Just A Thought 2-27-2009

Life is like a pizza.  A circle all piled high with stuff and it is pretty much useless until it is put through the fire.  Just a  thought.

Blog 2-27-2009

Friday

PRaP 2-27-2009

 

“Are You Looking?”

 

What are you searching for?  If it is treasure you seek then open this Treasure Chest and you will search no more.  Is it peace you seek?  Then talk to The Peace Maker and He will give you peace.  Are you a worker?  Then talk to this Boss and you will work no more.  Do you need revelation?  I know where you can find Revelation.  Don’t know who to choose?  There is but One choice.  Are you sick and in need of healing?  I have this place of healing that you can have.  Are you dirty and in need of cleansing?  I know the Living Water that will cleanse you.  Sinner?  I know the Forgiver.  Lost?  Then be found by the One who is standing there with His arms wide open waiting for you to come to Him.  His hands give mercy.  His hands give grace.  He speaks Living Water.  He shares without expecting anything in return.  His love is endless.  He was there in the first day and will be there in the last day.  He shared His DNA with everyone in the world.  He takes life and restores it.  He gives breath and takes it away.  He feeds us when we are hungry.  He wipes away the tears from our eyes.  Are you looking?  I would like to introduce to you Jesus Christ.  The One who can do all these things and so much more if you would just ask.

 

Matthew 7

 

Key verses:

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-9 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:28-30 (in Context) Deuteronomy 4 (Whole Chapter)

 Jesus Bless you,

Pastor Steve

Just A Thought 2-26-2009

Why is it so hard to part with the cash?  Isn’t it just a tool of commerce?  You can’t have two masters.  You will love one and hate the other.  Just a thought.

Blog 2-26-2009

Thursday

PRaP 2-26-2009

 

“Giving”

 

I know times are tough all over.  Well except for the countries who have not jumped into the bed with Babylon.  This is tax season in the U.S. and also bonus time for a lot of people.  You get big fat tax returns and some of you get big fat bonus checks in which the government takes a big giant chunk of those bonus things I know.  Have you prayed about what you are doing with yours this year?  Are you going to stuff it in a mattress somewhere?  Maybe you have some repairs that need to be done?  New clothes a car a house or maybe you want to get yourself a boat or an RV?  Some of you are just happy you got a stinkin check.  I recommend a prayer time for God’s list of what HE wants you to do with that blessing.  If you aren’t hearing anything I think a fast would be in order as well because He does have a plan for that blessing He has given you and it is not only to bless you but to bless someone.  See that person you will bless is waiting on a blessing from God and since God uses His creation to bless then you are the one He has called to do the blessing.  Try doing something OUTSIDE the comfort zone.  Step outside of the box and try something new with your blessing.  In these times it is not difficult to find someone in need of a blessing that is for sure.  I know of many small poor churches struggling to make the electricity bill just so they can have church on Sunday.  Is there a college student that lost his or her funding because of a parents job loss?  Maybe you know a couple that is struggling to buy food because of circumstances beyond their control?  I could go on and on and on and show you opportunities but it is ultimately between you and God.  What is HE telling you to do with that blessing?  Don’t jump before you get all the details and talk with a trusted friend.  Just tell them that you are blessed and searching out opportunities and you may hear the same things come from their mouths as you think you heard in prayer.  What do I always say?  Pray Read and Pray.

 

2 Corinthians 9

 

Key Verses:

Proverbs 18:16
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.
Proverbs 18:15-17 (in Context) Proverbs 18 (Whole Chapter)

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless you,

Pastor Steve

Just A thought 1-25-2009

What are you giving up for Lent?  My son wants to give up school!  Just a thought.

Blog 2-25-2009

Wednesday

PRaP 2-25-2009

 

“Ash Wednesday”

 

According to Wikipedia:

In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the priest who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the words: “Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent’s way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one’s penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (vv. 5-6, KJV) Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13, and Hebrews 9:13.

