Pastor Matt’s Thoughts… May 2012

Your Daily Walk

A Church sign in Palatka, Florida says, “You can’t walk with God and run with the world.” They are right on! James 4:4 “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosever therefore will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.” Yes we do “like in the world “ but as believers of God, we are not “of the world” (John 15:19) So even through we live on this earth, we are really “strangers and pilgrims” here. (1 Peter 2:11).

As you draw closer and closer to the Lord in your daily walk, your desire for the worldly lifestyle fades and wanes. We walk “in the world” everyday, but if we walk with God, the glitz and glitter of the world will lose it’s

glow with us.

On the other hand, if we foolishly think we can “run with the world” our walk with God will disappear. The longer you walk with God, your trying to justify a worldly lifestyle will soon stop. The powerful presence of God has a way of commanding our full attention.

Your talk, your dress, your attitudes, your behavior-all will reflect His will and way…if you walk with Him. You might be surprised to learn that the world is never impressed when we adopt the worldly mind-set and lifestyle. Only when we are different from the world can we expect to

have the ear of God and even to those in the world.

Living a separated, distinct Christian life always results from a regular “walk with God.” That same lifestyle I believe will also draw attention from those out “in the world”.

If you want to have any kind of legitimate witness to those you work with, your neighbors, even family you will get it as they see your closeness to the Lord. And know nobody has ever said it would not cost you something to follow Jesus.

“Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

　

　

　

　

　

Pastor Matt’s Thoughts…. April 2012

Jesus Lives, Let us Rejoice! Resurrection Sunday

A friend of mine in ministry once wrote, “It all begins in a dark, musty tomb. Before dawn, just as the glow is beginning in the eastern sky, it starts. It is only reflected in the tiny drops of dew resting on the wet grass. No one sees it, no one is expecting it, but it happens nonetheless. It changes the tomb, changes the eastern sky, changes the darkness, changes the dew and the grass, it happens nonetheless. It needs no human hands, no fanfare or audience, no assistance from anything on this earth, God raises Jesus Christ from the dead!”

“Listen, I tell you a mystery..” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15. “We will not all die, but we will all be changed. for this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on the immortality.”

Over the many years of ministry in funeral homes and cemeteries I have read those words. A mystery. A twinkling of an eye. We will all be changed. Listen! Before, we would perish, now, we will last forever, everything a moment ago that was mortal now is eternal. And it had nothing to do with us, but it had everything to do with us. That is, we were not involved with it happening, but it involves us in its change. God raises Jesus from the dead! “God who raises Jesus Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through the Spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8.

On this Resurrection (Easter) Sunday, we will join with the multitudes all around the world, who will gather to sing, speak and listen for the mystery. We will once again be given an opportunity to be changed forever. The tomb and the darkness, the eastern sky, the dew and the grass will be changed. Those in their Easter clothes, the family in chaos, the couple hoping for a baby, the young and the old, a world in sadness, the woman holding back tears and the man checking his watch, all will be changed.

If you listen carefully for the mystery, you will hear the stone be moved, see the resurrection reflected in the eyes of those around you and feel God raising you up.

Then the saying will be fulfilled “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ Service, Pastor Matt

Church Valentine Party Feb. 2012

Love to the End

Love to the End

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all men shall know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). Jesus said these words to the disciples after washing their feet and taking part in the Passover supper.

Jesus loved people. He cared for their souls enough that He left heaven

to come down here and die for all mankind, including you and me. He took time for people, healed the sick, and cast out demons. Jesus showed us how to love. Jesus spent time with the unloved, He affirmed the unlikely, and encouraged the untouchable. He loved us even though we were sinners. If only we could get hold of this love that doesn’t reject or have shallow boundaries, it would revolutionize not only the world and the church, but also us as individual believers.

We can start by choosing to love and accept people without exception, regardless of race, gender, social status, background, sickness or any other unique situation that may be in their lives. I believe this kind of love, God’s love, shinning through His people is what will draw the lost and hurting to Jesus.

Choosing to love at any cost does not mean we should just allow sin to run rampant and say nothing that’s foolish, not loving. Lets challenge ourselves to stretch our ability to love and “be imitators of God, as dearly loved children and live a life of love.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) A love that doesn’t reject and a love that doesn’t quit, is the love that works and lasts.

Pastor Matt

Valentine Party

Hi Everyone, Feb. 17th we will be hosting a Sweets for the Sweet. It starts at 7 p.m. Bring a salad, dessert or both. We will have lots for fun and games. If you have any questions or can help, please let Missy Tressler know.

Men's Breakfast

Hi Guys, Just a reminder that this Sat. Feb. 4 is our Men's Ministry Breakfast and Fellowship.
Starts at 9 a.m. come and join us.

“With God On Our Side in 2012...How Can We Lose?” Romans’ 8:31

Pastor Matt’s Thoughts…Feb.

“With God On Our Side in 2012...How Can We Lose?” Romans’ 8:31

Faith is like a muscle; opposition may strain it, but in the end it grows stronger. The Psalmist David understood this principle. He was continually chased by his enemies. Even when he was being anointed to sit on the throne. Saul the old king was still occupying it, but instead of losing faith in God’s promise, David understood that, “the Lord has set apart (ear-marked) the godly man for Himself” (Ps. 4:3 NAS). So he declared, “In peace I will ….. Lie down…. For You…. Lord make me to dwell in safety”(Ps. 4:8 NAS).

When the Philistines captured him he prayed, “When I am afraid, I will…trust in You” (Ps. 56:3 NAS). And when David ended up in a cave while fleeing from Saul’s jealous rage he said, “I will hide beneath the shadow of your winds until this …is past” (Ps 57:1 TLB).

Legend says that during the third century, when St. Felix of Nola was running form his enemies, he took refuge in a cave. Eventually a spider began to weave a web across the small opening, sealing it off and making it look like nobody had been inside for months. As a result his enemies passed by and didn’t bother looking there. Later, when he stepped out into the sunshine, Felix declared, “Where God is, a spiders web is a wall. And where He isn’t, a wall is but a spider’s web.” Jesus said you’d have problems on earth; people will disappoint you, and you’ll disappoint yourself. Sometimes you’ll end in a cave because of something you did, and other times because situations you have no control over. But God is with you either way. And like Paul said, “With God on our side…how can we lose.”