Praise

Week of December 22, 2023

“And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”  Luke 1:46-475 (NKJV).

Praise is the response of a grateful child of God in His presence.  The person, who knows God and experiences Him, also praises Him.  Mary was overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness to her.  In response she sang one, of the most beautiful songs of praise found in scripture.  Trying to stop the praise of a thankful heart would be like trying to stop the flow of Niagara Falls.

We should never have difficulty thinking of reasons how to praise Him.  In fact we should take the time to recount the blessings He has poured out upon our lives.  As we contemplate the love and mercy of God you will want to sing His praises as Mary did.  Praise is the real and personal expression of a grateful heart that has encountered a holy God!

Merry Christmas, Pastor Rick

God’s Will And The Opposition

Week of December 15, 2023

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him” Matthew 2:13 (NKJV).

Whenever God speaks to you and you obey His will, you can expect the possibility of opposition. The opposition you may face could come from the enemy or by certain people in your life but remember opposition does not mean that you are out of God’s will. In fact, it just may be an indication that you are actually right in the center of where God wants you to be. The Bible teaches us that Joseph was a righteous man who feared God, yet his obedience to God forced him to flee for his life. Joseph’s hardship came not because of his sin but because of his obedience. Jesus himself warned His disciples to expect great persecution from the world as they obeyed the will of His Father.

I want to remind you not to become discouraged when you seek God’s will and you come upon opposition. Do not let opposition cause you to doubt God’s perfect will for your life. If you have done what you know He has asked you to do, trust Him to see you through every difficult time.  Believe that he will not allow you to face more than you are able to handle. Amen!

God bless, Pastor Rick

Increasing In Favor With God And Others

Week of December 8, 2023

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 1:37 NKJV)”

We have our progress in life measured in many ways.  In school we are given tests and at work we are given evaluations. A doctor can give an examination to check many physical matters.  But how do we measure our spiritual growth?  As Jesus grew from an infant to a child to an adult he “increased in favor with God and men”.  He not only pleased His Father but people admired His wisdom, they appreciated His compassion.  There is nothing wrong with acting like a baby when you are an infant, but it is the obligation of the believer, of every believer, to strive for maturity.

The longer we walk with Christ the more we should relate to others as He does.  As you are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, your heavenly Father will become increasingly satisfied with your obedience to Him.  It is helpful for you to measure the progress in your spiritual life from time to time.  A good way to evaluate your spiritual growth is to ask mature Christians around you if your actions reveal spiritual maturity.  It is imperative that you ask God to evaluate your spiritual maturity and that you never become satisfied with less than a fully developed relationship with God. 

God Bless, Pastor Rick