Step Into the Light

Main Scripture:

John 3:18-21

John 12:45-47

John 13:26-30

Additional Scripture

Exodus 10:21-29

I can recall as a small child my brother had an affinity for cookies. He loved all cookies, but Oreo s especially. So late at night, while we were all sleeping, he would get up creep into the kitchen and raid the cabinets for his favorite confection. No one would know that he had done this until the next morning. In the Morning light, they would arise to see that the evidence of what happen during the night. So after a few similar incidents of this, my parents told my brother that if they caught him eating cookies in the middle of the night he would be in big trouble. So with the next morning light, they arose and went straight into the kitchen to see if my brother had disobeyed them. When they walked into the kitchen they didn’t find the cookies in the cabinet like they were suppose to be; they were actually thrown in the garbage.

To this day my brother still won’t admit that he threw those cookies in the trash can, but it shows that many of us like to wait until it is dark, when we think no one can see us, to commit sin. If you haven’t noticed that most of our most sinful activities are committed when we think no one is looking. At night many of us become filled with Satan and go out to satisfy the sin of our choosing. Hoping that no one shines a light on what we think we are getting away with.

The thing we seem to forget is that God knows our heart. He knows what our true intentions are. We cannot lie to God. He knows that when you tell your husband/wife you are working late, that you are really having an affair. He knows that when you say you need money for money for food and you spent it on drugs. Nothing can be kept in the dark from God. He is the light and he will shine light on your sinful behavior

Many of us flee from church and God because we don’t want the light to be shined on our sin. We feel that God will judge us for what we have done and that what we have done is so unforgivable that God will not fix it. Allowing Satan to use us up and keeping us from the gifts God has given us.

God’s light is not to judge us but to save us. He wants to show you were you are falling short so that he can help you remove that from your life. He wants to grow you into what has planned for you. Some of us are letting our gifts and talents be consumed by the devil because we are afraid of the light My brothers and sisters instead of creeping around in the night thinking no one sees you. Flee darkness and step into the light! God’s wonderful light!I can recall as a small child my brother had an affinity for cookies. He loved all cookies, but Oreo s especially. So late at night, while we were all sleeping, he would get up creep into the kitchen and raid the cabinets for his favorite confection. No one would know that he had done this until the next morning. In the Morning light, they would arise to see that the evidence of what happen during the night. So after a few similar incidents of this, my parents told my brother that if they caught him eating cookies in the middle of the night he would be in big trouble. So with the next morning light, they arose and went straight into the kitchen to see if my brother had disobeyed them. When they walked into the kitchen they didn’t find the cookies in the cabinet like they were suppose to be; they were actually thrown in the garbage.

To this day my brother still won’t admit that he threw those cookies in the trash can, but it shows that many of us like to wait until it is dark, when we think no one can see us, to commit sin. If you haven’t noticed that most of our most sinful activities are committed when we think no one is looking. At night many of us become filled with Satan and go out to satisfy the sin of our choosing. Hoping that no one shines a light on what we think we are getting away with.

The thing we seem to forget is that God knows our heart. He knows what our true intentions are. We cannot lie to God. He knows that when you tell your husband/wife you are working late, that you are really having an affair. He knows that when you say you need money for money for food and you spent it on drugs. Nothing can be kept in the dark from God. He is the light and he will shine light on your sinful behavior

Many of us flee from church and God because we don’t want the light to be shined on our sin. We feel that God will judge us for what we have done and that what we have done is so unforgivable that God will not fix it. Allowing Satan to use us up and keeping us from the gifts God has given us.

God’s light is not to judge us but to save us. He wants to show you were you are falling short so that he can help you remove that from your life. He wants to grow you into what has planned for you. Some of us are letting our gifts and talents be consumed by the devil because we are afraid of the light My brothers and sisters instead of creeping around in the night thinking no one sees you. Flee darkness and step into the light! God’s wonderful light!

The Butterfly Effect

Scripture
Luke 10:25-37

Additional Scriptures
1 Corinthians 3:7-9

I was having a conversation with a person close to me the other day and they asked what I was doing. I said I was watching the news. They said “ Why are you watching that?” “The news is depressing.” I told her there is some good news on there every once in a while. So I actually found a story yesterday that was quite excited.
In Philadelphia at the Aramingo diner a anonymous couple was eating their meal upon completion of their meal. They paid their bill as well as the bill of the table next to theirs. They didn't give any reason they just paid the bill and left without incident. The next couple reach the counter with the intent to pay for their meal. Upon hearing that the couple prior had already paid. They returned the favor to the next table and so on and so forth. This act of generosity continued on for 5 hours. One of the waitresses said she had tears in her eyes to see what people were doing
This also reminded me of the story of a guy name Larry Stewart. At one point in Larry's life he was homeless. One day he was hungry and went into a diner to eat knowing he had no option to pay. So after he ate his meal he began to shuffle through his pockets pretending that he couldn't find his wallet. A stranger came up behind him and pretended to find $20 under his seat. Larry was so impressed with this stranger's kindness he said that he would one day return the favor. So things for Larry improved he ended up becoming quite wealthy. He didn't forget the kindness of that stranger and during Christmas time he would walk around town just looking for people that could use a little help and give them $100. He would just give the money and disappear as quick as he came. When the news media found out about Larry's kindness that wanted to publish stories about him and his picture, but he refused and asked to remain anonymous until after his death. It is said that during his lifetime he donated more than 1.3 million during his lifetime. Larry died in 2007, but the spirit of his giving hasn't stopped there is a man calling himself Elf 32A has continued what Larry started.
I share these stories with you because it shows that one person could start something that can grow to be bigger than themselves with God as your help. I am sure the guy who helped Larry and the anonymous couple didn't realize that they would set off a hurricane of generosity. Much like it's said a butterfly can flap it's wings in china and cause a hurricane in the United States. The same can be done with Kindness. From the scripture , we see, the lawyer was trying to trap Jesus. So he told him the story of the Good Samaritan. he saw that the one who shows mercy on his brother is the right one. Someone showed mercy to Larry. The man who showed mercy to someone that thought he was better than him. When the people who were suppose to look out for him passed him by like they didn't see him. So it is with that spirit,that guy who helped Larry and the anonymous couple helped set off a hurricane of love and generosity in other people's lives. They had no idea that this would happen. Like the verse in Corinthian they just planted the seed and let God handle the rest. So as you go out and about this Christmas season. I hope that you look for ways to flap your wings and set off a hurricane of love and generosity in someone's life.

A Willing Vessel

Scriptures:
Isaiah 7:13-17; Luke 1:30-38

Background Scriptures:
Luke 1:11-20


This being Christmas time we often look at the story of Jesus' birth. Which is very important in the Christian faith. If you read in Isiah you will see that Isiah had a prophetic the coming of Jesus. As well as told the current king that before his own son arrives in the world that the king would be defeated. This is also viewed prophecies of the coming messiah.
If we now look at Luke's account of Jesus' birth. We see that Mary is visited by the angel Gabrielle. He tells her that God has found favor with her and that she will give birth to a child and his name shall be Jesus. She did meet this announcement with some doubt, noting she was yet still a virgin. Once the angel explained to her that nothing was impossible for God. After hearing this she submits to the will of God.
Around the same time the angel Gabrielle visited the priest Zechariah in temple praying. The angel told him that him and his wife would have a child and gave him his name. He also had doubted saying that how could he be sure of this, he and his wife were too old to have children. The angel told him that for his unfaithfulness he would be made mute until the time it would take for these things to come to past.
Now let's compare these last two accounts. I am sure the first thing I noticed is that both of these accounts is that both Zechariah and Mary is that they both showed some doubt, but it seems that Zechariah received punishment for his disbelief. . Back in those days only the priest could enter into the temple to talk to God. So when he entered into the temple to pray he should have been expecting to hear from God. Mary was a poor girl, who wondered why God would pick her out f all the people he could have chosen. She was told by the angel that God can do anything. She said that she was God's servant a was willing to do what God wanted. I am sure that Mary had doubt and in her day she could have had a hard life having a baby out of wedlock, but she did what we all should do when we are called by God to do his work That is simply a yes. If you go through The Bible you see many examples of missions God has called people who didn't seem to want to do. You have to remember God's missions are God size. Just keep in mind that God can do all things, but the one if only thing he wants from us is our Yes. A willingness to do whatever God has called us to do. If you look at your life I am sure you've heard God tell you to do something. All he wants is a willing vessel to do his work. Will you be a willing vessel to the will of God. Can God count on your Yes?

