Haggai...A Prophet For Today

I don't know if you have spent much time in the Old Testament lately but there really is a LOT of good stuff there! I once had a professor in college who contended we really have a much smaller Bible than we claim since most Christians do not read many of the books contained therein. I fear she may have a point when you consider how seldom books like Obadiah and Haggai show up in our devotional literature.

I want to point you to a verse in the little book of Haggai today. Haggai 1:4 reads, "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" God is the speaker in this verse and the "house in ruin" is the Temple of God. The people in Haggai's day were rebuilding Jerusalem after 70 years in exile but their priorities were all wrong. They were self-centered and their priority was on the rebuilding of their own homes rather than God's Temple and His work in their midst. May we never find ourselves in such a self-centered place! "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." -- Matthew 6:33

Pastor James

Cool Story...

Have you seen God today?

Often times we go about our day in our own little world and we are in such a routine that we miss some amazing blessings from God.  In just two days I have received two different emails from friends who have shared how they saw God in their lives.  Both completely different stories, and both blessed in different ways but both receiving exactly the blessing they needed at that moment!  

Isn't that just like God?!  He hears our prayers and cares about every single thing going on in our lives.  And if we stop and rest long enough we will see the way He is blessing us.  He may choose to bless us through another person, a situation, an unexpected surprise, or even an intimate moment with Him!  Wouldn't you be sad if you were too busy to notice it?!!  He even reminds us to do this in His Word - Be Still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10.  I hope you will take time to be still today!

Jogging The Treadmill...Consistently

I head to the gym most weekday mornings to walk/jog (mostly walk) on the treadmill for half an hour. I imagine this will have some long term health benefits. I am told I am making my heart stronger and I admit I do have more energy since I started. The fellow who works at the gym recently commended me on my consistent attendance and encouraged me that the consistency would pay off. I suppose I am starting to see some of that "pay-off" in how I feel.

Consistency is a rule of life to which most of us pay too little attention. Whether it is a physical, mental or spiritual work out only consistency will produce results. Too often we spend a little time with God or occasional time with God and are disappointed in the lack of "results." Only consistent time with God develops a relationship and a changed life. You cannot build physical muscles with an occasional trip to the gym nor can you build a relationship with your husband, wife or God with an occasional conversation or prayer. The consistency of our actions will build the successes or failures of our life. Spend regular time with God...start today!

Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog...And There Was One Who Was A Prophet Too

During my time with God this morning I was reading in the book of Jeremiah and a verse in chapter 5 really spoke to me. “Your sins have deprived you of good.” When we get to Heaven I bet we will be surprised at how many blessings we missed on earth because of our sin.

God has a lot of blessing to pour out on our life but sin can cause Him to withhold them. Does this make God a mean God? Absolutely not! This makes God a great and perfect Father. When God withholds blessing it is for disciplinary purposes. God loves us too much to let us live in sin without some kind of corrective action on His part.

God wants all of us to have the best life possible and the best life is one fully committed and surrendered to Him. Pray and ask God to help you overcome the sin in your life; the sin that keeps you from experiencing all of the blessing God wants to give you.

God spoke another word to Jeremiah in chapter 3 verse 22, “Return faithless people; I will cure your backsliding.” If you are struggling with some sin in your life turn it over to God, run to Him in prayer and trust Him at His Word. God will cure your backsliding, help you be faithful and give you strength to overcome the temptation that overwhelms you. Only God can cure your backsliding! Self-effort, self-discipline and determination will never be enough to overcome sin in your life. Only God can cure us of our backsliding, get us on the road to right living and empower us to have the kind of life which experiences all of the blessing God intends for us to have. God wants you to begin experiencing His best today!

Spend a Latte time with God today

Like many other people in a America I have developed an expensive habit... Starbucks.   My morning is just not complete without it.  I never thought this would even be a temptation for me because I do not like coffee at all - that is until I discovered the Grande Non-fat six pump Chai Tea Latte... Yes I am one of those people!  Something is just not right in the morning if I haven't had my chai.  There are mornings when I'm running late when I have no choice but to skip the chai, but those mornings it may take me a little more time to get my pep up!  I have also tried to help the budget by substituting a homemade chai but it just isn't the same - no steamed milk, no fun to go cup - not the Starbucks experience!  

Isn't this exactly how we should view spending time with God?  It should be the thing in the morning that we look forward to the most!  It should become a daily habit and when we don't do it we should feel like something is missing in our day.  It should be something that makes us start the day with a pep!  And just like our favorite drink, there is nothing that can substitute for it!  

The next time you indulge in whatever your "chai" is... ask yourself if you have had your time with God today.

A Game of Inches

I watched my Cowboys fall to the Broncos today; the difference between victory and defeat was 2 yards. The Cowboys had the ball on the Bronco 2 yard line with only seconds left in the game but the 'Boys couldn't punch the ball into the end zone. Game over, Broncos win and the Cowboys face a 2-2 start to the season. So often the difference between victory and defeat is a matter of mere inches or in this case a mere 2 yards.

Live 100% surrendered and fully obedient to Christ this week! Anything less places our life in position to lose intended victories, victories Christ intends for us to enjoy, by mere inches.

Taking Down The Goalpost

Have you ever been at a football game that ended with fans rushing the field to tear down the goalposts? I have yet to experience such a game but would certainly like to do so someday. I did attend a baseball game a few years ago in which Kenny Rogers pitched a perfect game for the Texas Rangers. The adrenaline and excitement made the night unforgettable. There was such expectation with every pitch! The fans and players were united in their hope and desire to see Kenny successful at doing what only a handful of pitchers have ever done. Wouldn't it be something if we could experience the same excitement, expectation, energy, hope and unity in worship services across the country in the morning! I'm praying for just such a revival!

2 John and Somesuch

I am preaching a series in this little book of the Bible over the next couple of weeks. The Apostle John wrote 2 John primarily to help us see the absolute indestructible marriage between love and truth for the Christian. Christ is both love and truth so if you are walking with the truth you will necessarily walk in love; a love for God as well as others. The test of fellowship is love. Love God, love others, serve the world!

Why "Love God...Love Others...Serve the World"

I was recently reading a book in which the authors highlighted a church whose "Purpose Statement" was "Love God, Love Others, Serve the World." I like it! The simplicity challenged me to rethink how I was "doing" ministry.

Life can be a complicated! However, more often than we care to admit, the complexities of life are due to the choices we have made along the way. I want to challenge you to think about your life in terms of the simple words of Jesus, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself."