Acceptance

We all face hardships in life. Adversity does not discriminate.  This is true for both Christians and non-Christians.  However, as Christians, how we respond to adverse situations will determine whether our walk with the Lord is a winning walk.  

There are three areas of adversity in our lives: pressures, problems, and people. When adversity comes how can God's people respond in a way that is pleasing to the Lord? 

First, we must realize that God's purpose for adversity is character development.  God is not concerned about our comfort, but our character.  He desires for his children to share in his holiness; therefore, he uses adversity as a tool to develop that character. Sometimes the Lord uses adversity for correcting his children.  Other times he uses adversity for perfecting his children.  Both are equally painful.    

Second, we must understand that God's motive for adversity is love.  God wants us to be more like Jesus; therefore, he uses pressures, problems, and people at tools to develop godly character.  He does this because he loves his children.  We belong to him, and he wants the best for us.  He wants us to experience the blessings of having a winning walk with the Lord.    

Third, when we realize God's purpose for adversity is character development, and his motive is love, then we are able to accept our situations, and truly trust God to finish in us what he started.  We can also trust the Lord to work all things that happen to us for good.  The ultimate blessing, of course, is being conformed in the image of Jesus Christ.

I have learned that the most beneficial experiences in my walk with the Lord have been the most painful experiences.  

What kind of trials are you going through now? What is your attitude towards God?  What is your attitude towards the trial?  

Let me know if I can pray for you!   

God's Game Plan: Honor

Sunday’s message was from Proverbs 3:9-10. How we relate to God with our money reveals the Christian’s trust level.  It is no wonder that the Lord follows his command to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” with “Honor the Lord with your wealth.”

God really doesn’t want our money; he wants our heart.   How the Christian relates to God with money is a good indicator of life-change in Jesus Christ.    Here are some life-change questions from yesterday’s message:

1.    Where is your heart?

2.    Is your heart in Jesus?

3.    Is your heart in heaven?

4.    Is Jesus Lord of all your life?

5.    Do you trust God with your finances?

6.    Will you give your all to Jesus?

Why Pray?

Why Pray? Here are some reasons God commands us to pray.

1. We move from knowing about God to truly knowing God when we pray.

2. We express our trust in the Lord when we pray. The more we pray the more we trust.

3. We deepen our relationship with God when we pray. The more we pray the more our love for God deepens and grows.

4. We become a part of God’s great plan when we pray. Prayer allows us to be involved with activities that have eternal significance.

5. God’s kingdom is advanced when we pray.

God's Game Plan: Trust

Trust

Proverbs 3:5-8

1. God wants His children to trust Him without any reservation.

2. Trust without any reservation is not based upon the amount of your trust, but the object of your trust.

a. You can trust the Lord’s providence and power.

b. You can trust the Lord’s promises and provisions.

3. You are trusting God without reservation when you…

a. Trust the Lord completely

b. Trust the Lord exclusively

c. Trust the Lord relationally

d. Trust the Lord expectantly

4. Life Application

a. Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

b. Write down some of the things that may be keeping you from trusting the Lord without any reservations.

c. What area in your life do you need give over to the Lord?

Don't Stop for God's Sake!

Last Monday, I started my eighth week of my couch to 5K running program. I did not want to run. My body and my mind were telling me not to run. I was about to give up when I looked up and saw one of my neighbors running toward me. Her presence, and knowing that she has completed the route encouraged me to go on.

Ten minutes later, I was ready to stop running again. Then, at just the right time, I saw the shadow of a runner coming up behind me. It was another neighbor running the same route I was running, even though his pace was much faster than mine. His presence was just what I needed to finish a three-mile run that I never wanted to start in the first place.

My experience caused me to start thinking about my church family. As followers of Christ, we are all in the race together, and we need each other to finish strong. We need to continually encourage one another to stay the course.

I found great satisfaction in finishing my three-mile run. And I owe a great thanks to the Lord for placing people around me to encourage perseverance. I am also thankful for the great people the Lord has put around me to continue to run the race called Christianity.

Be encouraged today. Don't stop running the race. The reward will far outweigh your temporary struggle.

Dear Church Family, It is with Great Sadness that I Submit...

Gotcha!

Yesterday, I shared some application questions after my sermon. I thought I would post some of them here and allow you to share. Here is the message outline and a few application questions. I would love to have some of your thoughts and testimonies about what God teaching in the area of obedience.

God’s Game Plan: Obedience

Proverbs 3:1-4

1. Obeying God is the basis for sustaining a right relationship with the Lord (1-2).

a. A right relationship begins with a covenant relationship with the Lord.

b. A right relationship is sustained by obeying God’s commands (1)

c. A right relationship results in a life well lived (2)

2. Loving God is the reason for sustaining a right relationship with the Lord (3-4)

a. God devotes his love to his children (3a)

b. God’ deserves love from his children (3a)

c. God demands loyalty from his children (3b)

3. Life Application Questions:

a. Share a story of how you have experienced God’s faithfulness and steadfast love in your life recently.

b. How are you doing in showing your love for God? Are there areas in your life keeping you from loving God the way you should? Is God moving you outside of your comfort zone?

c. Are you loyal to God? Are you encountering situations that may keep you from being faithful to the Lord?

Are You Ready for Some Wisdom?

I am excited about the new sermon series starting this Sunday called "God's Game Plan." The third chapter of Proverbs teaches basic truths for winning at the game of life. If God's people are going to live a life well lived, then there are some fundamentals that must be followed.

It is said that when legendary coach Vince Lombardi started a new football season, he always started by holding up a football and saying,

"This is a football."

This Sunday's message is the most fundamental message for winning in life. You don't want to miss it.