BURSTING FORTH IN GLORY
Spring … a time of rebirth and new life.
Yet, you don’t feel it. Winter still holds its harsh hand over your days, and all you can feel is the chill of January.
It’s time fo... View MoreBURSTING FORTH IN GLORY
Spring … a time of rebirth and new life.
Yet, you don’t feel it. Winter still holds its harsh hand over your days, and all you can feel is the chill of January.
It’s time for you to come to life, to place your trust in the Father, and to bask in his glory.
Hosea 6:3 tells us:
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Your new life in Christ starts today! Like the tree that endures the icy blast of winter, with bare branches that look lifeless and dead, your season is about to change. Life bursts forth with the springtime, new leaves coming forth, and soon, the tree that once looked dead will blaze in summer’s glory.
God is your source. Allow him to change your circumstances, to guide your feet a new direction, to bring peace to your thoughts, and to lift you up into the light of his presence.
It’s time for your rebirth and your new life in and through the Lord.
Copyright © 2022 MyChurchNotes.net
HARNESSED FOR THE LORD'S WORK
Sometimes we want to jump in with both feet. Go whole hog. Give it both barrels. Head over heels.
We mean we plan to give 100% of everything we’ve got, so that the job ... View MoreHARNESSED FOR THE LORD'S WORK
Sometimes we want to jump in with both feet. Go whole hog. Give it both barrels. Head over heels.
We mean we plan to give 100% of everything we’ve got, so that the job gets done to the best of our ability. What could be wrong with that?
Several years ago a man and a woman showed up at the emergency room. She was fine. He was beat to a pulp. She explained the care her husband had put into the new fireplace in the basement. He’d studied mortar ratios, bricklaying, and even the best firebrick to install in the firebox. Then, finished, he’d immediately started a fire.
The fireplace exploded around him. The water in the uncured mortar turned into steam and destroyed everything the man had created. He missed one detail, and that undid everything he’d built.
Christians can be like that sometimes. God gives us an instruction book that explains every step of our salvation. However, we’re filled with so much enthusiasm that we just jump in and light the fire of God under newly minted believers. Then we don’t understand when they disintegrate around us, shattered by the heat of something they weren’t prepared for.
Psalm 32:9 tells us:
“Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto you.”
We’ve seen this Christian. If we’re shopping in the wrong store, or visiting with the wrong person, the backlash of their rebuke curls the hair on our head. Heaven forbid we miss Wednesday night prayer or mow our yard in a sleeveless shirt. We’ll find our name on someone’s prayer list.
Sometimes we need to let God’s Word harness our mouths so that what we say doesn’t harm other people. What did Jesus say in John 13:35?
“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”
Love, not harsh words, criticism, or putting their names on yet another prayer list. How can we show love one to another? Kind words, patience, and understanding are a good start. When we do those things, we’ve changed from a mule with no understanding, to a follower of Christ who can cast the bit and bridle away. We will have control of our tongues, and no one will need fear anything we have to say.
When we harness love, we are fully prepared to go unto the world and present to them the message of salvation.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
FOOL'S GOLD
In the 1849 California Gold Rush, many men became obscenely wealthy as a result of finding gold either above or deep within the ground. Even more men had their lives destroyed by the even... View MoreFOOL'S GOLD
In the 1849 California Gold Rush, many men became obscenely wealthy as a result of finding gold either above or deep within the ground. Even more men had their lives destroyed by the events of the Gold Rush. The miner’s camps were rough, men’s families had been left behind, and there was no assurance of leaving California as wealthy men.
The trip to California was Fool’s Gold for most of the nearly 100,000 miners who hoped for riches from her soil. It was the gleam of hope dashed against the truth of reality that ground their dreams to dust. Their hands dug in the soil, and most of them came up empty, dirty, and scarred.
But Fool’s Gold is quite real, even if it is not real gold. Rather, it is a mineral known as pyrite. It has a metallic gleam causing it to shine like gold, and in 1849, this masquerading mineral convinced many a miner that all his dreams had come true.
