Get the Paint on the Wall

In this past weekend’s sermon, I challenged everyone to actually apply what we learn on Sundays to our lives on Monday.  I asked us to take the paint out of the can and apply it to the wall--to move from learning about something to taking action in your life.  How did that go for you this week?  Share your experiences on the blog.

Applying God’s Word to our lives, then living our lives as if the promises of God are indeed true, can be difficult.  I liken it to a diet.  We all know what to do to lose weight, but many of us just choose not to take the actions needed to make it happen.  Right?  We don’t cut down on calories and we don’t exercise.  Applying God’s truth to our lives is a bit like that.  We know what to do, but we choose not to do it. 

In order to have a better life, a healthier life, and a body that works well, we do need to look at what we eat and look at the exercise we are getting.  For some of us, we do need to make those changes to make our life better, fuller, and longer.  That goes for our spiritual walk as well.  If we want to live the abundant life that God wants each of us to have, then we need to start applying the truth we hear on Sunday mornings and the truth that we find in our daily Bible reading to our lives every day.

With that in mind today, have you applied what you heard on Sunday yet?  It’s only Thursday and the week is not over.  There is always hope.  Why not give it a chance?  I would challenge each of us to find one promise of God and apply it today.  Remember, God will bless even the smallest act of obedience--the smallest attempt at following after Him and living out His Word in this world. 

Open the paint cans and go wild!  Get the paint out of the can and start applying it to the wall.  In other words, take what you learn on Sunday and apply it on Monday.  Your life will be changed forever!  God is the master painter and He has amazing plans for your life and for all of our lives! 

Here is an example of getting the paint out of the can!  Mauricio Palacio is an artist that uses sand to paint pictures.  Perhaps he will inspire you!

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Warm Fuzzy or Cold Prickly

Pastor Skip talked about discipline becoming an obsession, a habit, a lifestyle or even a career.  Now, I have to be honest, when I think of discipline, it doesn’t immediately give me “warm fuzzies!”  Actually, “cold pricklies” come to mind first!  Perhaps it stems from the many hours I spent in my room as a child “thinking” about the actions I did.  Yes, my mom was a disciplinarian.  Although I was always warned about the consequences that would follow if I misbehaved or did something that I wasn’t supposed to do, it never curtailed my behavior.  I never did what I ought to have done!  However, by following through on the discipline plan, my mom did make me realize that my actions always have consequences, both good and bad.  And, isn’t that true for all of us, even as adults?  Sometimes, doing what we OUGHT to do instead of what we WANT to do cannot only be difficult, but it can be uncomfortable as well.  As humans, we do not like doing things that make us feel uncomfortable. 

What would happen if we took Pastor Skip’s challenge this week and prayed for five minutes each day?  Better yet, what if prayer became an obsession and a lifestyle for us?  How might that change our lives?  Prayer, for many people, is one of those areas that they find difficult to incorporate into their lives. 

Prayer is about relationship.  Spending time with the Creator of the Universe should be something we would love to do and something that we would put at the top of our “to-do” list every day.  If we want to develop a relationship with anyone, we have to spend time with that person, right?  Well, it’s the same way with God.  If we want to grow in our relationship with God we need to spend time with Him.

This week, I hope that you will find time to connect with your Father, the Creator of the Universe, for at least five minutes a day.  By spending this time with God, you will begin to experience a peace that you may not have had for a long time.  A five-minute “time-out with God” may be just the “warm fuzzy” you need to get through the day.  Give it try!

May this song remind us to come to Jesus this day in prayer with a childlike heart.

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Joy Versus Happiness

This past weekend, Pastor Steve talked about those events and situations in our lives that can either lead us closer to God or drive us away from God.  When bad things or tragic events happen in our lives that’s when we often react by running away from God.  On the other side, when we experience “good” things in our lives and everything seems to be going well, it’s easy to run towards God.  Share your story on the blog; when have you run away from God and what circumstance brought you close to Him?

Pastor Steve’s sermon got me to think about the difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is dependent on outward circumstances and joy comes from within.  Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote the book, The Hiding Place, talked about finding joy in the midst of suffering during WWII.  Her family hid Jews in their home.  Eventually, her whole family was arrested and sent to various concentration camps.  Corrie was the only one who survived.  In the camp, some would huddle around a fire at night and read parts of the Bible.  They didn’t have complete Bibles, but each of them might have a few torn pages.  It was in the midst of the suffering, that God’s word was proclaimed and they became joy-filled because of hope and love of Christ in their midst.  “Joy runs deeper than despair,” Corrie would say. 

Despite our circumstances, whether they are positive or negative, we can still find joy in our lives.  As Pastor Steve reminded us, it’s not about the depth of our faith, but rather it is about the One in whom we put our trust – the Lord Jesus Christ.  The question for to consider this week is this:  Am I fully and completely putting my trust in Him in all circumstances?  If you find yourself saying, “no,” then ask yourself why not? 

Here’s a song by Michael Card called “Joy in the Journey.”  I hope you find joy in your journey!

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Taking a Foundation Assessment

How’s your foundation doing these days?  Is it crumbling and need of repair?  Perhaps, it’s just got a few “cracks” in it that need to be addressed.  Maybe for some of you, today your foundation is strong and solid; built on rock.  Obviously, I’m not referring to your house’s foundation, but to your spiritual foundation; your faith foundation.  This past week, I was thinking about the text Pastor John shared with us last week – Luke 6:46-49. 

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.  They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

If you are like me, there are times that my foundation is “rock solid” and then there are the times when a few cracks may occur.  Usually, I find that in those times, I need to spend more time with God; reading His Word, praying and quieting myself enough to listen with my heart and mind.  Because I’m such a Type-A extrovert, that can be a real challenge for me! 

The great thing about our God is that He will always draw near to us when we draw near to Him.  Growing in our relationship with Jesus can only occur when we spend time with Him.  And, isn’t that the way it is with all of our relationships in life?  The more time we spend with friends and family, the stronger our relationships with them tend to be. 

So, this week, why not do a “foundation” check.  How’s your faith foundation doing?  Could it use a little attention? 

Here’s a funny Lego video of this parable.  It’s hokey, but it will make you laugh!

Pax,

Pastor Carol