How is my relationship with God?

It's a simple question, but it has the power to reveal the true condition of our hearts. Life moves quickly. Ministry, work, family responsibilities, and daily demands can fill every available space. Before long, we can become so busy serving God that we neglect spending time with Him.

We continue doing good things while our souls quietly become weary. We attend church but stop listening. We pray, but only when we need something. We read Scripture, but only to prepare for someone else. We serve, but no longer from a place of overflow.

That is why seasons of sabbatical are so important.

Sabbatical invites us to stop measuring productivity and start examining proximity. It shifts our attention from what we are doing for God to how we are doing with God. God never intended us to live on spiritual fumes. He desires relationship before performance.Presence before productivity. Communion before commission. When Jesus called His disciples, He first invited them to be with Him before He sent them out to minister.
The same principle remains true today.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is stop long enough
for God to restore us.

"Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."
— 1 Timothy 4:16

In ministry, leadership, work, and even family life, it is easy to become consumed with taking care of everyone else. Over time, our focus can subtly shift from tending our own souls to simply producing results. Paul's instruction to Timothy is sure. Before Timothy was told to watch over others, he was told to watch over himself.

"Keep a close watch on yourself."

The order matters. A dull axe cannot effectively cut wood. A dry well cannot provide water. A depleted soul cannot continually pour into others.

This is one of the gifts of a sabbatical.
A sabbatical is not merely a break from work; it is an intentional season of spiritual examination. It is an opportunity to stop long enough to ask:

* How is my relationship with God?
* Am I listening to His voice?
* Have I been ministering from overflow or from emptiness?
* Is my heart healthy?
* Am I becoming more like Christ?

Paul understood that what happens inside us eventually affects everyone around us. Our spouses, children, churches, coworkers, and communities are impacted by the condition of our hearts.
The best gift we can give those we serve is not endless activity. It is a life that remains deeply connected to Christ.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is stop long enough for God to restore us.

Happy Sabbatical

I read a devotional that told me story about two wood choppers in a competition. The competition would decide who could chop down the most trees. Chopper “A” never stopped chopping but chopper “B” stopped every hour to sharpen his ax.  

“How could you chop more wood than me?” the first woodcutter asked, “I heard you stop every hour, and I didn’t stop all day!” The second replied, “The answer is fairly simple. While you were relentlessly slogging away, I was stopping to sharpen my axe.”

This is the purpose of church sabbatical. It’s an opportunity to sharpen our ax.

A sabbatical is not about stepping away from ministry; it is about strengthening ourselves for ministry. It is a God-given opportunity to rest, reflect, renew, and reconnect with Him. Just as a sharpened axe is more effective than a dull one, refreshed hearts and renewed spirits are better equipped to serve, lead, love, and fulfill God's purpose.

During this sabbatical season, we are taking time to sharpen our axe. Seek the Lord, find fresh strength, and prepare for the work He has ahead. We look forward to returning renewed, refreshed, and ready for the next season God has prepared for us.

"But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." — Isaiah 40:31

Happy Sabbatical

We love to celebrate finding lost things. We were made in God’s image, and God parties big when lost things are found. He loves restoration.

Jesus suggests angels celebrate in heaven when someone discovers freedom in Christ. All of heaven rejoices!

“And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus told a story about the Prodigal Son. When the son came home, the Father killed his best cow and threw a party.

“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭21‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And what happens when we all meet Jesus? A glorious supper.

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We celebrate the 4th of July with apple pie, fireworks in the sky, baseball games, and BBQ flames. All to celebrate liberty once lost but now found.
Enjoy it.

The Declaration of Independence was written by thirteen different colonies, but within the document, they are called “we.” “Wehold these truths to be self-evident …” Jesus set you and me free as individuals, but we live out this freedom as His Church. One body with many parts.

