10-28-2018

Good Morning All,

             1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

       Most of you read this as an email so you probably already know what I just learned the other day.  We were having some issues with our email account.  We wouldn’t get a lot of emails which we were supposed to receive.  Now there was a time when that wasn’t that big of an issue but now many important messages are sent only via the email so you have to be able to get them.  It seemed like the email was full.

     It was a little confusing because we never left a lot of emails in our inbox.  We either put them into different files or else we put them in the trash bin file.  We thought we were good to go but we were having troubles.  It turned out that every so often you have to delete your trash bin file or else it gets full and it bogs down the whole email system.  Even though it was in the trash bin file, it was still in the email account and was taking up room.  So we deleted the trash bin file and we didn’t have trouble after that.

     Our faith life is a lot like this.  We go to church, we say the confession of sins and then we move on to the next part of the service.  Yet do we just say the words because that is what we are supposed to do?  Do we just go through the motions?  Do we just send the junk to the trash bin file but not truly delete it?

    In order for confession to work, we have to mean it.  We cannot simply say the words and then think “poof” it is done.  Confession involves faith.  It involves some commitment on our part.  We must truly confess our sins, willingly and desiring to give them over to God.  We should view confession as going to God and saying, “God, I am tired of carrying these sins around.  They weigh me down and hold me back.  You take them so I can get rid of them.”

     God forgives your sins.  He releases you from the pain and suffering that sin causes us but we have to let go as well.  We can’t keep them around, even in the deepest parts of our memories.  We have to surrender them.  We have to delete them from our memory.  We let them go so that the devil doesn’t have any tools to taunt us with.  We have to let them go so we can go on and forgive others.  Forgiveness is the key but receiving the forgiveness, taking it to mean what it means, is essential as well.  Trust God to forgive your sins; that is what faith is.  Trust God to dispose of them; trust God to send them far away.  Those sins never need to bother you anymore.  So don’t just store those sins away but delete them permanently from your life.

Father of all that is, lead us to release those sins which cause us pain.  Give us the courage to confess and release the pain in our life.  Lead us to see that this world’s power over us is only through guilt.  Be with those who are especially in need of the peace that your forgiveness brings.  Shower them with your mercy that they can live in the contentment of your grace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret   

10-27-2018

Good Morning All,

       Matthew 5:39; “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

      One of the hardest things we ever do is to sit and honestly look at our lives as Christians and look at our own faults, weaknesses and temptations.  Look at your life and honestly say, “This is where I am the weakest”.  We all have at least one most of us have a few.  There are those events or actions which trigger our “Old Adam” quicker than it should.  For some it is pride.  They look at what they have been given by God and then almost hurt their shoulder patting themselves on the back.  Some are tempted by lust.  They seem to think every person of the opposite sex is there for their pleasure.  Some are greedy; they seek money no matter what the cost.  For others it is vanity, for some it is gossip for some it is a highly judgmental attitude.  Everyone has one of those places where we are so easily tempted; it is easy to slide into the trap that the devil sets.  What is yours?

    Mine is our verse; I do not turn the other cheek well.  This is not in a physical sense.  I have never thrown a punch or had one thrown at me.  Mine is the verbal assault.  When someone makes a caustic remark, or just an inane one, I have to bite so hard on my tongue that it can draw blood.  I am also sorry to say; I don’t always bite hard enough.  The thing about this temptation is that it is so easy.  Sometimes, as I listen to what the other person is saying, I think, “this is too easy of a target to let go of.”  Or, if the other person has been curt or cutting in their remark, well, all bets are off and he will hear what I really think.  I have no fear and I am quick and it usually only serves the purpose of the devil.

    There are a number of reasons that I mention this.  First, we all have some trigger that is more easily pulled than other ones.  Second, for me, as I look at this in my life; it makes me more compassionate as others share their short falls.  I am not better than anyone else, probably worse because I know better.  Yet I fall short, far more than I like.  Maybe you do as well.

    This is why it is important to confess your sins to God.  If you confess the same sin over and over, then maybe you need to ask God to help you find ways to deal with those issues.  One of the best ways to avoid sin is to avoid the situations where it is easily triggered.  If you are tempted by gossip, try and avoid the coffee klatches.  If you are tempted by lust, be careful what you read or look at.  For me, I try to wait a few seconds before I answer.  At least if I think, the Spirit has a chance to say “shush, you don’t really want to say that.” 

     We are all sinners.  Most of us are not the murderers or blatant adulterers that are often thought of.  Most of us are garden variety sinners, kind of like Adam and Eve.  It wasn’t much but it broke the relationship they had with God and it took the Son of God dying to fix it; just like we need him to fix us as well.

Father, when I look hard at my life, I see the holes that sin leaves.  Forgive me in my weaknesses and help me to combat those lures that the devil leaves for me to find.  Protect me this day that I may live as a witness to your glory.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret       

10-26-2018

Good Morning All,

       Luke 12:22; “And Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”

    “How am I supposed to do that?”  That was a question asked by a woman after a Bible Study one day.  I worry about my kids and grandkids; I worry about what kind of world they will live in; I worry about my mom as she ages; am I wrong?  “What about the verses where we are told to show compassion for others; isn’t that a form of worry?”  All good thoughts.  How do we, as God’s redeemed children, balance her thoughts?  If we look at the word used for “anxious”, we might be able to discern what Jesus is saying.  

    The word used here literally means “to go to pieces”; in other words, to fall apart.  As Christians, since we have Jesus, we do not have to go to pieces when something happens.  We have God’s promise to protect and defend us.  We are safe; so, let’s look at it this way.  We are not to be anxious but we are to be concerned.  Anxiety causes us to freeze and not respond.  Concern moves us to action.  If I am concerned about a member of my church, I call them, text them, email or go visit them.  In other words, I do something.  This is compassion; it motivates us to action.  Anxiety paralyzes us into inaction.  Anxiety is to worry about things beyond our control and thus out of our sphere of influence or action.

    We want to remember that when we use the proper definitions of scriptural language; it always calls for an active response.  To “Hear” or “listen” means to listen to His Word and then respond as He desires.  To “believe” means to live our life in accordance with the statement of faith we just made not just say so many words.  Compassion or concern should cause you to act.  Anxiety is the devil’s way of causing us to doubt God.  What kind of world will our children and grandchildren have?  A world where a loving God still provides for his children.  We need to see that worrying about what we cannot control or influence is to show a lack of faith that God has already provided for that event.

    We are concerned about our children so we talk to them and care for them and nurture them as God would have us do.  The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of a nurtured faith; a faith that looks to God for all that we need.  We are concerned about the hungry and the homeless so we donate, as best we can, to help in these situations.  It doesn’t do any good if we sit here and worry that someone, somewhere might be hungry, rather we need to focus where we can help and then help. 

    Don’t be anxious; it does no good.  Rather be concerned and have compassion and then respond as God enables you.  Pray for all, speak to and for those who are in need and try to help in any way you can.

Father, guard my heart that I may not be anxious.  Rather move me to see the things that I can do and the things that I can change.  Use my hands, voice, and treasures to bring glory to your name and comfort to my neighbor.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret