Give Up

GIVE UP

It's easy to give up isn't it? It's alot easier to throw in the towel, stop trying, and not make any effort. Why do you think so many people don't change their lifestyle, habits, or situations? Because they give up. People don't stop smoking, lose weight, fix their marriage, or better parent their children because it's easier to ignore, look the other way, live in denial, or just simply give up.

However when you give up that way, your problems never give up, they continue and continue and they get worse, deteriorate, and pile up.

I've been there, I am there. It's easy to give up on ourselves and our problems. Well I am telling you today to GIVE UP, but I am not talking about this kind of giving up, I am telling you to GIVE UP your problems to God.

That's a totally different type of giving up. When you GIVE UP your problems to God, you are saying my problems or issue or struggle is too big for me to handle on my own, I need help, I can't do it alone. Until you get to this point, then things aren't going to change. Well they will change, but only for the worse.

God wants us to give up control of our lives and situations to Him. God alone is the answer. Now, I am not saying God wants us to just dump our stuff in His lap and we are done. We have t0 accept responsibility for our actions if we've caused the problem(s) in our lives. And God also expects us to take ownership of our lives. Also, when we give up things to God, we are giving Him permission to come and work in our lives and our situation, whatever it is. We give up control of trying to fix it, however, God really wants us to partner with Him. He desires us to make an effort to learn, grow, mature, and deepen our faith in Him as He works in our lives and situation.

The more we GIVE UP to God the more He is in control. The more control He has in our lives, the more He can and will do. Giving Up to God is totall surrender of our will, but it also requires us to do our part. To pray, to study, to be obedient, and depending on the situation it will require us to do part of the work. It may mean God requiring us to confront someone, it may mean us changing habits, or friends, or jobs? It may mean we develop new attitudes, or attributes? I don't know what it means for you or me,it depends on our situation, problem, or issue. Whatever it means, we must totally surrender ourselves to God and then ALLOW Him to work in our lives.

Surrending to God is giving Him control, but it's not giving up on ourselves or our responsibility to respond to God's leading. If we GIVE UP things to God it still will require us to work, obey, make effort, and change. The more we GIVE UP to God the more He is able to work in our lives and our situations, but GIVING UP to God is not GIVING UP as stop trying or being defeated.

Giving UP to God is actively realizing we can't do it alone and we NEED God in ALL things, not just the good times and not just for our wishes and wants. God is a God of TOTAL relationship.

He wants to be in our ENTIRE lives, but will only be in our lives when INVITED.

GIVE UP yourself and your problems, struggles, issues, and situations to God today and let Him lead and guide you through them and see how they change or maybe how you change. When you can't do it, and when things seem hopeless, God ALWAYS can according to His Will and His time and through it, as we give up to God, He will grow us, heal us, mature us, and help us. He always knows what we need and what is best for us, and though it may not always be popular, comfortable, or what we want or how we want it, we can have peace, when we GIVE UP to God we are doing what is best.

Psalm 79:9Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.

Know it All

Know It All


We know there is no shortage of people with opinions about our lives, how we should live, what we should do, how we should handle situations. The problem is however, that it's very easy to give advice or know how to respond to a situation when you are not the one living it.

It also very easy to have an opinion when you don't know all the facts or haven't experienced what the person is going through. For instance, It's easy for me to tell someone to stay married to an abusive spouse, when I don't know what that is like. It's easy for someone to tell you to get a divorce when they've been divorced 5 times. I can't tell you I know how you feel when your dad dies, when my dad is still living. You can't give me good advice on my job when you've not worked there or had to deal with the things I've dealt with there.

However, we live in a society where people are heavy on advice and short on wisdom. I've been just as guilty. Someone will start sharing a problem with us, and before you know it we are pouring our advice on them, without taking the time to listen, maybe pray with them, or just pu ourselves in their shoes.


I've had people come to me with a relationship situation and I've been quick to say dump them, or get over it, well it's easy to say when you're not in it, but when you're in it, it's not so easy to just end a relatioship or even "get over it" so easy.


I think especially as those of us who call ourselves "Christians", we need to be quick to listen, and slow to speak (James 1:19). If we don't have an experience or know what someone is going through, we should be more careful about spewing out advice. We also need to gather facts before we form an opinion about someone or something.


Many times we are biased about our opinions because of our relationship with a person or our own past experiences as well. We must be careful not to taint our words because of our own mistakes or past hurts.


The truth is I don't know it all, you don't know it all, and only God knows it all. When we have issues or problems, we need to take them to God, but it's also a good idea for us to take our problems to trusted friends for Godly counsel, prayer, and advice, so we must choose wisely whom we share our problems with.


Or, if someone comes to you with a problem, then listen, pay attention, and only give advice when asked. Don't force your opinion on someone, especially if you don't know. We must be careful not to give bad advice, or better yet become judgemental or someone's situation that we do not know all the facts or the entire experience.

I do not know it all, you do not know it all. Let's be slower and wiser to start dishing out opinions and advice, and help others by listening and praying, and let's choose wisely who we go to for advice.


1 Peter 2:15(NIV)

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Ask

ASK

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

It's hard to get help if you don't ask for it. Many people go through life battling addictions, struggles, problems, issues, and don't get help, because they don't ask.

Why? Well sometimes we are afraid. We don't want people to look down on us or judge us. Sometimes we are ashamed, because we feel like know one would understand. Sometimes we are embarrassed, other times it could be pride. We don't want to admit we need help or don't have the answers? There are many reasons people don't ask, but none of them are good.

We cannot get help with anything, if we aren't willing to ask. We have to remove the anxiety, fear, pride, or denial out of the way if we are ever going to overcome any challenge in our lives. Whether we have a personal struggle, addiction, problem, or issues because of someone else, we have to be willing to ask for help.

It may be asking a friend to pray for us, it may be asking a trusted friend for advice or counsel. It may be going and talking to a pastor, therapist, or counselor. It depends on your need and issue, but regardless, you can't get help until you ask. Most of all we need to ask God for direction and help. God is our ultimate source of help.

If we do not get help, many of us will become bitter, resentful, paranoid, judgemental, angry, depressed, jump to conclusions, defensive, isolate ourselves, push people away, and many other types of emotion, feelings, and actions if we do not seek the appropriate help at the right time.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. Go to God. Let God help you. Let Him lead you to other resources that you might need. Whether it's relationships, jobs, family, divorce, or death issues, or addictions such as, drugs, sex, or alcoholism, or anything in between that you cannot handle alone.

Get Help. Ask for Help. Half the battle is admitting you need help, the other half is asking for it.

Troubles

TROUBLES

2 Corinthians 4:17(NIV)

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

It seems like life has no shortage of troubles, in my case, it seems like we have had more than our share of troubles the past year. The thing is we live in a world that's in trouble. We live in a world with troubled people, and therefore troubled people cause trouble.

Unfortunately, for us, we have to live with the troubles of others. At times, people may have to live with our troubles.

