Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Money does not last forever. No matter what we do to it money will eventually cease to be worth something. Treasures on earth, as Jesus, will succumb to moth, rust, and thieves. With that in mind we are reminded, in this proverb to not spend too much time accumulating wealth that is of an earthly nature, for the wealth will not last. There is also the matter of the getting of the wealth. While we can be positive and say that most people earn their money in the right way, we can also safely say that there are exceptions to that: people who lie, cheat, and steal their way to wealth. These are activities we need to avoid. There is nothing wrong with having money, with having a certain lifestyle. However, if the love of that money causes us to forget God and our treasures in heaven, and leads us down a path of sin, then we need to make a change. It is okay to have money, but not to let the money have you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Proverbs 23: 1-3; Saying 7
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I struggle with my diet almost every day, and I know I am not the only one. I am tempted to eat foods I know are bad for me. One thing I have discovered in my struggle is that I am an emotional eater. When faced with a difficulty I try to 'deal' with it by eating. When I find myself in that type of situation I need to remind myself of the fact that food cannot fill an emotional void. Food cannot help with a difficult time: only God can do that. Now, this is something that is true not only of food, but also obsessive spending, drugs, alcohol, or any other type of behavior that keeps us from turning things over to God. Do not try to fill a void by yourself. Rather, let God help you with those hardships. He is the only one who can truly offer relief. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I struggle with my diet almost every day, and I know I am not the only one. I am tempted to eat foods I know are bad for me. One thing I have discovered in my struggle is that I am an emotional eater. When faced with a difficulty I try to 'deal' with it by eating. When I find myself in that type of situation I need to remind myself of the fact that food cannot fill an emotional void. Food cannot help with a difficult time: only God can do that. Now, this is something that is true not only of food, but also obsessive spending, drugs, alcohol, or any other type of behavior that keeps us from turning things over to God. Do not try to fill a void by yourself. Rather, let God help you with those hardships. He is the only one who can truly offer relief. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Proverbs 22: 29; Saying 6
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Using our tools (gifts for ministry) in the right way is a very important thing. If God has given us the gift of speaking we ought to speak for the glory of God. If God has given us the gift of teaching, we ought to teach people about God and faith. We are workers for the king of heaven. Of course we should not misuse the tools he has given us. We should use them for his glory; we should use them in the way he intended; we should use them to make a difference in someone else's life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Using our tools (gifts for ministry) in the right way is a very important thing. If God has given us the gift of speaking we ought to speak for the glory of God. If God has given us the gift of teaching, we ought to teach people about God and faith. We are workers for the king of heaven. Of course we should not misuse the tools he has given us. We should use them for his glory; we should use them in the way he intended; we should use them to make a difference in someone else's life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Proverbs 22: 28; Saying 5
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the great cornerstone, and we need to make sure we do not remove him. Part of our Vision Statement at this church is that we are a Christ-centered church. This means, literally, that we center ourselves on Christ. In our faith, and in our action we need to remain centered on Christ: believing the right things, but also doing the right things, making sure we don't go off in a direction that is not in accord with the will of Jesus. Do not move and ancient boundary stone...be faithful to the rock of our salvation. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus is the great cornerstone, and we need to make sure we do not remove him. Part of our Vision Statement at this church is that we are a Christ-centered church. This means, literally, that we center ourselves on Christ. In our faith, and in our action we need to remain centered on Christ: believing the right things, but also doing the right things, making sure we don't go off in a direction that is not in accord with the will of Jesus. Do not move and ancient boundary stone...be faithful to the rock of our salvation. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 27, 2012
Proverbs 22: 26-27; Saying 4
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is nothing wrong with saying 'no,' especially when 'no' is the right answer. We must be careful to not over commit ourselves. We have a habit of building up this persona of being able to do everything. We feel like we are super strong, that we can handle everything that comes our way. When we move to far down that road we end up not being able to help anyone because our fire has burnt out. Before we take of others we need to take care of ourselves. We need to make sure we are spiritually healthy; we need to make sure we are not stretching ourselves too thin. Pray to God. Ask for his strength, but also ask for his guidance as to what you should/not be doing. Are all the things on your plate God given? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
There is nothing wrong with saying 'no,' especially when 'no' is the right answer. We must be careful to not over commit ourselves. We have a habit of building up this persona of being able to do everything. We feel like we are super strong, that we can handle everything that comes our way. When we move to far down that road we end up not being able to help anyone because our fire has burnt out. Before we take of others we need to take care of ourselves. We need to make sure we are spiritually healthy; we need to make sure we are not stretching ourselves too thin. Pray to God. Ask for his strength, but also ask for his guidance as to what you should/not be doing. Are all the things on your plate God given? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 29, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 21-28, in which Jesus casts out a demon. The sermon is titled 'A New World' and will focus on the new world that Jesus brought into reality through his life and ministry.
