Emmanuel (God With Us)

 As I sit here on the last day of 2023, I think back on what kind of year it has been. It has definitely been a roller coaster of a year. A lot of ups and a lot of downs, but through it all I've had Emmanuel with me. 

At the start of the year I was fortunate enough to start my fourth year of volunteering with The Northern Illinois Food Bank. God has really been with me this year regarding this. I have struggled many times with wanting to quit and not do it anymore. But God! He kept nudging me. Kept encouraging me to keep going. His people were in need and He wanted me to be His hands and feet, no matter the circumstances.

Psalm 73:26 Living Bible

26 My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!

People have died in my circle this year. Some of them were very tough to handle and hit close to home. Again, Emmanuel.

I've had two great nieces born this year. Both are precious! What little blessings they are to our family.

Job 1:21 English Standard Version

21 The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

This year my wife and I celebrated fifteen years of marriage. What a blessing she is to me and my family! Again, Emmanuel! God at the center of our marriage!

Proverbs 18:22 New Living Translation

22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.

I was blessed to be able to attend a lot of concerts this year. Some as an attender and some as a volunteer. Able to see some of the biggest acts in Christian music, live. Stryper (2X), Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Lauren Daigle, Mercy Me, Crowder, Disciple and many others. A lot of ministry happened at these shows. Talking with people. Praying with people. Worshipping God with thousands of people. Blessed and grateful to be able to do this. Emmanuel!

2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

I was honored to be asked to officiate two weddings and a funeral. Emmanuel. God was definitely with me. Especially the funeral. I can research and come up with a service, but it was God who gave me the words to say!

So needless to say, a lot has happened. Both good and bad. But Emmanuel, God with me the whole time. Through everything. Birth, death, wedding, funeral, concerts, volunteering. Everything!

So I encourage you tonight, that no matter what you went through in 2023, God was with you. You may not have felt Him or heard Him, but He was there. He will be with you as you enter 2024 as well. He is good all the time & all the time He is good!

Happy New Year!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

Going The Distance!!

 Do you think that by Jesus coming into the world as a humble little baby, growing up, preaching and teaching, getting crucified & dying for us, isn't going the distance, I don't know what is! God didn't have to send us His Son, but He did. That is how much He loves us. God sent Jesus into our world to rid us of sin and to destroy the works of the Devil! Then to show us how to be an example of how live a Holy life!

The manger shows just how far Jesus will go for us. No distance is to far for Him to reach us. To be sent by His Father, to be born in a lowly stable with smelly farm animals and the byproduct that comes from them. Not to be placed on a nice comfy bed or in a bassinet, but to be placed in a manger. A manger that horses and cattle eat from. Not so glamorous, is it?

So if you think that you are to far from Jesus, look at the lengths that He came into the world to reach us.

He would leave the ninety nine to come and find you. The one who wandered away and got lost. Again, going the distance for us.

Matthew 18:12 New Living Translation

12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

If you went away with your hard head and heart and squandered all of your part of your fathers inheritance, then realized you made a big mistake, and wanted to return, Jesus would welcome you back, with open arms! (Luke 15:11-31)

Look, Jesus knows that we make mistakes and are ashamed by them. He doesn't want to punish us. He just wants us to come back to Him! Repent and turn from our sinful nature!

Psalm 103:12-14 New Living Translation

12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west, 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.

So I encourage you tonight. That no matter how far you think that you are from God, you are not that far. He is right there with you, all you have to do is turn around. A step towards Jesus, is a step away from sin!

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

This Christmas.

 This Christmas season I have noticed something different than other Christmases. This year it seems (at least to me) that people are kinder, nicer and more considerate than usual. Everywhere I have gone, people are just more joyful! I have been shopping from Cherryvale mall to Woodfield mall. Everywhere, people walking around in and out of the stores were just, kind! Allowing for people to cut through a line to get to another spot in the store. If you bumped into someone, there were no words exchanged except for "I'm sorry". Store employees said "Merry Christmas" to everyone. Almost everyone said it back. In the parking lots, people waiting for a spot or for someone to leave a spot, I did not hear any honking of car horns, or yelling at people to move! To me, this has been much different than years past!

I believe Jesus is up to something. I believe that people are feeling His peace, grace and mercy towards one another!

Colossians 3:15 Living Bible

15 Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.

As I am experiencing this all around me, I think to myself, "why can't we be like this to each other the rest of the year"? "Not just at Christmas?" Imagine how different the world would be?

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, lets remember the real reason. Yes the presents are nice, not going to lie! Christmas is about Jesus coming to the world, to save us from our sins.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Living Bible

15 Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.

I am thankful that God sent His only Son to save me, you and everyone! The gift of His son, I cannot thank Him enough!

John 3:16 Amplified Bible

16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a]only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

So as we are only a couple days away from Christmas, enjoy spending time with your family and exchanging gifts. 

God has already given us the perfect gift. His son!

Merry Christmas  & God Bless you all!

Rev. Kev.

VIRUS!!

Have you ever opened an email, or clicked on a link that looked legitimate? As soon as you open that email or click on that link, you realize you made a big mistake! Now your computer is contaminated with a virus that is wreaking havoc! Your computer is not working or functioning the way that it should. The screen is frozen and will not unlock. The green screen of death. You wonder what you need to do to get it fixed. If it's your work computer, you can call your IT department to come and look at it. They can decide what is needed to get it fixed. If it's a major reprogramming or something else.

