Seek Synergy With God

I have come to understand that there are many things that only God can accomplish in my life, and yet there are other things that He expects me to do. These are not always easily distinguished and I often stumble around a bit before I get it right. Though we are limited and God is not we must commit to doing our part. My stumbling around is my effort to seek synergy with God. This must be my goal to fulfill the work he has for me and I gather from my discussions with others that you need to seek synergy with God as well. Ruth is a good example of this and in Ruth chapter two we receive four means to accomplish this synergy.

1. God will guide you as you humbly go. Ruth 2:1-3
2. God will bless you and honor our servitude. Ruth 2:4-12
3. God's provision is not the end of our work. Ruth 2:13-18
4. God's provision is often of a greater significance than we first realize.
2:19-23

Seeking Synergy,

Pastor Paul

Seen In The Story - Sermon #2

As the video below illustrates, there are times when situations seem hopeless. At the end of the video the narrator states that hope is never over. This is a great truth and is seen in countless stories through out the history of God's people. The story being considered in our current series at CONNECT is the story of Ruth. In the first chapter God allows a tragedy to strike a family. It is when God allows these things that we are tempted be believe that he has forgotten us or that He simply does not exist. For many they give up and take life into their own hands and fight for what is theirs. Ruth presents a radical approach to facing tragedy. She totally forgoes her rights. In doing this she commits to her love for her mother-in-law.

In the second sermon in the series "Seen In The Story" four examples of love that forgoes its rights are presented:

1. God's example: Ruth 1:6 - God gave food to rebellious people following a time
of famine.
2. Naomi's example: Ruth 1:7-13 - Naomi released her daughter-in-laws from
caring for her as a widow.
3. Ruth's example: Ruth 1:14-22 - Ruth gave up her right to be free and find
another husband.
4. Jesus' example: Philippians 2:5-8 - Jesus gave up His to be served and became
a servant.

Do you think that you need to fight for your own rights? Can you love in such a way that forgoes your rights? How about when God allows tragedy? This is a radical way of looking at life, but the alternative is a life of getting what you can on your own. As I view our society that philosophy is not getting us very far.

Pastor Paul
connectavnaz@gmail.com

It's Not Over

Seen In The Story - Sermon #1

The story in the Old Testament book of Ruth is a story of love and redemption. Those that dig into the theological aspects of the well known Bible stories will tell us that this story is a picture of Jesus as our "kinsmen redeemer". In short an kinsmen redeemer is just that, a family member who gets you out of trouble. In the book of Deuteronomy the Jew was instructed to marry his brothers wife should his brother die without having any children. Though this seems a bit odd in our culture, for the Jew it meant the ability to carry on the family name. One thing that becomes apparent to us in the stories of the Bible is that the deeper truths of God are understood in the context of these life stories. To be encouraged by the Bible we need to see it fleshed out in our lives. Some may see this as nonspiritual, but I would disagree and point out that God gave us the story of Ruth for that very reason. Why else would we need to know about Ruth? We need to move away from knowing the Bible just for the sake of knowing the Bible. We need to know the Bible to understand life! Look at the stories of life around you and see our Redeemer at work. It is true beauty!

Pastor Paul

Carried to the Table by Leeland

Cursed No More - Rev. 22:1-5

At times I need a reminder that this world is temporary. This seems to motivate me to be diligent in loving people and dealing with what often makes life difficult. The fact is, the Bible speaks of Heaven as being that place where those things that make life hard are gone. All the effects of sin have been washed away and we can live in the worship of our God without the stuff that so often distracts and pulls us away from the fellowship of His Spirit.

But I also need to realize that there are many things here and now that make life beautiful. They seem to be hints of heaven. Little things that bread anticipation for our eternal home. Many of those little things are seen in the lives of those that we love. Look for them, God will reveal them to you and you will be motivated to love and live with endurance.

I hope that you enjoy the video below and are blessed with hints of Heaven!

Pastor Paul

Steven Curtis Chapman "Heaven Is The Face"