We can control some of the troubles in our lives, stop getting into trouble, stop being trouble, and stop causing trouble, and if we do our part, there will be less trouble. But, regardless of our part, we are still at times going to suffer at the hands of other people.

You are there with me aren't you? You have suffered because of a parent, a child, an ex-spouse, a co-worker, a sibling, a trusted friend? We've all been there in some form or fashion.

The key is not whether we are going to have trouble, but more when? We need to expect it, and prepare for it, but most of all we have to endure and overcome it. We can't control how other people act.

We can however, take our troubles to the Lord. God is bigger than any troubles we ever face, whether they are our own mess or something someone else has created. I understand it's very easy to get stressed, feel overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, wronged, and all those different feelings and emotions.

The key for me and you is to give those things to the Lord. To trust in His justice and care. God will protect, provide, and defend us in His time, His way, and according to His will. If our troubles are self-inflicted then our first step should be to accept ownership and repent. If it's at the hands of others, we mus t turn to God and allow Him to work in our lives.

No matter your troubles, give it to God. Trust Him. Wait for Him. And allow Him to work in the situation and during that time, we pray, we trust, we have faith, and we wait on the Lord.

Distractions

Distractions

Psalm 41:6(NIV)

When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.

It's very easy in this world to be distracted by all the negative people in our lives. There are no shortage of people who are so hurt, angry, bitter, resentful, or selfish and they seem to want to take out their poison on others even those they are supposed to love and care about.

First, we need to avoid these types of people whether they are co-workers, related, or whatever. It's one thing for someone to have a bad day or weak moment, but it's another when people have a lifestyle of this negative behavior. If we are not careful it will be toxic in our lives and causes us damage.

We do not need these types of disctractions in our lives. They bring us down, keep us upset, cause constant turmoil and chaos, and is really unhealthy long term on our lives.

We can't always avoid distractions, but it's important that we are pro-active in allowing things in our lives to distract us from our spouses, our children, our careers, and especially our walk with God.

Satan is working 24/7 to create distractions in our lives so that we will take our eyes of God, disobey God, and become so busy or focused on anything other than god. Truth is however, that if we keep our focus on God, we will never be distractetd by negative people or things.

Life is too short, to waste our lives on distractions, especially those that are unhealthy. You cannot change anyone, they must change themselves. You cannot help those that aren't willing to help themselves. We must use wisdom in discerning when it's time to help and when it's time to avoid. When it's time to show patience and when it's time to walk away.

No matter what the distraction, we must strive to keep our eyes on God and allow God to work through us and to get us through whatever it is we face.

Don't be misled by Satan. He uses things, places, events, and especially people to distract us from the truth and what's right, and most of all God. Don't be fooled and don't be led astray. Most of all we've got to rid ourselves of distractions, so that we can focus on the life God wants us to live and the life He wants to give us.

Playing Games

Playing Games

I recently preached on this theme at a youth service. The idea that we live in a world of entertainment and we play, participate, and watch a lot of games. Whether it's video games, board games, computer games, or athletics we play, watch, or watch on TV.

We love to be entertained. However, the problem is life isn't a game. There is no secret code to get extra lives, there is no do-overs, no reset button. This life is all we got. 1 life, 1 opportunity, 1 chance, and 1 lifetime to live.

Many people live their lives treating it as if it's a game. Living for nothing but self. Self-seeking, self-pleasure, self-medicating, and self-centered. Others live their lives not taking anything serious and treating life like it's a joke. While others who have entered a relationship with God realize that this life is only temporary and that we are preparing for an eternity. With that in mind it should motivate us to treat this life different.

It's very easy to go through life non-stop a 1oo miles an hour, work way too many hours, stay way too busy, and miss so much of life. People ruin marriages, ignore kids, and never relax chasing the almighty dollar. Others refuse to work, are lazy, expect handouts, and never do anything with their lives. Others, take, take, take, and never give. Some, go through life trying to find meaning in sex, drugs, alcohol, thrills, etc..and missing the purpose and meaning of why we were created. Some only live for now, never preparing for tomorrow.

I'm not sure what category you fit in, I'm sure there are more. No one enjoys laughter more than me. God wants us to enjoy our lives, but God never created us or this world for this to be our only joy. God wants us to enjoy a relationship with Him and He wants us to prepare and look forward to an enternity of Joy with Him in Heaven. We need to take our soul serious!

I pray that you won't play games with your soul. Don't risk eternity for temporary pleasures and gains. There is nothing in this world, that is worth that. No high, No amount of money, no pleasure, and no success in this world, is worth throwing away your soul and eternity.

Don't play games with your life. Use it wisely. Make the most of your time on this earth. Love others. Serve God. Learn, grow, and seek God. You can still enjoy this life and have fun, but include God. Center your life around Him, dont' try to fit him into your life or schedule. Fit your life and schedule around Him. Don't play games with your life. Find life in God.

Psalm 16:11

(NIV)You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Crippled

Crippled

How many of us parents or grandparents would think of going to our kids or grandkids and breaking their legs causing them to become crippled? That's absurd, no one in their right mind who loves their children or grandchildren would ever think of doing such a horrible act.

Well, stick with me...We may not physically cripple our children, but if we are not careful we cripple them in many other ways. Here are some ways, that parents and grand-parents cripple their kids:
-Never Saying "NO"
-never allowing them to accept Responsibility for their actions/behavior
-letting them get by with disrespect, backtalk, etc....
-bailing them out when they get in trouble
-blaming others for things your kids do
-not teaching responsibility
-letting kids get by with lying, cheating, and dishonest behaviors
-Not being consistent in discipline
-punishments not fitting the crime(i.e.-small punishment for major wrong)
-never letting them fail
-giving them whatever they want
-enabling negative and bad behaviors

This is not an extensive list, I am sure we could add several more areas to this list. The point is, if we love our kids we will not purposely cripple them in life. No, we're not breaking their legs, but we are preparing them for a life of dissapointment. Because reality is when they get in the real world, they won't be able to function, because they won't be able to make it on their own. They won't have healthy relationships, because their expectations of others will be unrealistic.

When a child is raised spoiled, they enter into life expecting others to be at their beckon call. When children are raised with no discipline or boundaries they struggle in society because they lack structure. Why do you think there are so many dysfunctional people and so many ruined relationships out there?

If we love our kids, we will discipline them. If we love our kids we will tell them No. We will give them consequences, and we will do our best to be consistent, whether it's our children or grand-children. Children are a gift from God, and it's a big responsibility that God has given us. I also believe being a parent and a grandparent is a privilege not a right.

God disciplines those He loves(Hebrews 12:6) and He expects us to do the same with the children we are responsible for. We can make all the excuses in the world; we hate to see them upset, we hate to hurt their feelings, I want to be their best friend, or it's easier to just let things go. But, this is a life we are talking about. You only get one chance to raise a kid or grandkid.