Sunday evening we will gather at the church for Fellowship Night. We will be watching the film 'Amazing Grace,' which tells the story of William Wilberforce and his charge to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Pizza and other snacks will be served. We will be starting at 5:00 p.m.
I hope to see everyone this Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Mark 1: 21-28, in which Jesus casts out a demon. The sermon is titled 'A New World' and will focus on the new world that Jesus brought into reality through his life and ministry.
Sunday evening we will gather at the church for Fellowship Night. We will be watching the film 'Amazing Grace,' which tells the story of William Wilberforce and his charge to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Pizza and other snacks will be served. We will be starting at 5:00 p.m.
I hope to see everyone this Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 22: 24-25; Saying 3
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Anger is a pretty serious problem, one that we all have at one time or another. The problem is not so much the emotion, as the actions that result from it. In this saying is a gentle reminder for us to be careful of the temper of someone else. However, this can also serve as a reminder for all of us to do a better job of controlling our own temper. We are told not to sin in our anger. So, again, it's not the emotion. God knows we cannot always be happy-go-lucky. Sometimes we have dark days. That is okay. What is not okay is hurting someone in our anger, or hurting God. When you feel anger welling up inside you say a little prayer. Come to God and ask for his help to cool down. That is a prayer God will always answer. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Anger is a pretty serious problem, one that we all have at one time or another. The problem is not so much the emotion, as the actions that result from it. In this saying is a gentle reminder for us to be careful of the temper of someone else. However, this can also serve as a reminder for all of us to do a better job of controlling our own temper. We are told not to sin in our anger. So, again, it's not the emotion. God knows we cannot always be happy-go-lucky. Sometimes we have dark days. That is okay. What is not okay is hurting someone in our anger, or hurting God. When you feel anger welling up inside you say a little prayer. Come to God and ask for his help to cool down. That is a prayer God will always answer. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Proverbs 22: 22-23; Saying 2
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One group of people that gets special attention throughout Scripture is the poor. They hold a special place in God's heart and God tells the Israelites on multiple occasions to take care of them. Likewise, Jesus, in his ministry, also demonstrates a great love and compassion for the poor and commands his disciples to care for them. This is a command that continues to hold weight today. We are Christ's disciples and, as such, are called to care for those who are in need. The point is this. The poor are, to a certain extent, helpless. We, who have more than they, are not. Rather, we are in a position in which we can help them. We have things, be it money, possessions, opportunity, influence, etc that we can offer the poor to help them. We need to. We need to extend a hand of compassion to the poor, caring for them as God and Jesus have both called us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One group of people that gets special attention throughout Scripture is the poor. They hold a special place in God's heart and God tells the Israelites on multiple occasions to take care of them. Likewise, Jesus, in his ministry, also demonstrates a great love and compassion for the poor and commands his disciples to care for them. This is a command that continues to hold weight today. We are Christ's disciples and, as such, are called to care for those who are in need. The point is this. The poor are, to a certain extent, helpless. We, who have more than they, are not. Rather, we are in a position in which we can help them. We have things, be it money, possessions, opportunity, influence, etc that we can offer the poor to help them. We need to. We need to extend a hand of compassion to the poor, caring for them as God and Jesus have both called us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Proverbs 22: 17-21; Saying 1
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
These words sound like they could have come from Jesus. At the very least they serve as a reminder to keep the teachings of Jesus close to our hearts. For some the teachings of Jesus have become like a Prom Dress from high school. They have it in the closet, covered in a plastic bag, and every once in a while they will take it out, look at it, and remember how beautiful they looked when they wore it. Some people keep their faith tucked away somewhere. They don't think about it very much, and when they do it's not for a long period of time. We should keep Jesus' words close to us at all times. We should pull them out every day, read over them, learn them by heart, let them have meaning for us. Remember the teachings of Jesus every day. Keep them close to your heart. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
These words sound like they could have come from Jesus. At the very least they serve as a reminder to keep the teachings of Jesus close to our hearts. For some the teachings of Jesus have become like a Prom Dress from high school. They have it in the closet, covered in a plastic bag, and every once in a while they will take it out, look at it, and remember how beautiful they looked when they wore it. Some people keep their faith tucked away somewhere. They don't think about it very much, and when they do it's not for a long period of time. We should keep Jesus' words close to us at all times. We should pull them out every day, read over them, learn them by heart, let them have meaning for us. Remember the teachings of Jesus every day. Keep them close to your heart. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, January 23, 2012