What is Fool’s Gold to the Christian of today? 2 Peter 2:1 strips away the lies that men tell. Peter speaks of false teachers that present a way to heaven other than the cross. These false teachers mix elements of true doctrine with lies, tempting the unwary to stray from the narrow way and into a path of destruction.
Some of these false prophets even deny the deity of the Christ, claiming another path to sanctification that supersedes the plan of God.
These men are the pyrite of the Christian faith. They gleam as if carrying truth, yet they are a lie, and they will bring the believer down a path of destruction. Families will be destroyed, and there will be no true hope of heaven as our eternal home.
Those who follow the truth of the Christ will find true gold, and they will become wealthy as a result. Those who chase after false prophets will find themselves holding a handful of pyrite, and they will be cast into the depths of destruction.
We can know the truth by comparing it with the Word of God. Only then can we trust our path to lead us directly to heaven’s door.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
REACHING FOR GOD IN THE STARS
In the year 2000, the British pop group S Club 7 created a music sensation with its retro-style song Reach. One line in this song belts out a well-known phrase that has ... View MoreREACHING FOR GOD IN THE STARS
In the year 2000, the British pop group S Club 7 created a music sensation with its retro-style song Reach. One line in this song belts out a well-known phrase that has been popular for decades, one that has been used by parents, coaches, and mentors over the years to encourage those with big dreams who have not yet found their moment of glory.
Reach for the stars.
When we reach for the stars, we aim for the loftiest goal imaginable. We look at what’s possible, and gathering our courage, we punch our goals one level higher, or even two or three. When others tell us we’re foolish for trying, we reach our hand out and grab onto our goals, and we hold on for dear life, refusing to let go.
We reach for the stars as if our life depends on it, and we let nothing get in our way.
In Luke 18:9-14 we read of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee looks at the tax collector with derision. The tax collector looks at God and reaches for the stars. We read his powerful words:
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
In Matthew 5:48, we are told that there is no star too lofty to be beyond our reach:
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
1 John 4:1 warns us to be careful of those who will point us toward foolish goals:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
James 3:2 gives us a benchmark to measure our progress:
“For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”
Hebrews 6:1 puts our foot on the next rung of the ladder:
“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”
Ephesians 4:13 tells us how we will know we’ve reached our goal:
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Galatians 2:16 reveals the simplicity of reaching for the stars:
“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
S Club 7’s lyrics for Reach are all about not letting others limit our dreams. We can have what we want if we step beyond our imaginary boundaries. It’s out there waiting on us.
God’s love is the same. When others tell us God is dead; he’s not real; or he never existed in the first place, we need to reach for the stars. That’s where we’ll find our God, far above the destitute world in which we live.
God’s dream for us is big, and when we dream with him, he will carry us higher than the stars.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
OLD-FASHIONED APPRECIATION
We are living in a digital world.
Okay, not everything, but many things. For example, which is easier, to mail a birthday card or click on our phone, type in Happy Birthda... View MoreOLD-FASHIONED APPRECIATION
We are living in a digital world.
Okay, not everything, but many things. For example, which is easier, to mail a birthday card or click on our phone, type in Happy Birthday! and hit send?
Duh! Digital is easier! Who wants to step back into the world of stamps and cards? It’s too much trouble.
Yet we want a very real gift for our birthday. Digital money won’t do. A digital video game? Maybe a digital car? A digital birthday party? NO, NO, NO!
When we receive a physical gift, the giver deserves a physical thank you.
How can God not feel the same way?
“Oh, but God knows how I feel. He can see in my heart. How I feel is what counts, not whether I say it aloud.”
Yeah, right. Sometimes we need to step beyond intent and get to the real deal.
Psalm 145:5 says:
“They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
So, when you see a beautiful sunset, take time to tell God you appreciate his handiwork.
When you cross the street safely, then too.