God has high expectations for us. We should follow His model for how we parent. Do not cripple your children. Love them. Love them by telling them no, making them accept responsibility, by giving them consequences, by not tolerating negative or bad behavor, by not enabling them, and even when it's tough or inconvenient sticking with your guns. They will get over being mad, angry, and thinking your evil. Believe me at the time, I didn't like when my parents got onto me, but I am thankful they gave me guidance, rules, structure, consequences, and loved me enough to not cripple me for life.

Proverbs 19:18 (NIV)
"Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death."

GREEDY

GREEDY

When I hear this word, maybe you think of Ebeneezer Scrooge? I tend to think of a spoiled child, because children are greedy by nature. They don't like to share. Children aren't born with the nature to share, they have to be taught to share. You ever wonder why your kid just won't willingly share as a toddler? But you have to start young teaching them to share.

Our sinful nature is GREEDY. We want it all. We want what is ours and we really want what is yours too. The sinful human nature is in direct conflict with the nature that God desires for us.

God wants His children to share. Share their gifts, their time, they resources, including finances for His glory, not ours. That's a tough concept for many of us to grasp, even those of us who maybe have been raised in church or even been a christian for awhile.

It is not that God wants us to be poor or not have anything, or God is selfish and wants to have everything. It's that God is trying to teach us and establish in us the gift of giving. That we are more blessed when we give, and that giving really has to do with attitude more than it does anything. And most of all God DESIRES to use us for His Glory!

God wants to create in us a spirit of unselishness and a heart for giving to others. God wants us to enjoy our gifts and things in this life, but He doesn't want our life to consist of what we have and what we can obtain as much as He wants our life to consist or enjoying the things we have and sharing them.

If you look at it, ALL we have is from God. Whatever materials blessings we have in this world, are directly from God, He is simply letting us use them. Just like any good parent who gets their child a gift, God wants us to not be selfish, but to share that gift with others.

You may be wealthy and have lots of money, God wants you to enjoy that blessing, but share it with others. You may have the gift of music or singing, God wants you to enjoy that gift, but use it for His glory as well. You may have the gift of compassion, or serving, or teaching, or whatever, no matter the gifts or blessings you have, do not keep them to yourself. Use them, enjoy them, but more importantly share them.

There is no room in Heaven for selfish people. Like most children who are stingy, greedy, and selfish, what happens? A good parent takes away the toy, disciplines the child, until they can learn to share. I think God works the same way, if we don't use our gifts for God and are selfish with them, I think God will take them.

Don't be a greedy, selfish, spoiled child with the gifts, talents, and resources God has blessed you with. Enjoy them, be thankful for them, but most of all share them!

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:7(NIV)

Ignoramus

Ignoramus

"An Ignorant person." Pretty self-explanatory. All these years, I thought that was a West Virginia word, turns out, it's real, or at least slang, to explain someone who is Igrorant.

Ignorant isn't always a negative word. I'm ignorant when it comes to rebuilding engines or doing plastic surgery, or any surgery for that matter, but sometimes Ignorance isn't so bliss.

Many times people should have no excuse for being an ignormaus, but for whatever reasons they refuse to change, learn, grow, or get educated.

Ignorance by defition is someone who is uninformed or has a lack of knowledge. But it's also someone who is uneducated. And sometimes our being uneducated or uniformed or not having knowledge is our own fault. Churches are dying, people are turned off to church, and God gets a bad rap because of people being christian and an ignoramus.

People preach, teach, and lead not out of wisdom, or maturity, or discernment, but ignorance. Instead of studying, investigating, researching, reading, and being open to the Holy Spirit, they base their faith and decisions on the way they were raised, the denomination they grew up in, the influences of other ignorant people, etc...I know that may sound harsh, but it's reality.

In my past I have been an ignoramus about certain issues and doctrines and beliefs because instead of learning, I believed what other people told me. Sometimes people are really good people, they are just misinformed themselves, and you can see how ignorance breeds ignorance.

However, if we seek the truth, God's will, and guidance from His holy spirit with effort on our parts, wisdom can breed wisdom, truth can breed truth, and common sense can breed common sense.

Being an ignoramus cannot be an excuse. We are responsible for our own faith and our own salvation. It's time we accept responsibility. In a world, where everyone blames others, or believes what they want to believe, or continues to breed ignorance. It's time for us to take responsibility for ourselves and learn, grow, read, study, pray, and seek, disover, and find real truth. Not legalism, not tradition, not the way i was raised, or what I like, or my preferences.

It's time we become educated, informed, knowledgeable, mature, wise, discerning, and truthful when it comes to God's word, His church, His will, and His plan and purpose for our lives. God can't use us, and we can't serve Him wholly when we are doing so out of ignorance. God deserves our best.

"Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. "

I Corinthians 15:34(NIV)

SIMPLE

SIMPLE

"You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it."

Proverbs 8:5(NIV)

We try to complicate things in life sometimes. Make them harder than they have to be. Christian faith is no different. People try to complicate things. Maybe it's pride? ignorance? I don't know the reason, but many christians, churches, and pastors try to make becoming a Christian and being a Christian a lot more difficult than it has to be.

Living and growing a Christian life is not easy. It takes effort, time, discipline, study,etc...to grow your faith. I'm not trying to suggest being faithful is easy, but what I am suggesting is that we make coming to Christ, and being a Christian alot harder than it has to be, do to our human ego, error, or agendas.

Jesus is the son of God. God sent Jesus to be sin for us. To be the sacrifice for our sins. Only through Jesus can we be saved. The salvation process and knowing what God did for us is not that complicated. God gives us His word to explain to us how much He loves us, why He created us, and what He has to offer us. It is up to us to accept or reject. That is simple.

However, satan has used many a person and church to make being a christian too complicated. When churches and christians are constantly bickering, fighting, gossiping, and pushing issues they make salvation and christianity complicated. Christianity becomes about a cause, an issue, an agenda and not about a relationship with Jesus.

Human beings with the devil's help complicates faith. We begin making christianity about other things. You musts listen to this type of music in this way, you must read this bible version only, you must have this spiritual gift, you must believe in this end of times way, you must not believe in this, you gotta do this, can't do that....yadayadayada.....Do you see why we have so many denominations and churches and beliefs? Do you see why so many are turned off by the church and christianity? it's not God, it's us.

We need to ask ourselves before any issue. Is this a salvation issue? What that means is if I do this or don't do that or if I believe this or practice that is it going to change my salvation? Or the better question to ask ourselves is, Is this kingdom bearing? Which means, does this issue really matter in the big scheme of things? The most important thing we can know is God and Jesus and be saved by His blood. We must believe the Bible is inspired Word of God. We make A LOT of issues salvation issues and they are not, or we make them Kingdom bearing and they are not!

Whether you sing new songs or old songs, use a KJV or NKJV, whether you believe in the rapture or none, whether you beleive in singing with music or without, whether you think we are predestined or not, whether you believe in the gift of tongues or not, there are lots and lots of issues we can debate and debate til Jesus comes back, but then again some faith's don't believe He's coming back, because he's just a profit.

