saved because of what He did for us. Without his love, mercy and sacrifice we could not know the joy of relationship with our Father. We are dependent on Him. The Bible says, He gives help to the needy, strength to the weak, the power to get wealth and every good and perfect gift comes from him. We depend on Him for salvation, health, wealth, joy, really each breath we breathe is a gift from Him.
Happy Dependence Day!
Pastor Chris
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Mustard Seed Faith
"If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move and nothing will be impossible." Matthew 17:20
My son, who is 10, asked me what the mustard seed meant and I started to tell him what I had been told; that it meant faith no matter how small could move mountains. Then I started to study about the mustard seed and found that it isn't about the size but rather the quality that is important.
The seed is so hearty it can grow and thrive in most any condition. It is various colors of white, brown, and black, and only 1% of a seed bag can overtake an entire field. It is the most persistent, invasive species and thrives regardless of the situation. I was reminded that it only took 12 disciples and their persistence to continue regardless of circumstance to spread Christianity worldwide.
So the next time you think, "What can I do, I am only one person", remember, all you need is "Mustard Seed Faith", the kind that persists regardless of whatever is in your way. A "field" of many unsaved can become a harvest of many.
Submitted by: Diane Carson-Smolios
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
My son, who is 10, asked me what the mustard seed meant and I started to tell him what I had been told; that it meant faith no matter how small could move mountains. Then I started to study about the mustard seed and found that it isn't about the size but rather the quality that is important.
The seed is so hearty it can grow and thrive in most any condition. It is various colors of white, brown, and black, and only 1% of a seed bag can overtake an entire field. It is the most persistent, invasive species and thrives regardless of the situation. I was reminded that it only took 12 disciples and their persistence to continue regardless of circumstance to spread Christianity worldwide.
So the next time you think, "What can I do, I am only one person", remember, all you need is "Mustard Seed Faith", the kind that persists regardless of whatever is in your way. A "field" of many unsaved can become a harvest of many.
Submitted by: Diane Carson-Smolios
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Clothe Me
Last week I woke up and it had snowed again, and I began to get so mad at the weather; it was starting my day of very badly. Then I looked outside my window and saw the peonies just popping up through the snow. The leaves stood straight up totally without regard to the weather, seeming to say, "Here I am ready to grow."
I was reminded of Matthew 6:28, "Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow, they neither toil nor spin." and how we are so often tossed in the wind. So often we let life's daily difficulties distract us from our purpose. This spring I would like us to remember that as it says in Matthew 6, everything is taken care of for us. We should focus ourselves on what our purpose is, not on what our problems say. So listen to your burdens and pray about how you can use your past to reach out and help others. God reminded me the other day that that my burdens are my own, my purpose, and others have their own. I do believe that we can all use our own individual purposes to bring together a unique purpose entwined together.
So, raise your arms and say, "No matter what, God, I am ready to grow."
~ Diane Carson-Smolios, Women's Ministry President
I was reminded of Matthew 6:28, "Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow, they neither toil nor spin." and how we are so often tossed in the wind. So often we let life's daily difficulties distract us from our purpose. This spring I would like us to remember that as it says in Matthew 6, everything is taken care of for us. We should focus ourselves on what our purpose is, not on what our problems say. So listen to your burdens and pray about how you can use your past to reach out and help others. God reminded me the other day that that my burdens are my own, my purpose, and others have their own. I do believe that we can all use our own individual purposes to bring together a unique purpose entwined together.
So, raise your arms and say, "No matter what, God, I am ready to grow."
~ Diane Carson-Smolios, Women's Ministry President
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Influence
Once in prayer I saw something in my spirit. I was praying and I saw a small clear pond. Then a stone was pitched out into the middle. The Lord asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "The stone hit the pond and now ripples are spreading out wider and wider from where it hit the water."
Then the Lord asked another question. "What does this represent?" Well I knew the answer and so I said, "This is influence, a small thing hit the water and the ripples spread out further and further. That is what influence is like. It might seem small but that small stone has lasting effects. So do little things like the words we use when speaking to others, or the way we treat others." I felt pretty smart and waited for God to tell me I was correct. He did not.
Instead the Lord said, "No what you see here and what you described is only the surface effect of influence. You did not see the stone settle into the bottom of the pond and forever change the make up of the pond. The little things you say and do can settle into the lives, and hearts of people and forever change the make up of that life. That is influence."
Now that can really shake you up if you think about the stupid things we sometimes do and say. However I was and am excited about the potential for good in this word. Little acts of Christlike love, compassion and understanding can forever impact the make up of a person's life.
Think about the influence you already have at work, or in your family with your friends. As a dad, a husband, and a pastor I know that I have almost unlimited potential to bless or harm people. On days when I spend time in prayer and reading the scripture I believe that influence is for the good more times than not. On days when I rush through or get in too much of a hurry to wait on God my influence is not always the best.
What would happen in our lives if we took time to really pray for God to guide our influence each day. What kind of pebbles are you tossing into peoples lives every day? Remember the surface of influence is ever widening, but the deep impact of influence cannot be seen on the surface.
God works in the deep places.
Pastor Chris
Then the Lord asked another question. "What does this represent?" Well I knew the answer and so I said, "This is influence, a small thing hit the water and the ripples spread out further and further. That is what influence is like. It might seem small but that small stone has lasting effects. So do little things like the words we use when speaking to others, or the way we treat others." I felt pretty smart and waited for God to tell me I was correct. He did not.
Instead the Lord said, "No what you see here and what you described is only the surface effect of influence. You did not see the stone settle into the bottom of the pond and forever change the make up of the pond. The little things you say and do can settle into the lives, and hearts of people and forever change the make up of that life. That is influence."
Now that can really shake you up if you think about the stupid things we sometimes do and say. However I was and am excited about the potential for good in this word. Little acts of Christlike love, compassion and understanding can forever impact the make up of a person's life.
Think about the influence you already have at work, or in your family with your friends. As a dad, a husband, and a pastor I know that I have almost unlimited potential to bless or harm people. On days when I spend time in prayer and reading the scripture I believe that influence is for the good more times than not. On days when I rush through or get in too much of a hurry to wait on God my influence is not always the best.
What would happen in our lives if we took time to really pray for God to guide our influence each day. What kind of pebbles are you tossing into peoples lives every day? Remember the surface of influence is ever widening, but the deep impact of influence cannot be seen on the surface.
God works in the deep places.
Pastor Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)