SHORT BREAK IN BLOGGING!

For the next two weeks, I will not be blogging as I go into the hospital for a little surgery. I will be home recovering and taking it easy. I pray that God will bless you.

Allow these words from God's Word to bless you today - "The Lord bless you and keep; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

With His Love and Prayers,
Pastor Ron

REMEMBERING A GIANT MAN OF GOD

Today was a celebration of life for Lloyd Laughter (a Gentle Giant), a man who I have come to love and appreciate these last 10 years as his pastor. I have been around a lot of people in life and in death, but I have never seen the grace of God be with someone like Lloyd!

Proverbs tells us - "The memory of the righteous will be a blessing." Knowing Lloyd is a great blessing in my life and in many others! I will miss the Gentle Giant in our church! I pray that God will raise up other Gentle Giants to fill his shoes!

PRACTICE THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY!

Another Thanksgiving Day is over with all the food, family and connecting with the people that are closest too you. Today is Black Friday, the when so many people are out frantically buying gifts for Christmas. I want to encourage us not to forget the practice of Thanksgiving in our daily lives!

How do we practice Thanksgiving because being thankful is not always easy, especially when life is disappointing and frustrating.

Steps to practicing Thanksgiving every day!

1. REFLECT - Stop long enough to think about all the blessings of God in your life today and every day. How many things do we take for granted, and we never stop to thank the Lord for on a constant basis. (food, clothes, health, family, friends, church, and most important a relationship with Jesus Christ.)

2. REMEMBER - When you read in the Old Testament about the Children of Israel, we read that they were always forgetting God. Let us not forget that God is still working and in control of everything that touches our lives. Remember His Word, Remember His faithfulness and see how thanksgiving becomes thanksliving.

3. READJUST OUR PERSPECTIVE - How many of us look at our problems and get overwhelmed by life. The problems weigh us down, until we have no sense of hope. We need to readjust and see the God's Grace will see us through.

4. REJOICE - Means to choose joy. I have a choice! I can choose joy or I can choose being miserable, sad, discouraged, angry, bitter. The choice is up to each of us. Paul says - "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice." If you want to be a thankful person - start rejoicing!

5. RETURN THANKS - Psalm 107 - "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." We need to verbalize our thanks, praise to God. Let us begin to declare our praises to the Lord.!

Let us not forget that Thanksgiving is a daily thing not just an annual day on the calendar!

Thankful for you!

Pastor Ron

THANKFUL FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS!

Thanksgiving will be here in two days, and I am a blessed man because of what Jesus Christ has done for me. Being blessed does not mean that I have no problems, because I have problems like everyone else, but I am blessed because of Jesus Christ!

I am thankful for Jesus giving me a reason to live.

Here are some random things that I am thankful for.

#1. I am thankful for a personal relationship with Jesus, and He gives me a purpose that religion could never give. I am thankful that I have been serving Him since I was a teenager.

#2. I am thankful for my wife Emma. The Lord has blessed me with a woman of God, who supports, prays and loves me for who I am! I love my wife, and after 28 years of marriage, she is still my sweetheart!

#3. I am enjoying what I do and the ministry that God has given to me. At times, I get so busy, that I have to slow down and enjoy the people that God brings into my life.

#4. I am thankful that God desires to be with me all through the day. God wants to do life with me, not just when I am doing devotions or praying.

#5. I am choosing joy and refusing discouragement and dread. I am thankful for the choice that I can make because of Jesus Christ. I can choose joy no matter what is going on around me.

#6. I am thankful for the people that God has brought into my life to make me more like Jesus!

These are some of the things that I am thankful for today? What are you thankful for today?

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

Resting in a Wrestling World

I am going to share on something that Lord has given to me this week, of how to rest in a wrestling world! This was a portion that I was able to share with Lloyd this week. It ministered to me, and I want to share the principles from Psalm 37 with our church family tomorrow.

Please keep this message and me in prayer for God to anoint our heads, hearts and ears to receive from the Lord.

I am thankful that God is control!

Pastor Ron

WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE OF ME????

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God." I have read this verse probably a thousand times over my Christian journey. Different things the Lord speaks to us out of this verse.
- Do not be anxious - that is a word for us today! We get so anxious about the things that are going on in our lives.
- Pray about everything - that is the antidote for anxiety, and yet we have a hard time with prayer, praying, and seeking the Lord.
- But the one I want to think about is with THANKSGIVING. What will a thankful heart, spirit do in our spiritual journey. It will help us to be steady in the good and in the difficult times of life, realizing that Jesus is with me all of the time.

