Blog 10-30-2009

Friday

PRaP 10-30-2009

 

“Being A Light”

 

What does being a light in the darkness in the name of Jesus Christ mean to you?  I don’t think I have ever discussed this with you guys.  This is the tag line on our web site at c2C Ministry.  Being a light in the darkness for Jesus Christ means to me what is written in the book of Matthew about being the salt and the light, the city on a hill that is always shining.  A beacon of hope for those who have only been in the darkness and do not understand the Light and fear the Light.  A gentle yet sometime stearn voice in the darkness reaching out to someone who is lost in their darkness.  A piece of sand paper that softens rough edges upon the ones who are in the Light yet still has that dark patch on their root.  Being this light for Christ is my world.  Him centered here with me that I may follow His will to share His love and His way and His Truth and the Life that only can come from Him.  Being a light to me is being flexible in what is believed without falling from the Truth.  Being a light is gaining the wisdom and knowledge of the world that I may serve Jesus Christ in the best way that I can serve Him.  Speaking the Truth no matter who is offended by it, even if I am offended by it.  Continuing to grow in Light that I may someday be with the Light and to take as many other lights with me when His time has come to return and be King of kings and Lord of lords.  Being a light in the darkness for Jesus Christ is not just a tag line on a web site for me, it is who I am and who God has chosen me to be, still being shaped and molded, still be educated and educatable, never closing my mind to expanding His kingdom for all who pass through these gates.  Will c2C Ministry cease to exist?  Only on the day that I take my last breath and am with Jesus in His mansion in the sky.  Upon that time that He chooses to do so will be the time for someone else to take my place and to follow the path that Christ has lead them down to begin their season as the light in the darkness in the name of Jesus Christ.  All I want is for someone to come up to me and mistake me for Him.  That my light shine so bright that when they look into my eyes all they see is Christ that lives in me.  That when they touch my hand that all they can feel is the Jesus that flows through me.  That the sound of my voice isn’t mine but His as He speaks through me.  That when people watch my walk that it is like His because He is the center of my life.  That is what being a light in the darkness in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

Matthew 5

 

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and Light

 13″You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 14″You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-29-2009

Thursday

PRaP 10-29-2009

 

“Acts 7”

 

Stephen a man of God speaking the Truth to the Sanhedrin the keepers of the law of his time murdered for speaking that truth.  But as they were stoning him he saw heaven open up and there on the throne was God and “STANDING” at the right hand of God was Jesus Christ.  Everywhere else Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God.  For speaking the Truth and not backing away from it Stephen received the equivalent of a standing ovation from Christ.  Do you want Jesus to give you a standing “O”?  Then do not stray from the Truth do not move to the left or the right but stay centered and your eyes on Jesus Christ in your walk here on Earth and when the time comes that stones are being thrown because you speak the Truth about Him who IS Truth will be standing in your honor to present you to His Father.  For everyone who shares Christ will be presented to the Father by Christ.  If you speak of Him He will speak of you.  If you speak the Truth and share His goodness He will speak of you to the Father about your goodness.  Listen to this as Stephen was stoned he asked the Lord to forgive the people stoning them and that is the key verse today.

 

Acts 7

 

Key Verse:

Acts 7:60
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60 (in Context) Acts 7 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-28-2009

Wednesday

PRaP 10-28-2009

 

“Anger”

 

