Making molehills out of mountains

So, today I learned about the "24 Hour Rule" from a woman in my bible study.
Her rule is that whenever something happens, someone says something rude or unfavorable, she waits 24 hours before she confronts the person directly. This was an interesting trick she had learned from a sports couch that they used for parents who might be upset that their child hadn't gotten to play as much as they would have liked or whatnot.
If you're anything like me you want everyone to be held accountable for every single thing they do...everything they do that negatively effects me, that is. Social justice will prevail!

But is that really social justice all of the time or am I just making a mountain out of a molehill?
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

If we really have the love of our Father in us we will discover that a lot of the things that make us irritated don't stand up to the 24 hour rule. Many times I find myself realizing that those things I focused so intently on really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Psalm 119: 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

There is a peace that comes in delighting in the Lord's law, an overwhelming peace.
What peace
What peace for those
Whose confidence is Him alone!

But our actions begin with the very thoughts that we have so we have to retrain our minds to be patient and wait for the Lord and His guidance.

2 Corinthians 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Our thoughts can run rampant, but we can take them captive.

Making molehills out of mountains
Hailey

These are some of the best days of my life

Today, I lead a time of worship and singing at the "Goodtimers" luncheon.

For those who don't know, that is the name of our Seniors group at StoneBridge.

I've always had a special bond with the people in this group.

Well today, even though I've not quite met the age requirement for the group, they made me an official member.

Why? Because of our new granddaughter.

I guess once you're a granddad, you're in.

So I said these could be the best days of my life.

Well, in addition to the many blessings of family and friends and being able to serve in a great church like StoneBridge, I feel a real contentment that I've never really experienced.

I have spent much of my life striving. Some of the striving was positive and good.

But some of the striving came out of insecurity and a lack of contentment.

While I still have a ways to go, I am much more content than I have been in the past.

When it comes to fulfilling God's purpose, I feel I have more and more clarity on what that means for me.

I am much less concerned about being a legend, and much more concerned about leaving a legacy.

Two verses capture much of my hope and prayer.

Psalms 71:18
18 Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, O God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your might to all who are to come.

Acts 13:36
“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.......

I am so thrilled to be in a place where we are actively sharing ministry across generations. Every Sunday we have people serving in the church representing every decade from teens to seniors.

I am looking forward to continuing to serve God's purpose in my own generation and to actively mentor and equip the next generation, as they discover God's greatness in their lives and share Christ's love.

Good days.........really good days,

Joe

Which voice will you believe?

I am a morning person. Going to sleep has never been a problem for me. Usually by about 9:00 PM my body is ready to call it quits. I often combat this process with a chemical known as caffeine to try and stay awake and hang out with my wife or do stuff around the house. Usually in the early hours of the morning my body starts to wake up and often my mind is filled with all kinds of racing thoughts. Yesterday morning those thoughts were heavy with guilt and reminders about all the ways I had let people down the day before. These thoughts progressed from pointing out the things I did or said to then thinking how I was worthless or a horrible person as a result of those things. How do we handle those attacks in our minds? I think we have to recognize the difference between satanic accusations and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

In Revelation 12:10 it says, 'Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has come at last--salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth--the one who accuses them before our God day and night.' So based on this Scripture Satan accuses the night owl and the morning person in their mind every day. He tries to take our mess ups and mistakes and drive them deep and make accusations about our worth and standing with God. We must reject those thoughts and renew our mind in truth when those attacks come. In 2 Corinthians 7:10 it says, 'For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.' God wants us to be sorrowful when we sin and mess up. He wants us to repent, change our course or way of thinking, say I'm sorry to Him and the person we offended and then come to Him for restoration. So let's be prepared when those thoughts come our way and let's choose to believe God's words over the words of the devil today!

in Christ,

Brian

It's Personal

I know God loved the whole world, but.....

I loved Pastor Steve's message about how God's love for us is personal.

It gives John 3:16 so much more meaning.

"For God so loved (your name here) that He gave His only Son that if (your name here) believes in Him, (your name here) not perish, but will have everlasting life.

I hope you inserted your name.

Because if it isn't personal, it isn't love.

Love is never impersonal. It can't be.

I read two quotes today that really emphasized this truth.

The first by John Ortberg. He said, "God is a hand crafter, not a mass producer."

I love that. It speaks to God's creativity and our uniqueness.

Second, was by Billy Graham. He said, "Christ not only died for all: He died for each."

When I think of the cross and realize that Jesus would have died for just one.......

I am undone.

That kind of love is beyond my comprehension.

No surprise, that the Love of God is beyond my mind's ability to comprehend.

Ephesians 3:18-19
18 (you) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge –that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Hope you are as overwhelmed as I am right now,

Joe

We need each other

Getting together with other Christians is essential to growing in the Christian life. Occasionlly, I run across people who claim that they are a Christian but they don't belong to a local church. Their church experience consists of sitting on their couch and watching Lakewood once a week. Church is often reduced to attending a service that includes about 25 minutes of music and 35 minutes of a message. Hebrews 10:24-25 says '24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.'

