Helpful or Heartless toward Others?

Interceding for others can be difficult. It is difficult when we as humans are prone to being selfish. Intercession requires us to be aware of others that are around us and the needs they may have in their lives. We have to pray for and with discernment of others. Praying for others is, as I shared yesterday, a very important ministry that Christians have been given. And Oswald Chambers gives us the best reminder and encouragement to be intercessors - Jesus is Himself making intercession for us right now and so is the Holy Spirit. This should encourage us to pray for each other.

But unfortunately the enemy can use life and busyness to hinder our prayer life. The burdens of life can create pressure that produces a "hardness toward God and despair in our own souls." Let us stay on guard and pray. Pray for yourself and for those around you.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Heedfulness or Hypocrisy in Ourselves

Intercessory prayer is a very important ministry that Christians can do for others. As we are reminded by Oswald Chambers in our devotion for today, we are able to pray for others through discernment. The Holy Spirit gives us an insight into another person's life and it should prompt us to pray for them. Unfortunately people like to use their discernment to criticize others instead of pray for them. "We see other people failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf." I can't think of one person who seeks out others to ridicule or criticize them so let's not do it to others. A negative, critical spirit is not a spiritual gift. Prayer goes much farther and does so much more so let us pray for each other.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?

Walking consistently with Jesus is difficult for many people. We just don't always feel like putting forth the effort that a consistent walk with the Lord requires. But if we are going to be effective servants for Jesus and willingly show Him our love, then we need to make it a practice to walk with Him daily. To be a disciple, we need to discipline ourselves to walk with Jesus everyday. We often want to do life on our terms but we need to get out of this trap. Our wisdom is limited, God's wisdom has no limits. Our vision is short sighted, Jesus can see into the future. As Oswald Chambers reminds us in our devotion for today, "Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him." God deserves our complete devotion and faithfulness. Let us never turn back from walking with Jesus as many have done. Let us stay the course, through the good and bad times.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?

What gets in your way of seeing God? Do we have a hard time seeing God because we have taken our eyes off Him? Have we turned our eyes toward an idol? If we are more focused on the things around us than on God then we have a idol before us. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get distracted by life: our jobs, problems, our successes. If we have turned our eyes away from the Lord then we need to refocus back on Him. As Oswald Chambers reminds us, "The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your thoughts and imagination under control." We need to focus more on the Lord than on other things. I know this is difficult, especially in the middle of trying times but when we look to Jesus, He will help us. He will guide us through the times of darkness as well as the good times. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and you won't be let down.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Transformed by Beholding

When I was younger, I used to love to go with friends to the lake and go water skiing for the weekend. One of the best things we saw was waking up early Saturday mornings and seeing the stillness of the water. It would be still because the other boaters and skiers hadn't gotten out and churned up the water. The water would be as smooth as glass. In fact you could almost shave and comb your hair by looking at your reflection in the water. Everything was reflected. This is how our lives should be. We should reflect the Lord to the world around us. The more we learn about Jesus, the more we should be living like Him. Let us take time each day to look at Him in Bible reading and prayer so that we continue to grow more and more like Him. You may be the only Jesus some will see.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Are you fresh for everything?

When we are born again, there is a freshness about us that comes with the new life Jesus gives. The old passes away and the new comes. But where does this new life come from? As Oswald Chambers reminds us, "Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God ... We don't know where it begins - it is hidden away in the depths of our souls." Thank you Lord for the new life you give us and the freshness. But we have to be on guard because it doesn't take long for the freshness to stale. If we are stale, then that is an indication that we are out of step with the Lord. Be on guard. If you are stale, seek the Lord for a refreshing from His Spirit. Our God is good and merciful. Lean on Him and He will help. Thanks you Jesus.

Please remember to pray for our country and its leaders and the new administration takes over today.

Be blessed.
Pastor Mark

Vision and Darkness

It is very hard when you are given a vision and darkness follows. When God gives us a vision we naturally want to act on that vision. But sometimes we need to wait. Waiting does not come easy to us does it? Our society has sped up feverishly over the years and I believe we have lost the ability to wait on God. As Oswald Chambers reminds us in our devotion for today, "When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait." We can take comfort in the promise that if God has given the vision, He will bring it about in His time. I just wish God would speed things up sometimes but His timing is perfect. So we have to learn to wait.

I believe it is in waiting that great spiritual growth can occur if we stay focused on the Lord. There is also the danger of moving ahead and trying to "help" God, much like Abraham did with Hagar. Lord give us the strength and ability to wait on You.

Be blessed.
pastor Mark