Good Morning: Tell them06 Mar 2009
'...I TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH HIM SO THAT HE WILL LET ME TELL HIM ABOUT CHRIST...' 1 CORINTHIANS 9:22
Josh McDowell writes 'An executive 'head hunter' who goes out and hires corporate executives for other firms once told me, 'When I get an executive I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then when I think I've got him relaxed I lean over, look him square in the eye and say - what's the purpose in your life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart on that question.' Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed with my feet up on my desk talking about football. Then I leaned over and said - what's the purpose in your life, Bob? Without blinking an eye he said 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless.'
There are basically five reasons why we don't share our faith more often, and not one of them will hold up when we stand before Christ:
1) We think it's the preacher's job
2) We aren't sure of our salvation
3) We fear being rejected
4) We've never taken responsibility for learning how
5) Our love for Christ has grown cold. But not Paul: he said, '...whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him'. Can you say that?
Blessings,
Pastor J.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday - March 5th
Good Morning:
'May you have the peace that defies understanding today.'
Invest what God's given you04 Mar 2009
'"TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER TWO, AND TO ANOTHER ONE..."' MATTHEW 25:15
In Jesus' story, the first two servants '"...went and traded..."' They pondered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and dared to fail. And their Master said '"Well done, good and faithful servant..."' (v.21). Here Jesus points us to the day when the '...earth and all its works [will be] exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment' (2 Peter 3:10). What's the point? Dare to take great risks for God! Not foolish risks, but prayed-over, well-considered risks in response to faith. The only mistake - is not to risk making a mistake.
And how about the third servant? '"I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground..."'(v.25). The first two invested theirs; he buried his. The first two went out on a limb; he hugged the trunk. He made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit. Others misuse them and give God grief. Some honour Him with fruit. Others insult Him with excuses. How did the Master feel about it? '"Get rid of this 'play-it-safe' who won't go out on a limb"' (Matthew 25:29). Fear is the opposite of faith. And, 'without faith it is impossible to please [God]...' (Hebrews 11:6). Bottom line: step out in faith; He won't let you down. Take a risk; He won't let you fail. Even if you fail several times on your way to success, God invites you to dream of the day when you'll feel His hand on your shoulder saying, '"Well done, good and faithful servant!"' (Matthew 25:21).
Blessings,
Pastor J.
'May you have the peace that defies understanding today.'
Invest what God's given you04 Mar 2009
'"TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER TWO, AND TO ANOTHER ONE..."' MATTHEW 25:15
In Jesus' story, the first two servants '"...went and traded..."' They pondered their options, crunched the numbers, took the plunge, and dared to fail. And their Master said '"Well done, good and faithful servant..."' (v.21). Here Jesus points us to the day when the '...earth and all its works [will be] exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment' (2 Peter 3:10). What's the point? Dare to take great risks for God! Not foolish risks, but prayed-over, well-considered risks in response to faith. The only mistake - is not to risk making a mistake.
And how about the third servant? '"I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground..."'(v.25). The first two invested theirs; he buried his. The first two went out on a limb; he hugged the trunk. He made the most tragic and common mistake of giftedness. He failed to benefit the Master with his talent. Some invest their talents and give God credit. Others misuse them and give God grief. Some honour Him with fruit. Others insult Him with excuses. How did the Master feel about it? '"Get rid of this 'play-it-safe' who won't go out on a limb"' (Matthew 25:29). Fear is the opposite of faith. And, 'without faith it is impossible to please [God]...' (Hebrews 11:6). Bottom line: step out in faith; He won't let you down. Take a risk; He won't let you fail. Even if you fail several times on your way to success, God invites you to dream of the day when you'll feel His hand on your shoulder saying, '"Well done, good and faithful servant!"' (Matthew 25:21).
Blessings,
Pastor J.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Monday - March 2nd
Good Morning:
Attention worrywarts!02 Mar 2009
''GIVE...YOUR WORRIES...TO GOD...' 1 PETER 5:7
A lady whose friend was a chronic worrier said to her one day, 'Do you realise that 80% of the things you worry about never happen?'