When you pull into your driveway … when your furnace still works … when you have plenty to eat on Sunday afternoon … you’re seeing it.
Speak aloud of the splendor of God’s majesty. Even the little things. When God hears you, that’s your thank you card sending your appreciation his way.
Copyright © 2022 MyChurchNotes.net
INTO GOD'S LIGHT
Walk a forest trail.
Yeah, that sort, deep in the woods where the trees occlude the sky.
What do you see when the foliage overhead is thickest? I’ve got a clue for you: ALMOST NOTH... View MoreINTO GOD'S LIGHT
Walk a forest trail.
Yeah, that sort, deep in the woods where the trees occlude the sky.
What do you see when the foliage overhead is thickest? I’ve got a clue for you: ALMOST NOTHING!
Here’s why. Our eyes are adept at adjusting from light to dark, but even the best of our eyes can’t do it immediately. Step from the sun into the shade, and for a time, we move forward as if blinded by the change in the light.
That’s what it’s like when we step from the light of God’s love into the first shadows of sin. We’re human, and even the best of us can’t always perceive where the shadows will take us.
It’s best to stay in the light and leave the darkness completely alone.
James 1:17 says:
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
We like the “good and perfect gift” part of this, but what does this verse really say to us?
If we see a shadow, it’s not of God. We are to RUN back into the light.
It’s the only way to stay safe in the all-encompassing security of his loving arms.
When we walk with Jesus, we are constantly surrounded by the glory of his presence, and he illuminates every step we take.
Copyright © 2022 MyChurchNotes.net
BEGGARS' ROBES CAST ASIDE
Not all beggars are poor. Massu in India hires a taxi to his begging spot, dons his ragged clothes, and works hard for eight hours. Afterwards, he changes again and hires a ... View MoreBEGGARS' ROBES CAST ASIDE
Not all beggars are poor. Massu in India hires a taxi to his begging spot, dons his ragged clothes, and works hard for eight hours. Afterwards, he changes again and hires a taxi home.
He also owns property valued at around $750,000 in 2015 U.S. dollars.
When Massu sheds his begging robes, he becomes the person he really is, a prosperous businessman with money in the bank.
As Christians, we need to cast our begging robes aside and become the people we really are. We are rich in the blessings of our Lord, and we need to live in our wealth.
1 John 1:9 tells us:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Bank account full! We are wealthy with righteousness.
Romans 6:23 tells us:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Retirement accounts fully funded! We don’t have to worry about the future.
John 3:16-17 tells us:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
We have enough to share! Let’s invite our fellow man into God’s riches.
1 Peter 3:18 tells us:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”
Our wealth is in our spirit! We forget sometimes that the world is not our home. It’s not big houses and fancy cars that are our Christian heritage. Rather, we are rich in love for our fellow man, and when we show the love of Christ to those around us, they will share in our wealth.
So, let’s quit begging. No more Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me! We live in excess! Let’s jump for joy and rejoice in Jesus, our Savior and King.
Our true colors are seen in our spirit. Let’s be a rainbow for the Lord.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
THE EARTH SINGS
What’s the most joyous moment you can recall?
Meeting your spouse?
The birth of a child?
The day you accepted Jesus as Savior?
... View MoreTHE EARTH SINGS
What’s the most joyous moment you can recall?
Meeting your spouse?
The birth of a child?
The day you accepted Jesus as Savior?
How happy were you? Did you sing and dance?
Isaiah 55:12 says the earth itself will sing and dance.
“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Happy, happy day!
To what do we owe this joyful moment? This chapter is an invitation for all humanity to come find their joy in Christ’s salvation. For the Lord’s own, there is no end to the joy we will find in him.
Let’s clap our hands. Let’s rejoice with the mountains and the trees!
The Lord is our joy and our strength. Let’s praise him for his goodness.
Copyright © 2022 MyChurchNotes.net
THE YIN POLLUTES THE YANG
Opposites. They make the world function as it should.
