Sitting At His Feet

Week of June 24, 2022

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”  John 12:3(NKJV)

Mary had a very special love for Jesus.  It is not surprising that of all those who followed Jesus, Mary was the one to anoint His feet.  The disciples would have their opportunity to show the same love, but pride often got in their way.  Martha leaned toward acts of service.  While Martha had labored on behalf of Jesus in the kitchen, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teachings.  Because Mary had come to know and love Jesus in this way she was willing to humble herself and offer this deep expression of love to Him.  This type of love comes only through spending time with Jesus.

The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed with Him.  We must spend time with Him and listen to His voice.  If we find that our love for Jesus has dwindled or that we struggle to serve Him, it is a clear sign that we must take time to sit at His feet.  We may have been involved in Christian activities on His behalf and yet neglected our relationship with Him.  We are prepared to serve Him after we have spent time with Him, heard His voice, and received His love.  Like Mary, do we need to set aside some of the lesser important things and once again sit at His feet?

God Bless, Pastor Rick

A Father’s Day Encouragement

Week of June 17, 2022

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”         (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

After the death of Moses his successor Joshua was called to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. The Lord spoke directly to Joshua and gave him specific instructions and encouragement.  The Lord’s teaching on three separate occasions was for Joshua to be both strong and courageous!  One way to be strong is in the physical sense, and most fathers have that covered but another connotation of the Lord’s command was to be strong spiritually. We may not always be able to stay physically strong but we can al stay strong mentally by continually pressing into God’s word. It is the command of our Heavenly Father to stay the course of His calling throughout our whole life. As an earthly father, do this not only for yourself but also for your children.

The Lord commanded Joshua to also be courageous. He wanted Joshua to be brave in the face of his enemies because the Lord would guide and protect him. In the same manner, God wants all Christian fathers to stay courageous and guide their families as the spiritual leader. How can we do this? First, make sure your family knows that your relationship with Jesus Christ is your number one priority. This will set an example for them to imitate later in life. Second, be open about your faith and pray with your family. Prayer reveals your dependence on God. Third, make Sunday worship your priority for your whole family. This weekly consistency will be noticed and never forgotten later in your children’s lives. Happy Father’s Day!

Our Source Of Inspiration

Week of June 3, 2022

But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.  Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.”   Job 32:8-9

The foundation upon which you build will determine the strength or weakness of your spiritual life.  If we have committed our lives to Christ, then our behavior should become more and more like Christ.  If your spiritual life seems like you are living in poverty, then you should take steps to develop your spiritual life.  There will be no development spiritually until we become completely honest with ourselves.  To be completely honest with yourself is not easy.  Personal desires, self-interest, circumstances that continually change and many other factors cause us to be satisfied with lower moral standards which lead to disappointment and more dissatisfaction with life.

If we open our life and heart to the Holy Spirit, the source of truth, He will reveal yourself to yourself.  You will discover the things that block the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.  We must resolve to be honest with ourselves.  We must resolve to live in the light if we are truly serious about a strong spiritual life.

God Bless, Pastor Rick