This got me to thinking about Adam & Eve. How they were deceived and took the bait and bit into something that wasn't legitimate (forbidden fruit)! As soon as Eve bit into fruit from the forbidden tree, virus (sin) entered into the world. Human kind hasn't been the same ever since! Our human hearts have been infected with the virus of sin! The relationship with God had been destroyed. We became immoral and corrupt. Not only us, but all creation was affected.

We don't have an IT department to call. Or a Geek Squad to get a hold of. No, we have one person. His name is Jesus! When we accept Him as our Lord & Savior, He starts to work on us, from the inside out. With Jesus in our lives, the virus of sin no longer has complete control. I would love to say the virus of sin has zero control over us, but let's be honest! 

1 John 1:8 Amplified Bible

8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]

Just like the IT department will work on the computer to get it working properly again, that is how God will work on us. He will someday come and remove the virus of sin forever. Not only mankind but all of creation will be renewed. All will be made right!

1 John 2:1 Amplified Bible

2 My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].

I encourage you tonight. I know that the struggle of the flesh is for real. Deep down we know that we are not right, but someday that day will come. When all will be restored. Keep fighting the good fight against the virus of sin. Keep putting your trust in Jesus.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Man On The Middle Cross!

 Once again I have been inspired by songs that I have heard.

As we enter the thanksgiving season, I am thankful for the work that Jesus did on the Cross! That He took my sin upon Himself and went to The Cross in my place. Took the punishment that I deserved. I can not thank Him enough for that. I owe my life to Him!

1 Peter 2:24 Amplified Bible

24 He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.

I've been a sinner on the crosses beside Jesus. On the one side, I was filled with regret and guilt of things that I had done in the past. On the other side, one who wanted to fight and do things my way. Thinking I could never be forgiven. Boy was I wrong!

The Man on The Middle Cross was the answer! He paid the price for me. I am overwhelmed by grace because of what He did for me. He didn't have too. He didn't have to take the beating, the scourging, carrying The Cross along the Via Dolorosa, to Golgotha. He did it because of His love for us!

Romans 5:8 New Living Translation

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

He went to the Cross for us, but He didn't stay there. He rose up out of the grave three days later. With that, He raised me to life with Him! His mercy is poured out on us! Thank You Jesus!

Remember, The Man on the middle Cross wasn't a regular Joe!

He was the flesh of God, a lightning rod, The Bread of Life. He created all things. He is the King of Kings! 

So I encourage you tonight. Give thanks to The Man On The Middle Cross. For everything that He has done for you!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Grain Truck

I got off a  work a little early today, so I asked my wife if she wanted to have lunch together. She said yes, so off I went. On my way, about a mile or so up the road a grain truck pulled out of a field heading the same direction as I. I thought to myself "great, that's going to slow me down." Not that I was in any hurry, just didn't want the inconvenience of having to slow down. Oh, the audacity of this driver to do this to me. LOL!

When I complained under my breath I heard God say to me, "Keven, why are you complaining about that truck?" "Don't you volunteer and support numerous food/feeding programs?"

"Yes Lord, I do."

"This truck pulling out of the field is loaded with grain. Grain that is used to make food for someone, someplace." "So you're going to complain about a truck loaded with grain slowing you down, knowing full well that grain will eventually turn into food. Food you could potentially be donating to someone in need?"

Thank You Lord for the reminder. I started praising Him. Praised Him for the crops in the field. The tractors the cultivate the crops, the trucks that haul the crop and the mud tracks on the road. Praised Him for the farmers that are working tirelessly to bring in the crops. The dust in the air from all of the corn being harvested.

He reminded me of this verse.

Philippians 2:14 Amplified Bible

14 Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God],

That's what I heard from God. Don't complain about something that He is providing for His people. He supplies the crops. From the seed that is planted to the finished product. He provides all the equipment to bring the crops in out of the fields. He provides! 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Amplified Bible

18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

I asked for His forgiveness about my complaining about the truck. Then I started praying for the farmers. Pray for an abundant crop. Safety of bringing in the crops. The drivers of the tractors and trucks. Everyone involved in farming.

So I encourage you today. When God puts something in your path to slow you down, it could be for a very good reason. Put your trust in Him. He knows what He is doing.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Praise Him. Anytime, Anywhere!

 Do you know that you can praise Jesus, anytime, anywhere. You don't have to wait till church on Sunday or Wednesday. Special function or conference. You can do it right where you are at. 

Do you think that Daniel waited when God shut the lions mouths when he was in their den? 

Did David wait when the stone he hurled at Goliath hit him in the exact right place to kill him? 

I hardly doubt it.

I'm sure that they gave thanks and praise immediately. 

Psalm 146:1-2 New Living Translation

1 Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

I praise God from the moment I wake up, until I go to bed. The good and the bad. I praise Him for waking me up another day. A warm house to live in (especially the last couple of days). Food to eat, car to drive and a job to go to. A beautiful wife and daughter. An amazing family to do life with.

I praise Him when things go wrong as well. Had a long difficult day at work. Nothing seemed to go right, but, it could have been worse. If not for Jesus. The car accident I was involved in earlier in the year. I praised Him that it wasn't worse. No one was hurt. Just the vehicles. When I lost my job a few years ago. I praised Him, for I knew that He had a better plan for me.

If you were given a promotion or a raise at work. Praise Him! Your on top of the world, praise Him!

You lost your job. Having money or relationship problems, praise Him! If you are in the valley, praise Him.

He is worthy of every and all praise.

Revelation 4:11 New Living Translation

11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

So I encourage you tonight. No matter what season or station of life you find yourself, praise Him. Anywhere, anytime! He is worthy!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.