What is anger anyway?  There are two kinds of anger, constructive and destructive, now each have a place and are caused by the same thing, human contact.  Someone has done something that the other didn’t like or it hurt.  What you do with that anger is key.  Holding on to that anger will fester and grow and will become something that you do not want it to be.  Anger can be dealt with immediately with words and a resolution found quickly in most cases.  When anger becomes overwhelming it makes us do things that we wouldn’t normally do and turns into sin.  What happens in sin?  God steps back because He will not be in the presence of sin.  We need to look at the root of our anger.  If we get to the root we can determine what action to take.  Is the anger because of failure to follow directions and now you are suffering the consequence of your action?  Well what do you do with that anger?  Do you lash out at loved ones?  Maybe you throw something across the room?  Do you kick and scream and throw a temper tantrum?  Maybe you are a screamer and a tongue lasher?  I have a tendency to fall in that category with much of my anger and I am working on it.  But there is another category of anger release that is not healthy and that is when you take it out on yourself.  Cutting, hitting, scratching or burning yourself is destructive in the extreme when it comes to the release of your anger.  Your body isn’t that of your own but belongs to Christ.  If you have given your life to Christ that means He dwells inside of you in your body and when you slash, beat, scratch or burn your body you are defacing the Temple of Jesus Christ.  I am not trying to make you feel guilt I am trying to help you recognize Newton’s third law of motion which says, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.  I know he was speaking of force in nature well it applies to us as humans as well.  I say it another way when I am speaking of anger and I quote Pastor Steve theory of anger, “for every action there is and equal or greater reaction”.  In anger you can sometimes get worse than you give.  The opposite force of your action can sometimes return in greater power than what was originally sent out.  So all that bibble babble being said what can I do with my anger.  In a situation that you are reaping a consequence of a failed direction you tell the one you failed that you are sorry and if the consequence makes you angry take it to God.  Take a pillow and scream as loud as you can into that pillow and let Him know how angry you are that whatever happened, happened.  If you sinned in your anger be sure to repent of that sin.  You can try to simply start counting backwards from 100 or 1,000, or 1,000,000 if you need to until the angry feeling is gone.  This doesn’t remove the consequences for your action but you will go into it without sin.  Don’t bang on the temple walls or cut or burn as all that does is leave temporary or sometimes permanent marks and all your doing is hurting yourself.  Even though you think you are hurting the one who hurt you they are not feeling the pain inflicted by your blows in the morning.  Parents these things apply to you as well if it is a situation of non-compliance do not make the consequences overbearing to the point of adding anger to the situation.  You can’t honestly ground your child for life and do not take something away for a week on the first offense.  Add one day to each offense that there is non-compliance and most importantly be consistent and decisive in your action do not stray to the left or the right when handing out consequence.  Children thrive on the boundaries you set for them.  Do not be a legalistic parent and set so many boundaries that only Christ Himself would be able to follow them.  Even if kids complain about the boundaries they do need them and want them but remember too mom and dad that your kids will grow up and those boundaries need to be altered and sometimes removed, I mean come on they can step over the baby gate now take it down.  The only boundary that I will not remove is the one where Internet activity is done, in a public room in the house with a parent close by.  Privacy only exists when you are in your own place that you pay for with your money not under the roof of your parents home.  Even then God sees all, hears all, and knows all, so how much privacy do you really have anyway.  If you can’t do it, say it, or see it with Christ then you don’t need it.

 

Ephesians 6

 

Key Verses:

Ephesians 6:1-4

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^{[a] 4}Fathers (Mothers), do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-27-2009

Tuesday

PRaP 10-27-2009

 

“It’s Been 8 Years”

 

I have been pondering this ministry and the work God does through it and the blessings He has given those who are involved.  I have been in ministry since 1999 and c2C Ministry has been on the air since 2001 but was under a different name until 2004.  Hard to believe it has been that long but it has.  I often wonder how long God is going to keep using this ministry to do His will and how much longer He will use me to pass on His message, believe me I have asked over and over again and I get the same answer “Stephen you are my son whom I love and as long as you follow my will you will be blessed.”  So I keep moving forward.  This doesn’t mean I don’t hit the wall on occasion.  I usually hit the wall when I am not feeling well or I have something going on in my life that is really heavy on my mind, so that’s like every day, but every time I’m ready to throw in the towel He will do something that will just blow me away and it touches my heart and I continue in His will.  Lord if You’re there I’m needing one of those!  I always look forward to the annual roasting, frying, skewing, barbequing or what ever you guys are calling it this year.  It does my heart good to be able to sit back and find out how you rrreeeeaaalllyyy feel.  Just kidding I know it is out of love that I get the ribbing and I know Pastor Mary loves hosting it each year.  She’s right by the way she does get roasted every week but I am sure I can slip one in.  This Saturday night October 31^st is the 8^th annual Roast The Pastor event on c2C Ministry radio and TV, you will actually get to see me blush this year “LIVE”.  Be there or be square.  For those of you that do not know yet you can watch or listen to c2C Ministry radio at www.c2cministry.org

We are making a change this year November 14^th will be our last live show for 2009 and we will be back on January 2, 2010.  The PRaP will continue during this time and the radio and TV station will still be on the air playing pre-recorded programming and Lazor Vision Radio will be on their regular schedule but we will be vacationing and spending time with family, so the radio and TV ministry will be on vacation November 15^th, 2009 until January 2^nd, 2010.  Christmas music will be playing from  November 26^th until January 1^st.