Proverbs 22: 1-16
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor." In here is a reminder for us to be generous with the gifts God has given us. There no denying the fact that there are people in the world who do not have all the necessities of life. And there no denying the fact that there are people in the world who have all, and sometimes more than, they need for the necessities of life. With that in mind we have this proverb, which reminds us that if we have all, or more than, we need we ought to share with those who do not. God has given us many things, one of which is the opportunity to care for those in need. God has empowered us to look after the world, and the people in it. With that in mind, let us all share out of what we have been given. In so doing we live out one of the greatest commandments God has given to us: to love our neighbor as ourselves. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor." In here is a reminder for us to be generous with the gifts God has given us. There no denying the fact that there are people in the world who do not have all the necessities of life. And there no denying the fact that there are people in the world who have all, and sometimes more than, they need for the necessities of life. With that in mind we have this proverb, which reminds us that if we have all, or more than, we need we ought to share with those who do not. God has given us many things, one of which is the opportunity to care for those in need. God has empowered us to look after the world, and the people in it. With that in mind, let us all share out of what we have been given. In so doing we live out one of the greatest commandments God has given to us: to love our neighbor as ourselves. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Proverbs 21: 1-31
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." How do we please God? By doing right; being holy. God does not want us to make sacrifices (of animals); God does not want us to hurt ourselves to atone for sin; God does not want us to be the judgment bearers for the world. No all God wants from us is holiness. What will please God more than anything else is to see all of his children living out faith. And so, with every fiber of our being let us be obedient to God, doing what he would have us do that we might honor and glorify his name. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice." How do we please God? By doing right; being holy. God does not want us to make sacrifices (of animals); God does not want us to hurt ourselves to atone for sin; God does not want us to be the judgment bearers for the world. No all God wants from us is holiness. What will please God more than anything else is to see all of his children living out faith. And so, with every fiber of our being let us be obedient to God, doing what he would have us do that we might honor and glorify his name. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Proverbs 20: 1-30
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Do not say, 'I’ll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you." I think Jesus had this in mind when he told his disciples to forgive up to 'seventy time seven.' In other words, forgive unconditionally. Vengeance is God's. Judgment is something God alone can give. Our part if to forgive those who have sinned against us just as we have been forgiven, through Christ, for the sins we have committed against God. 'As I have forgiven you, so forgive one another.' God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Do not say, 'I’ll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you." I think Jesus had this in mind when he told his disciples to forgive up to 'seventy time seven.' In other words, forgive unconditionally. Vengeance is God's. Judgment is something God alone can give. Our part if to forgive those who have sinned against us just as we have been forgiven, through Christ, for the sins we have committed against God. 'As I have forgiven you, so forgive one another.' God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Proverbs 19: 1-29
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise." We are not alone on our journey of faith. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit is with us always. But we also have our brothers and sisters in Christ, saints who have gone before us, who continue to mentor us. We need to, at times, listen to their advice. They have been there before and they can help us. We are not supposed to do this alone. God gave us Jesus, but he has also given us each other. Let us lean on each other to strengthen ourselves and the entire body of Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise." We are not alone on our journey of faith. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit is with us always. But we also have our brothers and sisters in Christ, saints who have gone before us, who continue to mentor us. We need to, at times, listen to their advice. They have been there before and they can help us. We are not supposed to do this alone. God gave us Jesus, but he has also given us each other. Let us lean on each other to strengthen ourselves and the entire body of Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 22, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Jonah 3: 1-5 in which Jonah prophecies to the city of Nineveh. The sermon is titled 'God's Grace,' and will focus on the grace of God that is extended to all people, including us.
We are having a baptism this Sunday, so please keep that in mind and join us for this special celebration. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Jonah 3: 1-5 in which Jonah prophecies to the city of Nineveh. The sermon is titled 'God's Grace,' and will focus on the grace of God that is extended to all people, including us.
