The Hurricane

As  I sit in my home this afternoon, without electricity, I am thinking about all that has happened in the last 24 hours.  Yesterday, I was working on getting the little things out of my yard and getting ready for the hurricane.  I am now looking out my window, as most of the storm has passed.  I was able to get out and drive to the church earlier.  What a mess.  Trees are down over the road, power lines are snapped and hanging down, the huge oak tree in the church yard is destroyed... WOW!  So much has happened in such a little amount of time.  I am reminded of a couple of things...
First, God is so big and powerful...I am so small and powerless.  This is actually reassuring to me.  I don't want to serve a God that is "equal" to me and my strength.  I serve a God that is capable of so much more that I can even fathom!  I serve a God that loves me and cares for me.  I serve a God that is bigger than my problems and bigger than HURRICANE IRENE!!  I serve an awesome God and I love Him!!
Second, I am reminded of what Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal (and may I add, where a hurricane can blow it over); but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (and yes, hurricanes don't destory), For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  (of course, comments in italics are mine)...
As we spend the next few days or weeks cleaning our yards and repairing the damages, let us be mindful that all of these things are treasures on earth.  We like them, we enjoy them - but they are not our life.  They are not what we worship or hold in our hearts.  Our treasure is in heaven.  Jesus already paid the ultimate price for us and offered us the opportunity for salvation...We don't really need anything else!
May we shine bright with the light of Jesus as we go through the next days and weeks remembering that the things on this earth may be destroyed, but we have the ultimate home awaiting us in heaven!

The Wheat and the Tares

Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

The parable of the wheat and tares…

There are a few things about this scripture stick out in particular:

-The tares were sown along with the wheat and this was noticed as they produced a crop

-The servants offered to gather up the tares – problem w/ that is some of the wheat would be taken up too

-The owner decides to let them grow together until harvest time…at harvest time, there would be a visible difference and the reapers could take care of the tares at that time

Jesus then goes on to explain that the field is the world.  There are good seeds and bad seeds living together in the same world…side by side.  Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the two…a tare can look like wheat…a wheat might even appear to be a tare

There will be a day when the end of this world as we know it will come and the tares will pay the price for being tares…the wheat will be in the safety of the Father – There is a DIFFERENCE!

What does that mean for us?  I take a couple of lessons from this parable that helps me

1 – We don’t always know who is wheat and who is a tare.  Jesus instructed us as it is written in Matthew 7 that we are not to judge.

We should look at ourselves and our relationship with Jesus Christ…we are not called to judge others relationship

Since we are sinners in a fallen world, we often can have tare tendencies…but we are forgiven and cleansed

We don’t know who the Lord is working on to make a  good crop of wheat…that is why we are to love all and to be what He has called us to be

2 – We are called to be faithful and obedient, regardless.  Matthew 25:35-36.  We could easily not give food to the poor, provide water for the thirsty, visit the sick and those in prison, provide shelter for the homeless, or clothing for those without…we could deny based on the fact that there are some who may take advantage.

How will we know if it was to the least of these??

Problem is that we don’t know…we are called to serve.  We are called to be smart, but we can’t NOT serve for the risk that someone may not be appreciative or someone may do what we wouldn’t want them to…

 We have to be willing to do as the Lord has called us and let Him take care of the rest…We do what we are called so that when we stand before the Lord on Judgment Day, we can know we did all we were asked…

3 – There will be a day where there is a separation (wheat and tares/sheep and goats)…You do what you are called to do and let the Lord do the rest

What are you going to do?

Through Christ, With Christ, For Christ

This has been an interesting couple of weeks.  I have been fighting this sinus/cold stuff for too long.  Last weekend, it tried to take over me.  I lost my voice and that is not the best thing for a preacher.  However, I have a wonderful church family who jumped right in to help.  Penny helped to open the service, Tammy helped to lead all the singing, the choir did an amazing job as usual, Nate and Jonah helped to lead the doxology and with offering, Lynsey read the scripture, and the deacons led communion.  The service would not have been the same without the willingness of everyone. 

As those who know me already know, I am quite stubborn.  So, I attempted to speak what the Lord had laid on my heart to share.  We made it through and here are some of the major points from the message:

We have been looking over the past couple of weeks at scriptures that many of us know well and can quote, but don't really stop to understand what the scripture is telling us.  So, to understand the full context for which Paul is writing in our scripture today, let’s read Philippians 4:10-19

Instantly, we pick out Phil 4:13 – but let’s look at all the Paul is telling the church when he says this…

First, he is telling them about something very crucial to the Christian life (and truly to life in general)…contentment.  That says that no matter the circumstances (good or bad), we are okay as long as we are with the Lord.  The grace that He has given us is good, no matter what.  We don’t require pretty, shiny things…we don’t need to keep up with anyone else or worry about what someone else has…

If we are content just to be a child of God and to follow Him, that takes care of many of the sins which can take us in so easily…lust, envy, pride, greed, coveting…

When Paul said that he could do all things – all things in contentment, just being content to be in the will of God…doing the right thing

Notice – he can do all things THROUGH Christ because He is doing the will of God…which means he is doing things WITH Christ…which means he is doing all things FOR Christ!

When we are in the will of God and following Him, we can do all things because He will absolutely give us the strength to do His will and walk in His way…

That doesn’t mean we have strength to do what we want, when we want, the way we want it…that contradicts what we just read…

We also read about how the Philippian Church supported Paul and the ministry…when they had the resources, they used them for his ministry because they believed in what he was doing. 

