Maybe you've seen them--those tire covers on SUV's--they have a simple and yet joyful message, "Life Is Good." Now I realize that the essence of this is somewhat materialistic since the point is that since they can afford to drive the SUV, life is going well for them. Still, the message in and of itself, is a good one. Life truly IS good!
Life is good because it's from God. James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning." It means God is the source and he has no evil motives, neither does he change "with the wind." Life is good, because it comes from a good God who wants the best for you. That's why we oppose abortion. That's why we oppose genocide and murder. Even more, that's why we support living life to the fullest as God intends.
Too often, we build what Proverbs calls a "hedge of thorns" around ourselves (see Prov. 15:19). We have tons of negative "what ifs" that hold us back and generate a lazy, lackluster, hopeless life. That's NOT from God. I know life has problems and limits. That's a given. But do we focus on those or do we focus on opportunity and blessing. Just taking a breath is a blessing--have you told God that you know that recently?
Life is good--let's treat God well by praising Him for it and living it our "to the max!"
In Jesus,
Pastor Joel
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The REAL Refuge
Psalm 46:1-2 says,
With all the earthquakes and tsunami threats recently, this verse has taken-on special significance. I was joking with someone Sunday about the absurd media hype over the tsunami threats to Hawaii. There were shore cameras and reporters standing by for hours, waiting to see what turned-out to be little more than a repeat high tide. Still, it demonstrates both our obsession with disaster and our fear.
At times like these, we need a "gut check." IS God our refuge? Or is it the assurances of "experts" on CNN or Fox News? Do we run to God or Glen Beck, to the Word of God or "World News Tonight?" Scripture promises that God is "very present," but do we feel or even seek Him?
I sometimes think that while God doesn't "cause" these natural disasters, he allows them to remind believers of His rightful place as our refuge. Regardless, it's a proper response to use them as a motivation for prayer, fasting, study, and meditation.
Are you?
Let's pray for and encourage each other to that end!
In Jesus,
Pastor Joel
"God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth do change. And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas."
With all the earthquakes and tsunami threats recently, this verse has taken-on special significance. I was joking with someone Sunday about the absurd media hype over the tsunami threats to Hawaii. There were shore cameras and reporters standing by for hours, waiting to see what turned-out to be little more than a repeat high tide. Still, it demonstrates both our obsession with disaster and our fear.
At times like these, we need a "gut check." IS God our refuge? Or is it the assurances of "experts" on CNN or Fox News? Do we run to God or Glen Beck, to the Word of God or "World News Tonight?" Scripture promises that God is "very present," but do we feel or even seek Him?
I sometimes think that while God doesn't "cause" these natural disasters, he allows them to remind believers of His rightful place as our refuge. Regardless, it's a proper response to use them as a motivation for prayer, fasting, study, and meditation.
Are you?
Let's pray for and encourage each other to that end!
In Jesus,
Pastor Joel
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
What IS God Saying?
Last Sunday, Patrick gave a message to several Youth and Adult leaders based on Micah 6:8, which says, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" He did a great job of breaking this passage down in practical ways for all of us. But the overall theme of this scripture and Patrick's teaching got me thinking...
Just what IS God saying?
This is a question we all face at times--especially times like this when we're seeking Him in fasting and prayer. I mean, "Is God asking me to do more or less?," "Go left or right?", "Start or stop?", etc. We want him to speak and we sometimes think He's holding out on us or acting like a stubborn child, facing away from us with His lower lip stuck out and His arms folded--refusing to answer until we pray enough, fast enough, work hard enough, or whatever He wants at the moment. We want answers and He seems silent...
But could it be that He's already spoken?
Now I need to clarify that I DO believe that God still speaks through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to every believer. The problem often is that we're not listening versus the fallacious idea that God's not speaking. Still, to some degree, the REAL problem is that God has already spoken and we're ignorant of it.
Micah 6:8 is a great example. It has been in the Bible for well over 2,000 years. Ironically, it says, "He HAS TOLD YOU, O man....(emphasis mine)." What does God want us to do? He wants us to focus on doing and promoting justice, loving and living kindness, and walking a lifestyle of true humility under his authority. We can (and should as Pat did) unpack these phrases, but my point is--it's all there for us and has been for centuries! So why are we still asking, "Just what IS God Saying to us?"
Partly, it's because we don't read what He has written (the Bible). Partly because we don't believe it when we do. God is NOT a stubborn brat, holding back on his kids because he wants us to sweat before answering our basic questions of life. Most of them He's already answered. The rest? Well, He's glad to deal with those as we pray and listen in the Spirit.
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
Just what IS God saying?
This is a question we all face at times--especially times like this when we're seeking Him in fasting and prayer. I mean, "Is God asking me to do more or less?," "Go left or right?", "Start or stop?", etc. We want him to speak and we sometimes think He's holding out on us or acting like a stubborn child, facing away from us with His lower lip stuck out and His arms folded--refusing to answer until we pray enough, fast enough, work hard enough, or whatever He wants at the moment. We want answers and He seems silent...
But could it be that He's already spoken?
Now I need to clarify that I DO believe that God still speaks through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to every believer. The problem often is that we're not listening versus the fallacious idea that God's not speaking. Still, to some degree, the REAL problem is that God has already spoken and we're ignorant of it.
Micah 6:8 is a great example. It has been in the Bible for well over 2,000 years. Ironically, it says, "He HAS TOLD YOU, O man....(emphasis mine)." What does God want us to do? He wants us to focus on doing and promoting justice, loving and living kindness, and walking a lifestyle of true humility under his authority. We can (and should as Pat did) unpack these phrases, but my point is--it's all there for us and has been for centuries! So why are we still asking, "Just what IS God Saying to us?"
Partly, it's because we don't read what He has written (the Bible). Partly because we don't believe it when we do. God is NOT a stubborn brat, holding back on his kids because he wants us to sweat before answering our basic questions of life. Most of them He's already answered. The rest? Well, He's glad to deal with those as we pray and listen in the Spirit.
In His Love,
Pastor Joel
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