We are having a baptism this Sunday, so please keep that in mind and join us for this special celebration. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 18: 1-24
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Temptations come to us all, and there is nothing we can really do to avoid that. However, there is something we can do when temptations do come: call on the name of the Lord. Too often we are all guilty of the sin of self-sufficiency. We believe we can do it all ourselves, and so don't ask God for help. And so we fall to temptation. This is not how God wants it. When we are tempted God wants us to be like Jesus in the wilderness. God wants us to rely on his name, his strength, and his love. In being totally reliant on God we can defeat the powers of temptation so that we do not fall into sin. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Temptations come to us all, and there is nothing we can really do to avoid that. However, there is something we can do when temptations do come: call on the name of the Lord. Too often we are all guilty of the sin of self-sufficiency. We believe we can do it all ourselves, and so don't ask God for help. And so we fall to temptation. This is not how God wants it. When we are tempted God wants us to be like Jesus in the wilderness. God wants us to rely on his name, his strength, and his love. In being totally reliant on God we can defeat the powers of temptation so that we do not fall into sin. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Proverbs 17: 1-28
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly." As someone who hikes I find myself in the woods quite frequently. I was taught at a very young age to always be on the lookout for bears, especially mother bears who have been separated from her cubs. Why? Because mother bears are very protective, and if you get between her and her cubs it will not work out too well for you. That is part of what this verse is about. The other part is about not being led astray by people who do not want to do God's will. Those people, should we meet and go along with them, mess us up even more than a mother bear because these people (fools, they're called here) damage the soul. A mother bear, however ferocious she may be, can only harm the body. A fool, though, can harm our soul. Here we see the disparity of the world and faith. We need to focus on being right with God, being healthy spiritually, rather than making sure we are in a good place materialistically. What this verse is really telling us is to look after the soul, not the body. The fool (who will lead us away from God) is far more troublesome than a mother bear (who can only hurt the body). God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly." As someone who hikes I find myself in the woods quite frequently. I was taught at a very young age to always be on the lookout for bears, especially mother bears who have been separated from her cubs. Why? Because mother bears are very protective, and if you get between her and her cubs it will not work out too well for you. That is part of what this verse is about. The other part is about not being led astray by people who do not want to do God's will. Those people, should we meet and go along with them, mess us up even more than a mother bear because these people (fools, they're called here) damage the soul. A mother bear, however ferocious she may be, can only harm the body. A fool, though, can harm our soul. Here we see the disparity of the world and faith. We need to focus on being right with God, being healthy spiritually, rather than making sure we are in a good place materialistically. What this verse is really telling us is to look after the soul, not the body. The fool (who will lead us away from God) is far more troublesome than a mother bear (who can only hurt the body). God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Proverbs 16: 1-33
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD." God's path leads to good things. Faith is not a rewards based program, but there is no denying the fact that if we do God's will we will be blessed with all we need for life. Remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?"
So you see? we do not need to worry, but only know that God will give us all we need if we only trust in him and stay on his path. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD." God's path leads to good things. Faith is not a rewards based program, but there is no denying the fact that if we do God's will we will be blessed with all we need for life. Remember the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin...If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?"
So you see? we do not need to worry, but only know that God will give us all we need if we only trust in him and stay on his path. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Proverbs 15: 1-33
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." In the Harry Potter series there is a character named 'Argus Filch' and he is the eyes of the castle. If there is some kind of rule breaking going on he knows about it and will report it. So, Filch (as he is called by the students) incites fear. God has eyes everywhere, but this is not meant to make us be afraid, but to make us feel safe and loved. God loves us enough to keep an eye on us at all times. There is never a moment when God is not watching us, when he is not with us. As such, since God knows what is going on in our lives he will, at times, intervene and keep us safe from the things that would harm us. God is watching, but this is good news for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." In the Harry Potter series there is a character named 'Argus Filch' and he is the eyes of the castle. If there is some kind of rule breaking going on he knows about it and will report it. So, Filch (as he is called by the students) incites fear. God has eyes everywhere, but this is not meant to make us be afraid, but to make us feel safe and loved. God loves us enough to keep an eye on us at all times. There is never a moment when God is not watching us, when he is not with us. As such, since God knows what is going on in our lives he will, at times, intervene and keep us safe from the things that would harm us. God is watching, but this is good news for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Proverbs 14: 1-35
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy." One of the things we always need to keep in mind when it comes to our faith is the idea that faith is not just an inward belief, it is supposed to also be an outward act. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to visit those in prison, to heal the sick, and so on. In short, we are to live our faith. We are to live our lives as a reflection of God's love for us and our love for God. Don't just keep your faith inside your head. Show it to your neighbors. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy." One of the things we always need to keep in mind when it comes to our faith is the idea that faith is not just an inward belief, it is supposed to also be an outward act. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to visit those in prison, to heal the sick, and so on. In short, we are to live our faith. We are to live our lives as a reflection of God's love for us and our love for God. Don't just keep your faith inside your head. Show it to your neighbors. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 13, 2012
Proverbs 13: 1-25
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out." Jesus calls us the Light of the World. We are to be a city on a hill, shining so others will see the light and be drawn to it. This is not unlike the situation we see with those bug zappers. The mosquitoes see the light and are compelled to go to it. The difference is that when people come to our light they will not be zapped, but will be given the life, salvation, joy, and everything else they need in their lives. Let your light shine to bring others to a life of faith in Christ Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out." Jesus calls us the Light of the World. We are to be a city on a hill, shining so others will see the light and be drawn to it. This is not unlike the situation we see with those bug zappers. The mosquitoes see the light and are compelled to go to it. The difference is that when people come to our light they will not be zapped, but will be given the life, salvation, joy, and everything else they need in their lives. Let your light shine to bring others to a life of faith in Christ Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 15, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday comes from John 1: 43-51, in which Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to follow him. The sermon is titled 'It's Personal' and will focus on our relationship with Jesus and what that does for us and requires us to do. I hope and pray you are all able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday comes from John 1: 43-51, in which Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to follow him. The sermon is titled 'It's Personal' and will focus on our relationship with Jesus and what that does for us and requires us to do. I hope and pray you are all able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 12: 1-28
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the nice things about being in a relationship with God is that God gives clarity to what lies ahead. Now, this is not to say that God tells us explicitly everything that is going to happen. But if we pray for God's guidance he will give it and make our path known to us. What a blessing that is; to know, essentially, that we will always be where God wants us to be, and that we will have some idea about where we are going. Not so for the 'wicked' or those who do not know God. They walk around with fear and confusion in their hearts because they never know where they are going and are never sure if they're in the right place. Just another benefit of being close to God: we know where we're going, and we know that is where God wants us to be. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One of the nice things about being in a relationship with God is that God gives clarity to what lies ahead. Now, this is not to say that God tells us explicitly everything that is going to happen. But if we pray for God's guidance he will give it and make our path known to us. What a blessing that is; to know, essentially, that we will always be where God wants us to be, and that we will have some idea about where we are going. Not so for the 'wicked' or those who do not know God. They walk around with fear and confusion in their hearts because they never know where they are going and are never sure if they're in the right place. Just another benefit of being close to God: we know where we're going, and we know that is where God wants us to be. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Proverbs 11: 1-31
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." The things of this world cannot truly satisfy our needs. We can have all the money in the world, which will enable us to buy the biggest house in the world, with which we can stuff all the possessions of the world, but if we do not have God then there will be a gaping hole inside of us that is as big as the Pacific Ocean. We can have no money to buy the things we need, no house in which to live, and no possessions to call our own, but if we have God we will be rich beyond all measure, being blessed with everything we need in life. The real problem is that all the money, houses, possessions, etc. do not last forever, and you cannot take them with you when you go. But God stands forever. He will never fall. And when we go, we will find God waiting for us, with arms wide open ready to welcome us into his kingdom. Do not put your trust in the things of this world. Or, as Jesus says, 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth...but rather store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.' God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." The things of this world cannot truly satisfy our needs. We can have all the money in the world, which will enable us to buy the biggest house in the world, with which we can stuff all the possessions of the world, but if we do not have God then there will be a gaping hole inside of us that is as big as the Pacific Ocean. We can have no money to buy the things we need, no house in which to live, and no possessions to call our own, but if we have God we will be rich beyond all measure, being blessed with everything we need in life. The real problem is that all the money, houses, possessions, etc. do not last forever, and you cannot take them with you when you go. But God stands forever. He will never fall. And when we go, we will find God waiting for us, with arms wide open ready to welcome us into his kingdom. Do not put your trust in the things of this world. Or, as Jesus says, 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth...but rather