Dear Pastor,

Have you ever noticed that it’s the little things that seem to make your day?

You know, like the one single person who went out of their way to let you know that you messed up. Or the one little text that said “You are loved. I am proud of you”. Both of these are little things, and yet they both can have a big impact!

It seems that much of the time people are quick to repeat what they see and hear. In a world where Jesus reminded us that we would have trouble, it seems people are quick to repeat the little things of fear, doubt, worry, negativity, complaining, tearing-down, etc. And these little things stack up to a miserable life full of unbelief and defeat. Let us intend to live and speak and repeat the little things that are positive and full of love.

You and I have the power to redefine and reshape the world around us by a bunch of little things. If we are constantly saying and doing things with kindness, mercy, and grace, if we are regularly encouraging and building up, if we are consistently affirming and adding value to people, all of those little things can add up to a life and ministry of joy, peace, and victory!

This week, I encourage you to treasure the little acts of kindness and generosity that people express towards you. This week I encourage you to intentionally build a life of uncommon and unconditional love by sending a text, making a phone call, writing a letter, visiting someone, giving a gift, being an active listener, crying and laughing with people. Let these little things shape you and honor God even as you pour life into those around you.

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

Have you ever noticed how some days are just better than other days? Some days are easy, others are hard. Some days you hope will last forever while other days you and I hope will end as quickly as possible. There are a few simple things that you and I can do to make each day we live better:

1. Be thankful no matter the circumstance: remember daily to be grateful for the good gifts that God has given to you
2. Go out of your way to try and put a smile on someone’s face: we know that laughter is the best medicine, but a smile goes a long way too.
3. Practice unnecessary, unearned generosity: some people call these random acts of kindness, and they are a great way to warm your heart and multiply love in the world
4. Do all things to the glory of God: don’t work on anything except that you make up your mind to do it in such a way that God will be pleased and that other people will praise God for what you have done
5. Remember that you get what you pay for: we know this principle regarding money and material possessions, but there is truth also in what we spend our time on. If you want to have a great outcome for your efforts make sure to spend enough time to do it well.

I know you could add 100 other things to this list, but I would encourage you to remember that there are always things that you and I can do to make each day better. It will take intentionality and perseverance, but with God’s grace and wisdom and some good old-fashioned stick-to-it-iveness, I know today can be a good day for you!

Dear Pastor,

I want you to know that you are not alone. Indeed you and I preach and teach often that God is near. He is near to the brokenhearted, He does not leave us as orphans but comes to us, He does not leave us or forsake us*. You and I share these beautiful, powerful truths with people all the time, but perhaps it is time to stop and be reminded of them for our own sake.

Maybe we would do well to stop….breath in and out….and then gratefully reflect on these statements:

• God is for me
• God is with me
• As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, God is in me
• God rejoices over me with singing
• God is pleased with me
• God has found me of such great value that He gave His own Son to save me
• God is faithful to every promise He has made to me

Ministry is the hardest thing I have ever done in life (tied perhaps with being a father) but I am so glad to know that God who freely gave Himself for my sins also freely gives us all that we need (Romans 8:32). Remember that He who began the good work in you is faithful and will bring it on to completion! (Philippians 1:6)

I would also like to let you know that you are not alone because you are part of the family of faith. As such I would like to invite you to send me a personal text (205-910-7050) or email (mike.annajohnson@gmail.com). In your correspondence let me know your family members’ names and I will commit to praying for them. Also, just know that once you contact me I will send you occasional emails or texts to encourage you and lift you up. In a world where isolation and loneliness are the norm, I want to avail myself to you so that we can walk together and sharpen each other.

God is with us, God is in us!

Mike J

*Deuteronomy 31:6, John 14:18, Psalm 34:18

Let’s face it: you and I can’t do it alone. As a matter of fact, we rely on people and certain tools all the time to help us to live and to do our jobs. I imagine your phone and computer are tools right at the top of the list. Hopefully your spouse, family, and friends make the list too. But can I ask you a question? What singular thing or person do you rely on more than anything else?

Continue reading “What or who do you rely on?”

