Turning The Page!

 Borrowing a song title from the great Bob Seger, "Turn The Page". We are in the last days of 2024. 2025 is just around the corner. As you're getting ready to turn the page from '24 to '25, what do you want? What do you hope happens in this new year. To me, I pray that I have a better year than last year. Not that last year was bad, just always wanting to get better or improve!

So here comes 2025. What do you want to see happen, or take place. How do you want it to be different than this past year? What do you want to do differently?

Do you want to draw closer to God? Have a more intimate relationship with Him? That is always a good thing to strive for!

James 4:8 Living Bible

8 And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. 

Do you want to read your Bible more? Really dig into it and study it. Learn more about God & Jesus. That is another good goal.

2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Do you want to love more boldly? Be more compassionate toward others? Show more grace and mercy? I always strive for this. I can always do better at showing people love & forgiveness. Be less judgmental! 

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified Bible

32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

I could go on and on, but I think that you get the idea. As we start the New Year, let's put God first, in everything that we do. How we treat people. How we go about our work. Let's give back when we can. 

Let this be our greatest year yet in showing Jesus to people. A world that desperately needs a Savior! Let's show the world by our actions that we are Christ followers. 

John 13:35 The Voice

35 Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.

This is my greatest goal for this year. 

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

So, You Think You Have A Problem!

 So, you think that you have a problem that God can't fix? I highly doubt it. There is nothing to big or to small for God. He cares about you and what you are going through.

1 Peter 5:7 The Voice

7 Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

If God can rescue Daniel from the Lions den, (Daniel 6:16-23), you don't think that He can rescue from dire situations? I think that He can.

If God can protect Daniel and his two friends while in the fiery furnace, turned up to 7X hotter, (3:16-28), how much more will He protect you in certain situations? Jesus was in the fire with them. He will be with you as well.

He was with David as he went out to battle the Giant Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:50-53) A small shepherd boy that many laughed at when he went out to battle. David knew that Goliath was big, but he knew that his God was bigger. God is bigger than anything that we can face. 

Imagine the troubles that Moses faced? As Israel's leader to bring them out of Egypt, he not only had to deal with the Egyptians who didn't want to let them go, he also had to deal with his own people who grumbled and complained about his leadership. He leaned on God time and time again to gain wisdom and knowledge of what to do. He also did a lot of praying! Won't He do the same for you, who are in charge or in a leadership position of some kind?

What about Job? His situation went south rather quickly.  He lost his family, his wealth and then his health. In fact his wife wanted him to curse God and die! What did he do? He continued to praise God (Job 1:20-22) No matter what life throws at us, we can continue to worship God. No matter how dire the situation seems, God will be there. Every time!

James 1:2-4 Living Bible

2 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3 for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

So I encourage you. Not matter what kind of problem that you are facing. God will be with you. Call out to Him for help! He is always near, never far from us!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

Doesn't Have To Be Much!

 We are constantly hearing about being Jesus' hands and feet. Go out and be like Jesus wherever you go. So I decided to look that up in the Bible. Where is it exactly that tells us to be His hands and feet? This is the Bibles definition of being Jesus' hands and feet.

Matthew 25:35-40 New Living Translation

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!’

We observe the needs around us. Looking at what we have, giving what we can. That's it.

People think that they need to do something grand or elaborate to be Jesus' hands extended. They think that they have to rescue someone from a burning building. Render first aid at a car accident scene. Perform life saving actions for someone who is having a medical emergency. All of that is great, don't get me wrong. But, how many times have you been in those kinds of situations? Not very many I'm guessing.

To be Jesus' hands and feet, you can do the small things as well. The other day at a hardware store, the cost of  being His hands and feet, .59c. Not much, but to the person whom it was given, it was the world at that time. You see we can't say that we are followers of Jesus and then not act when we see someone in need.

Philippians 2:4 New Living Translation

4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Being Jesus' hands and feet mean that we are not in this for ourselves. We need to show Jesus to others around us. We can talk and talk, but people really look at what we do and how we act!

1 John 3:18 New Living Translation

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

So what can we do to put our faith in action. Open or hold open the door for someone. Let someone cut in front of you at the grocery store if they only have a couple of items and you have a whole cart full. Pay for someone's dinner. Do all of this with a smile on your face. Let the joy of Jesus shine through you! People will notice!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

What A Difference A Day Makes!

 So, we just got through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It starts off with Thanksgiving first followed by what everyone calls 'Black Friday'. I call it 'Fight Club Friday'. We spend the first few weeks in November being kind to one another. Looking out for each other. Being thankful for what we have.

Ephesians 4:32 Amplified Bible

32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Stores are crowded with people all looking for the same thing. Thanksgiving food. Turkey, cranberries, stuffing mix, whatever. People are bumping into each other, showing kindness to each other. Forgiving for their behavior.

Then the very next day is like a flick of the switch. All of the kindness and forgiving goes out the window. People who were kind and compassionate all of a sudden turn into rude, entitled people. They're, me first. Get out of my way. How dare you think you can get in front or go before me. Fight Club Friday is on! People who were just the day before being thankful for the blessings in their life, all of a sudden are fighting people over a TV. Or video game. Doesn't matter what. They think that they deserve it much more than anyone else.

We Christians are called to live differently than the world, especially on Fight Club Friday. If we are standing in line and someone cuts in front of us, don't get upset. What does it matter if we are one more person back from were we where? Keep smiling. Let Jesus show through you to others. Keep being peaceful. That is what Jesus would want. Offer to help them carry stuff to their car. Help lift heavy objects. Whatever it takes. Let them see Jesus.

Then they'll wonder what makes us different. That's how we show that we are Jesus' followers. By the love that we show to one another.

John 13:35 Amplified Bible

35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

So I say that next Black Friday (Fight Club Friday), let the world act like the world. Let them beat each other up over material things. Let us continue to show Jesus to them by being peaceful and kind!

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified Bible

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.

God bless.

Rev. Kev.