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You may be at war right now. Any good solider is always ready to fight. You may be fighting for your marriage, fighting financially, fighting to train godly kids, or just fighting to maintain a godly bloodline. Your fight is never alone. We share the same spirit. There are many fighting with you; giving everything they have, just like you. One of the worst things you could ever think is you’re the only one. When Elijah believed he was the last faithful person left, God told him He had reserved a remnant of 7,000 who had not bowed to the false god Baal (1 Kings 19). You are not fighting alone.

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You may know it this way:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The word "carnal" means of the flesh, human, or worldly. It means you cannot fight spiritual battles using human strength. The battle is fought and won using spiritual tools.

Prayer and Supplication: Directly communicating with God.

The Word of God: Often called the "sword of the Spirit," which we use to combat doubt or deception. It is our training manual.

The Armor of God: which includes the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation.

July 4, 1776 came only about a year after the revolutionary war began and about six years before it would finally end. Yet, it’s the single most revered day of American history.  In the mist of the war, the fight, it may be time to make a mid-war declaration of your freedom in Christ.

A "mid-war declaration" is not denying that you're in a battle because you are in a battle and you know it. It's choosing to agree with what God says while the battle is still happening. We don’t wait until we see victory to declare freedom. Faith declares God's truth before the circumstances change.

- God is with me in this battle.
- This struggle does not define me.
- Christ has already won the victory.
- My current circumstances are not my final destination.
- Nothing God has allowed in my life will be wasted.
- God still has purpose for my life.
- God is working all things together for good.
- My future is still in His hands.

The Declaration of Independence was made in the middle of the struggle, not after victory had already been secured. The colonies declared their freedom before the war was won.

“Wehold these truths to be self-evident …” Declare these truths to be evident!!

The battle is the Lord's.

Happy 4th of July!!!

““I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.””
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Freedom is a gift. We didn’t earn it. We received it from the people who lived, led, and died to fight for it. Everyone who gets a gift has two questions. First, “Who is it from?” Second, “What does it do?”

Our freedom in Christ is from Jesus. We didn’t earn it. He died for it. That’s who it’s from, but what does it do? Galatians 5:1
reminds me, it’s for freedom we’ve been set free. So what does freedom do? It produces more freedom. Freedom for me, my marriage, my kids, my friends, my co-workers, and my neighbors. We were given the gift of freedom to share.

Salvation like freedom is a free gift. Given to us by Jesus Christ. He fought for it and gave his life for it. We should never take His gifts for granted.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Go and do the good things! Live free and share it.

God Bless America and God Bless the people of God!

Happy 4th of July!!

For many Americans, the Fourth of July serves as a day to watch fireworks, barbeque and have a good time with friends and family. While there is nothing wrong with having these traditions, it is important to remember the reason behind why we celebrate this holiday.

It is important to remember what our duties are as Christians. We are called to serve Christ and Christ alone, and it is such a blessing that we can live in a country where we have the freedom to do so.

American liberty is a blessing from God. Because of our freedom, we can express our faith and boldly share it with others. It is important to recognize that in many other parts of the world, this is not the case. The cost of following Christ is much greater for our brothers and sisters across the globe.
With this in mind, I encourage you to not lose sight of why we celebrate Independence Day.

God Bless America and God Bless the people of God!

Happy 4th of July!!

“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25

The life of Christian discipleship aims to follow the pattern of dying to self every day. To surrender to Jesus is to “die to live,” giving over to him our sin, our wounds, and all our baggage so that he may refill us with new life through the Holy Spirit. The results are literally life-changing. The call to find our lives by losing them is a bit hard to grasp, though. This doesn’t come ­naturally to us. But as we reflect on our lives and remember the faithfulness of God, we are reminded that dying to live is a journey of joy, gratitude, and grace. The world needs to experience this death. Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let people know of His goodness. Teach them about dying to self.

Spread the Goid News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Even though each one of us is a beautiful creation of the Lord, there are also offensive ways inside us that need to be dealt with. After the fall into sin, described in Genesis 3, we human beings continue to live as precious works of the Creator while also needing to be redeemed from sin and brokenness. So in his great and amazing love for us, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin and to give us new life forever with him. And now the Spirit of God lives in us, guiding us to become like Jesus. He leads us “in the way everlasting. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. In order to live this salvation life we must die to self. The clearest statements in the Bible about dying to live came from Paul.