Jesus said, '"...don't get worked up about what may...happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever...come[s] up..."' (Matthew 6:34 ). Worry doesn't rid tomorrow of its sorrows, it just robs today of its joy. Plus when you make a mountain out of a molehill you end up having to climb it. A salesman who usually drove an old car and wore outdated clothes turned up at his office one day in a designer suit, driving a BMW. 'What happened'? his colleague asked. 'Remember how I used to worry about everything'? he said, 'Well, I hired a team of professional worriers; now I tell them my problems and they do all my worrying while I go out and sell'. 'How much do they charge'? his friend asked. '$5,000 a week,' he replied. 'How can you afford that?' his colleague asked. Smiling he replied, 'That's their worry, not mine!'
Wouldn't you like to have somebody to handle all your worries? You do; His name is Jesus, and He said, '"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens...I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). God promised, '"...as your day so shall your strength...be"' (Deuteronomy 33:25). That's because He only gives us today's strength for today's needs. Remember, it's impossible to wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. So instead of wasting today worrying about tomorrow, 'Give...your worries...to God...' (1 Peter 5:7), and get busy living the life He gave you to enjoy!
Blessings
Pastor J.
Attention worrywarts!02 Mar 2009
''GIVE...YOUR WORRIES...TO GOD...' 1 PETER 5:7
A lady whose friend was a chronic worrier said to her one day, 'Do you realise that 80% of the things you worry about never happen?'
Jesus said, '"...don't get worked up about what may...happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever...come[s] up..."' (Matthew 6:34 ). Worry doesn't rid tomorrow of its sorrows, it just robs today of its joy. Plus when you make a mountain out of a molehill you end up having to climb it. A salesman who usually drove an old car and wore outdated clothes turned up at his office one day in a designer suit, driving a BMW. 'What happened'? his colleague asked. 'Remember how I used to worry about everything'? he said, 'Well, I hired a team of professional worriers; now I tell them my problems and they do all my worrying while I go out and sell'. 'How much do they charge'? his friend asked. '$5,000 a week,' he replied. 'How can you afford that?' his colleague asked. Smiling he replied, 'That's their worry, not mine!'
Wouldn't you like to have somebody to handle all your worries? You do; His name is Jesus, and He said, '"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens...I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). God promised, '"...as your day so shall your strength...be"' (Deuteronomy 33:25). That's because He only gives us today's strength for today's needs. Remember, it's impossible to wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. So instead of wasting today worrying about tomorrow, 'Give...your worries...to God...' (1 Peter 5:7), and get busy living the life He gave you to enjoy!
Blessings
Pastor J.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday - February 25th
Good Morning:
How to fight so everybody wins (1)25 Feb 2009
'...watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.' Galatians 5:15
Healthy relationships aren't conflict free; they're conflict resolving. The problem is: we fight for victories instead of fighting for solutions. The result is: one wins, one loses, and the relationship suffers! Here are some practical insights for fighting so that the relationship wins:
1) Differences are inevitable, normal, and potentially beneficial. They're inevitable, because relationships bring together very different people. They're normal, because all relationships, including great ones, experience them. They're potentially beneficial, because handled effectively, relationships grow through them.
2) Here are three conflict handling styles:
a) the avoid style. These are the 'don't want to rock the boat' and 'let sleeping dogs lie' people. They fear confrontation, so they bury their feelings, not realizing they're buried alive and will rise again down the road. They go from clam-up, to build-up, to blow-up, inviting physical and emotional illness. Meanwhile offences accumulate, unaddressed issues multiply, and unfinished business erodes the relationship
b) the attack style. These are the 'get them before they get you' people; ruthless fighters who refuse to give in, they inflict terminal wounds on each other. The Bible says, 'If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.' Attack begets counterattack, both sides 'dig in' and nothing gets resolved
c) the approach-assert style. These are the 'no price is too high for a good relationship' people. They're sensitive to the feelings of others, yet insist on dealing directly with important issues. They avoid blaming, confront the issue, not the individual, and invite others to partner with them in solving the problem and saving the relationship!
Blessings,
Pastor J.
How to fight so everybody wins (1)25 Feb 2009
'...watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.' Galatians 5:15
Healthy relationships aren't conflict free; they're conflict resolving. The problem is: we fight for victories instead of fighting for solutions. The result is: one wins, one loses, and the relationship suffers! Here are some practical insights for fighting so that the relationship wins:
1) Differences are inevitable, normal, and potentially beneficial. They're inevitable, because relationships bring together very different people. They're normal, because all relationships, including great ones, experience them. They're potentially beneficial, because handled effectively, relationships grow through them.
2) Here are three conflict handling styles:
a) the avoid style. These are the 'don't want to rock the boat' and 'let sleeping dogs lie' people. They fear confrontation, so they bury their feelings, not realizing they're buried alive and will rise again down the road. They go from clam-up, to build-up, to blow-up, inviting physical and emotional illness. Meanwhile offences accumulate, unaddressed issues multiply, and unfinished business erodes the relationship
b) the attack style. These are the 'get them before they get you' people; ruthless fighters who refuse to give in, they inflict terminal wounds on each other. The Bible says, 'If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.' Attack begets counterattack, both sides 'dig in' and nothing gets resolved
c) the approach-assert style. These are the 'no price is too high for a good relationship' people. They're sensitive to the feelings of others, yet insist on dealing directly with important issues. They avoid blaming, confront the issue, not the individual, and invite others to partner with them in solving the problem and saving the relationship!
Blessings,
Pastor J.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday - February 24th
Good Morning:
Walking sticks and bedpans! 24 Feb 2009
'The Lord said..."What is that in your hand?"' EXODUS 4:2
'The Lord said..."What is that in your hand?"' EXODUS 4:2 NIV One of the biggest mistakes we make is comparing ourselves with someone else and concluding that because we don't have their particular talents, we 'don't have what it takes.' One day God said to Moses, 'What is that in your hand?' Moses replied, 'A rod' (Exodus 4:2). Just a walking stick, no big deal. Really? God used it to dry up the Red Sea!
Understand this: God can take something you've had all your life and thought was of little importance, and use it to accomplish great things. But that only happens when you are willing to acknowledge its potential, and place it in His hands.
There's an hilarious story about a couple of nuns who worked in a hospital, who ran out of petrol while driving to work one morning. A service station was nearby but they had no gas container. Suddenly, one of them remembered a bedpan in the boot of their car. The petrol was put into the pan and they carried it very carefully back to the car. As the nuns were pouring the petrol from the bedpan into the fuel tank, two men were driving by. Staring in disbelief, one said to the other, 'Now, Fred, that's what I call faith!' It appeared to be foolish. The trouble was, those doubters just didn't 'know the truth.' And were they surprised when those two nuns went past them on the road! The Bible says, 'Without faith it is impossible to please God' (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). It takes faith to see walking sticks and bedpans as 'the tools needed to do the job!' But when you give God what you've got, amazing things happen in your life!
So true!!!
Pastor J.
Walking sticks and bedpans! 24 Feb 2009
'The Lord said..."What is that in your hand?"' EXODUS 4:2
'The Lord said..."What is that in your hand?"' EXODUS 4:2 NIV One of the biggest mistakes we make is comparing ourselves with someone else and concluding that because we don't have their particular talents, we 'don't have what it takes.' One day God said to Moses, 'What is that in your hand?' Moses replied, 'A rod' (Exodus 4:2). Just a walking stick, no big deal. Really? God used it to dry up the Red Sea!
Understand this: God can take something you've had all your life and thought was of little importance, and use it to accomplish great things. But that only happens when you are willing to acknowledge its potential, and place it in His hands.
There's an hilarious story about a couple of nuns who worked in a hospital, who ran out of petrol while driving to work one morning. A service station was nearby but they had no gas container. Suddenly, one of them remembered a bedpan in the boot of their car. The petrol was put into the pan and they carried it very carefully back to the car. As the nuns were pouring the petrol from the bedpan into the fuel tank, two men were driving by. Staring in disbelief, one said to the other, 'Now, Fred, that's what I call faith!' It appeared to be foolish. The trouble was, those doubters just didn't 'know the truth.' And were they surprised when those two nuns went past them on the road! The Bible says, 'Without faith it is impossible to please God' (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). It takes faith to see walking sticks and bedpans as 'the tools needed to do the job!' But when you give God what you've got, amazing things happen in your life!
So true!!!
Pastor J.
Monday - February 23rd
Learn to live like Jesus 23 Feb 2009
'"...learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls."' Matthew 11:29
You'll notice that unlike us, Jesus didn't suffer from the fear of failure. That's because He never entertained the thought that He couldn't do something His Father had already assured Him He could. And He didn't suffer from a fear of lack either. Even though He lived a simple life He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? He prayed a lot, and stayed in sync with His heavenly Father. Consequently He knew how to catch fish when they weren't biting, or find tax money in a fish's mouth when He needed it (yes, Jesus paid His taxes!). Now God may not provide for you in similar fashion, but He's promised to take care of you (1 Peter 5:7).
