Here it is Friday again. We are coming upon our Sabbath. For the Jews it begins this evening and continues to Saturday evening. For Christians we observe the Lord’s Day, Sunday. It is not the day that is so important but the principle of rest. Many of you today will walk away from the job, the office but you are still worrying about what didn’t get done, what has to be done next week. Some will be back in the office on your day off just because you would rather be there working than at home worrying about it (except you call it “thinking” about it). The truth is that we need the Sabbath rest from thinking and worrying about all of that. It will be there when we get back to the office on Monday. Worry is a useless destructive activity anyway.
I love this story. J. Arthur Rank, an English executive, decided to do all his worrying on one day each week. He chose Wednesdays. When anything happened that gave him anxiety and annoyed his ulcer, he would write it down and put it in his “worry box” and forget about it until the next Wednesday. The interesting thing was that, on the following Wednesday when he opened his worry box, he found that most of the things that had disturbed him the past six days were already settled. It would have been useless to have worried about them in the first place. (Source Unknown.)
Luke 12:22-29 (NLT) Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.
Take a worry break. Take a Sabbath. Take time to worship. In fact, structure your life so that you don’t have to TAKE time or MAKE time to worship, but rather so that worship is the priority that overrides everything else. Parents, think about what we teach our children when week after week we allow other things to go before stopping all the wheels and going to the house of the Lord to worship. We are preaching loud and clear that God is second in our lives (or third or fourth). They get the message and then live it when they grow up. But that’s another message. This is about worry. You see taking a worship break is a remedy for my worry because when I focus on how great God is it certainly minimizes my worries if not eliminates them.
So, if LIFEchurch is where you worship we’d love to see you all this weekend. If you are in the DFW area and don’t have a place of regular worship come check us out. If you live outside the area find a place to break from the worries of life or if you are already committed to a local church in this area get there this weekend. You need the break from worry and worship will do it like nothing else.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for worrying for worrying is not trusting You. I do trust You. I have done all that I can do and trust You to do the rest. I have labored hard this week and trust You to bless my efforts. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me, and help me to be more faithful to You. Let’s You and Me take a worship break this Sunday. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Giving and Forgiving
The following was in my inbox from Zig Ziglar...
“Truly successful people in life are givers and forgivers.”
“Ten days before Christmas the 200 Puerto Rican families in this particular parish gathered to each place $5 in the "pot," which was about a day's pay for a fruit picker. . . . Each family would write its name on a slip of paper. Then they would blindfold someone to draw the name of the family that would get to go home for Christmas--two glorious weeks on the island, and enough money to buy Christmas presents for everyone.
“Employee Phillip Kelly explains, "I went to the drawing that year, my first Christmas with the community, but it was going to be Wally Jansen's last. Wally was retiring after working 40 years with the company, and for the last 25 he had been the canning factory foreman."
“By 3 o'clock. . .the announcer called the committee onstage to witness the drawing. Then they called Phillip up to draw the name of the lucky family. He was blindfolded and led to the drum that included the names of the families. ‘I reached in, sorted out a handful, and finally settled on one,’ says Phillip. "I opened the slip of paper and read the name Wally Jansen. The cheers were deafening. Everyone surrounded him, hugging him, crying, congratulating him, wishing him a Merry Christmas and a joyous trip.’ During the commotion, Phillip casually reached back into the drum and drew out a handful of slips and opened a couple. ‘Each one, in different writing, carried the same name--Wally Jansen,’ he explained.
“I imagine that the Wally Jansen family was thrilled beyond words. But I believe the joy that each person felt, thinking that maybe he or she had written the name "Wally Jansen," which was drawn, was greater still. Think about that. Become a giver, and you will be happier on your trip to the top.”
Thank you Zig for a challenging word? Now, for a Word from the master teacher, Jesus.
“You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 (NLT)
The word “blessed” in this Scripture is from the Greek word “makarios.” It is translated “blessed” in almost every instance in the New Testament. In a few other cases it is translated “happy.” It is the same word Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount when He gave what we call The Beatitudes. We usually just stop with saying it means “happy” or “blessed.” Strongs concordance goes a little further explaining its meaning... “makarios (mak-ar'-ee-os); a prolonged form of the poetical makar meaning supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.”
Then Mr. Ziglar speaks on the authority of the Bible that “truly successful people (supremely blessed, fortunate, well off) are givers and forgivers.” You see “giving” is sharing our substance in life or giving up our rights and privileges for the sake of others. “Forgiving” is giving up my right to feel angry, hurt, or offended and extending grace to the offender. To give is to bless. To forgive is to release.
How do you know if you NEED to forgive someone? If, when you think about them, the first thoughts you have are negative thoughts or angry thoughts or memories of how they wronged you or hurt you then you probably haven’t really forgiven them. How do you know you HAVE forgiven? You think about those things less and less. To forgive and totally forget is only possible for God. The human mind cannot totally forget, but we can choose not to dwell on it. When the thoughts do come we make the choice to replace them. When true forgiveness has taken place that becomes easier and easier.
