Rock Bottom

 How many of us have had it? We feel like we are at the end of our rope! Free falling to rock bottom! Not sure how much more we can take. Bills are getting out of hand. Groceries, gas, utilities. On and on it goes. It seems that there is no end in sight.

Well let me tell you, that if you are headed towards rock bottom, make sure that rock at the bottom is Jesus! He'll soften the blow. Not allow you to succumb to everything that is going on around you. He'll set you upright and start lifting you out. Only He can do that.

Psalm 18:31 The Message

31 Is there any god like God? Are we not at bedrock? Is not this the God who armed me, then aimed me in the right direction?

When we hit rock bottom, there is only one way to go. Back up the way that you came down! It will be slippery climb, but Jesus will reach out His hand and take ahold of us! 

2 Corinthians 4:8 Living Bible

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit.

The pit may be dark and dreary and seem like there is no way out, but you are standing on Jesus, The Rock who will never leave you are forsake you.

1 Corinthians 3:11 New Living Translation

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Like the song says from Vertical Worship - "The Rock Won't Move." That is 100% fact. He is always there for us. He never falters or waivers.

So I encourage you tonight. If you seem to be heading for rock bottom, Jesus will be the rock that you land on. He will pick you up, dust you off and set you back in the right direction. Praise The Lord!

God bless!

Rev. Kev.

Human or Animal........What's The Difference??

 I wonder what all these people who are pro animal and anti animal cruelty think is going to happen when an animal is pregnant. Are they pregnant with a clump of cells or, are they pregnant with what ever kind of animal that it is? A dog will have puppies? A cat will have kittens? A cow/calf? Deer/fawn. I think that you get the idea. So if they think that the animals listed will have those kinds of offspring, why are humans different? A woman is pregnant with a baby, not a clump of cells.

Psalm 139:13 The Voice

13 For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath.

People believe that if you kill an unborn animal or the parent, there would be hell to pay, wouldn't there?? But abort a baby and it is perfectly okay with people. It seems to me that a human fetus in the womb is expendable! Why is this okay with people? Human life should be cherished, not terminated before it is even born. Who knows what that baby could grow up to be? The next president? Next great opera singer? Doctor? Surgeon? Evangelist? This list will go on forever. You get the idea.

Jeremiah 1:5 Living Bible

5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”

People have said that having a baby is an inconvenience. That they cannot have a career or the life that they want for themselves. Hogwash! I know plenty of successful people who have children. Often, more than one! That argument just doesn't fly!

I have been in plenty of discussions about this topic and I'm always asked "if you are so pro life, how many kids have you adopted?" 

Have not adopted one. But I have volunteered at a PRC. Single mom events. Bought diapers and baby wipes for parents in need. Even baby sat a time or two.

Then I counter with "if you are so pro animal, how many dogs or cats have you rescued from a shelter?" Our local shelters are full, almost all the time. "How many times have you volunteered at an animal shelter? To help clean cages, take dogs for walks?"

The Lord loves all life. Human or animal. He created us all. To enjoy each other. I love playing with a dog hopefully just as much as the dog loves playing with me. Cats, not so much! I think that they like to be left alone. To be engaged with on their schedule!

Rev. Kev.

Even If!

 Imagine if you will, that you are out somewhere with a loved one, or a close friend. You ask them to do something for you. They fail to do it. How does that make you feel? Upset, mad? No matter how you feel in that situation, the person whom you asked is still a friend or a loved one. Aren't they? I mean just because they failed to do something for you, doesn't change their status with you. Even if you spouse does something that irritates you, doesn't stop them from being your spouse. Same with our kids. Even if they do something that you don't approve of, they are still your kids, right?

Could happen with almost anything that you do. Even if.........

Your doctor gives you a bad report. Mechanic says there is something wrong with your car. Restaurant brings you something the way that you didn't order it. Even if all of this happens, it doesn't change who these people are. Doctor is still a doctor. Mechanic is still a mechanic. Same for the restaurant. You may not want to go back to these places, but they are still the same as when you went to them.

I started thinking about Jesus.

I was thinking about even if regarding Him. It says in scripture that He is the same, all the time.

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So if I pray a prayer that He doesn't answer. Doesn't mean that He isn't God! If things don't turn out the way that I think that they should. God is still God!

Even if my healing doesn't come. Even if my dreams never come true. Even if my world would come crashing to the ground. He is still God. Nothing changes that.

I will give all praise and glory to Him. Even if everything is going sideways for me. He is control, not me!

Even if my breakthrough never comes, I will shout Your praises. From the roof top or the valley. You are worthy of them all.

Psalm 46:10 NLT

10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

So I encourage you tonight. No matter what does/does not happen, God is still God. Praise Him no matter what!

God Bless.
Rev. Kev.

Hands.

 

Have you ever thought about how many things that you can do with your hands? Hundreds, thousands, maybe millions? Who knows for sure. I for one, am not going to try and count. 

You can use your hands to hold someone else's hand. Work with your hands. Hold a bat, throw and catch a baseball, football. Shoot baskets. Drive a car. Shift gears. Hold food. Scroll Facebook. Write a check. Wipe away tears. Tie shoes. The list can go and on and on!

I was thinking about Jesus and His hands. Yes, He could use His hands for regular use like us. He was a carpenter. He could build tables, benches and stools. Probably many other things that we are not aware of.

Then He has His supernatural hands. Hands to heal, restore and to comfort.

He healed a man who was blind, with some saliva and His hands.

Mark 8:25 New Living Translation

25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

He healed one of the servants ear after it was sliced off by Peter during Jesus' arrest.

Luke 22:49-51 Living Bible

49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Master, shall we fight? We brought along the swords!” 50 And one of them slashed at the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “Don’t resist anymore.” And he touched the place where the man’s ear had been and restored it.

His hands turned over tables in the temple. 

Matthew 21:12-13 Amplified Bible

12 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. 13 Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

He could stretch out His hands and calm the storm. His hands would carry the Cross and take the nails. His hands would wash feet. Pour out wine and break bread. His hands. So precious and strong! He can make everything right for us.

So I encourage you tonight to take your seemingly broken life, your failures, shame and hurt and place them in the miracle working hands of Jesus! He will pick you up, dust you off and put you back on your feet. Praise The LORD!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.