'Encourage' literally means 'to put in courage'. So when we encourage someone we are depositing courage into their life. This is so vital because throughout our day we are constantly being 'discouraged' where courage is being taken away from us. I know for me, the more isolated I am from other believers, the easier it is to become self-absorbed and comfort-seeking. When I get around other Christians who are passionate about following Christ, I am re-energized and re-focused on my mission to 'go and make disciples of all the nations.' In the same way there are other believers who need my words and presence in their life to help spur them on and be bold for Christ. So, I challenge you to step up your level of engagement with other believers by joining a Bible study or small group. Maybe, you are part of one, but not really opening up to anyone or participating. Find another Christian that you can come alongside and run the race with and find courage to stand boldly for Jesus today.

in Christ,

Brian

Rooftops

This week we are introducing a new song by Jesus Culture called Rooftops. It's a great song that talks about how God's love and his grace were given freely to us, about how His love and HIs sacrifice bring the person singing this song to their knees. When we realize what an awesome love that is we just can't help but shout it from the rooftops, to declare His love so everyone can hear.

Rooftops

Here I am before you
Falling in love and seeking your truth
Knowing that your perfect grace
Has brought me to this place
Because of you I freely live
My life to you, oh God, I give

So I stand before You God
I lift my voice because you set me free

So I shout out Your name from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours

All the good You've done for me
I lift up my hands for all to see
You're the only one
Who brings me to my knees
To share this love across the earth
The beauty of Your Holy Word

So I kneel before You God
I lift my hands because you set me free

So I shout out your name from the rooftops I proclaim
That I am Yours, I am Yours
All that I am I place into Your loving hands
And I am Yours, I am Yours

Here I am, I stand with arms wide open
To the one, the Son, the everlasting God
Here I am, I stand with arms wide open
To the one, the Son, the everlasting God

1 I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2

Hailey

Love is a verb

I have heard people say, " I love Jesus, but I have a hard time loving people. "

We love or don't love much more because of who we are,
than the worthiness of who we are loving.

If my first and greatest love is Christ, then I am becoming:

More patient,
More kind,
Less envious,
Less boastful,
Less proud,
Less rude,
Less self-seeking,
Slower to anger,
Quicker to forgive,
Celebrating the Good, finding joy in truth,
Self sacrificing,
More trustful,
More hopeful,
Less easily discouraged,
More than a conqueror through Christ.

Does that sound like a person who would struggle to love people? I think not.

The King of love my Saviour is!!!!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient,
love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self- seeking,
It is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love never fails.

In Christ's Love

Joe

Be a baby...

Psalm 131 is this little Psalm of David that is only 3 verses.  I love the simple message of this Psalm.  This is also one of the Psalms that Jewish families would sing on their way to Jerusalem for one of the 3 annual feast pilgrimages.  So it would have been very familiar, or in today's terms it was a definite top 40 worship song.  It says, '1 A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. 2 But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD -- now and always.'

Here is David, a mighty warrior that was claimed to have slain tens of thousands in battle, challenging us to be like a little baby resting on his mothers chest.  One thing that is definite about a little baby resting on his mother's chest is that he hasn't a care in the world.  He is not stressed out about how the bills are going to get paid, what they're going to have for dinner, how they're going to coordinate their busy schedule, etc.  He just simply rests and trusts in his mom and dad.  This Psalm reminds us that God is God and we are not.  There are personal responsiblities and loads that we are meant to carry and that God has entrusted to us.  Let's do those well.  There are also loads, worries and cares that are beyond our control and bigger than us.  Let's trust God with those and rest like that little baby upon His chest.

in Christ,

Brian

Witnessed Real Love Today

So I was driving North on 45 this morning on the way to church, when I noticed the car in front of me slow down and then move to another lane.

I saw something in the road. At first I wasn't sure what it was, but then I could see it was two large geese walking across the highway.

I thought why don't they just fly out of harm's way, and then I saw why.

Between the two of them was a fuzzy little gosling. They were escorting the little one across the highway, intent on protecting their child from the 2000lb cars hurling along at speeds of 65 mph or better.

They did make it across as far, as I saw. And I was moved by there sacrificial act.

They could have easily flown to safety, but they gave up there power, so they might rescue and redeem one who couldn't just fly over the highway.

There was another who laid down His power, so that we might be rescued.

Philippians 2:5-8
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death –

even death on a cross!

Jesus also said "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,.....

Real love, it's still being offered by the One who has the power to guarantee our rescue.

Sleeping well tonight,

Joe

Moment by moment

Everyday we are bombarded with lies from our culture that try and get us to buy a certain product or believe certain things that are contrary to God's truth. Worship has to become a daily, moment by moment experience that involves our heart, mind, soul and strength. A Jewish boy in the days of Jesus had to recite the 'Shema' multiple times a day. The 'Shema' included Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41. Each of these passages stresses the importance of remembering what God has done for us and allowing God and His Word to become a regular and frequent part of our conversation and thoughts throughout our day.

Deuteronomy 11:16-20 says, '16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,'

Are you allowing God and His truth to permeate your conversations, your home, your time in the car, your conversation around the dinner table, and your thoughts during your free time? If not then the worldview of our culture will begin to steer the course of our life and we will be 'enticed to turn away and worship other gods' and seek to find our satisfaction in created things rather than in the Creator. Today, I challenge you to make more intentional choices to think and talk about God and what He has done for us through Christ.

Striving to be a moment by moment worshiper,

Brian