The gift that counts

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Look in any church, and you will find a few believers who don't mind being "sideline Christians." Their faith may be real, but it is inactive. Some of these people have simply decided that they lack the right skills to live daily for Christ. But a believer’s limitations are no excuse for ignoring God’s call to personal ministry—human strength and talent aren't all that's needed for serving the Lord. That's why the Holy Spirit gives each believer a spiritual gift at salvation.

Knowing exactly what a believer’s future holds, the Spirit can bestow on him or her the capacity to carry out God-given work. We can’t choose for ourselves what our gift will be; we're gifted according to the calling placed on our life. The Lord also takes into account our talents and personality so that our effectiveness is used to further the kingdom of Heaven.

Some Christians see certain gifts as proof of genuine faith. For example, a number of churches view speaking in tongues as a prerequisite for serving the Lord. However, according to Scripture, the only “gift” common to all believers is the Holy Spirit Himself. Today’s passage shows that spiritual gifts are distributed among the body of Christ, with no single manifestation being given to every believer (vv. 29-30).

The Holy Spirit makes certain that we have the right tools to serve according to our calling. It is time to shake off any laziness or expectations of others that keep us glued to the pew. Start looking for a place to serve, whether in your church, community, or at work, and you will soon discover how the Holy Spirit has gifted you.

Praying that we all find our place,
Pastor Mike

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
—Ephesians 2:8–9

A few years ago a poll conducted by a popular news magazine found that most Americans were sure they were going to heaven, but most didn’t expect to see their friends there. A majority of those polled were sure that Mother Theresa would make the cut, and a number also quoted certain celebrities and politicians who they thought would qualify.

Sadly, this shows the confusion and the flawed reasoning that go into the most important decision we'll ever make in life: the decision regarding where we will spend eternity.

Though this may come as a surprise to many people, Mother Theresa, as wonderful of a humanitarian as she was, didn't have any better odds of making it into heaven than anyone else. Why? Because our entrance into heaven isn't on the basis of what we've done for God; it's on the basis of what God has done for us. That is what it comes down to.

The lowest of the low, if they repent and ask God to forgive them, in spite of what they've done, will get into heaven. And the best of the best, in spite of all of the good they have done, will not necessarily get in if they have not put their faith in Christ as their Savior. It doesn’t matter what we have done, as commendable as it may be. Our entrance into heaven has nothing to do with good deeds or bad deeds. But it has everything to do with what Jesus did on the cross and our recognition that we cannot meet God on our own merit.

Praying that we all figure it out,
Pastor Mike

Wars and rumors of wars!

Wow, have you noticed the news lately? It's almost impossible to turn on the TV these days without seeing a new war breaking out. It breaks my heart, but it doesn't surprise me. Why?

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
Matthew 24:6–7

From the beginning of time, humanity has searched for peace. We have joined peace movements. We have marched for peace. We have given prizes for peace. We have even gone to war for peace. And when we hear that people have been arrested for disturbing the peace, we wonder where they actually found any. Some people tell us via their bumper stickers to “Visualize world peace.” Then they cut us off on the freeway.

High above the doors of the United Nations are the words of Isaiah 2:4: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” We are a people who want peace. But we need to know this: neither the United Nations nor politicians nor people who visualize it will bring about the sought-after peace on Earth that humankind so desperately longs for. The peace that we long for will only happen when the Creator Himself returns, repossesses what is truly His, and hangs a sign over this war-weary planet that says, “Under New Management.”

It would be nice to think that with all of our technology, we could somehow bring about global peace. But according to Jesus, in the last days we “will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass . . . ” (Matthew 24:6). Unfortunantly, war will be a part of the future of man until Christ Himself comes and establishes His kingdom.

Praying for peace,
Pastor Mike

Self-exploratory surgery

Proverbs 23:15-25 "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." (v.23)

Charles Swindoll tells how many years ago in New York a doctor by the name of Evan O'Neill became convinced that most major operations could be performed while patients were under a local anesthetic, thereby avoiding the risks of general anesthesia. On February 15th, 1921, he operated on himself and removed his appendix while under a local anesthetic. The operation was a success and it was said that he recovered faster than usually expected of patients who given general anesthesia. Today I ask that you to do some self-exploratory surgery of the soul. While fully conscious and fully aware, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you by handing you the only instrument you need for soul surgery - the germ-free scalpel of Scripture. "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). This isn't just an interesting idea, it's a required command of Scripture: "But let a man examine himself '" (1 Cor. 11:28, NKJV). In God's presence right now, ask yourself: Am I honest? Am I a person of integrity? Can my word be trusted? Remember, only you can do this surgery on your soul - only you. No one else but you knows the truth about yourself. You can rationalize and twist the facts and no one will know the difference - except you. And remember, too, there can be no wisdom without morality, no expertise in living without truth and honesty. The wise are those who have integrity.