My point is, we've got to stop complicating what God intended to be simple. When we complicate things with all our beliefs, practices, opinions, and preferences, and make them law or doctrine, we make God and salvation out to be complicated. I believe this is what the Pharisees did in the bible, which is what Jesus and Paul and others fought against them for. They tried making serving God complicated with legalistic rules, rituals, and laws. Sound familiar? We do it today with all our little agendas.

We spend our whole faith trying to prove others wrong, or pushing our beliefs on people, or carrying on and arguing about stuff that is only hurting the church. Stop it. We need to get back to basics, to simple truth. God loves us. God sent Jesus for us. He wants a relationship with us. He wants to give us freedom. Stop complicating christianity. Stop worrying what everyone else is doing that's not what you like or prefer or think is wrong. Start focusing on what is right, what God is doing, and what God has to offer.

How different would our churches be, our ministries be, our witness be, if we'd stop complicating things and just stop and enjoy God and keep it simple.

Changes?

Changes?

Or more of the same? Do we really want change or do we just like the idea of change? Churches claim they want to change and grow, yet when they hire a new Pastor, they seem to fight all the changes He wants to make, yet they hired Him to come in and help them grow and change.

We want changes in our physically, spirital, and mental lives, yet we are hardly willing to do what it takes to change. You can't just want to lose weight, you have to DO what it takes, exercise, lifestyle changes, better eating habits, etc...You can't just become a maturing growing christian, you have to DO what it takes, studying and reading God's word regularly, praying daily, attending church faithfully, and being involved in a sunday school, bible study, or small group where you can grow, and you have to serve.

Change is an action word, but it's just a word period if we don't allow it to do what it was born to do or we do not back up the word with OUR action. We must act if we truly want change. If you want change in your life, then do whatever it takes to bring it about. If you want to be a better parent, husband, child, father, mother, wife, student, christian, employee, man, woman, pastor, or boss then start coming up with areas you need to work on and then work on them so that you can CHANGE.

You've heard it said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It's also been said that "nothing changes when nothing changes". If you want your church to change, you gotta let leaders lead and if you're a leader you got to be willing to lead, even when change is difficult. If you want change in your marriage, you can't wait for other partner to do all the work, you want your kids to change, then you gotta change as a parent. You want your work to change, then you change, or change jobs. Maybe you need to change jobs, change friends, or change your attitude in 2011?

I don't know what your life needs, but don't talk about change, unless you are willing to do what it takes to change, no matter what area of your life you are talking about. Change begins with you.

2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6(NIV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I like Isaiah's description of the upcoming Messiah that would be coming. He gives many names, but one stands out to me: Prince of Peace!

Peace is for more than just hippies and anti-war protestors. I would think most people in their sane mind, would like to have peace. There is a peace that only God can bring to our lives. It cannot be found anywhere else. Only God!

The peace of God came in the form of Jesus Christ. The bible describes this as a peace that passes(KJV) or transcends(NIV) all understanding. Peace is one of the fruits of the spirit as well.

Jesus brought peace into the lives off all mankind by becoming our sin and providing a way for us to have HOPE that we can only get through Him. That hope of salvation gives us a peace that only be felt through a relationship with God.

There is nothing in this world, no substance, no relationship, no hobby, form of entertainment, drug, drink, or pleasure that can give you the peace that only comes from the Prince of Peace.

Peace of Mind, Peace of conscience, peace of spirit, peace. God can bring peace to your relationships, your job, your feelings, emotionals, and even your baggage, struggles, and problems.

Would you seek His peace today? Maybe you need to be reminded of it today? You can enjoy His peace everyday. Find rest in Him.

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Well a lot has happened in my life since last Christmas. This time last year, I was ending my ministry in Huntingburg, Indiana at Central Christian Church and packing up to move back to West Virginia at the end of 2009. Well I got moved back and here I am a year later.

I left full-time ministry, but never leaving ministry and always open to returning to full-time ministry. I have been able to do some fill-in preaching and youth speaking periodically to keep from being totally rusty. I have been able to speak to a variety of churches in West Virginia.

Ofcourse, I was dating Cheryl last year and we got engaged in April and got married on June 18th. I just passed my 6 month anniversary and she hasn't left me yet, so, so far so good, haha. It has had its challenges for both of us, and we are still in transitation with all the things going on, but there is no doubt God brought us together and has blessed us.

We are still looking for a church home and trying to decide where we want to eventually reside. Please be in prayer for us in that. Currently we are living in Glenwood, in Cheryl's parents old house. The kids are liking their new schools. Lindsey turned 10 this fall and is in 4th grade at Ashton Elementary and is cheering for Ashton in little league basketball.
Josh is 14 and is in 9th grade at Hannan.

Josh was diganosed this summer with Asperger's syndrome ( a high functioning form of Autism) and we are currently looking into resources to best help Josh, because He is also ADHD along with some other issues, so please be in prayer for Josh as we try to best Help him.Josh killed his first "buck" deer this year, a 3 pointer on the first day of deer season, I wasn't as lucky, I harvested a doe, but we are enjoying eating our kill.

Cheryl quit her job at the accounting firm last month in hopes of finding a new job, so currently she is collecting unemployment and job hunting and being full-time mother and housewife until she finds employment. Please pray for her to find a job and if you know of anyone hiring accounting/office manager type people, please let me know. Cheryl also has been going to school online/part-time to try and work toward a CPA. I've been volunteering with the Hannan athletic boosters and doing some announcing for jr high basketball games at Hannan this winter.

This past May Cheryl's dad Johnny lost his 2 year battle with cancer. Also, her grandfather John, Sr. passed away in November, so the Barnett family has experienced alot of loss in 2010. Please continue to pray for their family, as some have had a difficult time dealing with the loss.

I know it seems there has been a lot of bad news this year, but there has been lots of good news. My dad retired the end of July, I got married, and I have been working at Jenkins Fenstermaker Law firm in Huntington, WV as a Courier.
My brother-in-law Tom got back in church. The Reds won their division and made the play-offs, so it's not all been bad, haha.

We are blessed and we are thankful this Christmas! Thank you for being our family and friends. I pray you all have a most blessed Christmas and a Great New Year in 2011.

Love to All,

Jason, Cheryl, Josh, and Lindsey

Agenda

Agenda

Agenda by nature is typically what people use in meeting, as to go over different topics and issues to make sure they are covered. However, agenda is also what some people have which is an underlying plan.

I know it's hard to believe but not ever person out there in this world has pure, honest, and sincere motives, many of them have a hidden, personal, or selfish agenda. And even bigger heartache is that many people in church and church leadership have these hidden agendas.

Let me explain, some are well meaning, but they are still incorrect in their motives or plans. Many preacher's spend have their sermon's complaining about other pastors and churches, yet I'd bet most of them haven't even talked to them or stepped foot in their churches. There agenda is to tear down other churches and pastor's. It's one thing to condemn sin, but it's another to judge another pastor or churches methods because you don't agree with them.

