Encouraged in the Lord

   

Honestly, it seemed a little trite: “Yeah yeah, David encouraged himself in the Lord…that’s nice.  I don’t feel like encouraging myself in the Lord.  I am not in a worshipful mood here.  I don’t feel like singing.  I don’t have the energy to sit and meditate on high and lofty things.  All I can think about is what am I going to do now?!”

Listen as Pastor Rick transparently shares a message of encouragement based on the story of David and Ziklag from 1 Samuel chapter 30.

Planted in Death Raised in Life

   

Listen as Pastor Rick gently shepherds our hearts through the grief of losing one of our own.  Mama V you are missed!

REMEMBER, REFLECT, RENEW

"It is when we reflect upon things that we learn to filter the emotions.  It is when we reflect we learn to go beyond just how the memories make us feel.  It is in the place of reflection where we can ponder our experiences and bring them into focus with the Word of God."  Have you looked at your memories through the lens of God's Word and perspective?

Lessons from Lazarus

Some might think it strange that this miracle – probably the most powerful testament of the Christ and one of the strongest anchor points for faith in His own soon-coming resurrection – was excluded from those other narratives.  However, a reasonable case has been made by scholars that Lazarus was still alive during the writing of the other Gospels and the writers did not want to stir up the Jews against him afresh; but by the time John writes, it is believed that Lazarus had passed away (for the second time) and was no longer in any danger by the telling of the story.  We should also keep in mind that John writes his entire Gospel with the intent that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He tells us this intent for his book in Chapter 20:31 – “31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”  This story of Lazarus is one of his anchoring arguments for that purpose.

We don’t know when this event happened, but it is reasonably believed to be close to the time of Passover at which time Jesus will be crucified.  Let us turn to the story now.  Today, I will read and expound as we go.

 Thanks to the Lumo Project & FreeBibleImages.org for this image!

HOPE - Reflections on 9-11

"On this 15^th anniversary of 9-11, I reflect on the facts of sin and death that we observe all around us.  I think of a sovereign just God Who balances all things in the end, and out of His great love provided Himself as a Savior for us all.  This on 9-11 brings me peace and calls me to share the message of hope."