2 Corinthians 4:8-9 8/28/2018*

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Life is not always easy…it’s not supposed to be.

Paul is describing Christians who have endurance and tenacity. People who confidently walk through life no matter how difficult it gets.

As a society we have lost the maturity described in these verses.  Our acceptance of a victim’s mentality, and self-centeredness has become crippling.

Maybe it is because as children we always got a trophy, we were never allowed to face disappointment …but today, more and more, we see grown men and women go completely off the rails at the slightest hint that they may not get their way.

It is embarrassing and dangerous, and as a society we need to grow up.

Life is not fair.  But you don’t have to be frail.

Walking with Jesus makes you more than a conqueror…. you can take the pressure without being crushed. You can be confused without being depressed.  You can be attacked without being devastated.

Even if you don’t get your way, you can calmly stand your ground because God is still God, and He loves you completely.

One identifying mark of a Christian should be a confidence that springs from the awareness of who you are, and whose you are…

You should have an assurance that is confusing to unbelievers. If you do, it will impact them more than any sermon. If you show maturity and stability, it will be so different from the norm that people will run to you like moths to a flame.

Life can be hard.  Once you have faced that reality without flinching, when you have shown that you can walk through the storm with composure …. only then will you be qualified to help others walk victoriously as well.

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
- Oswald Chambers

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 8/21/2018*

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

Few people would say Ecclesiastes is their favorite book. But the need for it in our generation is indisputable.

The author was the wisest, richest, most accomplished man on the planet. He had already achieved all we yearn for… yet in this verse he says that the things we sacrifice our lives chasing, are meaningless.

More and more we read of the despair and depression of the rich and famous.  While people who haven’t achieved wealth are driven by the anticipation that it will be fulfilling, those who have attained it know it is empty.

It is the big lie. It is the great bait and switch.  Wealth is completely incapable of fulfilling the promises it makes.  You destroy your health pursuing earthly riches that you cannot enjoy as you keep running after more, confident that with just one more dollar you will be secure and happy….it is chasing the wind.  

At the end of Ecclesiastes Solomon makes a telling statement:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecc 12:13)

Stop chasing the wind. Stop stressing over your balance sheet. God knows what you need. He has a plan and He’s not worried about how to pay for it. You don’t need to frantically chase assets, instead chase righteousness.

Don’t waste another day pursuing things that don’t last…Be in awe of God, and work for things of eternal significance.

“How many are they who have made a god of their wealth, and in hasting after riches have been drowned by the weight of their worldly substance” – Charles Spurgeon

Luke 11:11-13 8/14/2018*

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Jesus appears to ask this question in frustration over the anxiety we experience because we misinterpret our relationship with God.
Good theology is when we understand who God is, and who we are. Not grasping these two points creates a constant undercurrent of worry that drives us to discontent.

If we comprehend the supremacy of God and His amazing love for us, how can we worry about the outcome of situations over which He has complete control?
This is the constant theme of Jesus when He discusses our anxiety.  His continuous refrain is that we are loved, and God is good and faithful… 
Why can’t we see that our position of value, and His position of power eliminates the need for fear? 

It is not a matter of believing that things will go the way I want - but believing that things will go the way God wants… and in the long run God’s will is the best thing that can happen in my life.

Worry is a choice, and not worrying is a discipline. 
Choosing faith is a decision to impose facts upon your emotions. The fact that God is God, and you are His child gives you the right to ignore fear.
Let’s strive to remember that even sinful men know how to take care of those they love…how much more will God take care of us?

Choose faith over worry and see how it changes your life one day at a time.

“The very essence of worry is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting of ourselves into His place, to do for Him that which we dream He either cannot or will not do!”
- Charles Spurgeon

1 John 3:18 8/7/2018*

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

What actions do you have planned today to show your love for others? 

Where is “kindness” on your to-do list this afternoon?

Our worship rightly consists of honoring God with our words. But that cannot be the end of it. That is simply vocalizing what our activities should constantly reflect. Our love for the Father should be visible in our actions toward His children.

Let me challenge you to amend your schedule today.  As you prepare your calendar, intentionally set an action point to be kind to someone for no other reason than God told you to…

Be creative….Have fun with it.  Amaze someone today with your compassion and they will then be receptive to your truth.  We were created to love each other, and you will never feel more fulfilled then when you do so with your activities.

God didn’t just love us with words…He took action… difficult, expensive, sacrificial action…we should do the same.

It is your choice…. Today can be just another day… or you can choose to bless someone and make this day extraordinary for both of you.

Don’t just agree with the idea … do it.

I dare you to, on purpose, be a blessing to someone today.  I guarantee when you bless them, it will splash out all over you.

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” - Scott Adams