Dear Pastor,

I want to take a moment and share some encouraging words with you. As people living in 21st century America we know that the world is filled with all manner of difficulty. As disciples of Jesus Christ we know that helping people to fall in love with Jesus and become fully devoted followers of Him is really hard. As leaders in God’s church we know that helping a voluntary group of diverse people find unity, work together on a common purpose and discover how to be the body of Christ is seemingly impossible. And yet I want to share a couple of things with you.

1. God has said that He is the One who started the church, owns the church, is head of the church and will build the church. He is doing it! We can bank on it and we can look around for His handiwork and give Him praise.

2. We know that with God nothing is impossible. Laying down our lives for others can be done with and by His Spirit within. Remembering the forgotten, giving grace to all and sharing love with people different than us is possible because Christ is within us. Remember that not only is your Christian life possible by the Spirit but so is the role He has called you to as a shepherd of His people.

3. God has hope for you and for me. It says so in the Bible. In Colossians 1:5 the apostle Paul lets us know that God has prepared, set aside and stored up hope for us in heavenly places. All we have to do is come to God, believe that He is willing and ready to give us of His hope and then ask Him for it. He will show us what we must do and He will dispense hope into our hearts.

Please remember these three things this week. God truly is building His church, nothing is impossible with God and God has hope set aside just for you and me. Please remember this week as God-called and God-ordained shepherds of His people, what you and I do is not in vain and is not impossible. Let us press on in Jesus’ name and in the hope (certainty!) that He has given us. Let us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. This truly is kingdom truth and kingdom living!

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

Dear Pastor,

Thank you for availing yourself to God that His life might be known in you and through you. Thank you for availing yourself to God that He might use you to make known His gospel and build up His church. Let us remember that as we keep our eyes on Jesus, He is able to save us completely, set our feet on a solid rock and use us in mighty ways. Let us not allow our eyes or thoughts or feelings to wander to the base things of this world or to the worries and fears of this world. You and I are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and as such, He is working on us and in us!

Continue reading “God is on the move”

“When I climb down the mountain, And get back to my life, I won’t settle for ordinary things” -Third Day

These lyrics are great words about a resolve or commitment that Moses or others might make who have met God on the mountain. It is a beautiful thing to see God in all His glory. Moses on the mountain, the shepherds at the stable, the disciples on the mount of transfiguration: all of these were powerful and amazing times.

But there came a time where all of those mountain-top experiences came to an end and the people who were there had to go back to the valley and keep living life.

Continue reading “In the valley”

So here is the harsh reality and the raw truth: pastors are tempted to quit, Christians are tempted to quit.

The temptation is to quit trying, to quit persevering, to quit putting in so much effort when the outcome seems so pitiful.

As ministers of the gospel, we are called to share God’s message with people everywhere. His message is good news and full of hope and promise and yet it also contains a very real, very powerful and very uncomfortable warning regarding sin and self-sufficiency. When you and I are preaching and teaching the gospel we are speaking out against evil, worldliness, sin, and selfishness. And these four will not sit idly by while we preach against them but instead will rear their ugly heads so as to continue holding people captive. As a result, it can seem like our ministry of sharing the gospel is like watching grass grow or even worse as we work against the enemies of God. And so the temptation is to quit and yet the call of God is to persevere. God’s call to persevere is not just to keep trudging but rather to walk boldly in and by faith into the future that God is revealing. We are called to stand firm in His promises and persevere in His faithfulness, love, and holiness. So, please, today, reject the temptation to quit. Go to God in prayer, seek His Word for encouraging truths and keep pressing on in Jesus’ name. Let us press on so that the lost will be found, the saved will be sanctified, the church of Jesus Christ equipped and that God would be glorified!

If you need to talk to another pastor and pray together for God to grant you His perseverance, please contact me via email or phone. 

 

Dear Christian,

I want to remind you of some amazing words that Jesus spoke to His disciples 2000 years ago and even now is speaking to those who wholeheartedly believe in and follow Him:

“You are the light of the world”.

Continue reading “You are the light of the world”