Ask yourself with me, “How can I be a giver today? Who do I need to forgive today?” That’s a giant step toward success in life. Now, you can go do the other things like hard work, be creative and innovative, take calculated risks, dream big, etc. But if you do all these and do not become a giver and forgiver you will never achieve true success.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me how you want me to be a giver and a forgiver today. I want true success in life not the superficial success that just things brings, but the true success that living to give and forgive brings. Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest giver of all. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
“Truly successful people in life are givers and forgivers.”
“Ten days before Christmas the 200 Puerto Rican families in this particular parish gathered to each place $5 in the "pot," which was about a day's pay for a fruit picker. . . . Each family would write its name on a slip of paper. Then they would blindfold someone to draw the name of the family that would get to go home for Christmas--two glorious weeks on the island, and enough money to buy Christmas presents for everyone.
“Employee Phillip Kelly explains, "I went to the drawing that year, my first Christmas with the community, but it was going to be Wally Jansen's last. Wally was retiring after working 40 years with the company, and for the last 25 he had been the canning factory foreman."
“By 3 o'clock. . .the announcer called the committee onstage to witness the drawing. Then they called Phillip up to draw the name of the lucky family. He was blindfolded and led to the drum that included the names of the families. ‘I reached in, sorted out a handful, and finally settled on one,’ says Phillip. "I opened the slip of paper and read the name Wally Jansen. The cheers were deafening. Everyone surrounded him, hugging him, crying, congratulating him, wishing him a Merry Christmas and a joyous trip.’ During the commotion, Phillip casually reached back into the drum and drew out a handful of slips and opened a couple. ‘Each one, in different writing, carried the same name--Wally Jansen,’ he explained.
“I imagine that the Wally Jansen family was thrilled beyond words. But I believe the joy that each person felt, thinking that maybe he or she had written the name "Wally Jansen," which was drawn, was greater still. Think about that. Become a giver, and you will be happier on your trip to the top.”
Thank you Zig for a challenging word? Now, for a Word from the master teacher, Jesus.
“You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 (NLT)
The word “blessed” in this Scripture is from the Greek word “makarios.” It is translated “blessed” in almost every instance in the New Testament. In a few other cases it is translated “happy.” It is the same word Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount when He gave what we call The Beatitudes. We usually just stop with saying it means “happy” or “blessed.” Strongs concordance goes a little further explaining its meaning... “makarios (mak-ar'-ee-os); a prolonged form of the poetical makar meaning supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.”
Then Mr. Ziglar speaks on the authority of the Bible that “truly successful people (supremely blessed, fortunate, well off) are givers and forgivers.” You see “giving” is sharing our substance in life or giving up our rights and privileges for the sake of others. “Forgiving” is giving up my right to feel angry, hurt, or offended and extending grace to the offender. To give is to bless. To forgive is to release.
How do you know if you NEED to forgive someone? If, when you think about them, the first thoughts you have are negative thoughts or angry thoughts or memories of how they wronged you or hurt you then you probably haven’t really forgiven them. How do you know you HAVE forgiven? You think about those things less and less. To forgive and totally forget is only possible for God. The human mind cannot totally forget, but we can choose not to dwell on it. When the thoughts do come we make the choice to replace them. When true forgiveness has taken place that becomes easier and easier.
Ask yourself with me, “How can I be a giver today? Who do I need to forgive today?” That’s a giant step toward success in life. Now, you can go do the other things like hard work, be creative and innovative, take calculated risks, dream big, etc. But if you do all these and do not become a giver and forgiver you will never achieve true success.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, show me how you want me to be a giver and a forgiver today. I want true success in life not the superficial success that just things brings, but the true success that living to give and forgive brings. Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest giver of all. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Best Preacher
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
We develop classes on how to be a soulwinner. We teach the Roman Road. We memorize Scripture so we can lead people to Christ. We devise special days to get friends to come to church so they can have a chance to be saved. And I say, “Amen!” to all of that. It is important that we learn, train, memorize, and strategize, but in all that don’t forget that the greatest sermons we preach are preached without saying one word. In fact, those of us who have a propensity to talk can talk people right out of making a decision for Christ if we are not careful. Especially if what we say, and we do doesn’t match.
Jesus says if you really want to make a difference in the world and make a difference in someone’s life even leading them to Jesus try this.... LIVE RIGHT. Live differently than the world around you. Live Biblical values not the values of the world around you. Here’s how to do that...
Be faithful to your spouse.
Be the one at the office that refuses to cheat, but don’t then shout it to everybody. Just do it.
Be the neighbor who acts neighborly.
Be the employee who does the work and doesn’t complain.
