I Will Grow Together With Others

Another beautiful day for church!  I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of rain hitting my window.  I love rainy days.  I love them even more when I can lay in bed under the blanket and cuddle with my sweet doggies (and kitty).  But, never-the-less, It's Sunday. I will love this rainy day even more by sitting with my family and listening to another great message at church.  My poor pups refused to go outside in the yard in the rain, so one by one, I put a leash on them, I stood on the front porch, and let them roam the front yard. They don't seem to mind getting wet if they are getting a treat.  Being in the front yard is always a treat for them. Spoiled babies!! 

This week's lesson was about growing in Christ with others.  Humans are made to have relationships with other humans. We aren't supposed to be alone. 

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
      Acts 2:46-47.  "Everyday they continued to meet together... They broke bread in their homes and ate together..." 

We must connect through RELATIONSHIPS.  The life of faith is lived individually, but it is not lived out alone.  You need people as you walk and grow in Christ.  You need those that sharpen you and help you group.  We are not called to grow in isolation.  1 out of 5 people who do not join a church group will leave the church within 5 years.  Those are serious statistics, people!  If you don't get involved, if you don't find friends that are like-minded and can hold you accountable, what is going to keep you coming back for more, week after week?  If you don't build relationships with the very people you are worshiping with on Sunday, what is keeping you coming back every week? It makes it easier to slip and miss one week, then two, and before you know it, half a year has passed by without you stepping foot inside the church.  No one from the church has called to check on you, because you chose not to get involved so no one knows your name.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.  The Power of relationships.

We must connect through MINISTRY. Know -> Go -> Grow.  There are many people in our lives in today's world (thanks to social media and the power of the internet in our hands), but we are having less contact with them.  our quantity is greater than our quality.  But it should be the other way around.  It should be: Quality > Quantity.  Change this!
2 Timothy 4:2-3 and Galations 5: 13-14

We must connect through TEACHING. Everyone is called to serve one another (server, waiter, roofer, etc).  We need to work together in a ministry for God.  Something great will happen when you come together and minister.  Join a small group; you can get lost in a large group.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 1 Timothy 4:12-13.  All Scripture is God-Breathed. 

An example of working together is the Golden-Plover.  This bird flies from Alaska to Hawaii every year in groups.  There is no where to stop along the route, so when the leader gets tired and winded, they will fly to the back of the group and a new leader will take over.  They are working together as a small group to get to their destination.  Power of relationships. It can save your life.  

 This week's challenge: Allow yourself to connect and build strong, connected relationships in small groups.  I WILL. 


Lord,
Help me to become a part of a christian group to grow an learn in you.  To develop relationships with like-minded Christians who all have one goal in mind- you.  Give me the strength and courage to join.  -Amen

It’s a Tough Job But…

…someone has to do it.  This week’s lesson was about working.  It was directed to employees and employers alike. 

Exodus 21 – you should be put to death if you own slaves.

Philemon 6

*Matthew 22:37

Colossians 3:22-25 “²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.”

Follow Christ as your first priority in life.  Don’t make it A priority, but make it the FIRST. 

Matthew 22:37 “³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Focus on eternity rather than the here and now.  Do not live by moments.  Plan. Think ahead. 

Colossians 3:1-2.  Your wants are NOT your needs.  Prepare yourself for the day you meet Jesus.

You know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord; but maybe not in the present.  By focusing on eternity and not just to live in the moment, You cannot focus on today only or the reward of just today.

Remember: You aren’t home yet.  Heaven is home.  Focus on that.

Allow who you’re following and on what you’re focusing o make you the best employee or employer on the job.  In your job; do it full-heartedly.  Give it your best, even if your employer does not reward you what you think you deserve.  Be genuine in your service, work hard, giving your best effort.  It is not about here and now, it is about the future and eternity. 

Earn our living.  Do not depend on others.  Do not take a short cut or find the easy way out.  EARN it.  WORK for it.  Work hard and give God praises for your hard work. 

How should you treat your employer/employee? Allow Jesus to lead you. 

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

Colossians 3:17

Ephesians 6:9.  Bosses are equal to employees in God’s eye.

Lord God,

Help me to know you and to daily work to be more like you.  Guide me to work hard daily regardless of my immediate reward at work; but to know I will be rewarded in you in eternity.  Give me the patience to do 100% all the time in all I do and give you the glory.  -Amen

And sweet Austynn drew/colored this for me while in church. 

Bluepint for Life

I didn't make it to church last week, and that was a bummer.  But I did this week, and once again, I got something out of this wonderful message.  I'm loving that each message is being spoken directly to ME.  Not sure why everyone else comes, the Pastor obviously has ME on his mind when he comes up with a sermon. ;) 

Matthew 7:24-27.  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The house that God is talking about is life.  House = Life.   
Every house faces storms.  Everyone faces trials.  God is challenging you on how and what you build your house on.  Do you have solid foundation of Jesus Christ in your life, or are you lukewarm christian who only knows who God is, but doesn't show it or grow in him?  

1 Peter 4:12 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." 
you are not alone. you are not the only one who has storms in your  life, and you are certainly not the only one with a specific storm.  Know that God is there for you, as is other people.  We are all facing battles, some are the same as others. 