Praying that you find peace,
Pastor Mike

Was I called a name?

The other day I was talking to another Christian about world events and just plain old every day topics. As we got deeper into the conversation, he called me a conservative. It's been days later now, but for some reason, I can't get that word out of my mind. It seems so obvious to me that as Christians, we would all fall under that catagory, but as I look around, maybe I'm wrong.

In John 14: 6, Jesus told Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me. As we look throughout the Bible, we see specific rules and regulations that we need to live by in order to have a strong relationship with our Lord. These rules are far different than what the world lives by. Our ways to them do seem conservative and strict, but to us our obedience to the Lord comes from a heart of Love, not fear. So when someone who doesn't know Jesus calls me a conservative, then I understand it, but when a Christian calls me the same, it puzzles me.

As Christians, we should not be liberal enough to dismiss abortion (the world would say it's the mothers right, but the Bible says it is murder), to be passive in our evangelism (the world says that everyone has the right to choose their God, and that we will all make it to a higher level, but Jesus said NO, you can only make it to the Father through Him), to stand up for what the Bible says (the world says that it is an outdated piece of Literature, we say it is the infalible Word of God), or to stand up for Jesus (the world claims that Jesus is a myth, we say he is alive and will return).

Yes, I am a conservative in the eyes of the people who don't know the Lord. Yes, I used to think the same way until the Lord brought me back into His loving arms. And yes, I pray that all of us one day will become conservatives so that this great nation will return to it's Godly roots.

So in conclusion, as I write this blog, it becomes very obvious to me that I am more of a conservative than I thought, and I praise God for that title. So, was I called a name? I know my friend meant nothing bad by it, so I'll have to say no. However, it is now a title that I will wear with pride. I'M A CONSERVATIVE AND A JESUS FREAK, AND PROUD OF IT..... Wow, that felt good to get off my chest, I think I'll say it more ofter.....:)

Praying for all of us,
Pastor Mike

Don't forget to email me and let me know what you think.

OK< I know it's my first blog for a while, but I was reading and article this morning that I really have to share with you. It's a report on the practical applications of Squire Rushnell's new book, When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You through the Power of Coincidence, (Nelson Books, 2006).

Please enjoy it as much as I did, and let me know what you think.

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When life gets confusing, stressful, or even tragic, you may wonder if God sees or cares about you. Then a coincidence or answered prayer enters your life and changes it for the better. These personal touches don’t happen just by chance. They’re messages sent directly from God to you – winks from a loving Father who wants you to know He’s watching over you.

Here’s how you can recognize God winking at you:

* Try a test. Even if you’re not sure that God exists, decide to act as if He does, telling Him that you’d like Him to reveal Himself to you. Try placing your trust in His existence, then look for communication from Him. Know that He will be faithful to respond if you’re sincere in your desire to know Him.

* Listen to messengers, and be one yourself. Expect that God will use other people as unwitting messengers of His encouragement to you in many situations – and that He will use you as a messenger for others, as well. Whenever people are kind to you, consider how God might be reaching out to you through those acts of kindness. As often as you can, treat others with kindness to encourage them.

* Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary. Pay close attention to how God may choose to validate His presence through any situation in your life. Understand that God reveals Himself not just in momentous, watershed events, but also in small, mundane moments.

* Dig into your memories. Take some time to recall moments in the past when you experienced coincidences or answered prayers. Consider how those events were timed just right to assure you that you’re not alone in this world, and thank God for communicating with you when you needed to hear from Him.

* Embrace hope. No matter what your current circumstances or feelings, choose to hope in God and His promises to you. Know that your hope will help you see God’s winks more clearly, and inspire others to decide to hope, as well. After God give you renewed hope, spread the hope around. Use kind words – spoken in conversation, or written in notes – to reinforce other people’s hope.

* Consider the big picture. Remember that God’s perspective is much bigger than yours. During times of loss, let your grief spur you on to look for winks that show you you’ll be okay. Know that, in the big picture, everything does make sense. Trust that God will take even the worst situation in your life and bring something good out of it if you invite Him to do so.

* Embrace comfort. During times of uncertainty and transition, be alert and open to God’s winks of comfort. Let them remind you that He is constantly with you on your journey through life.

* Confirm that prayer works. Recognize that God’s winks are evidence that prayer has real and strong power to change your life. Let the winks you experience motivate you to continue to pray.

