Recharging Your Spiritual Batteries

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. – Matthew 14:13

Last night I played a tennis match with my tennis team.  It was an indoor match and although it was cooler outside it was very hot inside.  To make matters worse, I had not played for almost three months so I was not in top physical condition.  So I welcomed the breaks between games when I had the opportunity to rest, drink some water and recharge.

We all need times in life to rest and recharge.  Even Jesus took breaks in his ministry to find some peace and quite and recharge his spiritual batteries.  Life can be very demanding and we can grow tired and worn-out in all that we need to do.  This can cause us to be physically tired as well as spiritually drained.  So we need to take time to withdraw from the busyness of life and rest, drink deeply from the living water and recharge our spiritual batteries.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord, for the work you call me to do.  Help me to make time to step back so that I can rest and recharge so that I do not become spiritually and physically drained.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Plan a time of retreat, put it on your calendar and make sure you use that time to truly rest and recharge so that you can then step back into the game and be ready to fully follow God’s call.  

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Ring Out The Gospel Message

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7

The Liberty Bell is an iconic bell representing the independence of the United States.  It was one of many bells thought to have been rung to announce America’s Declaration of Independence from British rule.  Although many bells where rung on that day, it is the Liberty Bell that has stood the test of time to be the bell that carries the message of independence to future generations. 

The Liberty Bell is an unlikely choice for this honor, as it is an inferior bell as far as bells go.  It cracked when it was first rung and had to be re-cast.  The re-cast bell did not ring well, so it was re-cast a second time.  Through this process of re-casting the metal became brittle which led to the much larger crack that gives the bell its unique appearance today.  Although the bell is cracked, broken and inferior it is the bell that has carried the message of independence throughout our nation’s history.

As Christians we are a lot like the Liberty Bell.  Because of sin we are broken, we are inferior and cracked; like jars of clay.  But we have been chosen to be bearers of God’s treasure which is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Despite our brokenness we have been given the glorious opportunity and responsibility to ring the gospel message loud and clear to our world.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord that in my brokenness you have chosen me to bring the message of the gospel to others.  Forgive me when I use my brokenness as an excuse.  Help me to not be ashamed of the gospel and ring it out loud and clear for all to hear.  Amen.  

   

Faith Tip:  We have been chosen as God’s people to go out and tell the world about Jesus Christ.  So let us shout out the message in our words, actions, and attitudes.  

Written By Pastor Aaron Anderson

A Stiff Neck

“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.” – Exodus 32:9

As a boy, I remember one day lying on my bed when my brother came in and sat down on the bed with his head cocked way to one side.  He complained that his neck was stiff and he couldn’t move it.  I thought he was joking around so I quickly, but gently, took my foot and gave a swift kick to his head.  His head snapped upright.  I thought he might be mad, but instead he said, “Wow, thanks, my neck isn’t stiff anymore.”  It turns out he was telling the truth and my kick had healed his stiff neck!

No matter how old we are, we can become a stiff-necked person.  We can be obstinate, inflexible and stuck in our ways.  When we get stiff-necked we become like hardened clay in the hands of the potter and it is difficult for God to work with us, mold us and shape us.  Sometimes we just need a swift kick from the Spirit to heal us from our stiff-necks and make us more open to God’s will for our life.  How is your neck today; is it a little stiff?

Prayer:  Father, forgive me when I become a stiff-necked person and my will becomes hard to bend.  Help me to be more open and pliable in my life so that you can mold me and shape me according to your plan. Amen.

Faith Tip:  Is there an area in your life where you have become stubborn and set in your ways?  Think about that today and find ways to become more open and less stubborn and allow God to shape you according to his plan.       

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Quality vs. Quantity

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. - Psalm 119:34

The term, “Quality vs. Quantity” is a term that sparks many debates throughout life.  Is it better to mass-produce a product or make a few quality products?  Is it better to have many friends or just a few very close friends?  Is it better to spend a lot of time with your children or quality time with your children?  For some of these questions the answer depends on the person or circumstance, for others the answer may be both.  With God’s word the answer should be both quality and quantity.

