*New!  Make sure to listen to last week's sermon above (if you'd like ;).

A Devotional Thought. Take the Limits Off.

If money and time were no concern, where in the world would you like to go?  Somewhere warm like Cuba, historic like Greece, significant like London or fun like Disney?  It’s fun to think about such things.  Sometimes we need to take the limits off and just dream about what could be.  John 14:14 (NIV) says, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  What does it mean to ask for something in Jesus’ name?  I find thinking of the opposite helps me understand.  So, what would it mean if I asked for things in my name?  Suddenly, things become pretty selfish.  My prayers would be all about me.  What do I want?  What are my needs?  How will my prayers affect me?  Don’t get me wrong.  God cares about what’s happening in our lives.  He wants you to pray for your help and healing.  But I think the really powerful prayers begin, not only end, with “in your name.”  I love how The Message paraphrase puts John 14:13-14.  “For now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it.  That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.  I mean it.  Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.” I don’t completely understand why God doesn’t just do what he wants to do without us.  But He chooses to include us as part of the process.  Does it not logically follow, based on this verse, that whatever we don’t request, He won’t do.  He has made the bank account of heaven available to us, but we have to make withdrawals.  The only condition is that our withdrawals be spent in a way that honours His name.  Hmm.  If resources and time were no concern, what would you pray for “in His name”?  Maybe it’s time to take the limits off.

Keep praying.  Keep believing.

Sermon Recap.  Let My People Go.  Part 3 of 4.
Message: How to Live Right When Everything Goes Wrong.
“...And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.” -Exodus 4:31b, NIV

1. Persecution and Hardship Often Draws Us Closer to God.  Keep a Higher Perspective (4:29-31).
2. Don’t Be Surprised When Unbelievers Don’t Acknowledge God. Remember How God Has Been Faithful to You (5:1-2). John 1:5.
3. Being a Christian Doesn’t Mean Everything Goes Your Way.  Trust in God's Big Picture (5:7).  John 16:33.

Remember what our Egyptian brother recently said, “Based on the response of the Church in the face of this tragedy [the murder of 21 Egyptian Christians by ISIS], it is joyfully evident that while Christ's physical body is reported to have left [Egypt] more than 2,000 years ago, the presence and power of his Spirit lives on in the hearts of God's Egyptian children. With God, nothing is impossible!"

Question for Reflection
When unbelievers reject your faith in Jesus, how do you respond?

I welcome your comments.
-Jason

Problem Solvers.
A Devotional Thought.

Have you heard this piece of marriage advice for husbands?  If your wife comes home talking about the problems she had that day, your job is NOT to solve her problems.  Your job is to LISTEN.  Guys, that can be hard for many of us.  Because we usually want to find ways to fix things that are broken.  But at that moment, our wives really just need to know we care and are there for them.  IF they ask for help...then we can help solve the problem.  What do you think?  Husbands.  Wives.  Have you found this to be true?  One of the speakers at the "Salt & Light" conference I attended was Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama.  He said, "The way to solve your problems is not to solve your problems.  It's to have someone in your life greater than your problems".  That's a good reminder.  I love how The Message paraphrase puts the following verses.

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18, The Message

Do you have any problems?  I know I do.  I'm grateful that God listens and cares.  But He's also greater than your problems.

"Let My People Go" Part 2.  Sermon Recap. (sorry, Part 1 recap is not available).

Message: How to Hear God When No One is Listening.
Scripture: Exodus 3.
Key Verse: “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” -Exodus 3:5, NIV

Just as God spoke to Moses, God speaks to us today.  He desires to give us those direction changing moments.
1. God Speaks On Weekdays Too (3:1).
2. When God Speaks, Ordinary Things Can Become Extra-Ordinary (3:2).
3. The Way God Speaks Makes You Listen (3:2-3).
4. When God Speaks, Reverence Should Follow (3:5).
5. God Doesn't Need to Speak to Us, But He Does (3:5).

How to hear God’s voice?
1. Receive Jesus.  Take away the biggest barrier: our sin.
2. Get rid of distractions.  “Is this helping or hindering?"
3. Practice listening.  It’s ok to make mistakes.

God is real.  God is active.  God is speaking.
What is He saying? How will you respond?

Question for Reflection
Does God still use the miraculous (like a burning bush) to speak to people today, or was that just in Bible times?

I welcome your comments.
-Jason

A Devotional Thought: "Tired Arms".
We're having an ice problem.  Perhaps you've noticed.  There is a build up of ice that forms right in front of the side door to the church.  Tony Verlinden has helped by building a small ramp that we place in front of the door that keeps the ice from freezing on the cement, but it didn't get put in front of the door yesterday and I had to chop ice with the "ice chopper" (I'm sure there's a more accurate name for it).  I find I have to be careful when I use the "ice chopper" because my hands shake for over an hour after I'm finished.  My writing becomes unreadable and my typing is slowed (and I do a lot of writing and typing).  It's weird.  No, I don't think it's anything to be concerned about, probably just using muscles I don't normally use.

In Exodus 17, there's this neat story about how when Moses hands were lifted up, the armies of Israel were victorious. But when Moses arms got tired and he lowered them, the armies were defeated (Exodus 17:10-13).  I'm reminded that there are many who are doing good, serving God, and whose arms sometimes get tired.  What a beautiful picture of supporting others we find in verse 12, "When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset" (Exodus 17:12, NLT).

Who needs help holding their arms up today?

Sermon Recap: If You Want to Grow Up, You Have to Get Your Hands Dirty.

Key Verse from Sunday: "...to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." -Ephesians 4:12, NIV.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

We are all called to serve.  Some need to step it up.  Some need to slow it down.  But we all need to be in the game.  

i. The Why of Service is Obedience to Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12a

ii. Service is Necessary for our Spiritual Growth.
Ephesians 4:12b

iii. One Product of Our Service is Unity.
Ephesians 4:13a

iv. The Outcome of Our Service is Maturity.
Ephesians 4:13b-14

v. The Focus of Our Service is Jesus.
Ephesians 4:15-16

vi. The Reward for Our Service is for God to Figure  Out.
Matthew 25:21

Question(s) for Reflection
Does it really make any difference as to the motivation for our service?  Serving is serving, right?  What do you think?

I welcome your comments.
-Jason