* See the blessing hidden inside unanswered prayers. Recall the times when you’ve prayed for something, yet didn’t receive it, despite your strong desire for it. Consider from your current vantage point how God’s decision not to answer those prayers was actually the wisest choice. For example, if a job you wanted fell through, committing to that job may have prevented you from getting a better one. Or, if a romance didn’t work out, you may be able to tell now that the person you’d thought was right for you is actually wrong for you. Recognize that unanswered prayers are often God’s way of moving you from one direction to another so you can walk on the best path.

* Consider the timing. Understand that God will often wink at you just in the nick of time – either to deliver you from misfortune or disaster, or to give you good news when you need it most. Remember that God is never late.

* Look for winks in your relationships with family. Know that God is pleased when you’re kind to your family members. Expect Him to respond with winks that encourage you as you strive to love your family well.

* Take steps toward your dreams. Let God’s winks inspire you to continue moving toward fulfilling your dreams. Understand that your destiny won’t just come to you as you wait passively; instead, God will use winks to guide you as you take active steps of faith along the way to making your dreams come true. So put yourself in motion with the knowledge and wisdom you currently have, and stay alert for God’s winks to act as a divine navigational system. Trust God to correct your course wherever necessary, and lead you down new roads toward fresh opportunities. Let the winks He gives you fill you with peace and joy on your way.

I'll be back!

Hi All! As you noticed, I've been absent for over a week. I've had some things that needed to get done, so I wasn't able to blog. I'll be back starting Saturday though. So until then, be blessed and walk tall with the Lord.

Pastor Mike

And nothing but the truth

Psalm 51:6 Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place

Absolute truth is the revelation of God's Word, and we must live that truth in ouselves. When David lived a lie he suffered greatly. When he finally found freedom by acknowledging the truth, he wrote, "How blessed is the man . . . in whose spirit there is no deceit" (Psalm 32:2). When David later reflected on the same incident, he wrote, "Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place" (Psalm 51:6 NIV ).

We're to lay aside falsehood and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). A mentally healthy person is one who is in touch with reality and almost free of anxiety. Both qualities should epitomize the Christian who lives the truth.

Deception is the most subtle of all od atan's strongholds. Have you ever noticed that all people with addictive behavior lie to themselves and others almost continuously? The alcoholic lies about his drinking, the anorexic lies about her eating, and the sex offender lies about his behavior. Lying is an evil defense prompted by the father of lies, Satan (John 8:44).

The first step in any recovery program is to get out of denial and face the truth. Truth is never an enemy; it's always a liberating friend. People in addiction hate to lie and grow tired of the darkness. They hate to sneak around, lie and cover up. "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (l John 1:5). We must "walk in the light as He Himself is in the light" (1 John 1:7). There is great freedom when truth reveals of living a lie.

Choosing the truth may be hard for you if you have been living a lie for many years. The Christian needs only one defense: Jesus. Knowing that you are forgiven and accepted as God's child sets you free to face reality and choose the truth.

Praying that we all seek to face the truth
Pastor Mike

How to reprogram our thoughts

1 Peter 1:13 Gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Since we came into this world physically alive but spiritually dead, we had neither the presence of God in our lives nor the knowledge of His will. Our minds were programmed to live independently of Him. We were mentally conformed to this world.

When we became Christians, nobody pushed the CLEAR button in our preprogrammed minds. Even as Christians we can still allow our minds to be programmed by the world. So what must we do?

First, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1). How do you renew your mind? By filling it with God's Word.

Second, Peter directs us to prepare our minds for action (1 Peter 1:13). Do away with fruitless fantasy. To imagine yourself doing things without ever doing anything is dangerous. But if you can mentally prepare yourself in advance to obey the truth, you can motivate yourself toward productive living--as long as you follow through by doing what you imagine.

Third, take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Practice threshold thinking. Evaluate every thought by the truth, and don't let your mind entertain thoughts contrary to the will of God.

Fourth, turn to God. When your commitment to do the will of God is being challenged by thoughts from the world, the flesh, or the devil, bring it to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6). By doing so you are acknowledging God and exposing your thoughts to His truth. Your double-mindedness will dissolve "and the peace of God . . . shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

Fifth, assume your responsibility to think. "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8).


Praying that we all renew our thinking
Pastor Mike

Staying steadfast

1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Instead of falling prey to the devil, Christians must be aggressive soldiers recapturing the land for Christ. One goal of our spiritual battle is to prevent our enemy from having any sphere of influence in our lives.

Successful invaders are risk takers. Men and women of faith and action. The victory will go to those who move their faith the 18-inch distance from their heads to their hearts. Many Christians, however, seem to prefer comfort to conflict.