I have had the privilege this week to talk with someone that got some very difficult news, and that the goal of this person was to finish the battle well! There was no sounds of bitterness and anger towards God, for what they are going through. They had a thankful spirit because of all that God has done in their lives!

Not only during this time of Thanksgiving, but I want to incorporate with thanksgiving into my life!

Thankful for you,
Pastor Ron

FOLLOWING JESUS???

When you read the Word of God concerning Jesus ministry while He was one earth. When He came in contact with people, He would give them an unbelievable invitation. "Come Follow Me." Do we really understand what Jesus is asking of people when He gives them this invitation?

I think in our society today, there are many of us who change the words of Jesus around. Instead of us "Following Him", we change it to "Jesus come and follow Me." That is a big difference.

When we follow Jesus - He is the leader, and we do what He asks us to do. We lay down our rights to follow Him.

When Jesus follows us - We want Him to go with us, and bless us, and protect us, but we want to be the one in the front, charge. How many remember the saying - God is my co-pilot. That is the same idea - God is not our co-pilot. He is the Pilot. We have a wrong view concerning our relationship with Christ.

Our relationship with Christ is not about Him serving me, but that I am serving Him! That I am serving His purpose and not Him serving my purpose. What a big difference! We must repent of spiritual selfishness, where we think that our relationship with Him is all about us.

Today, let's make a fresh start to follow Jesus!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY?

Thankfulness is something that I want to increase in my life. We read in Psalms 100 - "Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING and into His courts with praise." What are you thankful for today? Only when we begin with thanksgiving and praise will we become alive with His presence.

What are some things that I am thankful for concerning the church?

- A RENEWED SENSE OF DESPERATION - As the chorus says - I am desperate for Him. I am thankful for people who are desperate to see Revival, Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, people saved and discipled, making an impact in this area and around the world.

- THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT - I am thankful that Jesus promised us the Gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us in living, service and ministry. I am thankful for the prayer language that God gives to us to connect with a living God.

- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - I am thankful for people who accept responsibility for where they are at in their spiritual journey....and willing to do something about it!

- PRAYER AND ALTAR - I am thankful for the prayer warriors in our church who are willing to stand in the gap and pray for those in need.

- MINISTRIES - I am thankful for every single person that is involved in ministry in our church! Only eternity will reveal the influence of your Spirit-filled leadership!

I am thankful for you reading this blog, and pray God will bless you in your spiritual growth!

"Give thanks in all situations, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR TODAY?

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and it is one of the best holidays of the year. When we are able to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. On facebook many people are giving the 26 days of things that they are thankful for.

What am I thankful for in the church? What makes a church become alive?

1. CHANGED LIVES...when dead people are being brought to life in Christ a church cannot remain dead. Changed lives will change the church. I am thankful for people that are coming to life in and through the ministries of our church.

2. HIS PRESENCE...His presence is what I pray for when we gather together. "In His presence is joy." I am thankful for His presence all of the time.

3. THE GOSPEL...the Gospel should be the agenda of the church, and not the newest fad or gimmick to keep people coming. The Gospel of Jesus is enough and should be enough for us today! I am thankful for the power of the Gospel.

4. GIVING...when we trust God to obey Him in our generous giving about the tithe, because we trust in Him. How can we trust God when we cannot obey Him in the material things of life. I am thankful for the many who give to the Lord in our church family!

5. SERVICE, MINISTRY...I am thankful for the many people who use their talents, gifts, to serve the Lord and our church family on a daily basis. If it was not for people faithfully ministering, we would not really be a church!

These are some of the things that I am thankful for today, and we need to see our church come alive!

I will continue these thoughts tomorrow!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

DECISIONS-3

I have been blogging about how to make right decisions in life! Life would be so much better if we just made right decisions on a daily basis. (Look at the consequences of one man's decision at Fort Hood Army Base.) 13 people killed and many others wounded, and countless families and friends lives that have been changed forever because of the decisions of one man.

How do we make right decisions:
1. Spiritual Considerations - How will this decision affect my relationship with God!