However, some Adventists who do not celebrate Ash Wednesday say that the practice is not consistent with Scripture and is of pagan origin.[13] They usually cite Matthew 6:16-18, where Jesus gave prescriptions for fasting: “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (NRSV) These groups argue that Jesus warned against fasting to gain favor from other people and that he also warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting. For these reasons, some Christian denominations do not endorse the practice. Others, however, point out that this very passage from Matthew is the one, not coincidentally, that is appointed by the Revised Common Lectionary to be read on Ash Wednesday. They might also clarify that the ashen Cross on the forehead does not represent the fast, but the mortal (fallen) condition of human existence. And they would refer to Jesus’ words whereby he expected people to repent using sackcloth and ashes: “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” (Luke 10:13; see also Matthew 11:21)

In Victorian England, theatres refrained from presenting costumed shows on Ash Wednesday, so they provided other entertainments, such as those shown on the program at right, from February 14, 1872 at the Gaiety Theatre, London.

 

Thought this was very informative and wanted to share it with you.  FYI fast in private not seeking anything from man but for seeking wisdom from God through His Holy Spirit and being humbled having a repentant heart.  Wikipedia has lots more information on Ash Wednesday feel free to read and discuss.

 

Matthew 6

 

Key Verses:

Fasting

 16″When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

Jesus Bless you

Pastor Steve

Just A Thought 2-24-2009

Warranty expired!  Oh man now what?  Do you know Jesus?  Just a thought.

Blog 2-24-2009

Tuesday

PRaP 2-24-2009

 

“Checking For Updates”

 

Don’t you just love it when you turn on your computer and it says checking for updates or it is updating your computer in the middle of something important that you have been working on for hours?  Isn’t it great that we have a Father in heaven who is perfect never needing an upgrade or an update?  No matter what virus is thrown His way He can defeat it, eradicate it, heal it, quarantine it, or just flat out destroy whatever evil comes His way.  When we are weak we can go to Him and He will make us strong when we feel outdated or in need of an upgrade we go to Him for those needs.  You know every time you hit the button for an upgrade or an update on God the message comes back no upgrade found or no upgrade needed.  He is the same today as He was yesterday and 2,000 years ago.  So perfect there are no upgrades or updates needed.  It is only us the imperfect that need upgrades and updates and healing.  You have to pay no maintenance fees to Him to keep yourself in tiptop working order all you need to do is ask.  The beauty of it is that when your machine fails to function and there isn’t a local repairman, He recalls it and makes it perfect.

 

2 Corinthians 12

 

Key Verse:

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 12 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless you,

Pastor Steve

Just A Thought 2-23-2009

David danced to the point of ripping his clothes off.  Well not all of them.  How much do you dance for Jesus?  Just a thought.

Blog 2-23-2009

Monday

PRaP 2-23-2009

 

“Can’t Praise Him Enough!”

 

Ever feel that way?  You just can’t praise God enough for the things He has done?  I run into that problem a lot and sometimes I feel bad about it.  I want to give Him more of me and there just doesn’t seem to be anymore.  Cool thing is when I feel that way He will reach down and find it for me.  Just that little bit more and then empty I go to him and He fills me back up to a greater level then I was when i came to give Him praise.  Ever been there?  In His word he promises to not only fill us but to fill us to overflowing.  not only to replenish but to replenish to the point that we have no choice but to share what is given us.  He has promised that we will not be able to out give because the more we give the more we get.  To have so much blessing that if you tried to box it up the box would explode because you couldn’t give it all away fast enough.  To dance so hard that even if you pass out you’re still dancing unto the Lord in your mind.  To fall on the floor exhausted weeping with joy and trembling with the knowledge that your Father in heaven was pleased and sends His angels to comfort you.  Can’t praise Him enough!

 

Psalm 100

 

Key Verse:

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:3-5 (in Context) Psalm 100 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless you,

Pastor Steve