Be Strong and Courageous!
The Lord says this over and over to Joshua, finally in Joshua 1:9 He says; Have I not commanded you, Be strong and Courageous, do NOT be fearful or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you WHERE EVER you go.
I have read this scripture thousands of times (literally), it is my life scripture. I read it, I study it, I pray about it, I teach on it, I dream about it, I talk to God endlessly about it and still I have so many questions about this moment in time.
So public and pressure filled, being thrust into the spotlight, not number 2 any longer now number 1. No one to turn to but God, no one else has the answers he needs.
Read this scripture and you will likely get the wrong idea about Joshua. You could think he was fearful and timid, an insecure man, maybe he looks hesitant and slow to act but you would be wrong, very wrong.
Joshua, much like Moses and David, Elijah and Elisha, was a man of action; his hands were covered with the blood of the enemy’s of the kingdom of God. He was a brilliant commander of military strategy and commanded hundreds of thousands of men into battle and to victory.
Joshua is what I refer to as a “ to the death companion”, I am endlessly searching for the Joshua’s God has placed around me. He will never leave your side, come good or bad, in victory and defeat, he is your closest confidante.
You will find in life, depending on what you do or how wealthy you are, certain people will gather around you and assure you that they “have your back” and they mean well. The amazing thing about Joshua was he didn’t just say to Moses I have your back in a battle but Joshua went out and Battled for Moses. He fought his fights. This allowed Moses to do his job
Moses job was to talk to God and seek direction, lead the Nation of Israel and pray.
Exodus 17:11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
Jesus went to the cross for each of us, He has fought all our fights, He has endured all our pain, He has paid the price for our sin.
Jesus “has your back” and is your “to the death companion”
Live a life of Strength and Confidence; God is with you wherever you go!
Live your Best Life Today!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Job requirements?
One day about 18 years ago I was sitting in my living room reviewing a class I wanted to offer to our church. A Parenting Seminar for parents of young children, I have always wanted to share what I have learned about parenting with other parents to help them to be the best parents they can be.
I will never forget this one idea that was presented by child psychologist Dr Kevin Leman. He said “You are required to have a license to drive a car to sell insurance and practice law but not to be a parent, one of the most important jobs on the planet”
He quietly presents a serious question. Should there be a requirement to be a parent? A more direct question should be, how do you prepare someone who is about to become
a parent?
I have been asking myself the past few days, should there be a requirement to be able to call yourself a Christian. This is of course an impossible question, no answer is right or wrong and it is unenforceable on every possible level.
However think for just a moment how low is the bar set?
What should be the standard required to EARN the title ”Christian”?
What do you think?
Your family is Christian?
You believe in God?
You pray?
You read the Bible?
You are “Saved” ? (You have invited Jesus into your heart and have excepted the gift of salvation)
You attend church?
You tell others about your relationship with God?
You attend Bible College?
I hope you are thinking about your relationship with God, what does it look like.
You and I have been given an important job. It is both incredibly simple and very complex at the same time.
The simple - Deliver a message to the world.
The complex – Understand the message we are to deliver
Our message is this “God loves you and forgives you”. Jesus left no question of his intent in John 12: 47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
Also John 3: 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
No matter where you fall in the list above, this is your message to the world. Jesus loves you. It’s the perfect message, it fits everyone you meet. It is the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus our Christ.
Just keep saying that over and over, then start praying about that over and over.
Jesus loves you!
See you in Church!
Ps Steve
I will never forget this one idea that was presented by child psychologist Dr Kevin Leman. He said “You are required to have a license to drive a car to sell insurance and practice law but not to be a parent, one of the most important jobs on the planet”
He quietly presents a serious question. Should there be a requirement to be a parent? A more direct question should be, how do you prepare someone who is about to become
a parent?
I have been asking myself the past few days, should there be a requirement to be able to call yourself a Christian. This is of course an impossible question, no answer is right or wrong and it is unenforceable on every possible level.
However think for just a moment how low is the bar set?
What should be the standard required to EARN the title ”Christian”?
What do you think?
Your family is Christian?
You believe in God?
You pray?
You read the Bible?
You are “Saved” ? (You have invited Jesus into your heart and have excepted the gift of salvation)
You attend church?
You tell others about your relationship with God?
You attend Bible College?
I hope you are thinking about your relationship with God, what does it look like.
You and I have been given an important job. It is both incredibly simple and very complex at the same time.
The simple - Deliver a message to the world.
The complex – Understand the message we are to deliver
Our message is this “God loves you and forgives you”. Jesus left no question of his intent in John 12: 47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
Also John 3: 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
No matter where you fall in the list above, this is your message to the world. Jesus loves you. It’s the perfect message, it fits everyone you meet. It is the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus our Christ.
Just keep saying that over and over, then start praying about that over and over.
Jesus loves you!
See you in Church!
Ps Steve
Monday, May 17, 2010
Keep it simple
When Moses descended from mount Sinai he carried the 10 commandments, the law that we all were judged by.
The purpose was to point us to God, since no one can follow the law to perfection we need to turn to God for our Salvation. Inevitably man has attempted to reinterpret the law to diminish its intent and find a way around the law.
In Matthew 22:37 Jesus cuts the law down to the bone when He is asked, “What is the Greatest Commandment?” He replies, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
God has done everything to foster clear, simple, straightforward relationship with us and that is what He wants. Think for a moment of some of the things He has done for us. He has created the perfect environment for us to live in. He has sent Angles and plagues to express His Joy and dissatisfaction with His children. Incredible signs and wonders, parting seas, towers of fire from the heavens, manna in the middle of a desert.