 

Malachi 3

 

Key Verse:

Malachi 3:16

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.
Malachi 3:15-17 (in Context) Malachi 3 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-26-2009

Monday

PRaP 10-26-2009

 

“By Your Faith”

 

God is good all the time.  As sick as I was Saturday going into Sunday I am well on Monday.  Thanks for all your prayers and your faith in Jesus Christ to heal me.  I knew the Lord would heal me quickly and I knew that my faith alone would do but when two or more come together in the name of Jesus Christ it will be done.  When you need prayer the people praying for you need to have the faith that it will be done as they have asked and I am so blessed to have prayer warriors like you praying for me.  When your head feels like it is going to explode and the light hurts and every sound is amplified 100 times you need a team praying for you.  I do not normally take any medications unless I am in an extreme situation so I took some generic otc sinus medication and the Lord turned it into migraine medication and healed me of the horrible pain I had.  I apologize to those who got the garbled text messages I couldn’t see the keys.  Thanks again for your prayers.  There are 40 places in the NIV that speak of “your faith” and here are a few:

 

Matthew 9:22

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
Matthew 9:21-23 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 9:29

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;
Matthew 9:28-30 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 5:34

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:33-35 (in Context) Mark 5 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 10:52

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Mark 10:51-52 (in Context) Mark 10 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 7:50

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:49-50 (in Context) Luke 7 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 8:25

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Luke 8:24-26 (in Context) Luke 8 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 8:48

Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:47-49 (in Context) Luke 8 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 17:19

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:18-20 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 18:42

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Luke 18:41-43 (in Context) Luke 18 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 22:32

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-33 (in Context) Luke 22 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-23-2009

Friday

PRaP 10-23-2009

 

“Clear”

 

Why is the world so stuck on color?  I think everyone should be clear!  Then there would be no way to judge a person by the color of their skin.  Well I guess we wouldn’t be able to see each other.  Wait we could see our clothes but then we would be judged by what we wear.  Wait then we could just make everyone wear a neutral color.  Well I guess then we would be judged by our size or lack thereof.  Oh I know why don’t we all just stop the nonsense and see each other for who we are, children of God.  I raise my children to never see the color of a person’s skin but to see their heart yet everywhere he goes he is judged because of the color of his skin.  I raise my children to know and love Jesus Christ and love everyone and treat everyone as equal yet everywhere my son goes he is ridiculed for that love he tries to share.  I teach my children to do as I do and to do as I say yet when they do people call him names and push him aside.  Father today I lift up all the children of this evil world who are striving daily to do Your will and are ridiculed or hit or labeled or judged because of what they believe.  Father may the ones who judge them be judged not because of their color or belief but because of their hearts.  Father I ask that you allow the Holy Spirit to lift up these children who love You and lift Your name to glory each and every day even though the people around them honor hate.  Father in the name of Your son Jesus Christ I ask that You shake up the parents and teachers of hate because I am willing to bet that many of them call themselves “Christian” but do not walk Your walk.  Lord Jesus bring peace to Your little ones and help them to be the best of the best of the best in their schools and in their jobs and in their lives.  Father bring them wives and husbands that are from You and know and follow Your ways Lord that they may be a blessing unto You alone.  In Jesus Mighty Name Amen and Amen.

 

Matthew 18:6

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:5-7 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 9:42

[ Causing to Sin ] “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.
Mark 9:41-43 (in Context) Mark 9 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 17:2

It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Luke 17:1-3 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-22-2009

Thursday

PRaP 10-22-2009

 

“Without Jesus”

 

Moses the man whom God chose through a burning bush that didn’t consume, David a man after God’s own heart, Solomon, the child king sought wisdom to serve God. All of these men chosen by God and were given much yet failed God through their sin.  Solomon after years of falling away from God said that all of his wisdom and knowledge and wealth were meaningless.  They were meaningless without Salvation.  God has blessed us so much and we complain and we want more and yet we are not willing to give anything back to Him who blesses.  All the wealth of this country is meaningless without Christ.  Everyone has fallen away from their first True Love.  This nation has been so consumed by their wealth that they have lost sight of where it came from.  The current president thinks he can just print more.  Where will we be without Jesus?  Without Jesus we are nothing, we are meaningless, meaningless, and without True value.  There is no future only a past, there is no today only this moment.  We have all sinned and fallen from the glory of the Lord but there is Hope.  You see without Jesus there is no hope.  Without hope there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no faith.  Without faith there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no peace.  Without peace there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no joy.  Without joy there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no glory to God.  Without glory to God there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no heaven.  Without heaven there is no Jesus.  Without Jesus there is no eternity.  Without eternity there is no Jesus.  So without Jesus this life is meaningless and empty, void and barren, without form and lifeless.  Without Jesus this would be a dark blue ball of water hovering in nothingness lifeless and cold.

