Trust is something that seems hard to come by these days. To trust someone can be a delicate and difficult thing based on our past interactions with that person as well as with other people. Many times we trust the person in front of us based upon how our trust was treated by the last person. Trusting the Lord therefore can become especially difficult if we base our trust in Him upon how the last person treated us. We know that God is worthy of our trust, we know that He always does what is best for us out of His heart and character of perfect love and yet…Trust seems like a simple thing to do but we know that it is not easy. Continue reading “Trust”
Working out our salvation
In this life, there are certain things that are universal and certain.
Some have said that the only things that are certain are death and taxes.
I happen to believe I can add a few more things to that list.
I believe it is universal that people desire to be heard, loved and valued. Further, I believe that people around the world desire to know that their life is not only significant but also making a difference in the world (or at least making a difference in the small corner of the world we spend our lives in). I understand that we may get into routines and habits where we don’t necessarily question why we do certain things or what impact we may be having on others but at some point, I would put forth that it is a universal practice to ask “why?” and “what does it matter?” Hopefully, as we ask these questions we will begin our quest not only for significance (and the outcome of life) but also purpose (and why/how we came to be here in the first place).
The hidden and lurking danger Christians need to see in this election
There is much conversation, accusation, argument and division over the current state of affairs in the USA as well as the potential direction that the two primary candidates/parties are seeking to take the country.
And yet, my greatest concern in this election season is not the political direction of our country. Continue reading “The hidden and lurking danger Christians need to see in this election”
Christ, who is your life
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have actually confessed your sins and believed in Him for salvation and a new reality, I want to remind you that Jesus Christ is your new life. Colossians 3:4 reminds us of the truth that Christ is our life and Colossians 3:3 lets us know that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. This week when you are facing the struggles and realities of this world remember this:
- Christ is my new life: He is the perfect, content, holy and fulfilled life and He actually lives in me!
- Christ is my victory: Though I struggle with my insufficiencies, He is the victor in all things and specifically He is the victor in this!
- Christ is my fullness: Of myself, I am tired, weak, foolish and empty, Christ is overflowing in the fullness of all I need!
- Christ is my supply: In this moment that I am lacking, Christ in me has all I need!
- Christ is my peace and rest: This week as the wind blows and the waves crash, Christ is at perfect rest in me.
The new life
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
What is the new life that we have as Christians? If we are “saved” and “born-again” then the Scriptures tells us the “old has gone and the new has come”. So what is the “new” that has come?
The Scriptures are so clear that Jesus Himself is the “way, the truth, and the life”. Jesus is indeed our life. The new life that is available is the very life of Jesus Christ. Once we are made new our old self is dead. Our old self has been crucified with Christ so our new life is the very life of God Almighty by His Spirit within us.Continue reading “The new life”
God is all sufficient
We are weak: Always in need of the strength of the Lord.
We are foolish: Always in need of the wisdom of the Lord.
We are unworthy: Always in need of the worthiness of the Lord.
We are unrighteous: Always in need of the righteousness of the Lord.
We are lost: Always in need of the retrieval, and guidance of the Lord.
Let us never lean on anything we have in ourselves: Only rely on the faithful, never-changing, all-sufficiency of God.
Things that hinder or release
There are three initial and primary things that either hinder or release the power of the Holy Spirit in an individual’s or church’s life:
The thoughts and attitudes of the heart. When our knee-jerk thoughts and attitudes are judgmental, selfish, pious, condemning, bitter or anger we quench the work of the Spirit in us and through us. However, when our thoughts and attitudes are surrendered, consecrated and from the Spirit then the Lord is able to flow into us and through us.
Admitting our needs, sins, and imperfections. If we aren’t willing to admit our struggles, this is evidence of pride. Continue reading “Things that hinder or release”
What should I invest in?
Invest in what remains.
What matters is what remains.
In our lives, we invest in many things. What we invest comes in many forms but is covered primarily in four categories: time, energy, money and abilities. We spend these four things on things that matter to us in the moment. And yet if we take a step back and honestly analyze the things ‘in the moment’ that we are investing in, those may not be the most important or even the things that really matter in the long run.Continue reading “What should I invest in?”