The apostle Paul describes it this way:

I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Galatians 2:20

Encourage people as you walk this journey to die to self.

Share the Good News!!!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24

Billy Graham said these awesome words:

“Salvation is free! God puts no price tag on the Gift of gifts; it’s free! Preachers are not salesmen, for they have nothing to sell. They are bearers of Good News; the good tidings that, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Money can’t buy it. Man’s righteousness can’t earn it. Social prestige can’t help you acquire it. Morality can’t purchase it. It is, as Isaiah said, “without money and without price.”
God is not a bargaining God. You cannot barter with Him. You must do business with Him on His own terms. He holds in His omnipotent hand the priceless, precious, eternal gift of salvation, and He bids you to take it without money and without price. The best things in life are free, are they not? The air we breathe is not sold by the cubic foot. The water which flows crystal clear from the mountain stream is free for the taking. Love is free, faith is free, hope is free.”

Salvation was obtained only through the costliest sacrifice ever made. You freely gave it to us. Lord, I praise You for this gift so lovingly given. Souls are the commodity of heaven. Go!!! Share the Good News!!!

Spread the Good News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

I want to be like Jesus. I want you to be like Jesus. We must stop judging the world and being so critical. Let’s just get busy sharing the Good News. We can not expect people who do not know Him to act according to His wishes. They do not know Him so they do not know His standards. Remember the day you were blind to the truth of Gods Word. Remember the day that your opinion was worth more than gold to you. Remember the day you did not value the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you enjoy the Ordinary Days of the church, remember. Sharing the Good News is not judging or criticism. Sharing the Good News is sharing.

John 3:17 says, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Spread the Good News

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

The whole world needs Jesus, and that means we must share the Good News. To keep it a secret would be criminal. If you knew the cure for Alzheimer’s or AIDS or Cancer and you didn’t share it, that would be criminal. But we have something even better than a cure for disease. We know the cure for the human heart and the deepest needs of mankind. They need a Savior. They need forgiveness. They need their past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in Heaven. The world needs hope and that hope is Jesus Christ. We cannot hold back. We have to share it. God expects us to share His good news. So go and make disciples.

Spread the Good News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Go and make disciples. A disciple is someone who knows and loves God. They grow in spiritual maturity by the power of the Holy Spirit. They serve God with their whole heart and share the Good News. We have been given the authority of Jesus Christ to make disciples in His name.

What’s our authority? It’s not some government or the CIA. It’s Jesus.

The whole world needs Jesus. Jesus said this very clearly over and over. In Matthew 28:18-20 he gave us the Great Commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural power to do extraordinary things in this world. It is easy to focus or overly focus on the gifts the Holy Spirit has given to us. At times, I believe, giftings can cause us to limit ourselves or even fall short of Gods intended plan for us.

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What is our assignment? It is “Go.” This is not a suggestion! It’s not optional. If you are a child of God, God expects you to go and make disciples. This is the plan of God for your life. Even the preacher, teacher, apostle, evangelist and prophet must submit to the Great Commission. No one out grows or out ranks the Great Commission. We are disciples first.

Spread the Good News!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Matthew 10:7-13

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

The story of salvation starts with God’s people making a huge error. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). If you and I were in God’s position, would we have felt like restoring Adam and Eve? We might have wanted to start over with someone else. Maybe we’d even make an entirely different world and fill it with something other than ­human beings. But God chose not to abandon his creation. Even though we humans don’t deserve it, God stays in relationship with us. He clothes us. He guides us. And he promises that Satan will be defeated. Throughout the Old Testament we find that God’s people fell into sin and dysfunction again and again. But God remained faithful. He stayed with his people and promised that one day a Savior would come, break the cycle, and free people from the curse of sin. Jesus was that promise and by His blood we are free.

