Pastor’s Corner

Pastors Corner 5-13-2012

It seems like only a few days ago that we were celebrating Mother’s Day and I wish I had the words to tell each of the women in the church how important you are to your family and to the church. Like your immediate family the church does not always tell you how much we appreciate your service and dedication to the church. No matter how the church honors you today, I do not think that it will express the true gratitude we feel for you in our hearts. It will just plainly not be enough recognition for your service to your family and the church. God has honored you with one of the greatest gifts given to mankind, the ability to bear children in the image of God. This gift is closely behind the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ or even the gift of life itself. God himself tells us the price on your service to your husband, family, and fellow man is far greater than precious jewels. With all this said, I would like to make a feeble attempt to thank you on behalf of the church for your love and service to everyone. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

Pastor Danny

Garbage In…

I was thinking about a couple of projects I did last fall, compared to a couple I’ve done recently, and the results I obtained from them. Last fall I had s couple of small side tables to refinish. I used what I had on hand, as far as paint and things go, and put a fair amount of time into both of them. But the results were, well, less than stellar. This past week I refurbished a couple of old metal utility carts. For these projects I got new paint, a specific type and color for each one, and used new and different primer on them both. I also used a different technique and products for the preparation phase. And you know what? They results were a whole lot better, at least in my opinion, with these carts than I got from the tables. I think the difference was in the products I used: what I had on hand verses getting the specific item that I needed for the projects. I guess this would be kind of an example of “garbage in, garbage out”, as the old saying goes.

This principle is equally true with what we fill ourselves with: if we fill our mind with garbage our attitudes will reflect that. The Bible says

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

. If we feast upon godly things we will produce good fruit in all areas of our lives, fruit that is pleasing to God and useful to His purposes. But if we indulge in the worldly, godless things the product will be far from fruitful; it will be useless garbage.

Focused Thanksgiving

I’m nearing the end of a 365 day devotional, several of which I’ve shared with you the past eleven months. I started it a little late so today’s reading is off: it was meant for Thanksgiving Day. We should be thankful every day though so I’m going to share it- late.

“Focused Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving, the day we set aside to express how thankful we are for the unique and unprecedented way America has been blessed. Granted, not everyone gives thanks to the same source for these blessings. There are those who recognize God’s providential hand on our land and those who don’t. But for those of us who know the truth of God’s Word, we know that all credit, thanks, and glory belongs to Him. And that’s a perfect segue into our theme for this month…worship. Something striking stands out when you count the number of times the words “give thanks” show up in scripture…you find the act of worship happening. Giving thanks and worship are inseparable. We see this in David’s declaration: Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. (2 Samuel 22:50 NKJV) We see it in the priestly functions of the Levites: And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests…to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD. (2 Chronicles 31:2 NKJV) And we even see this in the heavenly vision that the Apostle John has been given: Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. (Revelation 4:9-10 NKJV) Over and over again, we see that giving thanks and worship happen in conjunction with each other. In fact, we could define worship as the act of focusing our thanks in God’s direction. And that makes today a day unlike any others when it comes to the potential for praise. So as you celebrate and give thanks, let your “thanks” turn into something so much more by focusing it on God and allowing it to become worship.
-Bob Coy Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale”

Thanksgiving

The dinner is done, as are the dishes, and the kids have left for the evening. More or less, the holiday is officially wrapped up at our house and has been for a couple of hours. As I sat down to relax and reflect a little I began to think about what I am most thankful for; I have much that I am filled with thanks for and my list could be very long. But there are two items that stand out above and beyond every thing else.

I am most thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Without His love, sacrifice and mercy I would be most miserable and hopelessly lost. I am most thankful for my Jesus.

Secondly I am thankful that I am no longer the man I used to be because I have been born again. I’m thankful that the old man is dead and gone and the new has hope and a promise. I’m thankful for the new birth for without it I would be hopelessly lost and most miserable. And with being born again I received the Holy Spirit to guide and direct, teach and grow me so I’m so very thankful for Him and His presence in my life.

I am sure that God approves of our special holiday that we set aside for thanksgiving. But I’m equally certain that He would rather that we live out our thanks every day of the year, not just on Sunday or holidays. I pray that you and I do a better job of that very thing this coming year and every year we have left in our lives. For He is worthy.

From the Heart

In commenting on Psalm 45 (http://is.gd/dqrDD) Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“Whereby they have made thee glad.” And who are thus privileged to make the Saviour glad? His Church his people. But is it possible? He makes us glad, but how can we make him glad? By our love. See, loving heart, how he delights in you. When you lean your head on his bosom, you not only receive, but you give him joy; when you gaze with love upon his all-glorious face, you not only obtain comfort, but impart delight. Our praise, too, gives him joy not the song of the lips alone, but the melody of the heart’s deep gratitude. He loves us, not for the value of what we give, but for the motive from which the gift springs.

Often we forget that our Lord looks at the intent of the heart in all matters, not only sin but also praise and worship. Ours need not always be a grand expression of our love to Him; the smallest gesture, the quiet whisper, the silent prayer, if they come from the heart with the attitude of love are just as pleasing to God as any other way we might praise Him.