2. Internal Considerations - How will this decision affect who I am and what I am becoming?

3. Today I want to look at the RELATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS - How will this decision affect my relationship with family, friends and other people?

First - Would I want this done to me? If I make this decision how will it affect the people in my life? Would I want someone else to do this to me?

Romans 13: 8-10 - "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another...Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself...Love works no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Secondly, If I make this decision could it look as it is wrong even when it is really OK? Will it look wrong?

1 Thessalonians 5:22 - "Abstain from all appearances of evil."

Thirdly, Will this cause someone else to struggle spiritually?

Romans 14: 13, 21 - "Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way...It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak."

My prayer is that I will make the right decisions today and every day in my life, based upon the Word of God!

Let's get started by making the right decisions today!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

DECISIONS-2

Making the right decisions in life is probably one of the most important things we need to do. I know that at my AGE, I want to make the right choices in life. I want to make sure that my decisions are His decisions. The best place to be is in the center of God's will for your life and my life.

Yesterday I blogged about the Spiritual Considerations of making a right decision.
How will this decision affect my relationship with God.

Today - I want to look at the INTERNAL CONSIDERATIONS OF MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS. This answers the question - How will this decision affect who I am and what I am becoming?

1. WILL THIS BRING MY UNDER THE CONTROL OR POWER OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT ENSLAVE ME?

1 Corinthians 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything. (controlled by anything)

There are a lot of things in this world that are not sinful, but I must make the decision that I am not going to be controlled by anything but the Holy Spirit.
How many things in our lives control us? Today how many people are controlled by the internet? We can spend hours on line and not even realize that we are being mastered by it. How many other things control our lives - hobbies, sports, entertainment, even the church?

2. CAN I MAKE THIS DECISION AND DO IT WITH CONFIDENCE THAT IT IS RIGHT?

Romans 14: 21-23 - "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."

3. IF I MAKE THIS CHOICE IS IT BREAKING ANY PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS THAT I HAVE MADE?

James 5:12 - "Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your Yes be yes, and your No, no, or you will be condemned."

To make the right decisions I need to realize that every decision I make will have a consequence is my own life.

Matthew 6:33 - "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

DECISIONS

Every day we must make so many decisions. How do we know if we are making the right decisions and if they line up to God's Will for my life. One of the first verses I memorized as a child was Proverbs 3: 5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Those are words that I still hold onto today even as an older man.

How do we make right decisions?

Spiritual Considerations - How will this decision affect my relationship with God?

1. Will this decision bring glory to God?

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Whether therefore you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

2. Is this a decision that Jesus would make?

1 Peter 2:21 - "To this, you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps."

3. Will I be proud of this decision at the judgment Seat of Christ?

Romans 14:10 - "You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."

In making decisions - begin here asking: How will this decision affect my relationship with God.

Next time I will give some other considerations in making decision!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

THINK NO EVIL

I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful fall morning. We need to enjoy the sunshine, because it gets dark so early now. Let us learn to be thankful for the many small blessings that God gives to us each day!

I was given a book that I am in the middle of reading right now, and the title of the book is "Think No Evil." This is a book that talks about the need for genuine forgiveness in our lives. The author Jonas Beiler, writes about the school shooting that took place in the one room school house in Silver Mines, PA. Jonas who grew up in an Amish home talks about their beliefs and lifestyle. This is a good read for people of all ages.

I would recommend it to you and to your young people!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron

TEACH US TO PRAY!

When I read that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, that speaks to me today! The disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them to preach, teach, sing, run committees or how to do miracles. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray!

I want to be a man of prayer in my daily life. I realize that unless I have His touch and presence in my life, nothing of eternal value will ever be accomplished.

Why Should We Pray? (Love to pray)

1. Prayer is the communion of my soul with God!
2. Any accomplishments spiritually is dependent upon prayer!
3. God has chosen to limit His activity to those who chose to pray!
4. Our influence on earth will be in direction relation to our intercession in heaven.
5. If we learn to wrestle with God in secret, we will never have to lower ourselves to wrestle with men in public.
6. That only thing that lies outside the power of prayer, is that which lies outside the will of God.
7. Prayer is the only road to tranquility and peace in my inner man.
8. Prayer is the breath of the soul; when I breathe I live, when I cease to breathe I will die. Prayer is my spiritual breath!

I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to teach you to pray, as if your life depends on it! Because it really does!!

Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron