The Lord's Side

Snarling Christians

Snarling at other folks is not the best way of showing the superior quality of your own character. –Anonymous

 James 3:13-14 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”

How often do we close doors of opportunity to minister to the needs of others because we snarl and snap at those around us? Venting anger, disappointment, hurt and fear is commonplace today; however, that does not make it right or profitable for the Believer.

Does snarling really help? Does it draw others toward you? Others that could be supporting you rather than fighting you. Others that you may, by the power and command of God may be able to help, comfort or lead in righteousness.

It does require more effort to care, listen, and meekly lead and to bear one another’s burdens than to drive with hopelessness. The character we display by walking and working side by side would be much more effective at facilitating change if we could only keep our tongues speaking hope and grace, which points others to the saving healing grace of our savior Jesus Christ.

Pastor J

Genuine Love

Saying “I love you” is easy but genuine love involves genuine commitment & dedication.

So focused upon indulgence (which is by its very definition selfish), genuine love has proven impossible to many. Genuine love is unconditional and sacrificial and “Covers a multitude of sins” 1Peter 4:8. Genuine love does not ask, “What’s in it for me.” It does naturally and willingly lift up another, offer hope and strive in other’s best interest.

Today, there is such a turning away from the True Love of God that standard teaching is to look out for number one, to get all you can get and experience all you can regardless of the cost to others. This teaching has even polluted the Church. The one group where anyone should be welcomed and genuinely loved, where hope and joy should abound. We are all, after all, just sinners saved by the genuine love of our gracious Savior. Let us reject worldly teaching and live in genuine love for all.

In Dark Times

In life, we often face dark times filled with fear and loneliness possibly to despair. Suffering through these times, whether from loss, defeat, failure, or any other event, we often feel overwhelmed, enveloped as it were by the darkest of night finding no light, not even a flicker of hope.  Fortunately, there is one for whom the darkness is no barrier. David knew both amazing success and the agony of extreme failure and loss. He endured the torrent of tears that loss releases and the anguish of a broken heart and wounded spirit. Yet, he wrote with the great assurance of experience that he was never alone! Though David could not see through the binding darkness, he discovered one with him able to see and to deliver as though standing in the light of the midday sun. No darkness defeats the True Light who holds you.

Trust not your own sight but the love of the one who holds you.

 

Psalms 139:12

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee (my God); but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thinking about the Christmas Season, I am reminded of Luke’s account of the announcement of the Savior’s birth.

“Glory to God in the highest, & on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14

This great announcement by the angel of the Lord accompanied by a multitude of heavenly host singing to the glory of God did not come to the religious elite nor to the politically powerful but the everyday working class people of Bethlehem. The message is clear and plain; glory is for God and toward others peace and good will. There is no message here of rebellion against oppressors, of conquests, impressing people or acquiring things. Today you can choose to do all to the glory of God and offer peace and good will to all you encounter. It really is up to you how you celebrate and bless others this Christmas.

Thank you for your love and good will toward us.

    Pastor Jay, Jackie & Family

LISTEN

Listening seems to be getting harder and harder today. We have become so comfortable with much speaking and little listening. Attention is on texts and posts, shorthand and acronyms fill our communication making it impersonal and emotionally disconnected from others. We feel free to speak without regard for another’s feelings and yet live where the smallest of things offend people. Listening can do amazing things in our lives and relationships. When God describes listening it involves more than a passing moment.

Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

He describes bowing or leaning in to focus on listening and when He says come unto me, I believe He means don’t just hear the sounds but listen with your mind and process it with your emotions, in other words listen with your soul and it can change everything. Most of us will benefit greatly when we learn to listen God’s way.

COMPLAINING

Why has complaining become so natural and acceptable today even among Christians? Believers are to be people of hope and grace born in the love and security of our Almighty Father where complaining shows an attitude of “in over our heads” and a spirit of hopelessness. What kind of testimony is that for a child of God? Although it is true that we all struggle sometimes with complaining we need to remind ourselves that it never pleases God.

Numbers 11:1-3 “And when the people complained, it displeased
the LORD: …& the fire of the LORD burnt among them, & consumed them…”

I believe that either the fire of God’s judgment or the consuming bitterness of a complaining spirit will consume a consistently complaining Believer. It is time we learn to trust God and live in hope.