Some churches and it's members spend their entire ministry trying to prove other churches wrong, claiming they are liberal, letting the world in, using instruments, using "rock n roll" music as they call it, or using a different version of the bible, or having programs or things that aren't old fashion enough.

Too many preachers and churches spend way too much time talking about others and not enough time talking about the love of God. Preach Jesus. Jesus confronted sin while He was on earth when it was appropriate, but most of Jesus ministry was healing, helping, and teaching.

We need to put our personal agendas aside. You can believe what you want about worship music, bible versions, church programs, and doctrinal opinions, but more people are known for what they are against than what they stand for.

Some churches or pastor's are only known for their views on homosexuality, government, eternal security, end of times, pre-destination, music, bible translations, and the list is endless of the topics and soap boxes we get on. I would rather be known for just simply preaching Jesus, loving people, and teaching people to know Jesus or grow in their faith.

I am not talking about having no standards, ignoring sin, or anything goes mentality, but I am also saying, we need to chill out and stop being so dogmatic, judgemental, and stop trying to hate, pressure, guilt, and dumb people into Heaven.

There is a reasons churches don't grow and people seem to always have animosity, turmoil, and drama in their ministries or churches, it's because they are focusing on the wrong things and many times with wrong motives.

We need church leaders to step up and stop these members in their churches with hidden agendas. We need our pulpits in our churches to stop beng platforms for our own personal agenda's on our favorite subject we are passionate about. Church members need to be trained, taught, led, and fed. They don't need to hear the same old same old every week about the same old soap box you are harping on because people don't preach and teach and agree with you.

Our agenda should be Jesus. Our goal should be to reach lost people, and disciple and help thosse who become and are christians mature and grow in their faith. We need to build up the church. We need Christians who read and study their bible, who pray daily, and who serve in the church using their gifts.

We cannot agree on every subject or topic. Not everyone is going to agree with our views, and not every church and pastor is going to teach, practice, or be how we think they should be, that doesn't always make them wrong, sinful, or an abomination. We can serve One God and still have one way to God through Jesus, He is the only way, however, our methods, programs, and even preferences and opinions can be different.

I don't always agree with my parents, my wife, or my kids, but they don't stop being my family and I don't stop loving them, and vice versa. I don't agree with many of the things in every church I visit, or every christian I am friends with, or every preacher I hear, but that doesn't keep me from calling them christian, fellowshipping with them, or getting something positive from them.

I know the road to God is narrow, but that doesn't mean our minds and beliefs have to be so narrow, that only people who agree with us can get to heaven. Drop your agenda and start preaching the love of Christ and see how you and your church may change.

Proverbs 16:2(NIV)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.

Change your mind

Change Your Mind

"There is never anything to change but our own perspective." Karen Casey

Karen Casey wrote a great little book called "Change your mind and your life will follow". It was a great read, I read it 3 times, but I really like the title of the book.

Really if you think about it, if you are going to make any change in your life it begins in your mind. You have to have an attitude to change, or you never will change a thing.

If you can't change your attitude, perception, mindset, or viewpoint, it's very difficult to make any changes, whether it's personal, spiritual, relational, or anything for that matter.

It's true, admitting you need to change it's half the battle. We get so stuck in a rut, a mindset, an attitude, that we have a hard time seeing that we need to change or that nothing is going to change until we do.

Churches are dying because people refuse to change. Relationships end because people refuse to change. Businesses close down because they refuse to change. People don't change for many reasons.

First, they don't see they need to change or a need for change? You know the old mentality if it's not broke don't fix it? Secondly, some don't change because they blameshift and say others need to change. Thirdly, some don't change because they are very self-unaware. Fourthly, some don't change out of fear or anxiety. I'm sure their are other reasons, but if we aren't willing to change, we can guarantee ourselves alot of heartache, problems, and unresolved battles and issues.

I think God expects us to change. Maturity is changing, progress is changing, growth is changing, healthy relationships is changing, grace is changing. God wants His church to constantly change in order to reach a rapidly changing world with his unchanging message. God wants His people to change so that we are better children, spouses, siblings, employees, and servants.

It's hard work, it's difficult to make changes when we are stubborn, set in our ways, narrow-minded, won't listen, live in denial, are comfortable, unaware, angry, scared, or have a bad attitude. But, we can overcome all these things with God's help. And God's help sometimes means asking others for help.

We can make changes, but we first have to change our minds. When we change our minds, our lives will follow.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Do you Hear what I Hear?

Do you Hear what I Hear?

James 1:22-24 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

We like God to listen to us don't we? We go to God with your complaints, gripes, wants, desires, etc...and of course God's word tells us to ask, seek, and knock(Matt. 7:7-8) and we do. Nothing wrong with asking God for things, but my question is are we doing all the talking?

Do we take time to listen to God speak? Or are we doing all the talking? Do we take time to listen to what God has to say through prayer? His word? Worship? Others? God is constantly speaking to us. We may not hear an audible voice, but God is not always silent. There are times where God is silent, but that doesn't mean He never speaks to us, most cases it's because we fail to listen, or hear Him.

I am guilty of this, obviously, that's why I am writing about this subject today. Learning to listen is a skill we have to learn. Not only do we have to learn it, we have to discipline ourselves to listen, especially when there is distractions, noises etc...like stress, trauma, sin, tragedy, trials, problems, etc...

It's easy to not hear God when we instead listen to things that keep us from hearing God. It's easy to not hear God when we are busy doing all the talking. Take time to reflect, take time to ponder, take time to be quiet, and listen to God. Read His word and listen. Pray for a time and then stop and just listen.

God is speaking all around you and me. God has something to tell us. Maybe He wants to encourage you? Maybe He wants to comfort you? Maybe He wants to discipline you? Maybe He wants to give you some direction? Stop. Listen. Hear.

Takers

Takers

You know these people? They take, take, take, and never give. They are spoiled children who take advantage of grandparents, use parents, and manipulate people to get what they want. They are employees, who dump off their responsiblities on other workers, or who work harder getting out of work than they do actually doing their job. They are spouses who marry people only to use them as a maid, a cook, and to wait on them hand and foot, and never give anything in return.

Takers are not good people. They use people, take advantage of people, manipulate people, and only care about themselves. What they want, how they feel, and what they can get out of it. They have an agenda, and the agenda is ME! They are people who use their kids for pawns in divorce, they fight over dead relatives belongings, and they use people who what they can get from them or what that person can do for them.

Takers are in the church as well. They go to church with the attitutude of getting not giving. They have an agenda, and want things the way they want them. They don't realize church is about GIVING God our worship and our service, not what we can get out of the church. Church is about giving, not getting, and being a christian is about giving, not getting.

We need to treat our spouse with mutual respect, not take, take, take, and never give. We need to teach our children and grandchildren that life is not always about our way, getting what we want, or always getting to do what we want, but that it's about giving as well. Being considerate, thoughtful, sharing, and having balance in our lives.

I'm not saying we should not give people stuff like gifts, or our time, or things, but what I am suggesting is we stop being selfish and stop allowing selfish behavior in others. Set boundaries, with people like this, or better yet, if all possible avoid relationships with people who are takers.

God is a giver, and wants us to be givers. He wants us to appreciate and respect others. Whether it's our parents, grandparents, children, co-workers, spouse, siblings, or friends. We cannot always take, take, take, and never expect to give. It's really about out attitude. We must develop or change our attitude to be more thoughtful of others feelings, resources, and position.

Stop using people, and start thinking about how you make others feel once in awhile. Stop being a taker and start giving something to this world for a change. Set some boundaries in your life with people, and do not enable them to be takers. Most importantly, give something to God. Allow God to work in your life and change your attitude so that you will be more of a giver and less of a taker. Or allow God to work in your life so you don't let people use you or take advantage of you.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.(NIV)

Righteousness

Rightouesness

Psalm 9:8

"He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity."(NIV)

The word is interpreted from orignial greek and hebrew words meaning "rightways" or "rightwise". It's a word we don't use alot in today's society, but it's a word that holds great meaning for those of us who are not only believer's, but committed to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

God makes us right with Him. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and only through Jesus' blood are our sins covered, and only through Jesus can we get to God, and only by Jesus are we saved.

There is no other way, no other religion or faith, no other means, for us to ever be right in God's eyes, except through HIS way, and that WAY is JESUS.

Today's world is full of confusion and dilusion. The world says, pick a religion. Any belief in God is safe. The world says I don't need to go to church to be a Christian, or all I have to do is go to church on Sunday mornings. People can say what they want, believe what they want, print what they want, and preach what the went, but the bottom line is it's God's way or No way.

God is RIGHT and He is RIGHTEOUSS and the only way me and you can be right is through Jesus Christ! But, that is a good thing! WE cannot serve enough, give enough, or be good enough to ever deserve God's mercy and grace. We only can receive it because God gives it freely.

Though it cost a greater price than we could ever pay, salvation is a free gift for you and me. You cannot earn you way to Heaven and you certainly can't plead igrnorance. God made a way for you to be right and we must either accept it or reject it.

Don't buy the lies that Satan plants in the world through media, through negative people, through confused or selfish people. You need Jesus! You need to develop and grow a committed relationship with Him. You need His church. You need His blood! You need His forgiveness! You need Him to make you right!

It is my prayer for you and me that we realize the great need we have and that is Jesus! I pray that we realize there is nothing we can do on our own to make us right with God. There is not enough money, not enough talent, and not enough resources for us to think we can make it on our own wisdom, wealth, or power. Do you know Jesus today?

Anger Management

Anger Management

I need it, how about you? It's taken me a long time to realize I have anger issues. I don't hit and throw stuff, so I thought I'm not an angry person, but yet I've realized when you don't have control of your anger or angry emotions and you let it control you or how you talk or behave, then you do have a problem.

I get upset, raise my voice, and "vent" or "gripe", but really I'm taking out my anger vocally instead of hitting or throwing stuff. Everyone gets angry, nothing wrong with getting angry, at times we should be angry or get angry. If someone does you wrong, your children disrespect you, or you see someone mistreated, you should get angry. It's not a sin to get upset. However, the sin comes when the anger turns into something else. When it turns negative, unhealthy, or out of proportion to the cause, you might have a problem and you react in bad ways.

Mine went untreated for years and instead of having balance and dealing with things appropriately I let it continue unchecked and when you leave something unchecked, it doesn't get better or fix itself, it progresses and get's worse. Hence, my denial for so long that I had an anger problem. And because of that, I hurt people, or offend people, and people I care about.

Now, I don't write this blog a cured man today, but I write as someone who finally recognizes an area of my life where I struggle and am weak. I now have taken steps to work on my anger, no matter the cause of the anger. Sometimes I fall into old habits, some days i fall short, some days I battle, but now I am prepared because I first realize and accept I have an issue and secondly, I am reading, studying, and praying through it to help overcome it in my life.

An issue seldom just affects you, it affects everyone around you, spouse, siblings, children, parents, co-workers, church family, etc....no matter whether the issue is anger, lying, gossip, whatever.

Maybe you are like me today, you struggle with those ugly angry emotions. You want to vent, speak your mind, be blunt, maybe you want to cuss, throw things, or hit somebody. It's very easy to lose control, especially if you don't know or won't admit you struggle with it. Maybe today is the day, to admit you have a struggle and start taking steps in the right direction, whether it's anger, greed, dishonesty, worry, or whatever your struggle. Take it to God, get professional help if you need it, search the net, buy a book, or talk to a trusted freind.

Ephesians 4:26“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"(NIV)

Gung Ho

Gung Ho

Does those words get you excited? Are you pumped? Psyched? We use this term when we or someone is enthusiastic about something. Some people are lame until you mention something they enjoy and then all the sudden they transform and are all "gung ho" about it.

Or maybe you know people who go in phases with something. One week they are "gung ho" about learning to play an instrument and then next week they are "gung ho" about motorcycles.

Enthusiasm is a good thing, but it like anything else must have balance and boundaries or it will be out of control in an unhealthy way. People unfortunately get all "gung ho" about Jesus and the problem with being "gung ho" is it's temporary and doesn't last.

People start out all hot and heavy and want to do and learn and serve as much as they can in as short amount of time as they can, but the christian faith is a marathon not a sprint. When you approach this attitude with God or with anything, it usually leads to burn-out, giving up, or fading out, because things don't happen fast enough for you, or you can't hold your attention long enough and then you are on to your next big fad.

It's ok to be excited and enthusiastic about hobbies and relationships and especially your christian faith, but make sure your enthusiasm and excited is in balance and in check. It's easy to get excited about dating relationship and start off hot and heavy and once the newness wears off, the relationship dissolves because you or they lost their "gung ho", same thing with exercise or dieting, people want to lose weight and try to lose it in a week and they burn themselves out, you got to pace yourself and build up discipline and stamina, that is why so many give up after a few weeks on getting healthy.

What about church? What about your faith? People get saved and get all on fire for God, but they get frustrated because they seldom realize becoming a christian is only the beginning and it takes time to overcome bad habits, old lifestyles, and form new habits and adapt to a new lifestyle. It also takes a life time of commitment to learn and grow in God's Word and in your service to Him through the local church. People get frustrated or confused when the "warm and fuzzy" wears off and they are tempted or sin or fall short, and they start missing church and stop praying and stop reading the bible.

Check your enthusiasm at the door. Maintain balance and realistic perspective in all areas, especially your faith. Don't try to become Jesus in a day. One day at a time, one moment at a time. Learn, grow, mature, overcome, and endure.

I'll leave you with the words of Paul to the chruch in Corinth about fellow preacher Titus who was coming soon to visit them and take up a collection. He was excited about His work for God and for the church in Corinth. I hope you'll be "gung ho" about your faith, but make it last.