Today Jesus is saying to you, '"Come to me...learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls [emotions and mind]..."' (v.28-29) Stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time; to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the situation over to God, we develop a 'backup plan' in case He doesn't handle things the way we think He should. Do you do that? You don't put your money into a bank then stay awake all night worrying about it, do you? Have at least that much confidence in God. Each time you begin the downward spiral of 'How? What? When? Where?' stop and give it back to God. Not the little God of your understanding, but the big God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask you, '"Is any thing too hard for [me]?..."' (Genesis 18:14). In other words; learn how to live like Jesus.
Peace,
Pastor J.
'"...learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls."' Matthew 11:29
You'll notice that unlike us, Jesus didn't suffer from the fear of failure. That's because He never entertained the thought that He couldn't do something His Father had already assured Him He could. And He didn't suffer from a fear of lack either. Even though He lived a simple life He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? He prayed a lot, and stayed in sync with His heavenly Father. Consequently He knew how to catch fish when they weren't biting, or find tax money in a fish's mouth when He needed it (yes, Jesus paid His taxes!). Now God may not provide for you in similar fashion, but He's promised to take care of you (1 Peter 5:7).
Today Jesus is saying to you, '"Come to me...learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls [emotions and mind]..."' (v.28-29) Stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time; to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the situation over to God, we develop a 'backup plan' in case He doesn't handle things the way we think He should. Do you do that? You don't put your money into a bank then stay awake all night worrying about it, do you? Have at least that much confidence in God. Each time you begin the downward spiral of 'How? What? When? Where?' stop and give it back to God. Not the little God of your understanding, but the big God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask you, '"Is any thing too hard for [me]?..."' (Genesis 18:14). In other words; learn how to live like Jesus.
Peace,
Pastor J.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday - February 20th
Good Morning:
It's time to get away 20 Feb 2009
'..."Come aside...and rest a while"...' Mark 6:31
Luke records: 'He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent"' (Luke 4:42-43).
Examine the life of Christ: the control He exercised, the criticism He evoked, the communion He enjoyed with God, then follow His example! Jesus said no to good things, so that he could say yes to the right things. That's not easy. God may want you to leave where you are, but you're staying; or He may want you to stay, but you're leaving. How can you know? Get away from the crowd and meet with Jesus in a deserted place. This word 'deserted' doesn't mean desolate, just quiet; a place to think, to pray, to hear from God, to refuel and re-chart your course. Hell hates to see you stop!
Richard Foster points out that in contemporary society the devil majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in 'muchness' and 'manyness,' he will be satisfied. He implants taxi meters in our brains. We hear the relentless tick, tick, tick telling us to hurry, hurry, hurry, time is money, resulting in this roaring blur called the human race. But Jesus stands against the tide saying, '"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). Will you come? Will you follow the One who often '...withdrew ...into the wilderness, and prayed' (Luke 5:16). A thousand voices will tell you not to. Ignore them!
Blessings,
Pastor J.
It's time to get away 20 Feb 2009
'..."Come aside...and rest a while"...' Mark 6:31
Luke records: 'He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent"' (Luke 4:42-43).
Examine the life of Christ: the control He exercised, the criticism He evoked, the communion He enjoyed with God, then follow His example! Jesus said no to good things, so that he could say yes to the right things. That's not easy. God may want you to leave where you are, but you're staying; or He may want you to stay, but you're leaving. How can you know? Get away from the crowd and meet with Jesus in a deserted place. This word 'deserted' doesn't mean desolate, just quiet; a place to think, to pray, to hear from God, to refuel and re-chart your course. Hell hates to see you stop!
Richard Foster points out that in contemporary society the devil majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in 'muchness' and 'manyness,' he will be satisfied. He implants taxi meters in our brains. We hear the relentless tick, tick, tick telling us to hurry, hurry, hurry, time is money, resulting in this roaring blur called the human race. But Jesus stands against the tide saying, '"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"' (Matthew 11:28). Will you come? Will you follow the One who often '...withdrew ...into the wilderness, and prayed' (Luke 5:16). A thousand voices will tell you not to. Ignore them!
Blessings,
Pastor J.
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