Take two magnets, put the opposing poles together, and we can create an electric motor.
Male and female did God make ... View MoreTHE YIN POLLUTES THE YANG
Opposites. They make the world function as it should.
Take two magnets, put the opposing poles together, and we can create an electric motor.
Male and female did God make the creatures of all the earth.
Without the night, the day would never return. We would fry in the blast of eternal sunshine (and get very sleepy, too).
Yin and Yang is an Oriental concept that illustrates the opposing forces of life. Everything is a balance of opposites. If we have this, we must expect that.
Yet, in a garden, if we allow the weeds to grow up with the good plants, they will suck the nutrients out of the soil, and our crops will suffer as they mature. We want one without the other.
Yin without yang.
Matthew 13:26 falls in the midst of a parable about the gospel of Christ. Jesus uses something very familiar to his disciples to illustrate the point he’s making.
Jesus speaks about planting crops.
“But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”
Yin and yang. It’s in our churches, our relationships, and scattered throughout our walk with Christ. Opposites. It’s to be expected.
Jesus didn’t say to yank the tares out, either. In Verse 30, he cautions:
“Let both grow together until the harvest [at which time] gather the wheat into my barn.”
Only God has the wisdom and ability to accurately decide which is the good blade, and which is the tare. In our enthusiasm, we might very well pull God’s seedling from the ground, and it will die in the field rather than producing a good crop for him.
It’s the reason why factions are tolerated within the body of Christ. Along with the tares we find the good plants, and they will bring forth good fruit for the kingdom.
Let’s leave the weeding up to him.
When life doesn’t give us what we want, we must remember that God is the master at bringing forth something out of nothing.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
FIVE CRAZY THINGS
People do crazy things. There is no illusion involved when swallowing a sword. Hot coals? They really are hot, and people do walk on them with bare feet. Tightrope walking over deep... View MoreFIVE CRAZY THINGS
People do crazy things. There is no illusion involved when swallowing a sword. Hot coals? They really are hot, and people do walk on them with bare feet. Tightrope walking over deep chasms without a safety net? Why not? It is only a thousand feet down.
What motivates these people to perform these feats of danger and adrenalin pumping excess? Does anyone really need a sword down his throat? Those coals, is there any benefit from walking across them? And that chasm, whether it’s city buildings or the Grand Canyon, is there really any point?
To the people who are involved, the answer can only be a resounding yes. Not only do they receive a sense of satisfaction from surviving the danger, crowd recognition plays a huge part, too. Cheers and even jibes can be a huge motivator in many people’s minds.
Mark 16:17-18 speaks of crazy things that Christians will be able to do, once the power of Jesus comes into our lives. Let’s look at these as we consider something very important: Crazy to the world is not crazy to God.
Crazy Thing #1: We will cast out devils.
Crazy Thing #2: We will speak with new tongues.
Crazy Thing #3: We will take up serpents.
Crazy Thing #4: We will drink poison and not die.
Crazy Thing #5: We will heal the sick.
What is Mark telling us in this passage? Do these five crazy things mean exactly what they say, or is there a deeper import to Mark’s words?
What Mark really means is that we will become like Jesus. He is the immortal, eternal, and all-powerful Son of the Most High God. Here is how Mark’s five crazy things become real:
Real Fact #1: Jesus had all power over the spirit world, and he gifts that power unto us.
Real Fact #2: Jesus speaks the language of every nation, and our communication with him transcends any single culture.
Real Fact #3: Jesus lived his life in a den of vipers. That is the reality of our world. However, we can live among the evil and not be harmed.
Real Fact #4: Jesus came from the perfection of heaven to a life filled with risk. He gives us the assurance that he will protect us each day.
Real Fact #5: Jesus was the ultimate healer, even bringing the dead back to life. His power is ours when we become like him.
Crazy is as crazy does. Let’s be crazy good Christians for Jesus, so that others will want to join us in our journey to the Father.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
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