Pandemic, Panic.........The Coronavirus (My Two Cents)

First of all, let me start off by saying that I am neither a doctor or any kind of medical professional. But I am a pastor, so I would like to look at this pandemic from a biblical stand point.

So the whole world is in complete chaos and panic mode! Everything is closing down, or being suspended. People are hoarding supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, food, etc, etc. I have never in my 53 years of life ever seen anything like this.

Even some Christians are in panic mode. I think that they forgot what the Bible says about this kind of thing.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God tells us not live in fear. We are to practice self- discipline. What exactly does that mean for us you may ask?

We can practice self-discipline by doing what the professionals tell us to do. Wash our hands, regularly. Avoid shaking hands and hugging each other. Avoid large gatherings. If you are elderly with a compromised immune system, to stay home and not go out. All of these things we can control. Self-discipline!

Not being silly about this, or making a joke out of it. This is serious, and it's real. But there are steps we can take to not fall into the hysteria of what the world is telling us. We can pray for wisdom, knowledge and discernment in how to handle what the world is feeding us.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God wants us to set our minds and thoughts on Him! He calls us to be strong during this time.

Joshua 1:9 (AMP)⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

So, with God's help, we will get through this pandemic virus. I believe that He is using this to make the churches stronger and for Christians to shine the Hope of Jesus brighter than ever.

1 Peter 5:10 (AMP)¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

So stay safe. Practice good personal hygiene, make wise choices about interaction with people and most of all, PRAY! 

God Bless!

Bowling Gate.

I went bowling last week with 50 of my fellow co-workers to take part in a fundraiser for an agency here in town that mentors kids. They have big brother/sister type of programs and some others as well. As we were bowling, laughing and carrying on, I felt The Lord speaking to me. He was telling me to take a look down the lanes after each bowler had finished their frame.

I heard Him ask me, "what do you see?" I told Him that I saw the bowling gate coming down and sweeping the lane clear from the frame before. "You're right He said."

He told me "see son, that is how I operate. No matter what you have done the frame before, I'm like that bowling gate sweeping everything away. I make everything clean and new for the next one."

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

 

Every morning is a fresh start with God. Unlike the bowling alley, God doesn't keep score. He blots out our sins. He doesn't keep track of them.

 

Isaiah 43:25 (MSG)

²⁵ “But I, yes I, am the one
    who takes care of your sins—that’s what I do.
    I don’t keep a list of your sins.

 

This doesn't mean that we can keep on sinning. God asks us to repent and seek His Kingdom!

 

Revelation 2:5 (NLT)

⁵ Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Don't know about you, but I repent and want my lampstand to stay lit and stay right where it is supposed to be.

Short Cut!

Last week, the company that I work for had an all company meeting at an offsite location. To put this into perspective, the company has two different locations and two different shifts. So we are talking almost 300 people trying to get to this location at one time. Did I mention that there aren't a lot of parking spots available? So everybody is rushing to try to get there before everyone else so that they can get a parking spot. People are taking short cuts to get there. Side roads, alleys, whatever they can do to beat the next person to a spot. As I arrive and I see all these cars coming from all different directions, I couldn't help but to think about what people think that they have to do to get to Heaven. I mean there are no shortcuts to get to Heaven. Only one way. Jesus tells us that in the book of John,

John 14:6 (NLT)
⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Jesus tells us that there is only one way. You have to go through Him, to get to The Father in Heaven. There aren't many ways, there is only one. You can't work your way, or buy your way into Heaven. You may think that you're a good person in your own mind, but God tells us otherwise.

Romans 3:12 (NLT)

¹² All have turned away;
    all have become useless.
No one does good,
    not a single one.

Romans 3:23 (AMP)²³ since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God.

God gives us hope though!

Romans 5:8 (AMP)⁸ But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

So we can work hard. Be the most generous and kind person that we can be. That will not get us into Heaven.

Acts 2:21 (NIV)

²¹ And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

Amen to that! Thank You LORD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflection of Christ!

I know plenty of people who strive everyday to be a better version of themselves, than the day before. I count myself amongst them. To be kinder, nicer, more forgiving, selfless, giving, the list goes on and on.

That's what Jesus would want, right?

For us to be a better person, each and everyday!

But is it really?

I think that Jesus wants us to be a better reflection of Him, each and everyday. To let His love light reflect off of us, to those around us. When people look at us, they see more of Him and less of us. To see the Holy Spirit flowing through us and out of us. To be His hands and feet here while we walk the earth.

Genesis 1:27 (NLT)

²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image.
    In the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

 

So God created us in His own image. Not an image of you or me, but of Himself.

 

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)¹⁰ 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.

So God does want us to do good things. But for His glory, not to say look how good I am or you are. Look how nice they treat everyone. Because even though we are nice to each other and how well we treat others,

Romans 3:23 (AMP)

²³ since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,

In the flesh, we still fall far short of the glory of God. We need to do a better job of reflecting Him and His goodness, righteousness and holiness.


Matthew 5:48 (MSG)⁴⁸ “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

My prayer is that everyday, we strive to be a better reflection of Christ Jesus to others we cross paths with. Amen!

 

Still In The Fight!

I attended a men's breakfast at our church yesterday morning. The topic we were presented with was that we are "Still In The Fight." It's a video series about Navy Seals talking about how when they joined the military, they were given all kinds of gear for protection. Helmets, guns, night vision, chest plates, etc. etc. Then they equated it to being a Christian and putting on the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17(NLT)
¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^{[a] 16} In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^{[b] 17} Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Just like the Seals have to train and put into use the equipment that they were given, the same goes for us Christians. God's armor does us no good if we do not put it on and train how to use it. How does one train for that you may ask. Well, dig into God's word. Read your Bibles everyday. Memorize scripture. Pray continuously!

Proverbs 4:20-21 (NLT)

²⁰ My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
²¹ Don’t lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ pray continually

The message yesterday reminded me of the shooting that happened at that factory in Aurora last year. The Aurora PD released some audio of what happened that day a little while later. One of the officers who first arrived on the scene was shot right away, but he can be heard over the radio saying
"I've been hit, but I'm still in the fight."

That's how it is with Satan. He can take a shot at you, hit you, but as long as you still have breath, God still has you in the fight! He will pick you back up and get you back on your feet and keep you moving forward.

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 

So it doesn't matter how old you are. If your 8, 80 or 108, God can still use you! As long as you are still breathing, you are still in the fight! God still has a use and a purpose for you!

 Amen!!

Gun Problem?

As we near the 1st anniversary of the Henry Pratt shooting in Aurora, the issue of gun control rages on. Nothing really has changed since this shooting. Oh, there has been more gun violence, but nothing in the way of getting it under control. People keep on saying that it is a gun problem. The politicians running for the 2020 election are saying that they are going to take away everyone's guns. Even though the 2nd amendment states that the people of the United States have the right to keep and bear arms.

I will argue that we do not have a gun problem. We have a heart problem.

Jeremiah 17:9(NLT)

⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?

 

The world will tell you to follow your heart. Well, if your heart is deceitful and wicked, then you'll do deceitful and wicked things. It's human nature.

Mark 7:21-22(NLT)
²¹ For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.

I attended a men's conference over the weekend where one of the speakers talked about killing the spider. What is this you may ask. It's when you do something that's considered destructive behavior. You try and try to figure it out and get better, only to keep making the same mistake over again. Behind these behaviors is a root problem. The spider if you will. You need to kill that spider to get rid of the root of your bad behaviors.

Guns aren't the root of the problem, it's the people behind the gun.

2 Timothy 3:3(NLT)

³ They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

 

We are a nation that is far from God. If we want to get to the root of the problem, we need to turn our heart and minds back to Jesus. He will show us ways to get rid of our destructive behaviors.

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.

Evil hearts and mindsets are the spider we need to kill. We need to repent of our sins and turn back to God!

James 4:8(NLT)

⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

 

Psalm 119:1-8(MSG)

119 ^1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do, don’t ever walk off and leave me.

 

I don't know about you, but I want to be blessed!

 

 

 

You Matter!

This past week at work, I have been hearing some pretty serious talk out of a fellow employee. They were saying that they are stupid, dumb, the "R" word. I could not believe that I was hearing this coming out of their mouth. They made one little mistake that lead to this landslide of negative words. I tried to encourage them the best that I could, but at that moment they were not having it.

I tried to tell them that they aren't stupid or dumb, because they are made in God's image. God is not dumb or stupid, nor does He make mistakes!

Genesis 5:1-2 (NLT)
5 This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. ² He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.”

Then they stated that with how they feel about themselves, how can they be God like. I told them not to worry about that. His word says,

Romans 3:23 (ESV)
²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Then I told them that they could be upset for the moment, but God starts over fresh every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

I told them that they are important to God and that their life matters. He cares about what happens to them.

Psalm 8:4-5 (ESV)

⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings^[a]
    and crowned him with glory and honor.

 

Finally I told them that not only does He love you and care about you, He wants you to live your life abundantly, to the full!

 

John 10:10 (ESV)¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

So I encouraged them and trying to encourage you, your life matters. You have purpose! You are a child of The Living God!

Amen!