Standing With Others

Week of August 18, 2023

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

          God designed us to cooperate.  Throughout the scriptures He speaks of His people as a community that accomplishes more together than separately.  God didn’t create us as isolated individuals who seek to achieve our goals.  Our success depends on our interdependence.  This is why He established the church and has given the Holy Spirit to empower the believer to do His work.  Our interdependence enables us to not face a crisis alone.  If we have cultivated supportive friendships we will find strength and comfort during those times.  Interdependence is also a safeguard for when we are lured by temptation.

If you are not part of a caring community of believers you are missing out on what God designed you for.  Link your life with others who are seeking God’s will and strive to be a source of support and encouragement that those around you need.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Seeking Jesus

Week of August 11, 2023

 “And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.” (Mark 1:36, NKJV)

Simon Peter was known for some foolish behavior throughout the Gospels but he should also be understood as a man that was always seeking Jesus. Peter swam in his haste to get to Jesus and walked on water in order to reach Him. Peter followed Jesus during the night of His crucifixion and ran to the tomb when heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter did not always say or do the right things but he did constantly seek after Jesus. Now because of his persistence to seek the Messiah the disciple Peter was continually growing in his faith.

What do those who know you best know you for? Do they see you searching for fame and fortune or are you known as a person who seeks after Jesus? We are told by the prophet Jeremiah, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NKJV) I encourage starting each morning of your life by searching for Him with all of your heart. I believe that not only will you find Him but also others around you will come to know His saving grace as a result of your example and testimony.

God Bless, Pastor Rick

Extraordinary

Week of August 4, 2023

 “2. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush.  Moses stared in amazement.  Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.  3. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself.  “Why isn’t that bush burning up?  I must go see it.”  4. When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses!  Moses!”  “Here I am!”  Moses replied.”  Exodus 3:2-4

Moses was going through the routine of his day when he noticed an ordinary thing      ; a burning bush.  He also noticed an extraordinary thing; the bush though burning was not being consumed.  Moses turned aside to give a closer look.  When the Lord saw Moses turn aside from the routine of his day, He spoke to him.

There will be times when in the ordinary details of life, you may be oblivious to the extraordinary that is right next to you.  There may be times when in the middle of your day you notice something unusual.  Your first reaction might be, “I’m not going to disrupt my life for this” or “I’m too tired to investigate this”, but in that moment may be the opportunity of a lifetime.

God usually speaks out of the ordinary experiences of life.  The next time you see the unusual in the midst of the mundane, don’t continue business as usual.  It may be that God has ordained that moment to be a life changing time for you and those around you.

God Bless, Pastor Rick