Pay your bills.
Do your part and enjoy life.
Don’t participate in the gossip at the water fountain, or over the back fence.
Show up for work on time, and give eight hours (or whatever is expected) while you are there.
Don’t speak one message and then live another.
Remember that old saying? It’s so old it may be new to some of you. “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me so much to be grateful for. For every complaint I might have there are many things to be grateful for. Since that is the truth help me to more easily see the points of gratitude instead of the small inconveniences of life. Be my constant companion to cause me to think before I speak or act. Help me, because I really do want my life to be a light to others guiding them to You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
We develop classes on how to be a soulwinner. We teach the Roman Road. We memorize Scripture so we can lead people to Christ. We devise special days to get friends to come to church so they can have a chance to be saved. And I say, “Amen!” to all of that. It is important that we learn, train, memorize, and strategize, but in all that don’t forget that the greatest sermons we preach are preached without saying one word. In fact, those of us who have a propensity to talk can talk people right out of making a decision for Christ if we are not careful. Especially if what we say, and we do doesn’t match.
Jesus says if you really want to make a difference in the world and make a difference in someone’s life even leading them to Jesus try this.... LIVE RIGHT. Live differently than the world around you. Live Biblical values not the values of the world around you. Here’s how to do that...
Be faithful to your spouse.
Be the one at the office that refuses to cheat, but don’t then shout it to everybody. Just do it.
Be the neighbor who acts neighborly.
Be the employee who does the work and doesn’t complain.
Pay your bills.
Do your part and enjoy life.
Don’t participate in the gossip at the water fountain, or over the back fence.
Show up for work on time, and give eight hours (or whatever is expected) while you are there.
Don’t speak one message and then live another.
Remember that old saying? It’s so old it may be new to some of you. “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me so much to be grateful for. For every complaint I might have there are many things to be grateful for. Since that is the truth help me to more easily see the points of gratitude instead of the small inconveniences of life. Be my constant companion to cause me to think before I speak or act. Help me, because I really do want my life to be a light to others guiding them to You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Peaceful or Violent?
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” Matthew 11:12 (NIV)
“We must all wage an intense, lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.
“Humility is a virtue; timidity is a disease.
‘If you spend five minutes complaining, you have just wasted five minutes. If you continue complaining, it won’t be long before they haul you out to a financial desert and there let you choke on the dust of your own regret.
“You cannot take the mild approach to the weeds in your mental garden. You have got to hate weeds enough to kill them. Weeds are not something you handle; weeds are something you devastate.” — Quotes by Jim Rohn
We have to be serious about living right, being holy in this world because there is plenty of opportunity to wimp out and give in the attitudes of this age. The kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom, a place for a literal king on a throne. It is according to Jesus “within us” (Luke 17:21). We have to fight daily for that kingdom. We must hate sin and those things that come to take the kingdom of God from us. No, hatred is not too strong a word when it comes to sin. Satan wants us to be reticent, complacent, and indifferent about sin. I am not talking about being a “hell, fire, and damnation” preacher. I am talking about each of us and our individual, personal lives. Personally seeing the weeds that find their way into the garden of our life trying to choke out the fruit of the Spirit, and ripping them out by the roots, or they will keep coming back.
It is not unlike Christ to get angry at sin. Remember the temple story where He drove the money changers away and turned over there tables? “When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, ‘Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!’" John 2:13-16 (MSG)
So when we pray to be like Jesus there is an element of holy anger, holy hatred toward sin that will drive us to forcefully contend for the kingdom of God in our lives and in the world around us.
There are all kinds of sprays and treatments to deal with weeds, but even if you kill them they still need to be pulled up and thrown away because dead or alive they are unsightly in your yard or the garden.
We spend too much of our time being angry at ourselves, blaming ourselves for failure in our lives. We do make choices. We do have to take responsibility for our actions and decisions. But the better way to do that is to deal with the sin, the weeds themselves rather than just beating up on the garden.
Remember, the kingdom of God, the good life, the blessed life does not come easily, does not just fall into our laps by chance. It comes by choice and forceful action. Deal with those weeds. Develop a holy hatred for them then devastate them, destroy them and save the kingdom.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for letting weeds grow in my garden, for being complacent about sin in my life and about the kingdom of God. Today I choose to rise up with holy hatred to destroy those weeds, those attitudes that have stunted the growth of spiritual fruit in my life. I commit to fight for the kingdom of God in me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
“We must all wage an intense, lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.
“Humility is a virtue; timidity is a disease.
‘If you spend five minutes complaining, you have just wasted five minutes. If you continue complaining, it won’t be long before they haul you out to a financial desert and there let you choke on the dust of your own regret.