Because they were listening to God and sending aid as the Lord was leading and providing for them, then Paul was able to do the work of the Lord…

He told them that God would supply their needs because they were being faithful stewards of what they had been given…not because they gave to him…but because they gave to God and God used what they had

God absolutely gives strength to the powerless…provides for the needs of His people…but all of this taken into the perspective of being in the will of God and being content to be there…

No room for pride or envy or greed – just grace and love and joy…If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it!

As we consider these popular verses in the book of Philippians, let us consider how we can do all things THROUGH Christ, WITH Christ and FOR Christ!!

Trust in the Lord...

Life can be really difficult…There are so many things we just don’t understand and there are so many things going on.  Look at our market – US debt has been downgraded for the first time EVER!  The government can’t make a unified decision.  If the economy isn’t enough to frighten you, life can really be difficult on a daily basis…we see young people who pass away…we have people getting cancer at what seems to be higher rates…we have people all around the world suffering from diseases because they can’t get fresh drinking water…and the list could go on and on and on.  And we say, what is going on??!!!  We don’t understand it all – what do we do?

As I heard the news this week about so many things happening and listened to the report of the S&P downgrade, I am reminded of a verse that many of us can quote, but few actually live by.  It is like the verse last week – helpful verses but do we really get what the Word is telling us?

Proverbs 3:5-8

The scripture says that we are to TRUST IN THE LORD with all our heart – trust in the Lord, not when it is convenient or when it works out for us.  We are to trust in the Lord, not when we have run out of other ideas.  We are to trust in the Lord always, with everything.  Why should we do that?  We are not to lean on our own understanding…we don’t understand what is going on.  We don’t get how so many things can happen.  We don’t see the bigger picture.  We don’t know the plans of the Lord. ALL we know is that we don’t understand but we are told to simply TRUST.

Trust is what keeps us from worrying…keeps us from giving up…enabled Peter to walk on water and Paul to continue on despite really difficult circumstances.  Trusting in Him means we lay all we have at His feet…not just our possessions and goods – but our sorrows and our cares!  We are to lay it all before Him – give Him our all – walk in His way.  Does that means it gets easier?  No, it means that we have the Lord to guide and direct us and protect us through this mess we call life…

We are also told to acknowledge HIM in all our ways and when we do that, He will direct our path.  Obeying Him is not easy.  He tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who do things to us.  He tells us to put Him first and others before ourselves.  He tells us to help a brother and sister in need.  He asks us to give it all up to Him!

With all that is going on, instead of worrying about tomorrow - trust the One who knows what tomorrow holds and will lead you and guide you through any situation you may be facing.  It is amazing that we serve a Savior that loves us enough to care about our lives every single moment of every single day.  He doesn't leave you.  He is waiting for you to give it all to Him and just trust Him.  Trusting Him brings a peace that can calm any anxious heart.  Won't you trust Him today?

What Would You Do?

What would you do?  Maybe you have seen the show on TV.  It is where people are secretly filmed as they are put into situations that are controversial to see how people will act - whether they will do something about the situation or not.  It is easy to say what we would do…can look at the show and say we wouldn’t stand for this or that.  It is much easier to say what we would do than actually put that into practice.

I thought  about this show as I read an article in the Biblical Recorder last week.  Basically, Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is facing execution if he doesn't renounce is his faith in Christ.  The verdict has actually been confirmed by the country's supreme court.  As I read the article, it truly left me wondering what I would do in his situation, and wondering what most people would do…recant or die

What would you do?  The government has written an order to have you executed if you don’t recant your beliefs.  Just say you don’t believe – just say it and you are free – just say it and you don’t die.  In America, most of us will probably never have to worry about this situation happening, but should cause us to look at our relationship with the Lord and our trust in Him…

Are we willing to give up everything for Him?  EVERYTHING?  Easy to say we would, but much more difficult if it is called into question!

As I think of this pastor and many others who have given their lives for what they believed, I think of Stephen in Acts –

Acts 7:51-60 - Stephen was stoned for what he believed and wouldn’t back down

We read about many who are willing to do whatever the Lord asks and have lost their lives doing it – we could say that it is crazy…but is it?  What would cause people who call themselves followers of Christ to give up everything to follow the call…what would cause them to leave everything behind and dedicate their lives to Him?  What would cause someone to give up the life they have known…the money they make…everything just to follow…even follow to the end?

I believe that it comes down to understanding John 3:16 and exactly what God did for YOU! He sent His Son to die for your sins…He died for my sins…He died for you and for me…that is incredible!!

It is about this incredible love that is practically unspeakable and definitely not understandable in our small human minds…

Maybe the pastor and those willing to give up everything, including their life, GET IT!

They get that He loves them!  They get that He provided eternal life!  They get that life isn't about the stuff that we accumulate or the achievements that we make!  They get that this world is not all there is and we can't live like it is!  They get it that there is more to this life than just our wants and desires!  It is about something so much more amazing than we can fathom...It is all about HIM!

If you GET IT – you WILL work for Him in whatever He asks…  You will say YES to Him when He calls - no questions asked.  Where He leads, you will GO!  It isn’t about what have you done for the Lord lately, but about how much do you love Him…

So, what would you do?? Do you get it??