2 Corinthians 8:17 (NIV)

For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative

Opinins, Opinions

Opinions

I don't have to repeat the saying about opinions for us all to know that we all have opinions. However, some of us are more opinionated than others, and yet even a few more are opinionated when not even asked for their opionion or advice.

I have to admit I am an opinionated person (i know your surprised!) and people are opinionated and like to give their advice on all sorts of things: religion, relationships, politics, jobs, life, etc....As human beings, we all have a right to our opinions, however opinions must not replace common sense, overstep boundaries, or become gospel truth if not backed by realistic facts.

The dictionary defines Opinion as a personal view, attitude, or apprasial. Or also, a belief or judgement that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. Opinions can be good. There are people I go to for their opinion and there are people who come to me for my opinion, but we must be careful that we don't push our advice on people, and I am guilty of that.

Opinions should be take them or leave them. Whether it is advice about dating, marriage, career, faith, hobbies, or anything, we must give our opinion and leave it up to the person to do with it as they please. We can't get upset or offended if someone doesn't agree with our opinion or see it our way. I've been guilty of this. (I know another shock!)

Honestly, sometimes the other person will need to learn the hard way if our opinions are correct, and then again sometimes they are better off not to take our advice because our opinion is wrong or tainted by our own bad experience. Think about it, most of our opinions we have in life are based on our past experiences.

For example, if someone in a church hurt you, then it's more than likely you are going to have a bad opinion or all churches and christians. If you were hurt by an ex-lover, you may think all men or women are evil. If you were raised a democrat, you will think all republicans are bad.

However, on the flip side of it, there is great joy in being able to have an opinion. If feels good to contribute something to a discussion if it's positive, or help someone who is need. The key to opinions just like anything is balance. We must maintain a healthy balance and perspective in our lives, or our opinions will be overbearing, unrealistic, false, or even can put a strain on our relationships with others.

I've learned this from personal experience. I'm striving to learn and grow and work on myself so that my opinions are realistic, healthy, and I'm not trying to push them on other people. We all have to learn to agree to disagree at some points in our lives, and also realize our opinions aren't always accurate, realistic, or true, they are simply just our view of things, sometimes that's good and sometimes that's bad.

I also want to strive to base my opinions from a Godly perspective and have my feelings and advice reflect that of God. I also want to be able to repent when I over-step boundaries or cross the line with my opinions with other people. Saying your wrong, or sorry, or admitting fault goes along way for people to respect you and your opinions. I hope it's a lesson we all can learn, and that's just my opinion.

Proverbs 18:2

"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." (NIV)

Eternal Security?

Eternal Security?

You've heard the saying from certain christians "once saved, always saved", it's a term many people use who believe in eternal security, which means once I "get saved" there is nothing I can do lose my "saved".

However, there are those on the other side of the spectrum who believe in "conditional security", not sure they have a slogan, but basically this group believe "salvation" is a gift from God and people can choose to fall away, walk away, or lose their salvation if they aren't faithful.

I am not trying to argue either side, though my belief is on the side of conditional security. I believe Christians and churches as a whole spend way too much time arguing, debating, and pushing topics or issues they are passionate about while missing the most imporant issue, which is reaching lost people, and discipling new christians into mature christians who grow and serve in their faith.

Nothing wrong with having convictions and being passionate about certain subjects, but we must be careful to ask ourselves, Is this a salvation issue? Which means, does this have to do with my salvation? (i'm talking about does this make me lose my salvation or not have it) other than that, I believe we have freedom in Christ and His Word.

There are many things people love to debate and even claim it is essential to salvation. Churches split, people become enemies, and many people avoid church or leave the faith because of these things. People argue over bible versions, type of music, the rapture, the book of revelation, denominations, church traditions, change, etc..including eternal security.

Look around why do you think they are so many different types of churches and denominations, people can't get along, that's why we have 30 different types of baptist, 20 different types of methodist, the churches of christ have half a dozen fractions, not to mention other denominations that have splintered off of others.

Now I am just giving my opinion based on my own study and learning, but feel my eternal security is based on my faith in Jesus Christ and the grace He showed me through salvation. He saved me and I was obedient and repented and showed my display through being baptized(my expression to God and the world) of my choosing to live for Christ.

I also feel that anytime I would choose to walk away, give up, or turn away from God I would be lost and wold go to Hell. Just like we quit jobs, quit marriages, and change hobbies, I think many people choose God and then chooose the world. There was a time in my past, I feel I walked away from God for a time and I felt lost and until I repented and recommitted did I sense God's presence again in my life.

If you believe in the eternal security doctrine that is your right and choice , but personally I'm not willing to gamble with my faith and eternity with that belief.. My salvation is from God and God alone through Jesus Christ. The good news for you is it's not up to me whether you are saved or not and the good news for me is it's not up to you whether I am saved or not.

Just like many of the issues we debate and disagree over, many of them are God's place to decide not ours. That doesnt' mean we shouldn't study, learn, and grow in our knowledge and faith in God's word. However, our goal should be to be faithful, remain faithful, and continue being faithful until God calls us home.

I've read lots of articles for and against eternal security and they both make good arguments and use scriptures (though well meaning sometimes out of context). My point today is we need to stop focusing so much on whether we have eternal security or not and realize our eternal security is secure in God as long as we are faithful and accept His free gift of salvation. (if you want scriptures on issue let me know, or better yet research yourself or google articles on the subject). If you are faithful in your walk, you won't have to worry about eternal security.

It's just like someone asked me my views on the end of times recently. I said, I'm not planning on being around to worry about it. I'm not trying to skate around the issue, it just shouldn't be that important to people if they are already saved. That's God's business to determine not ours, and I'm pretty sure He's already got it figured out and doesn't need our imput.

If you want to be secure in your eternity, then remain faithful, grow in your faith, serve the Lord, and don't take advantage of God's grace by using it as a license to sin or live how you want. If you are a christian, don't worry evertyime you fall short or sin, you are saved. If you are living a willful life of disobedience and a lifestyle of sin not honoring God, then you should be concerned about. It's really about our day to day lifestyle choices. There are people who never attend church, read their bible, or serve God who think they are saved, and then there are those who attend church regularly, serve, and study God's word and worry whether they are saved or not, it shouldn't be that way. If you have been saved and are serving be secure, if you aren't, then worry.

Also, don't get caught up on all these religous and spiritual debates and arguments, because then you miss God working around you and through you.

Romans 6:1
" 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

Flooded

Flooded

"1 Save me, O God,for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me." Psalm 69:1-2

Life can feel that way can't it? You ever feel in over your head? sinking? overwhelmed? Recently, my wife and I finally got to go on our overdue honeymoon after being married a few months.

We went to TopSail Island, NC and hoped to enjoy a week at the beach. Well we did enjoy our time together, but it rained almost everday we were there, but it just didn't rain, it monsooned. We only had about 2 days of sun, and there was so much rain that there was flooding all over eastern North Carolina. Flash flooding, rivers and creeks over flowing their banks, and then on the island of Top Sail just a lot of standing water on roads and parking lots due to either the lack of drainage systems on the island, or too much rain too fast.