“You cannot take the mild approach to the weeds in your mental garden. You have got to hate weeds enough to kill them. Weeds are not something you handle; weeds are something you devastate.” — Quotes by Jim Rohn
We have to be serious about living right, being holy in this world because there is plenty of opportunity to wimp out and give in the attitudes of this age. The kingdom of God is not an earthly kingdom, a place for a literal king on a throne. It is according to Jesus “within us” (Luke 17:21). We have to fight daily for that kingdom. We must hate sin and those things that come to take the kingdom of God from us. No, hatred is not too strong a word when it comes to sin. Satan wants us to be reticent, complacent, and indifferent about sin. I am not talking about being a “hell, fire, and damnation” preacher. I am talking about each of us and our individual, personal lives. Personally seeing the weeds that find their way into the garden of our life trying to choke out the fruit of the Spirit, and ripping them out by the roots, or they will keep coming back.
It is not unlike Christ to get angry at sin. Remember the temple story where He drove the money changers away and turned over there tables? “When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, ‘Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!’" John 2:13-16 (MSG)
So when we pray to be like Jesus there is an element of holy anger, holy hatred toward sin that will drive us to forcefully contend for the kingdom of God in our lives and in the world around us.
There are all kinds of sprays and treatments to deal with weeds, but even if you kill them they still need to be pulled up and thrown away because dead or alive they are unsightly in your yard or the garden.
We spend too much of our time being angry at ourselves, blaming ourselves for failure in our lives. We do make choices. We do have to take responsibility for our actions and decisions. But the better way to do that is to deal with the sin, the weeds themselves rather than just beating up on the garden.
Remember, the kingdom of God, the good life, the blessed life does not come easily, does not just fall into our laps by chance. It comes by choice and forceful action. Deal with those weeds. Develop a holy hatred for them then devastate them, destroy them and save the kingdom.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for letting weeds grow in my garden, for being complacent about sin in my life and about the kingdom of God. Today I choose to rise up with holy hatred to destroy those weeds, those attitudes that have stunted the growth of spiritual fruit in my life. I commit to fight for the kingdom of God in me. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
Monday, March 12, 2007
Falling Out
You’ve probably heard the story about the little boy who woke up in the night because he fell out of the bed. His mother heard what happened and came running to his room. As she helped him back into bed she asked him, “What happened that you fell off the bed.”
His reply was childish and loaded with simple childish wisdom. He said, “I guess I tried to sleep to close to where I got in.”
We do that with our Christian lives. We get in and then years later we are still hanging on to the edge and wondering why we fall out so often. The good news is because God loves us He is always there to pick us up and help back to where we were. But think about it with me. My mom easily helped me back in bed when I was a child. I learned really fast that the safe place is as far away from the edge as I can get so she didn’t have to help much.
But how about our spiritual lives, our personal relationship with Christ? Where are we living? How far are we from the place we got in. Have you grown, matured? How about your prayer life? How about your loyalty to church? How about your giving? How about your love for others? Do you still let little things get to you like you used? How about your habits? Have you replaced those bad habits with disciple habits? Have you moved away from the edge?
Sometimes we make the mistake of portraying God as this non-emotional being that speaks in monotones. But God made us like Himself so He must display emotions from time to time. In fact, He gets angry and experiences joy. I think on this topic He does what we do with our friends when they act immature. We look at them and say with frustration, “OH, GROW UP! Think God ever looks at us says, “OH, GROW UP!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I DO want to grow up in my relationship with You. I never want to stop growing or stop learning more about You. I never want to stop getting to know you better and better. Forgive me for my laziness in staying too close to the edge. Help me as I make the choice to move forward in You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
His reply was childish and loaded with simple childish wisdom. He said, “I guess I tried to sleep to close to where I got in.”
We do that with our Christian lives. We get in and then years later we are still hanging on to the edge and wondering why we fall out so often. The good news is because God loves us He is always there to pick us up and help back to where we were. But think about it with me. My mom easily helped me back in bed when I was a child. I learned really fast that the safe place is as far away from the edge as I can get so she didn’t have to help much.
But how about our spiritual lives, our personal relationship with Christ? Where are we living? How far are we from the place we got in. Have you grown, matured? How about your prayer life? How about your loyalty to church? How about your giving? How about your love for others? Do you still let little things get to you like you used? How about your habits? Have you replaced those bad habits with disciple habits? Have you moved away from the edge?
Sometimes we make the mistake of portraying God as this non-emotional being that speaks in monotones. But God made us like Himself so He must display emotions from time to time. In fact, He gets angry and experiences joy. I think on this topic He does what we do with our friends when they act immature. We look at them and say with frustration, “OH, GROW UP! Think God ever looks at us says, “OH, GROW UP!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I DO want to grow up in my relationship with You. I never want to stop growing or stop learning more about You. I never want to stop getting to know you better and better. Forgive me for my laziness in staying too close to the edge. Help me as I make the choice to move forward in You. AMEN.
Blessings!
Pastor Roger
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