It is good to be in God’s word as often as possible, but if all we are doing is striving for quantity then we are missing the point of being in God’s word.  When we read the Bible for daily devotions or try to read the entire Bible in a set amount of time, we sometimes fall into the trap of just reading the words without gaining understanding.  It is better to read less and gain understanding, than to read a large quantity of God’s word and gain nothing from it.  Is your Bible reading based on both quality and quantity?

Prayer:  God, I thank you for your word.  Help me to be in your word as much as possible, but also help me to gain understanding.  Forgive me when I just read the words and fail to gain understanding.  Help me strive in my Bible reading to achieve a balance of quality and quantity.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  Examine your Bible reading.  Do you have enough quantity?  If not, make more time to read your Bible.  Do you have enough quality?  If not, read your Bible in such a way that you have time to absorb it and gain understanding.  

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson   

Fitting In

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. – Ephesians 2:19

I enjoy traveling to different countries and places.  It is interesting to see new sights and experience diverse cultures.  Although I enjoy these travels I do not enjoy the feeling of being a foreigner.  It is difficult to get around when you don’t know the language.  At times it can be uncomfortable interacting with others when you don’t understand the cultural norms and customs.  You feel as if you just don’t fit in.

Fortunately, in Christ we will never have that feeling in God’s Kingdom.  Actually, it is here on earth that we should feel like foreigners and strangers, because this is not our home.  God’s Kingdom is our home and we are never foreigners and strangers in God’s Kingdom.  In God’s household we always fit in!

Prayer:  Thank you Father, for giving me a home.  Forgive me when I become too comfortable in this temporary earthly home.  Place a longing in my heart to be at home with you. Amen.  

Faith Tip:  Many who come into the church feel like foreigners and strangers, because they do not know the customs and norms of attending a worship service.  How might you help a new person at church feel like they are welcome and a fellow citizen in God’s household?

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson

Cleaning the Files

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 

As I go through files in my office, it’s kind of a trip down memory lane in connection with the projects I have worked on and people the Lord has brought into my life. I’m not crazy about filing, but I do love to reminisce. Unfortunately, along with the great times that have happened in the past, there have also been challenges. These we would just as soon forget. However, we can “forget” or let these experiences have less of a hold on us in forgiving the people involved. If we hold on to the anger and bitterness, we are hurting others but mostly ourselves.

When Jesus died on the cross, there was a big file of bad situations marked Sin. We were and are guilty. Jesus forgave us and suffered for us. If the Lord of the universe can do that for us, there’s no reason we can’t do that for someone else. Free yourself from the bonds of not forgiving. It’s not worth hanging onto any longer. God wants you to trust him and be free.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for forgiving, loving and dying for me. You didn’t have to do it. I pray that I can obey you and forgive others who have hurt me. Amen

Faith Tip: Is there someone the Lord has brought to your mind to forgive? Pray, trust and forgive. 

Written by Kathy Bruins

Overcoming

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. – 1 John 5:5

There are many self-help books sitting on the shelves of the bookstores today touting what you need to overcome and be successful in this world.  Their advice is endless; better time-management, understanding your strengths, living in the moment, controlling your anger, believing in yourself, etc…  The list goes on and on.  Some of this is good advice and most can help us live a better life, but John gives us the best advice of all.  John tells us that overcoming in this world is not so much about believing in ourselves, but believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Are there problems you are struggling with today?  There are many ways to solve the problems that we encounter in this world, but we must first start by placing our belief and trust in Jesus Christ.  When we come to Jesus with our problems and we trust that he will carry us through and we lean on him, he will provide us with the strength, wisdom and energy to overcome the problems we face in this world.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to rely more on you and less on myself.  Give me what I need to overcome the struggles I am facing.  Thank you for always being there for me.  Amen.

Faith Tip:  What problem are you facing today?  What do you need to do to give that problem to Jesus?   

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson