Shallow Roots Produce Temporary Faith
In Matthew 13:18–23, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower—a story not primarily about seeds, but about hearts. The seed represents the Word of God, and the different soils represent how people receive it. One soil in particular should cause every believer to pause and reflect: the rocky ground.
Jesus explains that some hear the Word and receive it with joy, but because they have no root, their faith lasts only for a season. When trouble, pressure, or persecution comes, they quickly fall away. The issue is not enthusiasm. The issue is depth.
This reveals an important spiritual truth: shallow roots produce temporary faith.
Many people experience genuine emotional moments with God. They feel inspired by worship, encouraged by sermons, or moved during prayer. Yet emotion alone cannot sustain faith through life’s storms. Excitement may begin a journey with God, but only deep roots in His Word allow us to endure hardship.
Storms do not destroy faith—they reveal its foundation.
Jesus makes it clear that the falling away happens “because of the Word.” Trials expose whether faith is rooted internally or merely supported externally. A faith built only on feelings, circumstances, or spiritual environments cannot survive pressure. When difficulty arises, what seemed strong suddenly proves fragile.
This leads to another powerful reality: borrowed faith won’t sustain personal storms.
Borrowed faith happens when someone relies primarily on another person’s relationship with God—a pastor’s teaching, a spouse’s prayer life, or a friend’s spiritual strength. While community and spiritual leadership are gifts from God, they were never meant to replace personal devotion. Inspiration can be shared, but roots must grow individually.
Real spiritual stability develops when believers personally engage with Scripture—hearing it, meditating on it, obeying it, and allowing it to shape their thinking and decisions. Psalm 1 describes this person as a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in season because its roots run deep.
Depth takes time. Roots grow slowly and often invisibly. Daily time in God’s Word may not feel dramatic, but it forms endurance, wisdom, and resilience beneath the surface. When storms eventually come—as they always do—deeply rooted faith does not collapse. Instead, it grows stronger.
The goal of the Christian life is not temporary inspiration but lasting transformation. God desires believers who are not merely moved by His Word but grounded in it.
So the question each of us must ask is simple yet profound: Is my faith rooted deeply enough to endure pressure?
The invitation of Jesus is not condemnation but cultivation. He calls us to become good soil—hearts that receive the Word, hold onto it, and produce lasting fruit through perseverance.
When we move from borrowed belief to personal grounding in Scripture, faith becomes steady, mature, and enduring. And when storms arrive, we discover that roots grown in God’s Word hold firmly.
Because faith that is deeply rooted is faith that lasts.
Much love, Pastor Michael

1. I’m not just reading the Word—I’m letting it read me
Instead of rushing through chapters, I slow down long enough to ask:
“Lord, what are You exposing in me?”
Because the Word isn’t meant to just inform us… it’s meant to transform us.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22)
 
2. I’m chewing the Word, not snacking on it
A snack gives you energy for a moment.
But meditation makes the Word sink into your spirit like roots into soil.
I’ll take one verse and sit with it all day, repeating it, praying it, writing it.
“His delight is in the law of the Lord… and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
 
3. I’m putting the Word into my mouth before I put it into my mind
Storms don’t ask if you studied. They ask what’s stored.
So I’m memorizing scripture—not for religion, but for survival.
Because what’s in your mouth in a storm reveals what’s in your heart.
“I have hidden Your word in my heart…” (Psalm 119:11)
 
4. I’m practicing obedience in small things
Temporary faith loves inspiration.
Rooted faith loves obedience.
Even if it’s uncomfortable, I’m asking:
“What is one thing I can obey today?”
Because revelation without obedience produces deception.
“The wise man built his house on the rock…” (Matthew 7:24)
 
5. I’m building consistency, not emotional dependence
I can’t live off “Sunday excitement.”
I need “Monday roots.”
So I’m learning to show up when I don’t feel hungry, because discipline creates depth.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
 
6. I’m asking God to break shallow soil in me
Some hearts can’t hold seed because life has made the ground hard.
Disappointment. Trauma. Offense. Pride. Busyness.
So I pray honestly:
“Lord, break up the fallow ground.”
“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” (Hosea 10:12)
 
7. I’m staying planted around people who stir hunger, not hype
Storm-proof believers don’t grow in isolation.
We need accountability, sharpening, and community.
Because roots grow deeper when you’re planted in the right environment.
“As iron sharpens iron…” (Proverbs 27:17)
 
Bottom line
I’m learning that the Word isn’t just something I receive…
It’s something I must retain, respond to, and remain in.
Because borrowed faith won’t survive personal storms.
But a Word that is rooted in God becomes an anchor when the winds rise.
“When tribulation or persecution arises… he immediately stumbles.” (Matthew 13:21)
But when the Word is planted deep… you stand.
And that’s the goal:
Not excitement that fades… but roots that hold.

Much love, Pastor Michael

2026 Rooted & Grounded: A Year of Depth and Excellence

2026 is a year to go deep, not wide. We declare that we are rooted and grounded in Christ, building our lives on an unshakable foundation. As Colossians 2:6–7 instructs, we will continue in Christ, “rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith.” We declare that our faith will not be shallow, borrowed, or driven by culture, but firmly anchored in Jesus.

We declare that we will remain connected to Christ daily through Scripture, prayer, and obedience. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing.” Therefore, we choose intimacy over activity and presence over performance, trusting that abiding in Christ will produce lasting fruit.

We declare that we are grounded in truth and secure in God’s love. According to Ephesians 3:17, we are “rooted and grounded in love,” and Romans 8:38–39 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. We declare that our identity is found in Christ alone, not in fear, failure, or the opinions of others.

We declare that our lives are built on the solid foundation of God’s Word. Like the wise builder in Matthew 7:24–25, we hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice. When storms come, we will stand firm, because our foundation is secure and our hope is anchored in truth.

We declare that 2026 is a year of holy excellence. Excellence is our stewardship and our worship. As Colossians 3:23reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” We declare that we will honor God with our best in our work, our service, and our daily lives—not for recognition, but for His glory.

We declare that as we remain rooted in Christ, our lives will bear fruit. Jesus said in John 15:16 that He chose us to “bear fruit—fruit that will last.” We declare that our homes, our church, and our community will be impacted by transformed lives, growing faith, and visible evidence of God’s work among us.

We declare that our pursuit in 2026 is not merely growth, but depth. Like the righteous described in Psalm 1:3, we will be “like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season.” Rooted and grounded in Christ, we step forward in faith, unity, and obedience—committed to living for His glory and bearing fruit that lasts.

Thanksgiving and contentment, these go together just as much as your thanksgiving meal of turkey and mashed potates.  Seems impossible during this time of the year to not have both. Same holds true when it comes to being able to give thanks, it will come with learning how to be content. Contentment doesn’t just happen; it is a learned trait. Paul said he learned to be content in ALL circumstances.  Not all circumstances were great, or even slightly good, BUT he still learned, somehow, someway, to be content.  Contentment can basically mean “to be satisfied with what one has”, yet this word also carries the idea “to be satisfied to the point where one is not disturbed or disquieted by their current situation”. What if your situation isn’t good, or what if your situation is a bad one?  What if you have more bills than money?  What if you facing a mountain that seems to be big to overcome?  Are we just supposed to “satisfied” and think “well it is what it is, it must just be the “luck of the draw” and after all doesn’t the bible say to be “content”?  Paul said in Philippians 4:16-17 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We are to let God know about those things that is causing us to be anxious yet do it with THANKSGIVING. Now some would say, why, or even how. When Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians it was roughly 5-6 years after he had written another very well know verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” Now contextually Paul is talking being under attack by the kingdom of darkness, yet the principal can still apply. What principal? That God’s grace is sufficient for us, in everything, every season, every situation. Good or even bad, His grace, is what can and will help us in everything. Now get this before Paul writes this verse in 2 Corinthians, a couple years before hand he wrote 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” So, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, didn’t just encourage the church to not worry, but pray with THANKS, he also practices what he wrote, to give thanks in everything, and be content in every situation. Again, why? Because the grace of God is what will help us more than worry, or anything else. So, when you find yourself starting to get a little anxious, remember pray but not don’t pray do with a thankful, grateful heart, and allow the Prince of Peace to be the peace to guard your heart and mind. Happy thanksgiving! Much love, Pastor Michael

“Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences.” Proverbs 4:23 (CJB).  The word “guard” in this verse is a verb, which may not seem important, but we must remember that a verb always requires action.  This word, guard, in the Hebrew means; to watch, to watch over, to keep, to preserve, guard from dangers.  I want you to notice the last two parts of the definition; to preserve, or to guard from dangers.  Unless you are someone who never leaves their dwelling place, or never interacts with other human beings, guarding your heart ultimately means to not be careless but rather guard from dangers, or preserve it.  Just for fun the exact opposite of this would be to “damage, or neglect”.   What is the “heart”?  Simply put, our “heart”, is made up of our soul (mind, will and emotions) and our conscience.   Over the years of ministry I have heard many times, from many individuals “it’s just a show silly TV show, or just a movie, it isn’t real life, it’s just a song, it’s just entertainment, it won’t hurt.  What if someone came up to you said I have a drink for you to try, you ask what’s in it, and as they tell you all the ingredients then they say, “o, and there is a little poison in it, but don’t worry it’s just a little.”  A bit extreme, yes, but understand that the things we participate in, watch, or listen too, can be poison and we just don’t know it, and this isn’t just something for younger people to be aware of, we all must “guard our hearts”.  Entertainment has a way to dress up things in such a way where we don’t see the signs that say “danger, poison, do not consume.”  Some will argue that the scriptures say, “it’s not what goes in us that defiles us but what comes out.”  While true, Luke 6:45 says “for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Not to be gross, but just like our body, what goes in will eventually come out.  Have you ever noticed that the more someone is around a group of people, good or bad, the more they will talk like them, and even act like them.  Just as you are the one that decides who you hang out with, where or what you eat, you too decide what you will watch, or what you will listen to.  All these areas have an ability to impact our lives, and it is up to us, not God, to guard our lives from these types of dangers.  Yes, God can and does protect us, yet at the same time we are the ones that decide what we watch, listen to, or participate in.  He Wants us to guard our hearts to save our lives from unnecessary troubles.  This world has enough challenges by itself, so if by guarding our heart keeps us from more troubles then why not take this scripture to “heart.”  Much love, Pastor Michael

There are starters, backups (second string) and then bench warmers.  A “bench warmer” is someone that is on a team yet very rarely play, they only play in extreme situations.  When it comes time to play this player approaches the game with great hesitation.  Why?  They have not practiced, or had very little practice, and so they find themselves doubting their ability.  In James 2:14 we read, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?”, and then in verse 17 “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”  Now we know that our salvation is not based upon works (see Ephesians 2:8-9), yet at the same time our faith is never intended to be by words only.  This may seem like a crazy example to give, but it is a powerful one, if someone is a gambler and they really believe a team will win they will put money down on that team to win, even if the oddsmaker say something different.  Now we can easily say that isn’t a safe thing to do because we ultimately understand that anything can happen in a game and no matter how confident you are in that team it is still a risk.  Faith is to trust more in what you cannot see (what He has spoken) over what you can see.  One of the hardest things for Christians to do is display our words of faith.  Take for example when Jesus said in John 16:33 “...In the world you will have tribulation; but be good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  He says these words to His disciples and yet at the same time He says these words to us today.  In this world we will have difficulties, yet despite this we are commanded to “be of good cheer” or another way to say this is, “have courage and confidence.”  What does this look like?  How do we display a faith that is of “good cheer”.  When David was faced with his giant he ran towards it with only stones, but his faith wasn’t in the stones he carried but in the God he served.  He didn’t just say that God would deliver them, he demonstrated it, with confidence that took him towards his trouble.  Faith, true faith, must have some sort of corresponding action.  What does any of this have to do with being “bench warmers”?  Simply put, our faith isn’t supposed to be like a “bench warmer”, rather our faith is meant to be active, and in the “game”, even when it’s difficult.  A faith that is never exercised is a weak faith, and we aren’t asked to have strong faith, but just to have faith.  And the truth is the more we trust Him, the more we have actions that line up with what we say we believe, the “easier” it will be to not have a “bench warmer” type of faith but an active type of faith.  Much love, Pastor Michael

Red light...

One of the hardest things for anyone to “conquer” is “waiting”.  For the most part no one likes to wait, think about it.  We sit a red light and seems like it will never change.  We use the microwave, and as quickly as it can prepare something it still seems like it doesn’t happen fast enough.  Now imagine you are waiting on something during a hard season of life, as if waiting wasn’t hard enough, and it feels like there is no way out or no help coming.  In Lamentations 3:20-26 we read some powerful words from the prophet Jeremiah.  Lamentations literally means grief, sorrow, or weeping, but it is also carrying the idea of a passionate weeping, so not just a tear, but “a river” of tears or sorrow.  Jeremiah was devastated at the destruction Jerusalem, the sufferings of the people of Jerusalem, as well as the sins of the nation.  So, you can see that the prophet didn’t just weep for no reason, there were multiple reasons.  It probably seemed like there was no hope, and that maybe waiting on God was just pointless.  In chapter 3 starting in verse 21 and thru 26 we see some very powerful words, words that were written to encourage those back then, and even today we can be encouraged by them.  Yet the key is verse 21, he writes “this I recall to my mind”.  In other words, he is reminding himself of something, he is taking something from the background of his mind and putting at the top of his mind, and because he does this, he has hope.  What was it?  What was it that maybe he had forgotten and had to remind himself of?  Because of God’s mercies we are not consumed; His compassions never fail; His compassions are new every morning; He is faithful; He is our portion (referring to when God daily provided the manna in the wilderness); and finally, it is good to those who wait for God, to the one who seek Him (verses 22-26 Jeremiah 3). We also read in Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”  What I want to encourage you with is found in the word “rest”.  This word, rest, in Psalm 37 carries this meaning in the Hebrew; to cease from work, stand still, wait in silence AND to calmly resign and leave all things in the hands of God.  While it isn’t easy to wait, especially in seasons of great weeping, the best thing we can do is simply remind ourselves that God is faithful, His compassions never fail, and to stand still (meaning not worry or being anxious about something).  Finally, something we try to teach little ones, calmy leave things in His hands and trust that He will make a way where there seems to be no way.  Much love, Pastor Michael

Small Choices, big impact...

Big or small, we all have choices to make in life, and these choices turn into habits.  As we approach the end of another year many people will start thinking about what they want next year to look like, the changes that they want to make.  Unfortunately, the human tendency is to try to make some dramatic changes without making a decision, or say “choose” another habit over the current habit.  The challenge for most of us is we take small choices for granted.  What do I mean by that.  What may seem like small, insignificant choices become long and hard to break habits.  Another way to look at this is, even little habits have huge impacts.  Most people don’t want to do the little things, they know that the little things are needed but it’s not as much fun as the big things.  We love the idea of the big impact but the idea of doing little things just seems so time consuming.  The other challenge is new habits TAKE TIME!  No matter someone’s goal for this new year, the current habits they have now were created over time and new habits will also take time.  Hebrews 12:11 (AMP) reads, “For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].”  While contextually this scripture it isn’t referring to new year, new habits, it does have a powerful phrase that we can apply in our lives.  The phrase “time being”, or “present time” carries the idea “at this very moment”.  Whenever we try to break old habits, at that very moment, it will not seem joyful, fun, or even exciting, in fact just opposite, sadness, frustration, annoyance.  Why?  Because you are trying to train yourself into a new way of living.  You know the result is going to be good, but to go through it, that’s a different story.  It is easy to listen to our flesh that is crying out “quit”, “go back to your old habits”, and just give up.  But to get the results from new habits means we will have to go thru some things that may not seem like fun but in the end, it will produce something that we know is better.  There is a song in a classic Christmas movie, called “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”, and in the chorus it reads “Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking 'cross the floor, you put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door.”  Same hold true when it comes to new habits, physically, and even spiritually.  You start with the small choices, read the Word of God, go to church, and soon those small habits have big impacts on your life.  Big habits start with small choices.  Much love,

Pastor Michael

Seasons come and seasons go, no matter what every season is 3 months long.  We know here in Kansas that just because the calendar says “September 1” it doesn’t equal cooler temps, just like December 1st doesn’t necessarily mean that cold and snow is coming, as it could be sunny and 65.  Yet if you live up in northern states the feel of fall can almost start a little before September 1, and by the time December 1st comes around they may have already experienced several snow falls.  No matter where someone lives seasons do come and they eventually do fade away as another season starts.  In Exodus 14:13 we read “Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (be firm, be confident, be undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.”  While we may not be in the same situation as the children of Israel are in here, yet this word given thru Moses is still a word we can take and run with.  They were in a season where it seemed like it was never going to end, a season that was exhausting, frustrating and overall, just a heavy burden.  They had been delivered out of Egypt and just as they thought the season of being under the Egyptians was coming to end, they find themselves literally looking right back at them.  It was the season that seems like will never end.  As many of you know I am not a fan of summer, I am more of fan of cooler weather (fall and well really winter) and every year, or what seems like every year, summer just never ends and just when I think summer is over, well, again living here in Kansas, let’s just say summer seems to take forever to end.  At some point in our lives, no matter if someone believes in God or not, we will experience “seasons” in our lives where it just feels like it is never going to end, and then all of sudden when it looks like it will end, the “Egyptians” are right behind you once again.  As believers in God when it looks like a season will last forever, or just simply overtake you, we must remember the countless scriptures that tell us “to stand, to be firm, to be still, to trust God, and let Him fight the battle.”  Easier said than done, especially when you don’t know when the season will end.  See going back to “seasons come, and seasons go”, meteorologically speaking we generally know how long a season will last.  When it comes to trials, pressures, frustrations, and whatever else you want to call a difficult season we don’t know long it will last.  But what we do know, is that if we will “fear not” and stand firm and watch the Lords salvation (deliverance) we will see what seems like a never-ending season come to end, “For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.”  

Much love,
Pastor Michael

You will never “walk on water” until you step “out of the boat”.  In Matthew 14:22-33 we read an account of an actual event that happened.  Now understand this point up front: this event REALLY happened.  If you don't believe that then the rest of this will make no sense and really be of no value.  If we think that this didn't happen then one must ask what else is in the Bible that I don't believe really happened?  Either you believe the events happened or you don't, now to say you believe it happened does not mean you understand how.  Faith is not the ability to understand how God is or can do something, faith is an absolute conviction that what God has spoken is true and will happen.  Please understand this very important “key” when walking by faith - you don't step out until He calls you.  As you read the account of Peter walking on water, he, Peter, did not step out of the boat until Jesus called him out.  Matthew 14:28-29 (Message) “Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water.". He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.”  I love how The Message reads this “suddenly bold”. Where did this boldness come, it came after Jesus after Jesus spoke to them.  Peter must have recognized His voice, just like sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice, and it not only calmed him but gave him boldness.  Now the next thing Peter did was also important, he asked “Master if it's you call (command or urge) me to come”.  Again Jesus responds (with words) and Peter again recognizing the voice of the one he trusted, stepped out onto the water and walked toward Him.  Now, if you’re familiar with this event then you know at some point Peter took his eyes off The One and began to sink.  While this is true, I want you to think about this: 3 quick points.  1) Grace called Peter out, 2) Grace enabled Peter to walk on the water and 3) Grace picked Peter up when he became focused on what was going on around him.  Listen! Grace will always call us out of our “boat” and when we hear Grace call and we know that it is His voice calling then we must be persuaded (faith) that Grace will give me the ability to do what Grace is calling me to do.  AND should I take my eyes off Grace and look at what's going on, or start to doubt that He called me out, or that I am able to do what He has called me to do, Grace will also reach down and pick you up.  So when Grace calls, step out of the “boat” and start walking towards what Grace will equip you to do.  Faith always responds to the call, Grace enables the faith walker to walk!!

Much love,
Pastor Michael

In many ways it is easy to say the word “love”.  We love the Chiefs, we love pizza, we love vacations...there are so many things that we love, and because of that we will find ourselves saying “I love (fill in the blank), that maybe we forget the power of what love does and not just says.  John 3:16, one of the most popular verses, in fact so popular you will see it at sporting events, and if you have grown up in the church you probably memorized before you realized you had.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  It can be so easy to memorize a verse, recite it, and just move on.  What if we paused and reflected on the many verses that have been put to memory?  What if instead of just quickly spouting out John 3:16 we take an inward look at the outward work done on behalf of humanity.  God so loved...He loved the world, His creation, you, and me.  Yet it wasn’t just words of love, it was love put on display.  He loved mankind so much that He was willing to send His only begotten (which means rare, unique, one of kind, and there is no other like Him) Son.  Not just send Him to dwell amongst His creation, but to die the death that He didn’t deserve, for He had never sinned, yet He would die as one who had (1 Corinthians 15:3). Why?  Romans 5:7-8 tell us “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  It wasn’t just words to God, and it isn’t something that God did because He decided to.  No, rather He sent His Son to die, to pay for the wages of sin, because that is what love does.  Love doesn’t look out for its own interest, rather love looks out for the interest of others.  True love just doesn’t say “I love you”, true biblical love shows love.  Philippians 2:8 reads “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Look at that again, in His humanity He became obedient to the point of death.  This is important, Jesus did this because He loved the Father, and so obeyed Him, even to the point of death on the cross, and God loved us that He was willing to send His Son to the cross.  Now for the greatest news of all news, Jesus didn’t stay dead!  We know that on the third day He came out of the grave.  That is what makes this message of love not just empty words, He didn’t just say He loves us, but He showed it.  He died in our place, and He rose so that we too could rise with Him.   Much love

Pastor Michael

Our homes that were once full of decorations, that make the young and old smile, will soon be empty.  The neighborhoods filled with lights will soon be dark.  As the New Year approaches, the Christmas season comes to end.  So, now what?  The question we must ask ourselves is, when the signs of Christmas are no longer visible, does that mean that the significance of Christmas is no longer valuable?  While the question is really a rhetorical one, it is still one we must consider.  It is so easy to remember the reason for the season, that God came, when it is front and center, but when it gets “pushed” to the back, it will become even more imperative that we recall to our mind, the importance of the season.  While the decorations are fun to set up and even more fun to see the joy on the faces of little ones, as they experience the season, the real purpose is that God came.  One of my favorite verses is found in John 1:14, “and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us...”.  WOW!  Now to see the importance of this verse you must go back to John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Additionally, you need to go all the way back to the prophet Isaiah, who declared some 600 years before Jesus would be born.  Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel (which means God with us).”  While there is so much one could look at with these two verses, the part we must remember is that God, in the form of His Son, the second part of the Trinity, came to be with us.  Think about that for a moment, God came and dwelt amongst His creation.  He came even for the ones that would reject Him, spit in His face, hit Him, make fun of Him, and turn their back on Him.  Think about times when someone has hurt you, did you want to be with them?  Would you want to be with them, especially if you knew that they would still hurt you?  Most, if not all of us, would say “no way”, while we say “no yet” God still came. Let that sink in, He came, the one that was perfect in all ways, that one that was whole and complete, came to dwell with, interact with, all that were not perfect and those that were broken.  With that in mind, we must remind ourselves that even if the visible signs of Christmas are packed away, our faith in God says that He is still with us.  Just because the Christmas season is over it doesn’t mean that He is no longer with us.  He was born so that He could be with us, always, and not just for a season.  Much love, Pastor Michael



 

Over the last year and half many of us have wanted to get back to “normal”.  While the idea of going back to what we enjoyed before, the truth is this, if we always go back to what we knew before, or what we are comfortable with, we will never grow.  Even if what we want to get back was a good thing, going back and not going forward is never a good thing.  The other thing to consider is whatever was “normal” beforehand may not have been a good thing.  So why do we have this overall desire to go back to “normal” or return to the way things were before?  Because moving forward is almost never fun and requires discipline.   In the movie “Meet the Robinsons” there is a line used throughout the movie, “keep moving forward”.  This phrase is important for one main reason, no matter the failures or even success we must keep moving forward if we are going to have success.  In Hebrews 12:11 the author writes “Now all discipline[a] seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace[b] to those who yield to it.[c]”. The word “discipline” here carries the idea of “correction, training, and even instruction (education).  No matter your age we all know that there has never been a truer statement that “no correction/training and even instruction” is pleasant.  We also know that going thru the process will produce a result in us or for us that in the end we will be glad that we went thru it.  Think about this, when people want to get in shape, lose weight, or just be healthier, they will go to the gym and in many cases change their eating habits.  Why?  They have goal in mind, that want to get from where they are at now to where they want to be down the road.  The only way to reach that goal is to “discipline/train” their bodies.  They will work out as well as change their eating habits.  When this process begins it is extremely painful (physically) and even mentally (pushing thru the physical pain) as well as training their mind to desire to eat differently.  In the beginning it is tough but the more they workout, the more they eat healthier the easier it gets.  Now of course this verse isn’t referring to physical pain, all though the idea physical training can be applied, but in this case, contextually, the author is referring more to the pain of growing spiritually.  Just like the person wanting to get physically healthier will have to go thru some training, if we are wanting to grow spiritually, we too will have to go thru some training.  This training could look like, fasting (yes actually denying your body food for a period of time).  Additionally, this training could look like one opening up the scriptures and “consuming” them.  After all The Word does say that “man shall not live by bread alone, but also on every word the proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).  What about spending more time in prayer, and I don’t mean giving God your “to do list”, I’m talking about just spending time in His presence, with no agenda, just thanking Him for who He is and what He has done, and just “simply” worshiping Him.  These things, and others I’m sure, are opportunities for us to “discipline/train” ourselves, and while at times they won’t seem pleasant (ie. giving up food), we know in the long run it will be something that will not only bless us but make us stronger.   So be encouraged that as you discipline/train your physical body to grow spiritually, if you keep moving forward, not giving up, over a period of time you will find yourself stronger spiritually so that when the next storm comes you will find yourself trusting God easier than compared to the last time.    Much love, Pastor Michael

Waiting is more than just doing nothing…

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NASB) 29 He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

For so many people, growing weary, feeling as if you can not take another step, is just a normal day.  This feeling of weariness does not just only happen once or twice in our lives, it happens often.  No matter how strong someone is, no matter how much rest someone gets, at some point in our lives we feel tired, worn out, weary.  The good news for a Christian is that we have so many promises from God regarding Him being our strength when we are weak.  Isaiah 40:29-31 is not exempt from this.  We often hear this verse, mainly the part that says, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.  Why wait?  What does this word, wait, even mean?  Does it mean to just sit down and wait on Him, like a husband waiting on his wife to come down the stairs to leave for their date?  Is it like waiting on a child to clean their room, or even worse, waiting for our favorite season to come around (ie. Christmas…). Most of us are hoping that is not what this word means, for it can seem like some these things may never happen.  When the prophet Isaiah used the word, wait, it carried a way different meaning to the hearers of this word compared to our understanding.  This word, wait, carries the idea of one that would look for, hope, or expect.  This word also carries the idea of being bound together (by twisting).  Think about that for a second.  Those that look for the Lord, hope in the Lord, expect in the Lord, or even better those that are bound together with Him, that is by being intertwined with Him, these people will gain new strength.  So, now the question is, how do we do this.  While many want to look for some deep revelation of how to do this, there really is not some deep mystery, or secret to this.  In Luke 10:38-42 we see an interesting encounter involving Mary, Martha and Jesus.  Martha was distracted, or as we would say, busy doing life.  Nothing wrong with what she was doing, in fact many would argue that what she was doing needed to be done.  How many of us understand the response Martha had, when her sister, Mary, was just sitting there doing nothing.  She was so upset with Mary, she actually went and complained to Jesus about what her sister was doing, or really in this case, not doing.  If you are going to complain about someone not pulling their weight, there is no one better to go then Jesus, right?  Now if you know this account then you know that the response that Jesus gives is not the response we want to hear.  He tells her what she needs to hear.  He tells her that she is worried (same word used in Matthew 6:25-34), AND bothered.  Martha is anxious, and you could almost say a little fearful.  Fearful, in that the work that needs to be done, the work to serve Jesus, will not be done, at least if Mary continues to sit there doing nothing.  The word, bothered, here carries the idea of one being disturbed, or you could even say in an uproar, an uproar to the point where she is about to riot.  Why?  Why is Martha so disturbed?  Simply put, because work needs to be done.  We all have been there, felt that way, and probably just like Martha have cried out, asking for Jesus to doing something about those good for nothing, lazy people, telling us about their quiet time, their one on one time at the feet of Jesus.  You would think Jesus would jump to her rescue, yet He did not.  Jesus says to Martha, Mary has chosen the good thing (some translations say Mary chose the better thing), and this will not be taken from her.  Sitting down at the feet of Jesus is better than serving Jesus?  Seriously, did Jesus fall and bump His head?  Is Jesus against working?  Is He against serving?  Of course not!  Jesus is telling Martha, and at the same time us, that before we run ourselves into the ground, we need to learn to sit at His feet.  Sitting at His feet will give us the strength we will need.  Pausing and sitting at His feet will give you the strength you need to serve Him by serving others.  If all you do is serve and never sit, you will get weary and frustrated!  You could even say, by sitting and listening to The Word, this is what will give us new strength.  This is one of the ways that we can get intertwined with Him.  When we tell ourselves that it is better to take some time and just quietly sit at His feet and listen to His voice, then we will find the strength we need to do all the jobs we need to do.  Easier said than done?  YEP, but that does not make it any less true.  When we run around and never sit down and listen to Him we will find ourselves worried and disturbed, and this will cause us to grow tired, and become weak.  So the next time you find yourself feeling weak, tired, and maybe even a little frustrated with all that is on your list, ask yourself; is it better for me to get mad and yell out to God that we need help, or is it better for me to set down what needs to be done and sit down at His feet and listen to His voice?  Allow His strength, thru His words, to give you new strength.  He knows the work that needs to get done, but He also knows that it would be better for us to sit and be intertwined with Him.  So before doing, just wait...Much love Pastor Michael 

Storms come, no matter who you are and what you believe, storms come.  That is not something everyone wants to hear or acknowledge, but the fact is we live in a fallen world and that mean storms happen.  So, the question that must be asked is why do some people seem to handle storms better than others?  Is it because God likes them better?  Is it because they have a special power?  Or could it be that they have tapped into something that not everyone does. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.  He also says those that hear the same words but do not act upon what they have heard, their house will not be able to stand when the storm comes.  Notice that both houses face storms, both heard the same word spoken, but only one acted upon the spoken word.  Faith doesn’t sit on the sidelines, faith doesn’t pretend to do something, rather faith is something that can be seen.  Faith is in the game; faith looks like one that is not in denial of the storm but believes that what God has spoken is true.  Faith does not wish something is true, rather faith, in God, knows that what He has said is true.  Faith in His Word will cause you to move out regardless of what the situation may look like, faith involves action.  James 2:17 reads, In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.  We can say we believe God, but do our actions prove it.  Does our life indicate to others that we believe what God has said is true?  Mark 11:22 reads, Jesus replied to them, Have faith in God.  We will always act upon what we believe; the question is what or who do we believe?  If we believe The Word, then act upon it.  Matthew 17:20 the disciples ran into a problem with a young man that was demon possessed.  They could not deliver the boy, but Jesus could.  Why?  Because He was God?  Certainly not, for He would have had to tap into His divinity.  Rather, He had faith that His Father (our Father) had the ability.  Jesus pointed His faith towards the Father that gave Him faith.  The disciples asked why they could not do what He had done and he responds, because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to for you.  Now it is true in the next verse that He did say in this particular case, prayer and fasting was needed, but before He got to that point He did say, because of your unbelief.  So, back to the storms we all have faced, are facing and will face.  Storms are a revealer of your faith.  They will reveal whether you trust God, or trust someone or something else.  Faith will not prevent a storm, but faith in God will allow you to go through a storm, and even grow in it.  Storms are meant to bring destruction, faith in God will cause the destruction to become a springboard into something greater.  How you respond will let you know if you trust God or not.  If the storm is telling you that you are not trusting Him, then do not get down on yourself, just redirect your faith towards Him.  If you are trusting Him, then keep trusting Him, even if the storm is getting worse.  He is faithful, we must remain faithful towards Him.
Much love, Pastor Michael
 

Watch what you say, if you do not have anything nice to say then do not say anything at all, watch your mouth, think before you speak, choose your words wisely…these phrases and probably many others are things we have heard our parents, teachers, coaches, and other wise individuals say.  Before any of these people told us to be careful with what we say, God already was warning us to watch our mouths.  In the book of James, we are told how small our tongue is, yet this seemly small member of our body can do so much.  With our words we frame our lives, but not only our lives, our words can frame other people’s lives.  Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me, is a familiar phrase.  Most of us can testify that this phrase is a false claim, we simply know that words do hurt. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul warns the church about our words.  Out of the Passion Translation he tells the people, never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.  In the world of social media today, it is so easy to let any and all people know what we are thinking. The great question that must be asked is this, is what I’m about to share going to encourage someone? Will my words build them up? Will what I say extend grace to the hearer, or will it cause harm, and tear down?  While some will argue that it is important that we voice our concerns, most of the time this is not what is happening.  For many of us, we just choose to spit out what we are thinking and deal with the mess our words make later.  This is one of the worst things we can do.  James tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19).  Why?  I think we know the answer, but just in case, let me take a stab at why.   Treat others as you want to be treated, Luke 6:31.  How about this reason why, Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life…, Proverbs 18:21.  Words, just like music, have a way of penetrating our hearts.  Jesus said that He himself didn’t speak or do anything without hearing or seeing what God the Father would say or do.  Think about that a second, Jesus in His humanity wanted to be quick to hear from God and not just speak what He was feeling.  Even in His humanity, He knew that it was important to choose His words wisely.  He knew that His words would either speak life or death. He knew His words could frame someone’s life and that frame could be a beautiful thing or it could lead to their destruction. What effect will your words have today?  Much love Pastor Michael

Overcoming Fear – Part 2
 
Ask them to fill in the blank (give a reward for the right answer)
___________________ IN THE _____________________ (hint Philippians 4:4)
 
Key idea/points: 1) worry causes fear 2) worry pulls in different directions 3) worry can stop us
 
Key verses:
Philippians 4:4-8 (TPT)
4 Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! 5 Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near.  6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.
 
Questions to ask your kiddos! (ask them and give them a reward for answers, even if silly)
Have you ever been worried about something? (Like getting a shot, or going the dentist)
When you were worried did it help you to be worried?
Did you find yourself thinking about the worst case possible?
How did you stop yourself from thinking about the worry?
 
Parents: (you can talk to them in your own words, just use this as a spring board)
The book of Philippians often times is referred to as the joyful book.  Which when we stop and think about that, it is absolutely crazy for this book to considered that.  Why?  Paul writes from prison, in chains.  He writes, REJOICE…DO NOT WORRY…PRAY…GIVE THANKS.  Worry is a result of fear.  When we are worried, that worry will turn into fear Thru out the bible there are many people who had chances to be worried, that would have led to fear.  For example, Daniel, and what about his 3 friends? In both cases they could have been anxious, causing them to be scared.  But instead of that we see that they trusted in God even more.  Think about a fireman.  If the fireman is worried that their fire suit will not work, they will not be able to do what they need to do, or called to do.  Same true for us, we are called to be a light, to be an example of people that do not worry.  See our flesh wants to do what is normal (for the flesh) but as believers in God, we have to tell our flesh “shut-up” (or lets say that nicer, “be quiet”).  Paul knew that being anxious wouldn’t help him, he also knew that being afraid wouldn’t help either, so he wrote to other believers and told them to ‘rejoice, give thanks and pray’; why?  Because that is what HE did.  He asked them to do what he did.  [so parents…hint, if we want others to rejoice, to give thanks and not worry, then we must be the example].  
 
So what can we do when we start to feel worried? (ask them and let them answer)
Hints: (again give them a reward for giving answers)
1.  Laugh
2.  Dance
3.  Sing praises to God
4. ________________________________

FINISH IT UP WITH; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)
16 Let joy be your continual feast.  17 Make your life a prayer. 18 And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.

Much love, Pastor Michael
 

Overcoming Fear – Part 1
 
Ask them to fill in the blank (give a reward for the right answer)
GOD IS BIGGER THAN THE ____________________ ______________________
 
Key verses:
Psalm 42:5 and John 3:16-21
 
Questions to ask your kiddos! (ask them and give them a reward for answers, even if silly)
1.  Who can show me a scary face?
2.  What do you do when you get scared?  (be ready for them to scream)
3.  What are some things that have scared you before?
(examples; Winds when they make howling sounds, dark room with no lights on at all, bugs, HOMEWORK)
4.  What did you do to not be scared anymore?
5.  Have you ever helped someone else not be scared?
 
Parents: (you can talk to them in your own words, just use this as a spring board)
So why John 3:16-21
This is a great opportunity to tell your little ones that when Jesus was born He was born into a place that was scary.  Just as there are things today that can scare there were things back then too. When God came, in the form of His Son, the world was full of darkness, and not because they did not have electricity.  It was dark because there was no hope, even though there was the promise that He was coming.  But we can remember as kids that even if you know mom and dad said dinner would be ready soon, if it wasn’t ready in 30 seconds we would start to wonder if we will ever eat.  Well that is what the people of God probably felt like.  What about Mary and Joseph?  They knew that God was using them but they probably experienced moments that were scary.  Like traveling long distance, by donkey, WITH NO TV.  Can you believe that!  The donkey they used to travel did not have TV, or WI-FI.  Scary, right? (HAHAHA).  But seriously they, just like us had moments where scary things did happen.   SO how did Jesus overcome all this, as a human?  He trusted God.  He prayed to God.  He read the scriptures (bible).  He did what David did in Psalm 42:5, He turned towards God.  When He did that He wasn’t scared anymore, His countenance changed because He looked at the countenance of His Father.  (Countenance.  Facial expression, so if you are looking at sad things you will look sad, but if you look at God you will look joyful, for He is joyful).
 
So what can we do when we start to feel scared? (ask them and let them answer)
Hints:
1.  Post It Notes with bible verses
2.  Sing a song (like veggie tales songs “GOD is bigger than the _______________)
3.  _____________________________________________________
 
FINISH IT UP WITH; Psalm 46:1 - God, you are such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You are a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you.

O NO THERE IS NO BREAD…
Have you ever gone without food?  I mean more than just an hour or two, but maybe the whole day without food.  Not by choice but for whatever reason you just didn’t eat.  Have you ever decided that you wouldn’t eat anything?  Probably not.  Why?  Unless you are on some crazy diet or on a fast, we all understand that if we go without food for a while that our bodies start to “scream” at us, demanding that we put some “fuel” (food) into our body.  Why?  Without fuel (food) our body will become drained, it may not happen right away but the longer one goes without food the greater the chance the body will have issues.  In Matthew 4:4 Jesus gives a response to one of the temptations from Satan about turning stones into bread.  Why was this a temptation?  Jesus had just finished a 40 day fast of no food and as scripture says “He as hungry”.  I think anyone would be hungry after going that long without food.  So, you can see that this was not just an easy thing for Jesus to “walk past” He had to respond to this temptation and His response is so valuable.  In fact, if we aren’t careful we can just read this as something Jesus did and not as something we should do ourselves.  Jesus responds to this temptation by saying “It is written (He is about to quote Deuteronomy 8:3) that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every wO NO THERE’S NO BREAD…
Have you ever gone without food?  I mean more than just an hour or two, but maybe the whole day without food.  Not by choice but for whatever reason you just didn’t eat.  Have you ever decided that you wouldn’t eat anything?  Probably not.  Why?  Unless you are on some crazy diet or on a fast, we all understand that if we go without food for a while that our bodies start to “scream” at us, demanding that we put some “fuel” (food) into our body.  Why?  Without fuel (food) our body will become drained, it may not happen right away but the longer one goes without food the greater the chance the body will have issues.  In Matthew 4:4 Jesus gives a response to one of the temptations from Satan about turning stones into bread.  Why was this a temptation?  Jesus had just finished a 40 day fast of no food and as scripture says “He as hungry”.  I think anyone would be hungry after going that long without food.  So, you can see that this was not just an easy thing for Jesus to “walk past” He had to respond to this temptation and His response is so valuable.  In fact, if we aren’t careful we can just read this as something Jesus did and not as something we should do ourselves.  Jesus responds to this temptation by saying “It is written (He is about to quote Deuteronomy 8:3) that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God”.  Let’s bread this down;
Man shall not live by bread alone
He is not saying we shouldn’t eat – but He is saying there is something else or something in addition to physical bread that we should be living by
The word “lives” in the Greek language carries the meaning; remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be restored to life or health; to refresh, or to comfort!
So, look at this verse considering this – Jesus said man cannot not be sustained, live prosperously, live forever, or even be restored to life or health, lasting refreshment or lasting comfort by bread alone.
So, if natural bread alone cannot sustain us then what can?  His Word
His Word is the only thing that can bring lasting comfort.
His Word is the only thing that can refresh us, for more than an hour or two
His Word is the only thing that can cause to live forever, live prosperously, and sustain us far greater than natural food can.
Now please understand we need to eat, but the more important thing, our priority must be to “chew” on His Word.  Just as you wouldn’t neglect your physical body, we should not neglect our spiritual body.  Just as you don’t eat one meal a week, don’t feed your spirit man only once a week, Sunday’s.  Feed your soul daily.  Make a choice that you will read The Word not because the church says too, not because the Pastor says too but because God says that we should!  Make this a daily habit.  Much love, Pastor Michaelord that comes out of the mouth of God”.  Let’s bread this down;
Man shall not live by bread alone
He is not saying we shouldn’t eat – but He is saying there is something else or something in addition to physical bread that we should be living by
The word “lives” in the Greek language carries the meaning; remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be restored to life or health; to refresh, or to comfort!
So, look at this verse considering this – Jesus said man cannot not be sustained, live prosperously, live forever, or even be restored to life or health, lasting refreshment or lasting comfort by bread alone.
So, if natural bread alone cannot sustain us then what can?  His Word
His Word is the only thing that can bring lasting comfort.
His Word is the only thing that can refresh us, for more than an hour or two
His Word is the only thing that can cause to live forever, live prosperously, and sustain us far greater than natural food can.
Now please understand we need to eat, but the more important thing, our priority must be to “chew” on His Word.  Just as you wouldn’t neglect your physical body, we should not neglect our spiritual body.  Just as you don’t eat one meal a week, don’t feed your spirit man only once a week, Sunday’s.  Feed your soul daily.  Make a choice that you will read The Word not because the church says too, not because the Pastor says too but because God says that we should!  Make this a daily habit.  Much love, Pastor Michael

Just how merciful is God?  How much grace does God really have?  Surely, He must “run out” of grace and mercy for those that just use and abuse it?  Many people, Christians included, have a view of God that just doesn’t line up with who He really is.  The parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:12-32, is one of the best illustrations of the amazing love and grace God gives to us.  In this parable, you need to picture the “father” as God and the “son” as you and me.  Jesus knew who He was talking to and knew they would understand the “background” without having to explain it.  What do I mean?  The culture.  For the son to ask for his inheritance before the father passed away, was like spitting in his face and saying, “you, Father, are dead to me, so give me my inheritance now”, bringing shame to the family.  Additionally, to do this would also violate the 5th commandment “Honor your father and mother”.  Any son to make a request like this would be disowned by the father, and the father would slap the son in public, as an illustration of the breaking of the family ties.  This public act was done to bring shame to the son.  Give the culture this would the lowest a son could go.  Yet the father doesn't do what the law says he can do, he actually gives his son his inheritance.  Does the father do this because he knows the son will be wise?  No way, the son has already shown his lack of respect for his father while he is alive, what will stop him from bringing more shame to the father.  The son then takes this gift, goes away and blows it so badly that he went broke.  A famine hits the land and he gets a job feeding pigs, which would also bring shame to the family.  After some time, he decides to go home and seek forgiveness.  This is a risk, which we will look at shortly.  The father is looking for his son to return and when he sees his son from a distance, he does something that would bring more shame, he ran!  It was considered undignified for Jewish men to run, yet this father did. Once he reaches his son, he wraps himself around his son with a huge hug and kisses him.  Now understand, not only had the son insulted his father, brought shame to the family, the father still runs to him and embraces him.  But why did he do this, why did the father run?  There was a tradition back then that was called Kezazah Ceremony.  The town would meet the prodigal as the edge of town with clay pots held over their head and would throw the pots at the feet of the prodigal.  This was symbolically portraying the separation between the son and town, and the father.  This is why the son waited to come home, he knew ceremony could happen.  By the father running out there, bringing shame on himself, he would beat the town from performing this ceremony.  After this, he throws a party, for this son that was ‘lost’ was now found!  The father dresses him in the best robe, just like God the Father dresses us in righteousness.  We don’t deserve, he didn’t deserve, yet this is the love and grace of God.  He puts a ring on his finger, showing authority, and put sandals on his feet, for only servants were barefoot, but children wore sandals.  We who once were orphans are now adopted into the family of God.  It is truly Grace that saves us, redeems us, makes us clean, and treats us as if we have done nothing wrong.  Much love

Pastor Michael Garner

John 10:10 may be one of the most popular verses, next to John 3:16.  Most of you can quote it without any hints, but just in case - (GNT) “The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.”  This has to be one of those verses we love, at the same time scriptures also tell us that we will have troubles, and there is an enemy.  Even though this enemy is a defeated one it will not stop him from trying to “steal, kill and destroy”.  1 Peter 5:8 (GNT) “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  The greatest challenge, or at least one, is that we don’t “fall asleep”.  Even though there are many promises from God about Him being our helper, our shelter, our advocate, and so many more, we also have a promise from God that if we aren’t careful, if we don’t keep an eye out, then our enemy can easily devour us.  Now before we move to fast, first, notice this verse does tell us that this enemy is “like” a roaring lion.  Which means, he isn’t a lion. Only Jesus is the one true lion, but that won’t stop the devil from trying to act like a lion.  Next, we must look at the word “devour”.  This word is important, especially in light of the fact that this enemy has been defeated, by Jesus.  Devour, in this verse carries the idea “to drink, to lick up, even to overwhelm”.  Think about this, if our enemy can overwhelm you, then he can “drink, or lick you up”.  Why lick?  Because he is only like a lion, he is missing his teeth, you could almost say his bark is worse then his bite.  So what are we to do?  We need to first, know that we have an enemy, then the next step is found in the very next verse.  1 Peter 5:9 (GNT) “Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.”  What does it mean to “be firm”?  This word carries the idea of being strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard, rigid and steadfast.  You could also say “unshakable”.  Unshakable is even more interesting in that it means strongly felt and unable to be changed.  Now when we see this kind of definition it can almost look negative, but what if we looked at this as one who is not going to be changed even in the face of an enemy.  So many times, an enemy, natural or spiritual, just wants us to “blink”.  One must determine ahead of time that no matter how much an enemy may yell, or try to overwhelm, that you will not be moved, you will remain rigid and steadfast in your faith in what God has promised.  Now, also notice that not only do we need to be firm but we also must resist him.  To resist your enemy will require you to fight back.  But remember, we do not fight flesh and blood, rather our fight is a spiritual fight.  So, how do we fight against this enemy, especially since we can’t see him.  We fight with The Word of God.  We fight by reading The Word, confessing The Word, abiding in The Word.  We fight this enemy by standing on The Word.  Much love, Pastor Michael

Here we are, 17 days into a new year.  This is the moment where many people who set out goals for the new year start to fall away.  Why?  For some, the reason is a simple one, new habits are hard to form and old habits are even harder to break.  For others, they have started well, and maybe even exceptionally well, but then something knocks them down.  Have you ever felt like you were doing something good in the natural realm only to be knocked down?  What about spiritually?  You felt like you were making progress in your relationship with the Lord and then BAM someone or something knocked you down.  If so, then rejoice! You are in good company!!  Paul talked about this particular topic in 1 Thessalonians 2:18 – “For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.” (NASB).  The word hindered in this verse is the Greek word egkopto.  This word carries the idea of a runner in a race where another runner comes alongside and literally elbows him out of the race. Although the first runner was running a good race, he is shoved out of the way by the aggression of the other runner.  Because of this, the runner who was elbowed, loses the leading edge they previously held.  Now, you should know by now, I don’t believe that Satan is behind everything that happens in our lives, sometimes we just make bad decisions or just choose incorrectly.  But there are times, and probably more often then what we realize, the kingdom of darkness comes along side and elbows us and  we get knocked down.  Hold on, there’s more to this word.  The primary idea of the word “hindered” is one of an impasse so severe that it prohibits you from going where you need to go or an aggressor who unkindly elbows you off course in your spiritual race.  Did you see that?  Go back and reread that.  As believers in the one true God, we have an adversary that wants to knock us out of the race. If that can’t be done, an obstacle or detour is created in our lives that causes us to want to give up.  One of the best lines in a movie,  is “go to the mattresses”.  This phrase “go to the mattresses” carries the idea of “time to go to war”.  Now, we know, scripturally speaking, our fight, our war, isn’t against flesh and blood, but a spiritual one.  We are also told in 1 Timothy 6:12 to fight the good fight of faith.  Our faith walk will never be a walk in the park.  The kingdom of darkness wants to knock us out or down, and when he tries WE MUST FIGHT BACK.  How?  Are you ready for this deep, mind blowing answer?  PRAISE GOD!  There is nothing more that your enemy hates than when you smile and praise God.  It’s like a football team is down by a lot of points, looks like they are going to be knocked out, BUT, they turn and look at their opponent, smile and start singing.  You want to talk about confusing the author of confusion: start singing, start dancing (even if others think you can’t), start clapping, start shouting praises to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and watch how that will knock your opponent out.  Will he come back?  Probably, but the more you do it, the quicker you will be to do those things, the stronger you will get spiritually and the more victories you will have.  Extraordinary victories come out of extraordinary battles!  Much love, Pastor Michael

Extraordinary victories never come from ordinary trials.  For so many people the idea of having an extraordinary victory is something all want to experience but nobody wants to be in that situation that requires that.  Oswald Chambers said  “All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique displace of His power and grace.  He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources.”  If I could add to this I would also say throughout history when the people of God were faced with extraordinary situations the extraordinary power of God was on full display and extraordinary victories were witnessed when we turned our faith towards Him.  In John 14:12 (NKJV) Jesus says -  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in  Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."  This very familiar verse has a very important word that can be very easily overlooked.  When Jesus said "he who believes IN me"  This word IN carries a meaning more than what we realize.  This word carries the idea of ones faith being “TOWARDS”.  Meaning that if our faith is towards the author of faith and not towards our ability or mans ability then the extraordinary can happen.  Think about this.  When Jesus walked on this earth He was an example on so many levels, and the first one, and maybe the most important, is how to rely upon God the Father, to have His faith towards God.  He could have drawn upon His deity, but He choose to walk as a human, relying upon the Father to equip Him and to do the extraordinary through Him.  We see Jesus as God, and we should, but He always walked on this earth as a human, experiencing what we experience.  He was constantly looking towards God.  He knew that in His flesh, He had to put His faith towards God and not towards anything else, especially if He was going to accomplish all that God had for Him.  The same holds true for us.  If we are going to accomplish what He has for us then our faith must be pointed towards Him, daily, continually.  Much love, Pastor Michael