The greatest sign was in sending Jesus; He not only came to Earth as a man to talk to us and teach us but ultimately to die in our place for our sin. Imagine a judge taking the place of a guilty man in the electric chair.
What more does God have to do for us to understand that He loves us and has forgiven us of our sins and now wants to reconnect with us, His children.
Clear your schedule and make some time for God this week. He is waiting to pour out all the love He has on you!
Have an amazing week, See you in Church
Ps Steve A.
The purpose was to point us to God, since no one can follow the law to perfection we need to turn to God for our Salvation. Inevitably man has attempted to reinterpret the law to diminish its intent and find a way around the law.
In Matthew 22:37 Jesus cuts the law down to the bone when He is asked, “What is the Greatest Commandment?” He replies, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
God has done everything to foster clear, simple, straightforward relationship with us and that is what He wants. Think for a moment of some of the things He has done for us. He has created the perfect environment for us to live in. He has sent Angles and plagues to express His Joy and dissatisfaction with His children. Incredible signs and wonders, parting seas, towers of fire from the heavens, manna in the middle of a desert.
The greatest sign was in sending Jesus; He not only came to Earth as a man to talk to us and teach us but ultimately to die in our place for our sin. Imagine a judge taking the place of a guilty man in the electric chair.
What more does God have to do for us to understand that He loves us and has forgiven us of our sins and now wants to reconnect with us, His children.
Clear your schedule and make some time for God this week. He is waiting to pour out all the love He has on you!
Have an amazing week, See you in Church
Ps Steve A.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Battle Rages
Our spirit and flesh are in a constant state of battle. Our Spirit burns to connect with God, to push in to a closer relationship with our Father in heaven. Our flesh wants to please and satisfy itself.
It is easy to see why we all to often side with our flesh in our internal battles. The flesh is so much easier to satisfy, the flesh is simply about self-service.
Our spiritual life takes work!
It takes work to develop a powerful prayer life.
It takes time to learn to hear the voice of God.
It takes great patience to love people when they don’t love you.
It takes enormous faith to follow God when you don’t know where He is taking you.
We are Sojourners on this earth. Sojourners are longtime temporary residents. It can be tough living in a foreign land, we want to fit in but we long for our home. We try to make friends but we may seam a little different.
Romans 12 says, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
You are a mighty, powerful, spiritual champion, called by God to reach the world. Wherever you are now, this is your battleground. You are there to reach your city for God! Get your head straight, the people around you are not your enemy they are your mission field!
Reach out to someone in your city today, invite them to church for Easter. Have them over for dinner or a cup of coffee. Love them that’s what Jesus would do.
You are amazing people with incredible talents, don’t waist them on the flesh, let your spirit loose!
Have a great week.
Ps Steve
It is easy to see why we all to often side with our flesh in our internal battles. The flesh is so much easier to satisfy, the flesh is simply about self-service.
Our spiritual life takes work!
It takes work to develop a powerful prayer life.
It takes time to learn to hear the voice of God.
It takes great patience to love people when they don’t love you.
It takes enormous faith to follow God when you don’t know where He is taking you.
We are Sojourners on this earth. Sojourners are longtime temporary residents. It can be tough living in a foreign land, we want to fit in but we long for our home. We try to make friends but we may seam a little different.
Romans 12 says, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
You are a mighty, powerful, spiritual champion, called by God to reach the world. Wherever you are now, this is your battleground. You are there to reach your city for God! Get your head straight, the people around you are not your enemy they are your mission field!
Reach out to someone in your city today, invite them to church for Easter. Have them over for dinner or a cup of coffee. Love them that’s what Jesus would do.
You are amazing people with incredible talents, don’t waist them on the flesh, let your spirit loose!
Have a great week.
Ps Steve
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Relationships
Relationships are powerful things, good relationships can strengthen us and make us appear better then we really are. Bad relationships can destroy us, no matter how great we actually are.
2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? What fellowship has light with darkness."
Paul's writing can not be over stated, we are given the image of to oxen plowing a field. The oxen are yoked together, if they work together they can accomplish great shows of strength, however if one pulls and the other does not then less work is done then if there was only one oxen.
Our greatest relationship in our lives has to be between us and God. When we connect with God we are yoking our lives to the architect of our lives, no one is more for you, no one could be a better match.
We can help so many people as we share the experience of our relationship with God with our friends and family. We must be powerful influence on the world around us!
Connect your life to God, pray daily, read your bible, set time aside each day to talk to God. You will be amazed how easy it is.
Have a great week,
See you in Church!
Ps Steve
2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? What fellowship has light with darkness."
Paul's writing can not be over stated, we are given the image of to oxen plowing a field. The oxen are yoked together, if they work together they can accomplish great shows of strength, however if one pulls and the other does not then less work is done then if there was only one oxen.
Our greatest relationship in our lives has to be between us and God. When we connect with God we are yoking our lives to the architect of our lives, no one is more for you, no one could be a better match.
We can help so many people as we share the experience of our relationship with God with our friends and family. We must be powerful influence on the world around us!
Connect your life to God, pray daily, read your bible, set time aside each day to talk to God. You will be amazed how easy it is.
Have a great week,
See you in Church!
Ps Steve
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