Spread the Good News!!

The Ordinary Days!!!

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How do I put on the mind of Christ? I’m glad you asked! To hear means to attend to, understand, and perceive. It’s not just about audible sounds but recognizing the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart and guiding your steps. The word, know, in the Greek implies an intimate, personal relationship. It’s not mere head knowledge; it’s a deep, heart-to-heart connection between you and your Savior. When you take time to attune your heart to His voice through prayer, reading His Word, and seeking His presence; you are putting on the mind of Christ. The more you do, the clearer His voice becomes. Don’t doubt your ability to hear Him; you are His sheep, and He longs to speak to you. So forget everything you think you know; except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified and rose again.

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Every issue flows from the heart. God created us this way. You don't have to guess or wonder who a person is or even who you are genuinely. Watch and listen for what is coming out of their mouth and your own mouth. What you meditate on will come out because it's in your heart.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you are concerned about what is coming out of your mouth, your husband’s mouth, your childrens mouth, your concern is correct. Instead of looking for behavior modification we need a heart investigation.

The Ordinary Days

“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As we go through life it is easy to forget that the Lord is coming back. I encourage you today to live in this truth. The return of Jesus Christ puts every circumstance, situation and event in perspective. The God of peace is with me is the perspective we should view everything through; no matter what it looks like. This is how we pray about everything and worry about nothing. This is why we thank Him for everything He has done and everything He is going to do. The God of peace is with me. His hand is on my life. We must live for Christ to experience this goodness. Then and only then can His peace guard our hearts and our minds. Never forget to focus on the things above. Look up and refocus your focus. The Lord will lift you up. When we are positioned above a situation things “perspective” is different.

So fix your thoughts, words and deeds. The God of peace is with you. Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of “The Way” and incline your heart towards heaven. All of this takes practice. I encourage you today to start practicing and practice more. Start by just acknowledgeing that the God of peace is present and His hand is on my life.

The Ordinary Days

Paul said:

“Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless. But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Paul didn't give up on his Jesus-given purpose. When Paul was literally locked down he sent his trusted friend, Timothy, to minister on his behalf.  Paul could have selfishly kept Timothy close but cared more for his friends in Thessalonica than for himself.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬


The Ordinary Days

Imagine during a serious illness receiving an encouraging word from a friend battling a disease which would, in just a few years or less, end earthly life. Think of what grace and strength they would need to reach out from their own troubles with selfless concern for someone else. That is doing what Jesus would do.  

Paul, the apostle, suffered much as one of the first Christian church planters.  Paul found himself behind bars often because of spreading the gospel and clearly he wanted to be with and minister to his friends in Christ.  (Paul wrote majority of the New Testament in prison.)

Satan used circumstances (prison) to block him from going but Paul didn’t make his difficulties into excuses for not doing what was needed.

Satan also tries to block us with difficulties. If we elevate our troubles over our responsibilities as followers of Jesus and give up, Satan wins that battle. Serving others is not always comfortable, but Jesus calls us to do it in spite of the challenges.

The Ordinary Days

A life of supernatural empowerment doesn’t happen by accident. After we ask Jesus into our lives, we have to choose to move forward in our walk with Him. Following Jesus is a journey that happens one committed step at a time.  

Jesus has more planned for our lives than we could ever imagine. But He won’t force us to cooperate. Will we take our next steps with Jesus and experience His power at work in our lives and the life of others? The choice is ours.

Lead people to Christ. No, you can’t make people taste and see that the Lord is good but you can lead them to the One that changes everything with a single word. Those we lead to Christ will be our greatest reward.

“After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Information is only valuable if it leads to action. The same principle applies to our relationship with Jesus. It takes more than knowledge in our heads to change our hearts. Transformation begins when we act on what we believe.

Paul tells us that the church of Thessalonica received the Gospel not simply with words but also with power. They not only accepted Jesus message, they were empowered by it. They were empowered to fulfill their calling, love others and endure in hope. They had joy in spite of suffering. They shared their faith and most importantly they turned away from sin and served God.