store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.' God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Proverbs 10: 1-32; Proverbs of Solomon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." This verse is loaded with meaning. On the one hand we have a statement that presents practical advice. We can sum up this verse by saying 'nice words are good, bad words are, well, bad.' So what we have here is a saying that encourages us to say nice things. Why? Because when we say nice things we build and/or keep relationships with those around us. We are told to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and with that in mind we should say nice things to our neighbors, to show them the love we have for them. Another meaning behind this verse is that we can give people eternal life. Not that eternal life is within our power to give, but we do have the power to speak the name and good news of Jesus, which is what leads people to life and salvation. Our mouths are a fountain of life when we proclaim the good news of Jesus. With that in mind let nothing unholy come out of your mouths, but proclaim only that which is loving and faithful. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence." This verse is loaded with meaning. On the one hand we have a statement that presents practical advice. We can sum up this verse by saying 'nice words are good, bad words are, well, bad.' So what we have here is a saying that encourages us to say nice things. Why? Because when we say nice things we build and/or keep relationships with those around us. We are told to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and with that in mind we should say nice things to our neighbors, to show them the love we have for them. Another meaning behind this verse is that we can give people eternal life. Not that eternal life is within our power to give, but we do have the power to speak the name and good news of Jesus, which is what leads people to life and salvation. Our mouths are a fountain of life when we proclaim the good news of Jesus. With that in mind let nothing unholy come out of your mouths, but proclaim only that which is loving and faithful. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Proverbs 9: 1-18; Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' Fear is a tricky word, as it makes us think of the state of being afraid, but more often than not 'fear' as in 'fear the Lord' means to respect. So, to respect, or love, the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior is the smartest thing we could ever do, for it is that decision that give us all we need for life and the journey of faith. We seek answers to life's questions. We want to know what life is all about. God can, and will, answer those questions for us. If we want wisdom, we need to come to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' Fear is a tricky word, as it makes us think of the state of being afraid, but more often than not 'fear' as in 'fear the Lord' means to respect. So, to respect, or love, the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior is the smartest thing we could ever do, for it is that decision that give us all we need for life and the journey of faith. We seek answers to life's questions. We want to know what life is all about. God can, and will, answer those questions for us. If we want wisdom, we need to come to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, January 8, 2012
Proverbs 8: 1-36; Wisdom’s Call
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"...and those who seek me find me." Beyond the shadow of any doubt the greatest blessing of Jesus coming into the world is the fact that we are now blessed with the opportunity to know who God is. We can have a relationship with him. We can come to God in prayer and in many other ways. If we seek God, we will find him. And that is thanks to Jesus. He has opened that door for us. He saw to it that the Temple Curtain was torn, which makes it possible for us to come before God. We are blessed to be able to seek God, and we are even more blessed to be able to find him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"...and those who seek me find me." Beyond the shadow of any doubt the greatest blessing of Jesus coming into the world is the fact that we are now blessed with the opportunity to know who God is. We can have a relationship with him. We can come to God in prayer and in many other ways. If we seek God, we will find him. And that is thanks to Jesus. He has opened that door for us. He saw to it that the Temple Curtain was torn, which makes it possible for us to come before God. We are blessed to be able to seek God, and we are even more blessed to be able to find him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, January 7, 2012
Proverbs 7: 1-27; Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Where to start? First off I would like to say that sin, at least the sin of adultery, is a two way street. As they say, 'it takes two to tango.' With that in mind we all need to be on our guard, men and women. We need to be careful that we do not fall into the sin with which we are tempted. The other thing I would like to say is that it is never too late to turn away. We all fall into sin at one time or another. If we do we always have a chance to turn back to God, no matter how far away we get. Nothing will ever separate us from the love of God. A very true saying. Be on your guard, but also remember to not be too proud to turn back to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Where to start? First off I would like to say that sin, at least the sin of adultery, is a two way street. As they say, 'it takes two to tango.' With that in mind we all need to be on our guard, men and women. We need to be careful that we do not fall into the sin with which we are tempted. The other thing I would like to say is that it is never too late to turn away. We all fall into sin at one time or another. If we do we always have a chance to turn back to God, no matter how far away we get. Nothing will ever separate us from the love of God. A very true saying. Be on your guard, but also remember to not be too proud to turn back to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, January 6, 2012
Proverbs 6: 20-35; Warning Against Adultery
