Starting Over!

 Have you ever had to start over, ever, at something? I've had to, many times. Was laid off from a job that I had worked at for ten years. Was off work for two years before I was offered a position at a new company. I had to start over with pay, vacation time and seniority! I was at the bottom again, of everything! Was not any fun at all. Has taken me twelve years to get ahead of where I was when I was laid off.

Got divorced. Had to start my life over again, only this time as a single dad. Had to find a different place to live. Get separate everything. Car insurance, cell phone plans. Started having to go to the laundry mat. Again, not much fun.

Had a car loan for a number of years, only to get it paid off when something happens and you have to purchase another car. Had to start over with a car payment. Ugh!

It's not fun having to start over. Would much rather stay the course, but unfortunately things happen.

But...........

One day in July, 2007, my life started over. On July 22nd, 2007 I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior. My life forever changed. My slate was wiped clean!

2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

A few years later a friend of mine urged me to take some ministry classes, because he knew I was hungry for more of God! I hadn't taken any kind of class since I graduated high school several years before.

I started over at schooling, taking ISOM classes. To my astonishment, I did very well. I passed all of my testing and interviews and became a pastor. Starting over!

Isaiah 6:8 New Living Translation

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Not going to lie. I was very nervous/scared to start over at everything listed here. Like I said, it's not very fun to do. But, God was with me, even if I couldn't feel it.

Isaiah 41:10 New Living Translation

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 I encourage you tonight. If you are at a starting over stage in your life. Trust in God. He has the best plan for your life. Even if you don't see it at the moment.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Enter The Story, Change The Narrative.

 We had a missionary at church the other day. I stopped at her table to talk about something that she said that intrigued me. As we were talking, she handed me a wrist band. This one is nice. It feels like some kind of fabric, instead of the usual rubber ones. It is reversible. On one side it says "Enter The Story". On the other side it says "Change The Narrative".

I knew what she meant with these sayings on the wrist band. She was looking at it from a Missionaries mind. I get that. I how ever looked at it from a different view.

I started thinking about how to enter someone's story. 

So I look for things that I can do for someone. 

A friend of mine mom passed away recently. It was a complete shock and totally unexpected. I have experienced that first hand, so I entered his story about his mom passing. I offered condolences, prayer, whatever else I could do to let him know that I supported him and his family during this time. By doing this, I believe I changed the narrative. I let him know that he was not alone in dealing with this. He has other people that he could lean on, for comfort and support.

John 15:13 New Living Translation

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Close family friends were involved in a serious car accident the other day. Very serious injuries were incurred by both husband and wife. Air lifted to the hospital. Surgeries, a long road to recovery. Enter their story by praying for them, visit them in the hospital. Offering help with anything that they might need. Once again, by entering their story at that time, it could change the narrative. They will not face the road to recovery alone. Plenty of family and friends who love them are available to help out.

I could go on and on about this. Co-workers having a bad day. Everything really seems to be going wrong for them. Enter their story and change their narrative by offering up some encouragement. Lift them up. Watch them light up with just a little affirmation.

I think that Jesus had done this Himself on several occasions.

He entered the fisherman's story when they weren't catching any fish. He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Guess what? He changed their narrative. They caught so many fish that they couldn't haul them all in.

John 21:5-6 New Living Translation

5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

How about the woman at the well? Jesus encountered her while she was out getting water. What is remarkable is that Jesus a Jew was talking to a Samaritan  woman. Jews despised Samaritan people. He entered her story at the well.

John 4:25-30

25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

Do you think that He changed her narrative? I think that He might have.

So I encourage you. Enter someone's story at some point along the way. You never know, you might just change their narrative.

Like a line from a Toby Mac song goes, "Real Friends Are Willing To Intrude."

God Bless.

Rev. Kev.

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.

Getting Squeezed!

 A few weeks ago, part of our pastor's sermon mentioned getting squeezed. He used examples like, you can't get apple juice from an orange. Don't get orange juice from a lemon. My moms favorite saying, "you can't get blood from a turnip." This list could go on forever. I think that you get the idea. No matter what you squeeze, you expect the correct contents to come out.

Then he asked a question. What happens to you when you get squeezed? When life squeezes you. Work, family, home? What comes out of you when things don't go the way you expect them to go? Does Jesus come out? Or does the old you find it's way out?

If I'm honest, more times than not, the old Keven comes out. I don't know why. When I say a word or certain words, I immediately apologize to God for using them. Then I ask why that seems to always be my default. I'm a child of God. I am a Christian. A pastor. These words should not be coming out of my mouth. But when squeezed at work, which happens a lot by the way. Here they come! The whole situation irritates me. As I'm sure it does God! I can almost hear Him saying "come on Keven, you can do better."

When I use my printer at work for the first time in the morning, I have to go in and select default printer setting for the one that I use. If I don't do that, who knows where my paperwork will print. That's how I want myself to be with Jesus. I want Him to be my default when I get squeezed. I want Him to come pouring out. Not useless words or actions. I want Him to be glorified. I want people to see Him, through me. Like I said, more often than not, that doesn't happen.

1 Corinthians 15:33 New Living Translation

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

I go in everyday wearing the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). The attacks always come from the rear. Where the armor doesn't cover. I do battle everyday for control of my mouth. It's not fun.

Psalm 141:3 Amplified Bible

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].

This is my prayer, everyday. That God will give me a mouth to speak blessings, encouragement and uplifting. I'm a work in progress.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.