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Have you ever thought about the everyday opportunities God gives us to love, care for and help people take next steps? Discipling people doesn’t always require a big elaborate plan. Maybe it’s a friend who is struggling with reading his Bible every day. Or, maybe it’s the coworker who is going through a difficult time and needs care. These opportunities for discipleship are right in front of us, but we don’t always know what to do.

When we feel like we don’t know what to do, we can look at Paul’s example of what discipleship looks like. Paul cared for people just as a mother would care for her child. He didn’t see people as projects or throw his weight around claiming he was better than them. He only discipled them because he wanted them grow in their faith and take next steps.

“As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers. And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Ordinary Days

Every year a specific Ronald Reagan speech is played at our church. I cry every time I hear it because it’s ranked on my list of my favorite military inspiration speeches. Truth spoken has the ability to turn hearts in a positive or negative way. We celebrate “Women Who Inspire” because we truly believe that every human inspires another. The inspiration could be positive or negative but either way inspiration is happening. Speeches have a way of participating in this process.

The Revolutionary War
- President George Washington

The War of 1812
- President James Madison

Mexican American War
- President James Polk

Civil War
- Abraham Lincoln

The Spanish-American War
- President Williams McKinley

World War 1
- President Woodrow Wilson

World War 2
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- President Harry S. Truman

The Vietnam War
- President Dwight Eisenhower
- President John F. Kennedy
- President Lyndon B. Johnson
- President Richard Nixon

The Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm)
- President George Bush Sr.

The Iraq War
- President George Bush Jr.
- President Barack Obama

Before every war there’s a speech. Every war time President listed here gave a speech. Some are more memorable than others but it happened. These wars are a compilation of millions of lost lives. Some of these presidents were the start and finish of the wars. But many started the war, others inherited the war and a few had the privilege to end the wars. They all had their part to play and the American solider was their solution.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
- President Bush Jr.

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and one of the most influential figures of the Cold War. The most interesting thing about the Cold War was just that; it was cold. It was a time of conflict, not a war time period. Ronald Reagan was not a “war time” president. The Cold War was called cold because the featured heavyweights, the Soviet Union and the United States, were  "at peace." But they engaged in circling each other, jabbing at each other, testing each others' supposed weaknesses. It was a “war of words” if you will. The Cold War lasted from 1947 to 1991, a period of about 45 years.

How many of you are in the mist of your own “Cold War”? Actual weapons have never been drawn but words and antics are flying left and right. There are casualties based on  the belief of who is wrong or right and it has lasted for years. Are you fighting a “war of words”?

“We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted.”
- Ronald Reagan

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
- Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan had a lot of great words. His words caused the Berlin Wall to come down.

As long as this gate is closed, as long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand, it is not the German question alone that remains open, but the question of freedom for all mankind. . . .General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate.
 Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
—Ronald Reagan

In the mist of your “Cold War” do your words build up walls and break down walls? Fight the good fight of faith. There are battles to be won daily and they won’t start or end themselves. There will be many casualties but the price of freedom requires it. Someone has to do it and it starts with our words; a speech if you will.

Go win the war!!

Freedom is never free. There is a price to pay.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭4 NLT‬‬

We are thankful to those who poured out the full measure of devotion upon the altar of freedom. There are many soldiers that could and do tell dramatic stories of heroism. Many soldiers remember those situations that resulted in a lose of friend and fellow solider. They have left this realm of time and space, they have out-stripped us in life’s races, but the sacred memory of their selflessness and the freedom they died to obtain will live forever. Many disciples of Christ have come before us. After reading the Old and New Testament we too find stories of dramatic heroism. We to are reminded of great loses that allowed us to obtain religious freedom and eternal freedom. Let us not forget the price that has been paid. We can express our love for Christ freely because someone paid the price. A solider paid the price. Thank God for the bravery of men and women who gave all.

Freedom isn’t Free!!!

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
John 15:13