Winston Churchill believed the battlefield is the place where great issues are resolved. And I believe the great issues of our day will only be decided when well-equipped Christians invade lion country. Just as Churchill refused to negotiate until the adversary had capitulated, neither can we afford to give in to temptation or compromise.

As you encroach on the enemy's territory, remember these passages from Scripture:

Stand firm and let God's Word be your guide. We have God's assurance that we won't lose the war.(see Eph. 6:14-17).

Pray always and give thanks (see 1 Thess. 5:17,18).

Don't take temptation lightly; flee immorality (see 2 Tim. 2:22).

Walk by faith, not by what you feel and see. God's Word and His promises are either 100 percent true or they are not. Since His Word is true, your faith is the difference. Grab hold of His Word and step out (see 2 Cor. 5:7).

C.T. Studd, a missionary to China, understood the challenge well. He wrote, "Some people want to live within the sound of chapel bells, but I want to run a mission a yard from the gate of hell."

The battle has been tough recently, but I wouldn't trade being in lion country for any of the peace and comfort that depended on compromise.

What about you?

Praying that we stay steadfast
Pastor Mike

What's wrong with bitterness?

1 Samuel 18: 1-30

King Saul had it all, God’s anointing on him as ruler; the prophet Samuel to guide him; the power and wealth of the kingdom of Israel; the applause of the people. Yet he died a bitter man. What steps led to his downfall?

• Anger: When Goliath was defeated, the crowds praised Saul as a killer of thousands but David as a slayer of ten thousands. Instead of rejoicing that God had raised up someone to slay the giant, Saul got mad at David for getting more praise than he did.

• Wrong Thinking: Saul’s flaring temper affected his mind, and he became suspicious of David’s motives. He started thinking that, since the Lord was with David the young man would want to take over the kingdom right away.

• Fear: Saul’s fear led to plotting against David and throwing spears at him.

• Rejection: The king sent David away from his presence.

• Dread: Saul’s fear grew stronger with David’s military success and the people’s growing love for him.

• Deceitful action: Twice the king tried to manipulate David by offering one of his daughters in marriage. Both times he plotted to get David killed by the Philistines, and each attempt failed. Saul’s response was to become David’s enemy for the rest of his days. From then on, bitterness set in.

Although the details of our lives differ from Saul’s, the steps to bitterness and ruin are the same. What unresolved anger do you allow to fester? Whom do you avoid because of ill will? Won’t you confess your sin, turn to God, and be set free? Do it today...

Praying that we are all set free
Pastor Mike

Forgiveness...It's the law

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender in spite of the offender's shortcomings and mistakes. It's the last thing Jesus did on the cross! Forgiving someone of an offense is not condoning their behavior and saying everything they did is alright. Forgiving each other shifts the source of justice from ours to God's.

"...bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Colossians 3:13-14

Jesus didn't say we're to forgive if we feel like it. He said to do it with no limit set on the extent of forgiveness. It must be given without reserve by faith and not feelings.

"'Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him.' The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" Luke 17:3-5

The apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:15 that words and emotions can get out of hand - even among Christians. When this happens, feelings get hurt, friendships are destroyed, the church becomes divided, and the body of Christ suffers. It's crucial that we ask the Lord daily to help us to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another." Ephesians 4:32 We must pray for those who have wounded us, asking God to give us a right spirit and renewed sense of love and trust God to heal the situation.

With just a little foothold of unforgiveness in our lives, we can easily become bound with chains of bitterness, resentment, anger and rage. If we let that foothold linger without dealing with it, eventually it will lead to our own self-destruction. When we release forgiveness, it frees us from a powerful bondage that enemy can put on us. If we don't cut people loose by forgiving them, then we become entangled. Forgiving others sets us free!

Praying that we all learn to forgive one another
Pastor Mike

When to Pray

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
—James 5:13

When we find ourselves in difficult situations, often the temptation is to lash out at the person who helped bring those circumstances on us. Or, we want to blame someone for our state of affairs. We may even become mad at God for allowing this in our lives. Or, we might wallow in self-pity.

But when we’re in trouble, when we’re suffering, or when we’re in trouble, God tells us what we should do: pray. Why? For one thing, it just may be that God might remove that problem because of our prayers. That’s not to say that God will always take our troubles, suffering, or misery away. But it’s to say that sometimes He will.

By simply bringing our circumstances before the Lord and acknowledging our need and dependence on Him, we can see God intervene in the situation we are presently facing. Prayer can also give us the comfort we need to endure trouble and be brought much closer to God.

James 5:13 tells us, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. . . .” The word “suffering” used here could also be translated “in trouble” or “in distress.” Is anyone among you in trouble? Are you distressed? Then you should pray.

So when the bottom drops out, when you feel you are just hanging by a thread, when circumstances have become incredibly difficult, or when they have grown worse by the minute, what should you do? You should pray.

You should pray when you’re afflicted. You should pray when you’re sick. You should pray when you’re corrupted by sin. And you should pray when specific needs occur. Pray, and don’t give up.

Praying for us all
Pastor Mike

Welcome home!

Well, as you know, we are home from our family reunion safe and sound. It's been an extremely long day, as well as week, for us as we get unpacked and back to the reality of life.

I had a lot of errands to do today, and by the time I finished them all, I was so exhausted. The 1500 mile trip, as well as the days activities took it's toll on me. As I settled in to relax today with Carmen, we decided to watch a movie called, "The Second Chance." It's a Christian movie with Michael W. Smith, and I highly recomend it. In fact, I give it three crosses up.

Today I have no verses for the devotional. I have no words of wisdom. I do have the need to get you to watch this movie though. This film explores what it means to truly follow Jesus Christ. I reminds us to get back to the basics of what it means to serve Jesus, others, and the world, just as our Saviour served us. The sad part is that it sometimes takes a movie or something else to remind us. But whatever it takes to make us do the right thing, then we need to be doing it. Don't become such a "good and busy" Christian that we forget to serve others, get out there today and wash somebody's feet just like Jesus did. Make your walk with the Lord REAL today. Put down your own needs and see how you can turn somebody elses life around. Do it in the name of Jesus.

Praying that we all remember what Jesus did
Pastor Mike

We'll be gone for a week!

Hello everyone! We're going to be gone for the next week. We'll be going up to a family reunion with a huge amount of family from Mike's side. Please keep us in prayer as we make this journey. We're looking forward to it, and I can't wait for Carmen to meet Mike's extended family. Thanks for all your support...:) It's four in the morning, and we're outta here....

Love,
Pastor Mike and Carmen

Ask God First!!

Numbers 14:44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp.

The people of Israel were brought out of Egypt to enter a new land-the Promised Land. This land wasn't handed over to them freely; it required the removing of God's enemies through battle. It required a partnership between God and the people. As long as the people remained true to God, they were victorious.

The people were camped at Kadesh Barnea, near the border entrance to the long-awaited Promised Land. All the difficulties of their journey from Egypt were now coming to a head at this important crossing. However, Joshua and Caleb were the only scouts who proclaimed faith in God to take them into the land and conquer their enemies. The other spies saw all the dangers and refused to take the risk. The people of the camp shrank in fear because of their report. They decided not to go in.

God was angered at the people for their lack of faith. Moses had to intercede on their behalf. Once they realized what they had done, it was too late. But they thought their repentance was enough to right their wrong. They presumed this was all that was necessary.

Moses informed them they were deceived in their presumption of God's favor. They went to battle against the Amalekites only to be beaten soundly. Those who returned didn't understand why they lost the battle.

It's important for us to know whether we have God's hand upon our endeavors. Presumption leads to failure. God's favor leads to success. Ask God to confirm His hand on your endeavors.

..."If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33:15).

Pastor Mike

How to plan your life!

2 Corinthians 1:17 Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

The apostle Paul was discussing his plans to come to the church at Corinth. He was acknowledging the serious nature of his trip and informing the Corinthians that he didn't just happen to come to this decision to visit them. It was a matter that had been given serious prayer, not one made in the spur of the moment.

Planning from God's view is a process. It isn't merely an exercise in reason and analysis. It requires entering into the mind of Christ together with our minds to determine which course to take. In the Old Testament, the priests wore breastplates with the urim and thummim in a pouch on their breasts. It was like a roll of dice that the priests were required to perform to know which direction they were to take on a matter. It was the ultimate release of all decisions into God's hand. God did not want the priests to rely on their own intellects for final decisions.

We have an uncanny ability to make decisions based on our own needs and wants. However, God wants us to look for Him to know His plans for us. David was an incredible warrior who never lost a battle. He consulted God on every decision. He knew the results of the battle rested in God's hand. So, if he was to win the battle, he had to know God's mind on the matter. Sometimes this requires more time given to the process in order to hear His voice. Sometimes it may even require fasting and prayer. Sometimes it may require input from other godly friends.

Are you a man or woman who makes decisions based on God's purposes for your life? Do you take every major decision and put it before the throne to determine God's mind on the matter? If so, you will avoid making decisions in a worldly manner. Learn to lean on God, and not on your own understanding.

Praying that we all make the right decision
Pastor Mike