This world has a nasty habit of stealing things. People have their joy stolen. Thieves love to come in and take your peace. I think that perhaps one of the most devious, evil and devastating thefts is that of the future. Consistently and yes even maliciously people are stealing the future from others. We steal other people’s hope, we steal the possibilities of their lives and we steal the innocence and potential that God has granted them. Who is it that keeps stealing like this? Who keeps taking from others what God intended for them to have? You and me. We are doing it. We are taking away from people the gifts and blessings and possibilities that God has placed before them. And the way that we do this is through our personal choices to be angry, to complain, to argue, to be negative and divisive and to allow our own selfishness to permeate everything we do. By our own self-centered misery we are stealing the future of the next generation.Continue reading “Stealing the future”
I went to my prayer closet…
So, I went to my prayer closet today…and heaven didn’t open with angels ascending and descending on a ladder illuminated by light and heavenly choruses of “hallelujah”. So what now?
Just trying to make it through
Every day we face opportunities, obstacles, situations, circumstance and people. And many times we find ourselves “just trying to make it through”.
- If we can just get through this…
- If we can just make it to the other side…
- I’m just holdin’ on right now, but this will soon be over…
- This too shall pass…
- I just hope to live through all this…
These are sentiments and thoughts that I imagine many (if not all) of us have experienced at some time or another. And sometimes it seems like it takes all the grit, perseverance, hanging on and not giving up that we have just to take another step. So is there a way that we can make it through with more of our sanity and peace intact? Is it possible to get through situations without having them take all the wind out of our sails? In this post I would like to discuss a few things that will help you develop your “stick-to-it-iveness” and to discover joy, peace and happiness along the way.Continue reading “Just trying to make it through”
You won’t ever measure up
We all know how hard we are on ourselves. We don’t cut ourselves much slack, but keep pushing ourselves harder and farther. We expect a lot from ourselves and seek discipline to improve ourselves and sometimes chastise ourselves when we fall short of our own expectations, hopes and dreams. And yet when things really fall apart we do give ourselves grace (for we know how hard we tried and what our motive really was). As hard as we are on ourselves, there comes a place where we say to ourselves “You tried hard, you really had good intentions, but no one is perfect, so pick yourself up and keep going”. Continue reading “You won’t ever measure up”
How to stay at peace in the midst of other people’s turmoil
Every day we interact with people, whether from afar or up close and personal. Each of us brings our own perspective, opinion, experience and concern to the table. One thing that many people bring with them is their anger: their soap boxes and their negative outlook on certain things. How do we as Christians stand fast and continue in our hopefulness unshaken by that which has seized those around us? How can we maintain our peace and hope in the midst of other people’s turmoil?Continue reading “How to stay at peace in the midst of other people’s turmoil”
The person in front of you
What is God’s will for my life? What does God want me to be doing with my time, talents and treasure? How can I share the gospel of Jesus Christ? Who do I know that needs encouragement, help and love today?
These may be questions that you ask yourself and yet often the answer to these questions is quite literally right in front of us.Continue reading “The person in front of you”
Practically loving people
Intentionally
Proactively
Not based on how I feel or how limited/imperfect I may beContinue reading “Practically loving people”
Unaware
Have you noticed how unaware we are at times? We simply miss that which is before us. Many times it’s not until we look back that we are able to see that which was there. Sometimes it is the lost item we are looking for at home, other times it is the person who is trying to get our attention, many times it is the presence and activity of the Lord in the world around us.
Do you find that you are unaware? Does it sometimes seem that you miss the things right in front of your face?
Many times it is far easier to see what other people seem to be missing in their lives. We can see so plainly what they seem oblivious to. Sometimes we miss things because we are not paying attention, other times it is because of distraction and busyness. Sometimes it is simply because we have not attuned our eyes or ears to be on the lookout for certain things.
Here are the things that we need to be most aware of everyday:
- We need to be aware of and realize that God is love, He loves us and is presently working that we might know, receive and walk in His salvation
- We need to be aware of the people around us and that every person we see, meet, talk to or think about has present needs and could use some manner of encouragement, supply, strength, wisdom or love
- We need to be aware that in this very moment there is available to us everything we need for life, godliness and eternity and it is found in Christ Jesus
- We need to be aware that apart from God we are nothing but if we abide in Him every moment of every day we can live in fullness of hope, joy, peace and abundant life!
If we are unaware of these things we won’t receive them or the fullness of life that the knowledge of these things bring. If we are unaware of these things we will walk around preoccupied with lesser things and missing out on what matters most for this life and eternity. Please let this be your signpost that says “Be aware: God at work”. Please be aware and then receive all of this from the hand of the One who provides it for you out of the depths of His love and holiness.
Jesus died for them
No matter who you look at. No matter how different they are from you. No matter what “weird” things they like or how they dress or what language they speak, Jesus loves them.
We are all so different in so many ways. Our differences often become dividing lines. We perceive and we judge. We elevate our likes and dislikes higher than theirs. We consider our ways the best ways our our thoughts the best thoughts. If they don’t see it my way, like what I like, or look like, smell like, and sound like me…
But remember that Jesus loves every single person.
He loves them so much that He died for them. Continue reading “Jesus died for them”
What to do with other people’s perceptions of me
How do you perceive me? What do you think of me, when you see me? Do you like what you see? Do you approve? Do I meet your standards? Would you pick me to be your friend/co-worker/confidant/etc? In your thinking of me, do you admire me or loathe me? Do you think I have it figured out or think I know nothing? Do you respect me or have no use for me?
These are questions that we ask ourselves. More properly perhaps, these are questions, laden with doubt, fear, accusation and falsehood that the devil loves to pose to us, so that we might be defeated, divided and destroyed. So what do we do with other people’s perceptions of ourselves?Continue reading “What to do with other people’s perceptions of me”
Pastor Michael Johnson 