Houses built on the wrong foundation will not survive the storms.  Concern yourself with what you are; not who you look like you are.  If you want to gain life, you have to lose it to Jesus.  Your life is a desperate life, you need Jesus ALL the time, not just when a storm blows through. 

Christ is not a quick fix for a desperate moment.  He is the only fix for a desperate life. 

Houses built on Jesus survive and thrive through the storms.

Without a good foundation, you will begin to crumble.  

1 Corinthians 3:11
Matthew 16:13-18

I am THE way

This Sunday, August 16, 2015, my sweet 7 year old beautiful kind-hearted hilarious niece, Austynn, was baptized.  I got it in video tape, and have a few pictures as well.

Of course her personality has to shine through in all that she does.  After the pastor Aaron dunked her, her mom and dad helped raise her up. This symbolizes that they will always be there to help lift her up and guide her through her faith.  THEN, then she decided to dunk herself.  haha. Double insurance, if you will.  The pastor said in all his years he's never seen something like that before, but he loved it.  It was great.

Also, this was our weekly discussion:

Sunday morning lessons don’t always apply directly to me, or get me to thinking.  Part of this lesson I felt like that.  First time since I’ve been going to church this year that I didn’t think the lesson was talking directly to me.  But I know it was.  And It might later if it doesn’t much this time. 

Still talking about the Sermon on the Mount; Matthew 7:13-14.  “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter it.  For the gate is small and the way is a narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Many people travel wide spiritual intersections that lead to destruction. People assume that by trying to do more good than bad that will help them get into Heaven. That’s not true.  Our bad will always outweigh our good deeds.  Doing good isn’t the way.  Yes, you should “do good”, as a Christian you want to strive to be like Jesus every day.  But just doing good isn’t your ticket to heaven. 

Few people travel the narrow spiritual road that leads to spiritual life.  This is the time to make a u-turn down the wrong road and head toward the narrow road of Jesus. 

Jesus is THE way.  He isn’t a way.  He is THE way.  Doing good isn’t heading toward Jesus.  Doing Good and believing, and praying, and showing others is heading toward Jesus.  There is only one way to God – through Jesus.  Grow to be more like him every day.  John 14:6; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9. You are driving off a bridge that is out and you don’t even know it. DANGER – slow down and follow Jesus.  Don’t be in such a rush to follow the crowd and get where they are going. Be specific. Your choices do matter.  Not all ways will lead to Jesus. WAKE UP!

Lord,

Thank you for another beautiful day.  Lord, hear my heart and forgive me for my sins.  I want to know you and grow strong in your knowledge.  Lord, please guide me to be more like you.  Amen. 

The Golden Rule

Treat people the way you want to be treated

We’ve all heard this saying a million times. But are you actually listening to it?  Are you really treating people the way you WANT to be treated, or are you treating them based on how you think they deserve to be treated? Maybe they cut in front of you at the supermarket and you get snarky with them.  Maybe it’s a car that forgets to yield to you and you lay on your horn and throw a few curse words at them.  Maybe someone is having a bad day and forgets to hold the door open for you as you follow closely behind them, and you mumble under your breath.  Or, maybe someone at the store bumps into you and you rudely tell them “Excuse me!”.  You are treating them based on their actions and how you think they should be treated when you feel like you’ve been wronged by them. 

That is not what this means.  Matthew 7:12 reads “In everything, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law of the Prophets.”  You have to ask yourself, “How do I want others to treat me?”  You should “Love your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind.”  (Matthew 22:37-39).  Loving God’s people is showing your love for God, and of God.  Loving God’s people brings you closer to being like God, which is what we should strive to do.

Ask yourself, “How can I model this Christ-like attitude toward others?”  Philippians 2:-3-5 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit…”  Don’t judge and treat others in a bad attitude because you feel they have wronged you.  They will have to face their own judgment one day for their attitudes.  Respect is given because you desire the same respect for yourself. It is not earned.  Everyone needs a savior, so share the truth with them by your actions. 

Ask yourself, “Do I demonstrate Chris by how I treat others?”  If not, then why?  This is the goal.  John 13:34-35 tells us to “love one another just as I have loved you.” It doesn’t say “Love one another based on how they show love for you.” It says “just as I have loved you”. We have sinned in God’s eyes every single day.  And he still loves us unconditionally and uncontrollably and is there for us when we need them.

Even if you are not a Christian, this is a good attitude to portray to others.  Treat people the way you WANT to be treated. Not how you judged that they deserve to be treated.  You are not the judge and jury.  Do not assume they are guilty and be rude.

This was a great Sunday lesson for me to hear. I’ve heard this so many times.  But I often forget to portray this.  When I left church, this was greatly on my mind and I caught myself wanting to be rude to a couple people when I went out shopping, and then I stopped and thought about it. I took a deep breath, and smiled.  If I can’t say something nice, I can at least smile at them when they push me or run into me with their basket, or cut in front of me at the check-out line.  I don’t have to say anything to them, but I can smile.  A smile goes a long way.