Love Is the Greatest

It's hard to believe that 2011 has come to an end and 2012 is about to begin. What an amazing year it has been with so many wonderful memories being made. For my last post of 2011 I'm talking about love. According to 1 John 4:8 God Himself is love. Love is not only powerful, but is an essential part of life. It's not an emotion or a feeling, but is the essence of who we are, because it's also who God is. Love is something that's often shown or talked about, but how do you know if it's really love? To know the answer I go to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. It's one of the most powerful, impacting and yet challenging passages of Scripture I know. It says in verses 4-7, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." This is the kind of love I'm to have personally, as are all believers. It's challenging to the core as it goes completely counter-culture. It's a love God desires to be lived out in our daily walk. I'm excited about 2012 because people aren't just going to hear about love, but they're going to see it lived out in the lives of believers. It's going to be a year of miracles, salvations and breakthrough! Go God :)

How Often Do You Laugh?

As a pastor I'm always around or with people. I love being with them, whether it's just hanging out, helping them through a difficult time or something else. Something I appreciate about people is when they laugh. Laughter does something that you can't really explain. Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine..." And you have to appreciate being with people who are cheerful and full of joy. When they begin to laugh it brings about such joy. I'm sure Jesus laughed lots with His disciples. I believe it was one of the many reasons people enjoyed being around Him. Unfortunately there are some people who seldom laugh. Maybe they have their reasons for this, but laughter definitely has its health benefits, which I encourage you to research a little. Laughter is so contagious. Have you ever been with someone who begins to laugh and then before you know it, everyone is laughing. I understand we live in a culture that creates stress, a culture where people can become frustrated, intense or critical, but everyone needs to laugh. A cheerful heart is good for you and one of its byproducts is laughter. Here's another interesting statistic I found, "The average American child laughs 200 times per day, while adults only laugh about 15 times." Have we become so serious and focused on things that we've forgotten to laugh? Let's do something about this and change statistics. I realize that laughing requires numerous muscles working together, but it can be learned and is very beneficial for you :) Happy laughing! Check out this link for people laughing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xH0xorgUoI

The Incredible Shrinking Man

Recently I've been intrigued reading about John the Baptist. There are so many fascinating things about him and his ministry. However, there is one statement that he declares in John 3:30 that packs a punch. John the Baptist says, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." It emphasizes John the Baptist's ministry decreasing while Christ's increasing. John was fully aware about what needed to happen. He was aware of the time and season that he was in, and states exactly what his responsibility was. For John to say what he said and do what he did, he needed to be a man clothed in humility. What's often heard in our culture is "It's all about you and getting what you can!" This is a far cry from what John the Baptist knew needed to happen. Again, the reason John could say this was because of humility. Yet humility in our culture has given way to the giant of pride. Wherever you look it often seems that humility has been swept under the rug as a thing of the past, giving way to a culture full of pride and arrogance. What if John the Baptist's words were echoed again in our day and age, and people responded? What if people chose to put Christ first and embraced humility? 

It's the Blessing of the Lord

Many of you know that one of my favorite things to do is shopping at thrift stores. It's amazing to me the stuff that people get rid of, some of which is brand new. For Christmas this year I found for myself a very nice Mountain Hard Wear jacket for under five dollars. At thrift stores I've saved hundreds of dollars on books, found many pairs of hundred dollar shoes, several top of the line ski jackets, many clothing items and much much more. In times where you don't have a lot of extra money, it's amazing how the Lord continues to provide abundantly. He not only does this for me, but for my entire family and so many other families too. I can shop at a thrift store and leave with hundreds of dollars worth of goods, having only paid pennies on the dollar. It always brings a smile to my face when people compliment me on what I'm wearing, knowing how much I paid for it and where I got it. Another reason I love thrift stores is not only because I enjoy finding great deals, but I love talking to people who are in there shopping. Often they are people who have fallen on hard times. I have so much fun talking with them, encouraging them and even sometimes blessing them by paying for what they were going to buy. I do have several favorite stores in the valley and who knows, maybe I'll run into you sometime :) May the Lord bless you abundantly in stores as He's blessed me and my family :)

Snow Makes Me Think Of...

I know waking up to snow this morning stirred joy, hope and excitement in many people, even if it was only a dusting. Whether it's kids wanting to play in the snow or older ones wanting to hit the slopes to ski or board, today is a start! The chance to get out and play in it, for some, is like nothing else. But what I couldn't stop thinking about this morning when I saw the ground lightly covered was Isaiah 1:18. It says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. What an incredible promise to all those who believe in Jesus. Just as the ground was covered this morning with pure white powder, so also does the Lord cover our sins and making them white as snow. What an amazing picture this gives us of Him and His forgiveness. What great love He has for us to do this. As we go out in the snow today, or as we hit the slopes (when we get more snow), never lose sight of this picture. His blood washing over our sins and making them as white as snow, all because of His love for us.

Breakthrough Is Often Closer Than You Think

As many of you know, trials and tests are often part of our daily walk in life. Sometimes theses can come in the shape of small things, and at times, much larger things. Usually we have two options when we encounter these trials and tests. We can stop and give up, or choose to continue moving forward, relying on God to help us be victorious. The Bible is very clear that tests and trials will come, and even says in Romans 5:3 that, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." In times of testing and trials, God desires us to keep going and to have endurance (as well as joy). In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, were told, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." You may feel pressed, perplexed, hunted down and even get knocked down, yet we must find our strength in the Lord and continue moving ahead. As we trust in God and keep our eyes on Him through our difficult times, He won't allow us to be crushed, driven to despair, be abandoned by Him or be destroyed. Just like a good running back in football who feels someone trying to tackle him, you must keep your legs moving and keep going. I know lots of people who in a time of trial or testing, choose to breakthrough into a season of victory and conquest. Maybe that's what God has in store for you today, if you'll choose to keep going and have endurance? 

For With God Nothing Will Be Impossible

In thinking about the Christmas story and the miracles surrounding it, there's really nothing that's impossible for God. When you are on God's team, there's always hope and possibilities. The birth of Christ is probably the greatest moment in human history. When God Himself came to earth and became a man. It's incredible! Our response to this miracle should be just like the shepherds response. When they were told about Jesus' birth, they went to Him with haste to find Him (Luke 2:16). And once they had found Him, look at what they did next according to Luke 2:17-18, "Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. The shepherds went everywhere telling people what they'd been told and what happened next. Even today, people need to hear the great news of Jesus' birth. We live in a culture that has sucked hope, life and vision out of people, and they need to hear about Immanuel, God with us. He is the one who brings us hope, life and vision and we must be like the shepherds, and tell everyone around us about Jesus. Christmas is all about Jesus and people are usually more open to hear about Him during this season. Wherever you go during the next few days, don't forget to tell people about Immanuel. Merry Christmas everyone :) Also enjoy the cute Christmas story as told by some children from Auckland, New Zealand http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kWq60oyrHVQ