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I like the way this passage starts, by asking the reader to remember the teachings of his/her father. This places responsibility on the parent to teach children the right things to do. If we want the next generation to be good and faithful, then we had better teach them how. But this also places responsibility on us to listen to those who have taught us. We never reach a point when we can stop heeding advice from others. We should always look back and remember the teachings we have received from our parents, and Jesus, and allow those teachings to continue to shape us and make a difference in our lives. We need to teach our children about faith, but we also need to continue to listen to those who have taught us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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I like the way this passage starts, by asking the reader to remember the teachings of his/her father. This places responsibility on the parent to teach children the right things to do. If we want the next generation to be good and faithful, then we had better teach them how. But this also places responsibility on us to listen to those who have taught us. We never reach a point when we can stop heeding advice from others. We should always look back and remember the teachings we have received from our parents, and Jesus, and allow those teachings to continue to shape us and make a difference in our lives. We need to teach our children about faith, but we also need to continue to listen to those who have taught us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, January 5, 2012
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for January 8, 2012
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 2: 1-12, which tells the story of the wise men coming to see Jesus. The sermon is titled 'Men of Wisdom' and will focus on the idea that the wise men are good examples for us to follow. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 2: 1-12, which tells the story of the wise men coming to see Jesus. The sermon is titled 'Men of Wisdom' and will focus on the idea that the wise men are good examples for us to follow. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Proverbs 6: 1-19; Warning Against Folly
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do good things. It is that simple. Those are our instructions from God: to do good, and faithful, things. The hard part is actually doing them all of the time. That comes through faith, and regular practice of that faith. We are blessed to know God and to be able to come into his presence each and every day. We need to take advantage of that gift. We need to come to God daily, and in so doing we will keep ourselves on the path God has laid out for us. The best thing we can do to avoid folly is to spend time in the presence of the only one who can keep us from folly: God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Do good things. It is that simple. Those are our instructions from God: to do good, and faithful, things. The hard part is actually doing them all of the time. That comes through faith, and regular practice of that faith. We are blessed to know God and to be able to come into his presence each and every day. We need to take advantage of that gift. We need to come to God daily, and in so doing we will keep ourselves on the path God has laid out for us. The best thing we can do to avoid folly is to spend time in the presence of the only one who can keep us from folly: God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Proverbs 5: 1-23; Warning Against Adultery
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not enough to 'talk the talk.' We are also called to 'walk the walk.' By this I mean we are called to live out what we believe in our heart. I am going to go out on a limb and say that all faithful Christians believe adultery is wrong. With that in mind we should walk that faith, we should live it out and be faithful to our spouses. However, this does not just apply to adultery. No, we are to live out our faith in every aspect of our lives as it applies to: stealing, lying, coveting, not trusting God, turning the other cheek, sharing our faith, and many, many others. When Jesus tells us to do something, he means it. And when Jesus tells us not to do something, he means that as well. With that in mind let us all strive to continually live out our faiths, doing only what God would have us do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
It is not enough to 'talk the talk.' We are also called to 'walk the walk.' By this I mean we are called to live out what we believe in our heart. I am going to go out on a limb and say that all faithful Christians believe adultery is wrong. With that in mind we should walk that faith, we should live it out and be faithful to our spouses. However, this does not just apply to adultery. No, we are to live out our faith in every aspect of our lives as it applies to: stealing, lying, coveting, not trusting God, turning the other cheek, sharing our faith, and many, many others. When Jesus tells us to do something, he means it. And when Jesus tells us not to do something, he means that as well. With that in mind let us all strive to continually live out our faiths, doing only what God would have us do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Proverbs 4: 1-27; Get Wisdom at Any Cost
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The good news wisdom is free. Education is surely not, which we all know very well. But wisdom, true wisdom, as defined as faith in Jesus, comes at no cost to us whatsoever. Jesus' gift of life and salvation is a gift freely given. We do not have to pay. The invitation Jesus offers all of us to accept him as personal Lord and Savior is an invitation given with heartfelt love and compassion. We can read every book ever written, but those books would not fill us. The only thing (person) that can fill us is Jesus. His wisdom, his truth, is the only one worth having, and it is ours for the taking. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The good news wisdom is free. Education is surely not, which we all know very well. But wisdom, true wisdom, as defined as faith in Jesus, comes at no cost to us whatsoever. Jesus' gift of life and salvation is a gift freely given. We do not have to pay. The invitation Jesus offers all of us to accept him as personal Lord and Savior is an invitation given with heartfelt love and compassion. We can read every book ever written, but those books would not fill us. The only thing (person) that can fill us is Jesus. His wisdom, his truth, is the only one worth having, and it is ours for the taking. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
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