A little time off
You may have noticed my hiatus over the last two months.
It probably had something to do with the tiredness and busyness I mentioned in my last post.
And yet, the reality is that I dropped the ball on my writing as much because of mis-prioritization as busyness. Isn’t that the way it is sometimes? It feels like we have gotten extra busy (and perhaps we have) but the truth is that in our preoccupation with duties, obligations, distractions and other’s expectations, it is entirely possible to miss the mark of what is truly most important in life.
This last Sunday I preached on the Sabbath rest that is available to the people of God. Indeed He offers us rest and if we will accept His offer we will not only discover peace (and quiet) for our busy and at times chaotic lives but we will also find inner peace and a thankfulness for all God has done and even now offers to us.
So, let us make sure to rest when we need it, get some time off if the load becomes too heavy (or if we have been distracted from what really is most important) so that after some time away, we can return to our calling, pursue all that God has for us and rest in the knowledge that He provides all that we need for living a holy life.
I am so thankful that in the midst of all of my shortcomings, inadequacies, and weaknesses, God’s grace is sufficient for everything!
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:2
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9
I am tired, how ’bout you?
What do you do when a wave of fatigue comes over you?
You know when sleep doesn’t seem to take the edge off, extra caffeine doesn’t seem to work and neither does getting away into a quiet place of solitude?
Is it because of physical fatigue only? Or is it something more?
The answer for each of us could be (and probably will be) completely different. But I believe it is worth digging to discover from whence cometh this weariness that seems to seep down into our bones.
I believe that physical routines are vitally important to finding rest, energy, strength and a positive outlook on life. We must remember that the body needs certain nutrients, a certain amount of physical activity and certain amount of R & R to be healthy. Please don’t neglect the element of choosing health for your physical body and yet let us also remember that physical is only one component. Truly as holistic beings we must tend to our emotional, intellectual and spiritual rest as well.
Spiritually speaking we must find our rest in the arms of Jesus. He is our sanctuary, our refuge and the one who give breath to our lungs and strength to our steps. If we don’t find rest in Jesus, we will not only experience an emptiness in our soul but the rest of our lives will also feel out of sync. Spiritual “busyness” will never offer the peace and calm that we want and need. We need to take time in the Bible, in prayer, in meditation, in worship and praise and in trusting/believing in order to find the peaceful calm God has for our souls.
Emotional rest and wholeness is vitally important as well and is deeply rooted in spiritual well being. God is our all in all and we must go to Him for everything, but there also must come a place where we stop carrying around heavy emotional loads that are depleting us from within. We must begin to believe and walk in the truth of God’s Word about who we are and what is available to us in Christ. We also need to stop allowing toxic emotions to infiltrate our emotional health. We must not allow emotions to control us any more than we should allow a red light, a pink slip or a grey cloud to control our lives. We are more than the things around us and we are more than the emotions that want to control us.
Intellectual rest and wholeness similarly is intricately connected to our spiritual lives and the mind of Christ that is ours when we trust Him as our Savior. But like our emotional lives, our intellectual lives must find rest by ceasing from labor and not carrying weight that we were never meant to carry indefinitely. There are some thoughts we never need to think or dwell on and there are certain thoughts that only should be considered for a time. True respite and peace is found in thinking on the eternal truths that are excellent and praiseworthy. Intellectual rest means that it is not only good but necessary to stop trying to “figure it out” and trying to “wrap our heads around it”. Intellectual rest and emotional rest comes from trusting God.
All of these things remind us to “be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him”. We can simply gaze upon a sunset and enjoy God’s handiwork. It is okay to sit and watch the wind blow through the tops of the trees and just enjoy living and breathing. Rest and wholeness entails letting go, trusting God, ceasing from labor and enjoying that which God has put before us in this present moment. This is not a thorough primer on rest, relaxation and recovery, but let me tell you that God has a plan for us to experience health and wholeness. It comes from laying our burden down, ceasing our labors and exhausting efforts, trusting God and simply enjoying the present reality of His Presence. Please remember today to “Be still and know that He is God”.
Pastor Michael Johnson 