Christmas Day

For the most part, Christmas day is about over with now. Gifts have been opened, dinner made, eaten and cleaned up, and most of the visiting is done with. One trip this evening and it’ll be completely over with.

I find the older I get the more disenchanted I am with Christmas. I know a lot of it is from the blatant commercialization of the day we celebrate our Lord’s birthday. But I think it is deeper than that this year. I think I feel guilty for not doing more to represent what the true meaning is myself. Yes, I am but one person but I could and should make whatever difference I can to whoever I am around during this time of year. And I don’t think I’ve been doing as good a job as I could be.

I praise Him for how He has seen fit, when I’ve been obediant, to use me. I am thankful that He deems me useful in any way for any work He’d have Me to do. But I pray that not just at Christmas but always I will do a better job for Him. Christmas is ideal because it lends itself to an “opening” whereas other times of the year not as much so. But if He wants and I’ll listen I can be effective for Jesus year round.

I hope that the few opportunities I’ve had and taken advantage of have been pleasing to Him. And I pray that if they were He’ll use them to His good will and work that maybe someone saw the Light of Christ shining brightly enough through me to arouse something in them, to wonder what the real deal of Christmas is all about. And I pray that He will use whatever tool/person He sees beat suited to reach that person a little more.

Thankful

I have much to be thankful for every day, not just on Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for the health I and my family have, for having a decent home, good medical coverage, and many more things. But I am most thankful for the price Christ Jesus paid for my sins.

I am so thankful He loved me enough to take my justly deserved punishment and make fellowship with God Almighty possible for me. And I can’t thank Him enough for never leaving me, never giving up on me, and giving me a new life and spirit; making me a new creature as the Bible promises He will.

Though I may stumble, may even fall, I know Jesus is always right there with me, ready to pick me up and dust me off and set me on the path again. What an awesome God I serve. What a loving and amazing Father I have. And how wonderfully He has cared for me, even when I deserved if the least. Praise His holy Name!

Little Miracles

This week our first grandchild turned 21-weeks old. We had the two nights and three days total, not successive. It is amazing to see him grow and progress in his motor skills. He has learned to roll over now and, boy, does he know what a spoon is for!  He is also starting to “drink” from a cup now.  And you want to talk about cute, that is.

It is such a blessing to see this little child develop.  To see him discover his fingers, watch his expressions when he tastes new foods, and to hear him express himself in new and different ways, it is just a wonderful thing to be a part of.  I am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to partake in these little miracles.

I don’t know if it is that I am older and more mature or that I am less busied with life or if there is some other reason that I don’t recall these things from when my children were his age as vividly as I wish I did.  But I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to have this “second chance” to experience and relish them now when I less busy, more mature, more patient and more appreciative of the little miracles God grants us.

Blessed Assurance

In recent days and weeks I have been blessed to feel and see the Lord at work in my life, not that He isn’t or wasn’t before; my level of awareness has just been heightened of this and I thank Him for that.

Most of the things I can point to are, well, really pretty small things; you could even call them insignificant. But if He is actively involved and interested in these small things, how much more is He acting on or toward the big things? How it blesses me to know the answer to that question is VERY! And how it strengthens me and my trust in Him to have the assurances from the Living God.

Family Fun Day

Yesterday we held our 2nd annual Family Fun Day at church. It is the kick-off to VBS week on which we play lots of games, have food and refreshments and live entertainment among other things. It was a glorious day spent fellowshiping with Brothers and Sisters and folks from the community.

My wife and I were sort of ‘in charge’ of organizing it all. It would be a lie if I said it was less than stressful and at times a lot of work, not that I’m complaining. About 10 days ago I finally did what I should have done to start with: I turned it over to God. My, what a difference it made doing that! Stress melted away and everything just went into place. That is until about 30 minutes into the event when I started to allow doubt to creep into my mind.

The crowd was smaller than last year, it was terribly hot and humid, our 20-foot inflatable kept blowing circuits and deflating on the kids, it seemed like we were heading for a dismal event in my mind. Then two of my dear friends, a Brother and a Sister, said just a few encouraging words to me a mere few minutes apart, one thing being ‘when God has His finger in it everything works out.’ Those two dear folks words brought to mind the Scripture ‘my grace is sufficient’ and I realized that the devil was about to get into my head and weaken my faith in my Lord. You see, if I doubted I was doubting Him since I’d already turned it all over to Him.

It wasn’t 15 minutes after that and the folks began rolling in, kids were everywhere having all kinds of good, clean fun and everyone was enjoying themselves. And my lack of faith nearly jeopardized it all; I honestly believe that.

The whole event wasn’t perfect and some items we’d planned didn’t go the way we thought or even happen at all. But God saw to it that things went well. We opened the event with a prayer, reminding ourselves that the reason we were there ultimately was to praise Him and lift up His name. I believe He knew that and blessed because of it, after I had to be reminded that my faith shouldn’t be swayed any because of His timing not matching mine. That is a lesson I have had trouble with all my life but He’s teaching me to understand it better and better.

In the end I stand by what I said at the outset of taking on this responsibility: If any thing good comes of it, it is from God; anything that that was a flop I take full responsibility for.