Daily Provision

Week of July 28, 2023

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.”  Matthew 6:11

We are dependent on God for everything in our lives.  We would be unable to breathe a breath, think a thought, move a muscle, work a day, or anything else without His moment by moment provision.  Put your finger on your pulse right now and give thanks to God for your life.  List all that is yours and know it is from His gracious provision that you have obtained it.  You can praise Him for the food that you eat, your body that moves you around, the people that bring joy into your life, and all the opportunities presented to you throughout the day.  Clearly, all that we have and all that we are comes from the unmerited favor of the Lord.

The scripture above deliberately uses the word daily.  This word reminds us that we cannot live on the stale grace of yesterday.  We most definitely need His new mercies and grace for today’s ever escalating challenges.  The Lord has given us this day, and He shows us the way for this day.  Andrew Murray, who was a 19th century pastor and author, once said, “I have learned to place myself before God every day as a vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit.”  Each morning we should start our day by asking God for His daily provision.  I am quite certain His provision always makes for a better day.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

You Are Not Lost In The Crowd

Week of July 21, 2023

“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  Luke 19:5(NKJV)

We live in a large world and it is easy for us to feel that we are just insignificant specks in the midst of a multitude of people. Our world tends to depersonalize us but remember that God loves us in specific ways that are particular to us.

Great crowds of people had come to see Jesus as he traveled through the land and the Bible tells us that one particular person was a not so tall man named Zacchaeus. Since his height prevented him from seeing Jesus through the crowd he climbed up into a nearby tree to get a better view of Him as he approached. When Jesus passed by the tree that Zacchaeus climbed, he stopped, looked up at Zacchaeus, and spoke directly to him.

Jesus will relate to you in ways that are unique to you.  He knows your past and He knows what you will face in the future.  Now because He knows everything about you, His word will perfectly fit the circumstances of your life.  God will personalize His word to you.  Take comfort in knowing that you have not been lost in the crowd.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Faith Is Action

Week of July 14, 2023

 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Faith is acting in confidence that God’s power is active in your life.  Faith is trusting God’s power will be your strength to do everything through Him.

When you say, “There’s something I’d really like to do for God, but I don’t think that I can do it.”  God may reply, “Great! Now that you have figured that out, I can work through you.  You can’t do it by yourself, but with my power working through you, you can do anything I ask you to do.”

If you only say “I can’t” and never recognize that “God can” you are less likely to ever attempt great things for God.  It’s like having a car with a very powerful engine, if you don’t believe it can get past the first intersection you’ll never take it out of the garage.

God’ power is available to you, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.  Remember, faith is acting with confidence in obedience to what He has called you to do.  Where is God asking you to step out in faith?