There are times in a game when a coach calls a time out for the benefit of the team and to get them to refocus and to get rest, so they can go back in and give it all they have to winning the game. I am calling a time out with my blogging and some other activities so that I can regroup, refocus and get some rest so that we can give it all that we have in this spiritual battle.
For the time being I will be taking a time out from my blogging, and want to encourage you to read the devotional "God's Word for Today." If you did not get a copy, pick one up at church, as long as they are available!
I encourage you with the words of Psalm 34: 6-7 = "This poor man called, and the Lord heard him, he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
May the Lord bless you with His peace and presence during this Christmas season!
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
THANKFUL LIVING
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and it is a great day to pause and give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness to us. Even when life is hard and difficult, we need to cultivate a grateful spirit. Thanksgiving is a matter of choice, and not just our emotions and feelings.
We read in God's Word:
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"Be satisfied (content) with what you have." (Hebrews 13:5)
"Do all things without complaining, grumbling, or murmuring." (Philippians 2:14)
Why should we live a thankful life, all through the year and not just on Thanksgiving?
- A thankful person is content with what they have, and not always focusing on what they do not have.
- A thankful person is looking to bless, give and minister to others. They are not selfish.
- A thankful person realizes that God is faithful to His promises when we walk in obedience to Him.
This thanksgiving stop and begin to thank the Lord for all of our blessings! (Psalm 103: 1-5)
I am thankful for you and pray that God will bless you with His favor!
Pastor Ron
We read in God's Word:
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"Be satisfied (content) with what you have." (Hebrews 13:5)
"Do all things without complaining, grumbling, or murmuring." (Philippians 2:14)
Why should we live a thankful life, all through the year and not just on Thanksgiving?
- A thankful person is content with what they have, and not always focusing on what they do not have.
- A thankful person is looking to bless, give and minister to others. They are not selfish.
- A thankful person realizes that God is faithful to His promises when we walk in obedience to Him.
This thanksgiving stop and begin to thank the Lord for all of our blessings! (Psalm 103: 1-5)
I am thankful for you and pray that God will bless you with His favor!
Pastor Ron
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE LORD?
I was at a meeting recently and I heard the statement that "We make Jesus our Savior once, but we must make Him Lord of our lives, daily!" Think about that statement. Do we make Jesus the Lord of our lives daily?
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings." We like knowing the Lord and His power of the resurrection. What problem are you facing that the resurrection cannot handle? What is dead in your life, marriage, ministry that the resurrection cannot fix?
Many times we stop right here, but Paul also said - "And the fellowship of His sufferings." That word suffering means more than enduring a bad cold, or have a bad hair day. For Paul, it meant being beaten, rejected, thrown into prison and a long list of other things that we cannot understand. But this is when Paul found out the love and intimacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that the Lord is not only close to me in the good times of life, but that He is also there in the lousy times of life. As Paul prayed - "That I may know HIM."
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings." We like knowing the Lord and His power of the resurrection. What problem are you facing that the resurrection cannot handle? What is dead in your life, marriage, ministry that the resurrection cannot fix?
Many times we stop right here, but Paul also said - "And the fellowship of His sufferings." That word suffering means more than enduring a bad cold, or have a bad hair day. For Paul, it meant being beaten, rejected, thrown into prison and a long list of other things that we cannot understand. But this is when Paul found out the love and intimacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that the Lord is not only close to me in the good times of life, but that He is also there in the lousy times of life. As Paul prayed - "That I may know HIM."
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
WHAT'S ON YOUR FACE?
How many people are a little out of sorts this week, especially because of how early it is getting dark. We can allow the situations around us to make us discouraged. Charles Spurgeon once said - "When you speak of heaven, let your face light up. When you speak of hell, then your everyday face will do." How many Christians need to show the joy of the Lord to others. We should be expressing the joy of the Lord to people that are in need of the Savior. That is the heart of missions.
How can we maintain the joy of the Lord, no matter what is going on around us?
1. Maintain a right relationship with the Lord. - If we are not right with the Lord, then we first need to confess our sins, and He will forgive us and make us right with Him.
2. Let go of anything that pulls you down. We need to loosen up and begin to enjoy life. Many things we have no control over, and I need to let God be in charge. Don't worry - Pray! (Philippians 4:6) Do not judge others, let God deal with them. (Matthew 7:1)
3. Begin to praise the Lord. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." God is worthy of our praise!
4. Begin to view your circumstances as God would. This is a hard one. But God's Word tells us - "Count it all joy when you fall into many kinds of trials."
Today - what is on your face????
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
How can we maintain the joy of the Lord, no matter what is going on around us?
1. Maintain a right relationship with the Lord. - If we are not right with the Lord, then we first need to confess our sins, and He will forgive us and make us right with Him.
2. Let go of anything that pulls you down. We need to loosen up and begin to enjoy life. Many things we have no control over, and I need to let God be in charge. Don't worry - Pray! (Philippians 4:6) Do not judge others, let God deal with them. (Matthew 7:1)
3. Begin to praise the Lord. "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." God is worthy of our praise!
4. Begin to view your circumstances as God would. This is a hard one. But God's Word tells us - "Count it all joy when you fall into many kinds of trials."
Today - what is on your face????
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
Monday, November 8, 2010
GOD'S WORD
Last night, our missionary was talking about the power of the Word of God! I think about how many times we forget the power of the Word of God in our own personal lives. God's word says in James 1:21 - "Receive...the engrafted word."
We need to allow the Word into our daily lives, as much as we need to get into the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is...profitable." This means that the Word of God should be making a profit in our lives. In the business world, if a company does not make a profit, it will not be in business very long. If you want to succeed in your spiritual life, then we must have God's Word in our lives. We must allow the Word of God to saturate our minds, thoughts, hearts, and our actions. There is no substitute for God's Word!
The Word of God is powerful and I encourage you to receive it into your life on a daily basis!
Are you being spiritually profitable?
We need to allow the Word into our daily lives, as much as we need to get into the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is...profitable." This means that the Word of God should be making a profit in our lives. In the business world, if a company does not make a profit, it will not be in business very long. If you want to succeed in your spiritual life, then we must have God's Word in our lives. We must allow the Word of God to saturate our minds, thoughts, hearts, and our actions. There is no substitute for God's Word!
The Word of God is powerful and I encourage you to receive it into your life on a daily basis!
Are you being spiritually profitable?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
SEASONS
This coming Saturday night, we will turn the clocks back one hour. I really do appreciate the extra hour of sleep that night, but it signals a change in the season. It is dark when you get up in the morning, and it is dark before you leave work. It makes for a long night and a short day. Seasons come and go!
We live our lives in seasons, seasons have a beginning and an ending. We need to understand that every season will come and go. Some seasons are cold and dark like late fall or early winter. But we look forward to the coming of another season of Spring.
In 2 Timothy 4:25 - Paul tells Timothy - "Be ready in season and out of season." No matter what season you are in spiritually in your life. That God is concerned about our roots going deep in Him and in His Word! Allow God to work His work in your life and be ready for what God is desiring to do in your life!" Keep walking with the Lord because He will never leave you!
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
We live our lives in seasons, seasons have a beginning and an ending. We need to understand that every season will come and go. Some seasons are cold and dark like late fall or early winter. But we look forward to the coming of another season of Spring.
In 2 Timothy 4:25 - Paul tells Timothy - "Be ready in season and out of season." No matter what season you are in spiritually in your life. That God is concerned about our roots going deep in Him and in His Word! Allow God to work His work in your life and be ready for what God is desiring to do in your life!" Keep walking with the Lord because He will never leave you!
Connecting with you,
Pastor Ron
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