The Story of Jonah as Told by The Cutest Little Girl

Another Year

Ever wonder why we celebrate a new year and gladly say good-bye to the previous? My wife asked me that question recently and I did not have a answer. Was last year really that bad that we are glad to see it go? Was it really that good that we would want to hold on to it? Is a year an "it"? Does it really matter? Did the world somehow change and the stroke of midnight on December 31st? No the world is still the same. The world has the same beauty and the same things that make it not so beautiful. That is the case no matter what year it is.

What about you? How have you changed over the last year? Closer to God? Are you more like the person you want to be. Perhaps you are less. So here is a question, what does God think about your 2010 and the person you have become through its events? Take a few moments to think and pray this over and you may be amazed with what you discover. My prayer for you is that you would know the mind of God for your 2011 and that you will be a part of what makes our world beautiful.

Stopping to reflect,

Paul

Thanksgiving in the Bible

Click on the above title and it will take you to a full article about Biblical thanksgiving. Use some of it in your devotionals as we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. The article is from the website biblestudytools.com.

Thanking God for you all,

Pastor Paul

Going Alive - Mark Ch.16

I have been learning to look behind my desires. What I mean by this is that I am asking why I want certain things in life. I am discovering my true needs, those behind the ones on the surface, are the things that God wants me to have. I believe that this is the case for all of us. Knowing this will help us look for them in Christ and move us away from looking to find life in things that lead to death. Below are the things that I believe are behind most if not all of the surface desires of our hearts and how God has given them to us in Christ.

Three things that God has promised through Jesus Christ that we often look for in dead places.

1. Rest: Matthew 11:28-29
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

2. Truth: John 18:37-38
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"After he had said this,he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.

3. Freedom: Romans 8:1-2
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in
Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

GO120 - Road Blocks Part 2

This entry is a continuation of last weeks. If you are lost read last weeks post "Road Blocks - Part 1" then pick up here.

4. Roadblock #4 – The threat of destruction 3:6-19
Jesus navigated through this road block by leaving the area but He kept on ministering. to many of just quit. Yes it true that at times leaving may be the answer, we are never to stop ministering to others.

5. Roadblock #5 – Opposition from His friends and family who did not yet understand His mission. 3:20-35
Jesus navigated through this road block by using common sense. He warned his loved ones of condemnation that would be the result of continued rejection and He knew who his real friends and family were. This is extremely difficult when trying to help family, but the result was His family eventually got it.

So what am I suggesting that you do with these examples? I think when you encounter roadblock you should understand that the road to heaven full of trouble. See Acts 14:19-22
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

With this in mind we should also be examples of the right thing. (See Titus 2:7-8)
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Following 120,

Pastor Paul

Go120 - "Roadblocks" Part 1

Following Jesus in servant hood requires us to do the right thing when encountering roadblocks. Jesus encountered opposition when He did the right thing. These could have been seen as roadblocks on His journey. How He navigated through them gives us a path to travel as we follow Him.

1. Roadblock #1 – Jesus ate with the wrong the crowd. 2:13-17
His navigation – He explained that He was calling the sick to repentance.
2. Roadblock #2 – Jesus did not follow outdated tradition. 2:18-22
His navigation – He brought newness of thought and operation which coincided
with the original thoughts of God.
3. Roadblock #3 – Jesus had the right but unpopular concept of a religious tradition.
2:23-27 / 3:1-5
His navigation – He pointed out that the tradition was for man not man for
the tradition. He did what was right in the sight of His opposition.

At times does following Jesus feel like this???