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.

Buried!

 Have you thought about your burial plans? I mean the plans that you make for what happens to you after you pass? Am I getting buried. If I am where at? What kind of casket? Am I getting cremated and then buried? Or am I going to get cremated and then sit on someone's shelf or mantle? So many choices to make. We usually make our wishes known to our loved ones so they know what to do after we pass. Of course, they want to honor your last wishes. My mom requested that she be late to her own funeral. So guess what, she was!

So why am I bringing this all up you may be asking yourself. Good question.

My thought is, who cares! After your gone, do you really care where you are buried or laid to rest at? I mean it's good for the family. To have have a place of remembrance to go to. But you're not there. Your body isn't there. Your soul isn't there. Just a tombstone and a casket filled with ashes. Maybe some flowers surround the gravesite. Maybe not. 

Trust me. I'm not going to care. My race will be over. No more cares or worries. No more aches and pains. No more tears. I'll be home with my Lord & Savior, Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 New Living Translation

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

So many people make elaborate plans for their burials. Expensive caskets. Tombstones made out of expensive stone or marble. Can be quite the burden for the family if not properly planned for. Again I ask, why? Why all the expense? Use that money for something more productive. Throw a huge party and invite everyone. Have a grand time with each other. Because after time, people will stop going to the cemetery to visit you. Or go less often than they used too. But the memories you would make throwing a party would last forever! Remember that time? Nobody ever says "remember that time that we went to the cemetery?" 

Psalm 146:4 New Living Translation

4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. 

So all the plans we make before we pass about our service, our burial, everything dies with us.

So I say that it doesn't matter where I get buried. Yes, I want to get buried in the same cemetery as my family. But like I said before, none of us will be there.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 The Message

6-7 Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.

My only plan after I pass away is to be sitting at the feet of Jesus. Worshipping my Lord!

God bless.

Rev. Kev.

What Matters Most!

 How many of us have seen something happen or seen someone in need and not stop to help. We are either on our way to work, school or even church. It seems like there is always something on a timed schedule that we can not be late too. At least in our minds.

A car accident. Car with a flat tire. Someone needing a ride because their car broke down. We think, "not today." "Don't have time for this inconvenience!" So we just keep right on going. Heaven forbid we should be late somewhere, helping someone else out. Can't stop and help, might get my hands or clothes dirty. Be late for a date with your significant other. Doctors appointment. Your child's sporting or school event. Then there is the safety factor that we worry about. Is this person safe to give a ride to. Is it safe to stop and help out. There are many, many excuses we can come up with not to stop and help others. We carry on without giving it a second thought. Not our reality. When in reality God wanted to use you right there in that situation that you came across.

Hebrews 13:16 The Message

16 Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of “sacrifice”—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.

Every morning I pray that God will use me in a mighty way. To bring someone across my path whom I can show the light of Jesus too. To be His hands and feet. How can I pray that, and then see someone in need and ignore it. That would be hypocritical of me, wouldn't it. God would answer that prayer and then for me to say "not today or right now." " I have somewhere I need to be." When in fact God has you right where you need to be at just the right moment. It is not a coincidence or by chance.

I pray that God will give me the eyes to see people and situations they way that He sees them. To put my life on hold for a moment to help someone out in need. I don't want to miss the things that matter most.

Proverbs 3:27 The Message

27 Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.

Jesus Himself knows what it is like to be interrupted or inconvenienced. The Bible speaks of many times Jesus was on His way some place only to be interrupted by someone in need. He didn't balk and say come back tomorrow. He stopped, listened and healed. If that is what was needed.

I pray that we handled life's interruptions and inconveniences like Jesus does. With compassion and grace.

God Bless.
Rev. Kev.