Who Do You Work For

Main scripture
Ecclesiastes 2
Supporting Scriptures
1 King 3-11
Ecclesiastes 5:10-17

Most Christians have heard of King Solomon. Th biggest things we remember is how he was so wise and such a mighty king. If you read about Solomon's beginning he was quite young when he took the throne. God came o him and asked Solomon and asked him anything that he wanted he would give to him, but all he asked for was a discerning spirit to be able to rule justly. God was so impressed with his answer that he said he would make him, not only, the wisest king, but one of the richest and most powerful. If you ready through 1Kings 3-11 you'll all the power, wealth and blessing God bestowed upon him.
Now here in Ecclesiastes we find Solomon seemingly later in his life doing an assessment of everything he has does and all they ways he has tried to make himself happy. From his own account he has tried everything possible. He built many things for himself and to God. He had the finest wines, he had the largest herd of animals. The most slaves and a harem that would satisfy any man, but he found no pleasure in any of it. He continually says how all these things are meaningless. Even the wisdom he asked for was yet still meaningless because wise or fully foolish we all have to die and no one remembers the fool more than the wise. He even seemed troubled with whom he had to leave his possessions to. Because since he or she didn't work for it they won't appreciate the effort it took to acquire it. So Solomon seems very troubled by his current circumstance
Now many of us often ask God for all these worldly possessions: fancy cars, diamond rings, new houses and even promotions, but that is meaningless. Because like Solomon noticed said in Ecclesiastes 5:16 This too is a grievous evil: As a mam comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? In other words you can't take it with you. So why spend so much time stressing about worldly possessions. It's OK to want things and to have goals and ambition, but most importantly remember who you work for.
By that I mean remember that God is who you work for and he is the only one that can save you. You can spend all your time chasing after all these things that don't matter. You really should take time to chase after the one thing that can sustain you. That is God. So as you go on today and think about all the things that you have on your “to do” or “honey do” list remember do these things uplift God and bring him glory. In your day have you did something to show one of God's children that you care about them and let the light of God shine through you. Please keep that in mind as we embark upon this Christmas season which usually is measured by how much you can spend on gifts. Think about how much of God's love you can spend on others.

A Restful Place

If you read the previous blog you heard me talk about my own personal struggles when it comes to some situations in my life. This is for those like me that are learning that God’s grace is sufficient and I tend to think that’s a lot of us. I know that many of us just want to find a place of rest. Everyone wants a place they can go and just get away from it all. Some of us do that with hiking or fishing and others just a long bath. A friend of mine has his own place of rest he like to call his “Man Room”. The man room is a small building right behind his house that probably was once a workshop. Much like the original owner the “Man Room” has been a place where my friend and he predecessor went to get away, their own private oasis that they can escape the troubles of the day from. We need to know that God has a place for us to come and go and rest and leave all the troubles of the world behind. The best thing is it is always open and always available if you choose to take advantage of it. The question you maybe asking your self is how do I get in? That is question is good, but I told you it is always open so let’s ponder what keeps you out of God’s restful place
There are three things that generally keep us out of God’s restful place. The first is Not being sincere or lack of reverence for God. If you look at Exodus 3:45, Exodus 26:30-34 and Luke 23:45-44. The first verse in Exodus speaks to God speaking to Moses through the burning bush. If you remember the account Moses was tending his heard we came across a bush on fire but not being consumed Then he heard the voice of the Lord call out to him, telling him to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground. That’s how we need to come to God if we intend to enter his place of rest with reverence and sincerity. When you pray do you pray as if you’re praying to the Master of the Universe. The God who spoke the world into existence? Yes God allows you to speak to him the best way you know how and the best prayers sometimes don’t
have many words, but let God know that he is “The Great I am”. When you talk to God be sure that you do it from a sincere heart. Because he knows your heart and knows when you’re just going through the motions and when you are serious about what you’re saying. So keep that in your thoughts.
The second thing that keeps us from God’s place of rest is schemes of the enemy. Now I know a lot of you might think that the Devil does not exist, but have you ever noticed that when you take a step towards God and a step towards the right thing how much things start to get shaken up in your life. That is the goal of the enemy to keep you from tapping into the Power of God. He looks to keep you from that rest you seek. I can remember at my most depressed and down. I wouldn’t want to go to church or be around my church members. I locked myself away from the world. I come to realize that in those moments is when I really needed to be in church and around my church family. They have helped me through a lot of my issues. Sometimes we let these things keep us from gaining what God is trying to offer us. We could have rest but we need to do like what is said in Ephesians 6:10-11 that we need to put on the whole armor of God. Because with him he can help us overcome the enemy.
The last and final thing that keeps us from that place of rest is we come to God half-hearted and don’t follow it through to the end. Matthew 7:7-8 Speak directly to that. We need to seek God’s rest with
a relentless spirit. We can’t come to him half-hearted and expect peace we need to chase that peace as if our life depended on it. I recalled the day I made it to Ebenezer. The night before I was so caught up in my situation I was tired run down and beat up. I woke that Sunday morning with a fire burning in me. I knew that I needed God’s rest and I searched the Internet and set off on an hour and half journey just to make it church that morning. Nothing was going to keep me away from God that day. That’s the same fire we all need when it
come to our rest.
I know that many of us long for a little corner of the earth that they can journey to get away from it all. We all want a “Man Room” of our own. We have that, with God. We just have to not let anything or you keep us from it. I know life bring things on us that we don’t see coming, but as it says in Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us.

Forgetting The Past

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16

I am a father of two kids a boy and a girl. They are young in age only six and four years old. Virtually at the begining of thier lives. What saddens me more than anything is that I have not been in their lives as much as I would like. I have lived with both of them only for short periods of time, but nothing that, in my mind, I would consider substantial amount of time. THis has caused me great pain. This is also the main thing that keeps me close to God. So in a sense what causes me the the most pain is the one that keep me contiueually seeking Him. I have to admit from time to time the pressures of life get to me and I find it hard to handle such a heavy burden. The weight of me not being the man and the father that I thought I would be gets to me and i often become depressed and distant. From friends and even family members.

My Pastor has been challenging all the members to do five minutes of studying in the morning and five minutes before we go to bed. Now, five minutes, by most standards, is not that much time and it would seem everyone could do this. I have to be honest, I have found this to be a bit of a challenge. Not because the desire is not there, but because of all the things of life I have distracting me. Mostly it has been the thought of being away from my children, but it doesn't take much for us to talk ourselves out of things. This week I have been attempting to live up to this challenge and read both in the morning and at night. Then I take time to pray and hear from God. To help me out in the study of the scriptures is the "Our Daily Bread" books. On this particular day I came across a verse that spoke volumes to me and my situation.

The verse was Philippians 3:12-16, but I really want to focus on the thirteenth and fourteenth verses. Which read, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on towards the goal and win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" I really feel these verses could be a blessing to all of us. All of us have done things we weren't necessarily proud of. From time to time these ghost, from the past, come up and haunt you much the way my past haunts me. If you look at what the Apostle Paul was saying it should give you great encouragement. From reading this I realized that I can no longer let my past haunt me

God has a plan for all of our lives and once you get save he is no longer concerned with what you have done before you came to Christ. If we use the writer for an example God took his greatest gift which was his zeal for doing what he thought right and used it to build his church. I am in no way suggesting that my faith or walk is like the Apostle Paul, like him I have a past, but unlike him I let my past trouble me. We all need to let go of our past because it is all forgotten. We need to look towards the future and what God has planned for us. His grace should be sufficient for all of us. I know that it is hard not to think on the mistakes you made, but it is when you do as I have and let these things weight you down that you miss out on your blessing

I share these things with you my friends because I know how it feels t be burden and troubled. To look back over your life and say "How, did I let things get this far?" but i am here to encourage you and tell you God has forgotten it and so should you. Because he can fix it and his grace is sufficient. I am like all of you, a work int progress, and just ask that we all remember that your past is the past for a reason. Romanticizing about things that are no more will get you no where. We have to let go and let God have it.