Either way, it was alot of rain, i was told we had 22 inches of rain that week. The kicker was the parking lot flooded where we were staying and we had to drive through standing water to get to and from our condo. The water was about 1 1/2 foot deep and while driving through that, our car stalled, wouldn't start back, and as I write our vehicle is still in NC getting a new engine. Now, that's a honeymoon memory for you.

My point is, life is like that, it comes along sometimes unexpectedly and disables us. Sometimes life can take us by surprise with a tragedy, an accident, illness, unexpected setback, or sometimes our life will be flooded with problems because of our own doing. We refuse to get help, be honest, or deal with issues, and pretty soon we are up to our eyeballs in flooding hotwater.

We need to be like David in the Psalm above and cry out to God. God is the only one who can rescue us from sin, struggles, problems, issues, and the only one who can deliver us from the pain of divorce, death, betrayal, abuse, and other problems we face or will face. Sometimes we can't avoid the flood waters, and sometimes we can and we don't, but either way we need to always strive to seek God, in the sunny days, the rainy days, the storms, and the perfect weather days. No matter the weather or season. We need to seek and rely on God.

If we stay in relationship with God, then we are going to be flooded with His spirit, grace, mercy, and love. No matter how good our relationship with God, we all are going to have periods of mistakes, doubts, sin, struggle, and sometimes we are all going to face floods that are out of our control and either type of flood we can rest in the promises and protection of God.

Seek God this morning. He promised Noah He'd never destroy the earth again with a flood, and He's not going to allow you to be destroyed by a flood. So seek Refuge in Him today.

Can of Worms

Can of Worms

Have you ever opened one of those? It's an expression we used to talk about something we said or did that got us a little more attention than we intended. We can open a can of worms by accident or intentionally, but either way it always takes on a life of it's own and gets away from the original intent.

Try and talk about religion with non-religous people or people who've got a grudge against God or the church. Try and talk about politics with people who don't agree with your politics. Talk about a senstive subject with someone who happens to be the sensitive one?

Sometimes we can open a can of worms and not even mean to. We may say something without realizing it, or we may say or do something and it is taken wrong, misunderstood, or out of context. Especially in the world of texting, facebook, email, twitter, and instant messages, it's very easy to misunderstand or be confused about someones intent because we can't see their facial expression, or voice tone, or look at them and understand correctly what they meant. Sometimes we think they mean one thing and they mean another. Many times we can think they are serious and they could be joking.

How many times have you gotten in a disagreement with a friend or loved one over something they said or something you said and you or they never meant for it to happen, it was simply a misunderstanding? It happens. It happens more than we'd like to admit. Especially when you are a forward, direct, not afraid to speak your mind person like I am, you have to be more careful what you say, and how you say it.

People are passionate about things. People are opinionated about things. People are emotional about things. Each of us are individuals with different feelings, emotions, temperments, personalities, etc...and because of that we are different, view things different, look at things different, and unfortuantely sometimes hear things different. Sometimes we can be quick to respond defensively or in anger to something we thought someone said about us or something we are senstive or passionate about, only to realize we blew it out of proportion or over-reacted. I can be very guilty of this. That's why James in the Bible said we must be "quick to listen and slow to speak."

I learned this lesson this past week. We must be careful what we say, because it's very easy for our words to be misunderstood, taken out of context, or sometimes to take a life of their own.

Now, sometimes a can or worms needs to be open. Nothing wrong with standing up for injustices, our faith, our beliefs, our convictions, within reason, but we must be very cautious that we got our facts straight, we are responding in love, not reacting in anger, and that we don't defeat ourselves by being negative. We must pick and choose our battles and choose wisely.

All of us have been on both sides of the issue. We have said things that stirred the pot and we've been stirred by something someone else has said or we thought they said. I've been there, I'm sure you have. So, we must be careful what we say, we must be careful to listen, ask questions, and make sure we have clarity and we give clarity, and also realize no matter what we say even if it is clear, people aren't always going to like or agree with what we say.

Either way, it's a great lesson for us all, becareful what you say,it could open a can of worms you don't want to open, and be careful how you react/respond because you could be doing so in misunderstanding. No matter what side you are on, I pray we all can honor God with our words, and show grace to others when their words hurt us or when ours hurts them.

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

Psalm 25:28(NIV)

Well isn't that special

"Well Isn't that Special!"

I'm not gonna lie, I love the Church lady from Saturday Night Live. As a matter of fact, I used to do a pretty good impersonation of her (I'm no Dana Carvey though). If you are not familiar with the character, it was a skit on SNL where the "Church Lady" had a talk show and would interview people and would always condemn them and use her famous catch phrases, "Well, isn't that special!" and "Could it be Satan?". Even though these sketches were humorous, what goes on in many churches isn't so funny or humorous.

There are real life "church ladies and church gents" out there who aren't judging and condemning to be funny, they are doing it because they believe in their heart they are doing people a favor and they do this blindly, in ignorance, and though some with good intent, they are really doing more damage than they are good all in the name of God.

Jesus reminds us that He didn't come to condemn(John 3:16-17) but to save. Jesus never backed away from truth or watered down sin, but He confronted and taught in Love and also with wisdom and knowledge. Many people in our worlds, simply teach what they've been raised or taught. Many people teach things out of their own opinions, belief systems, or ways they were raised, not because it's biblical or accurate.

For instance my step-son recently asked me after visiting a church why the preacher yells and hacks and carries on when He preaches? People are taught that style, so they think that is the only way you can preach. I'm not knocking people who preach that way, but it comes across to many as angry, you can't understand what they are saying, or it's distracting. I'm just using this as an example,but my point is people are taught a certain way and many think that is the only way or you're not really preaching if you ain't "yelling, spitting, hollering, or red faced."

But, it goes just beyond preaching styles, it's in certain things we believe, about wearing hats in the church building, or having food/drinks in the church building, or music we sing, or the order of service, or things we do for the children/youth in the church, or really any subject or topic for that matter.

I would just like to see the church and christians get back to the basics of faith. Love God, Love others. Enjoy the love and grace we have through Jesus Christ and share it with others. Do not condemn, judge, criticize. We spend way too much time doing the wrong things the wrong way and the Main thing isn't the main thing. We don't need "church lady" mentality where we spend all our time focusing and judging things we think are wrong because it's not how we believe or were raised.

We need to get back to the simplicity and truth of the Gospel. God loves us unconditionally. He wants to save us, He wants us to grow in our faith, and He wants us to serve Him and share our faith with others. We need to focus on the goodness of God and not the badness of people. We need to express and show the love of God through our actions toward others so they may be attracted to God. I love the words of Paul to the church at Colosse that I will close with reminding them to not be deceived by people's foolish arguments, but be encouraged in the lve of Christ! I think that's truly Special!

"2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments." Colossians 2:2-4(NIV)