 

Genesis 1

 

Key Verse:

Genesis 1:3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:2-4 (in Context) Genesis 1 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-21-2009

Wednesday

PRaP 10-21-2009

 

“Puzzling Isn’t It?”

 

Puzzles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and they even have 3d puzzles now which are so cool!  Once you have completed your puzzle you either take it apart and do it again or you glaze it over with puzzle glue and make it a permanent picture board.  Puzzles can be as easy as 4 simple pieces or as difficult as 10,000 pieces none the less they are puzzling.  The thing about a puzzle is that if there is only one piece missing the puzzle is ruined and cannot be completed it is an incomplete puzzle destined to be an incomplete work never to be finished.  You know life is like that.  I bet you saw that coming like from a mile away, didn’t you?  Life can be difficult for some and east for others and some of us take life and take it apart and put it back together again and some glaze it over with goo to make one thing stick permanently yet there are some lives that just can’t find that corner piece and get frustrated and give up.  But there are some lives that are just missing that one piece to be completed and they just can’t find it and just don’t know where to look.  I bet you saw that coming to, right?  I got a secret that I want to share with those of you that don’t have a clue what I am talking about.  I know the Puzzle Maker, the Creator of all puzzles we call life.  He has the missing piece.  You what else?  He wants you to come and get it from Him.  You see He sent His Son to give it to you but you didn’t see Him.  So He sent His Son again to talk to you but you didn’t listen to Him.  He came over to share the puzzle with you but you wouldn’t open the door for Him.  He wants to sit with you and talk about your puzzle and give you the missing piece that you have been missing for all these years but you have to open the door to your heart and let Him in.  The Puzzle Maker is Jesus Christ and He carries the missing pieces to everyone’s puzzle.  All you have to do is ask Him in and tell Him you are sorry for the things you have done wrong and that hurt others.  Really it is that simple, like a 4 piece puzzle all corners, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and you.  There now the puzzle is complete.  It’s up to you what you do with the completed puzzle.  I recommend you share it like I have shared this with you each and every day.

 

Hebrews 13

 

Key Verse:

Hebrews 13:16

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:15-17 (in Context) Hebrews 13 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Blog 10-20-2009

Tuesday

PRaP 10-20-2009

 

“Endurance”

 

How much longer must we endure the world and the things that go on in it?  When LORD will you send Your Son to rescue us from this place?  While we wait LORD we will continue to run this race and we look for You at the finish line.  Jesus we want You to be holding the tape as we victoriously cross the finish line.  Father we read about David and Solomon and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and how they endure and Father we know that Your love endures forever for it is written in Your word.  Lord give us the wisdom to endure that we may serve You better.  Father give us the strength to endure and carry out Your will that Your kingdom will grow.  Jesus show us Your love, that our love will have the endurance to pass down from generation to generation as You have loved us we too want to love.  Please forgive us with an enduring forgiveness for our continued failures and may our failure not endure.  You have told our brothers that if they obey Your commands and walk in Your ways and do what is right in Your eyes as David did You will be with them.  Well, LORD we ask that you be with us as well.  Jesus allow no evil to prosper in Your houses of prayer.  Lord give us the enduring power to continue, even in adversity, without worry and fear.  Father help us to give our tunic if our cloak is demanded us.  All of this in Jesus Name, amen.

 

Revelation 14

Genesis 8

 

Key Verses:

Revelation 14:12

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
Revelation 14:11-13 (in Context) Revelation 14 (Whole Chapter)

Genesis 8:22

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
Genesis 8:21-22 (in Context) Genesis 8 (Whole Chapter)

 

Jesus Bless,

Pastor Steve

Just A Thought 10-19-2009

If you can’t go into the sanctuary to find safety where can you go?  Just a thought.