Thought for the day...

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Revelation benediction #2: Blessed dead
By Pastor Mark Jeske
In the circles in which I move, nobody much envies dead people. “Poor Benny,” they say. “He was sick for so long.” “Poor Louise. She had a hard life.

Actually you would do well to be one of the Christian dead. If you died a believer in Jesus Christ, the book of Revelation calls you blessed: “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them’” (14:13).

Labor in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. In fact, we will have plenty of work to do in heaven—interesting, challenging, creative, fulfilling work. It’s the dreariness of our labor here on earth that is so draining, labor that’s unappreciated, mindlessly repetitive, pointless, misused, insufficiently compensated, and criticized. How blessed are they who are finally done with that phase of their existence—finally set free for joyful service!

It gets better for the Christian dead—their deeds follow them, that is, the good things they did on earth will finally get recognized by Christ himself! We all (quite rightly) expect to get yelled at when we appear at the Pearly Gates. In fact, on the day of judgment, the only thing you will hear from the King is, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your Master’s happiness.”

 

October 23, 2019
Verse of the Day
Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4 NIV

 

Stress Management: Don’t Worry!
By Rick Warren — October 18, 2019

“Don’t worry about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

Work doesn’t keep you up at night; worry does.

God clearly states in the Bible what he thinks about worry. Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything” (NLT).

Why do you need to let go of your worry?

Worry is unreasonable. Here are a couple of reasons why that’s true. First, worry exaggerates the problem. Have you noticed if somebody says something bad about you, the more you think about it, the bigger it gets? Second, worry doesn’t work. To worry about something you can’t change is useless. And to worry about something you can change is a waste of time. Just go change it!

Worry is unnatural. No one is a born worrier. You might think you are, but you’re not. Worry is something you learned. Since worry is unnatural, it’s also unhealthy. Your body wasn’t designed to handle worry. When people say, “I’m worried sick,” they’re telling the truth. Doctors say a lot of people could leave the hospital today if they knew how to get rid of guilt, resentment, and worry. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body” (NLT).

Worry is unhelpful. Worry cannot change the past, and worry cannot control the future. All it does is mess up today. The only thing that worry changes is you. It makes you miserable! It’s never solved a problem.

Worry is unnecessary. God made you, he created you, he saved you, and he put his Spirit in you. Don’t you think he’s going to take care of your needs? There’s no need to worry.

The first step in stress management is to refuse to worry about anything. Why? Because it’s unreasonable, unnatural, unhelpful, and unnecessary.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7, “You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern” (PHILLIPS).

God personally cares about you and for your needs. So all those things you’re stressed, anxious, and worried about? Let them go. Give them to God

 

October 24, 2019
Verse of the Day
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV

 

October 25, 2019
Verse of the Day
By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
Proverbs 29:4 NIV

 

God Always Provides. All You Have to Do Is Ask
By Rick Warren — October 19, 2019


“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 NLT).

When I was a kid, anytime I needed something, I’d talk to my dad. Sometimes I needed something expensive, but not once as a kid did I worry about where my father was going to get the money for whatever I needed. That wasn’t my job! It was my dad’s job to figure out where the money would come from. It was my job as a kid to simply ask.

It’s not your job to figure out how God’s going to provide. It’s your job to ask.

The Bible says in James 4:2, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (NIV).

Worry less, and ask more. Instead of worrying, pray about everything.

Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).

If God has solved your biggest problem, everything else is small by comparison. If God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for your sins, don’t you think he loves you enough to help you with your finances? Don’t you think he loves you enough to help you with your health? With your relationships? With career decisions? With closing a deal? With your deadline?

There’s no area of your life that doesn’t interest God. He already knows what you need, but he still wants you to ask him for it. Instead of worrying, pray about everything

 

October 26, 2019
Verse of the Day
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

 

What does God want of you?
By Pastor Mark Jeske
Remember the old WWJD rubber bracelets that people used to wear? “What Would Jesus Do?” Those bracelets served a good purpose if they kept people more mindful of God in their lives. But they could also provide a lazy person’s shortcut to behavior decisions.

Can I be a little direct? I think it’s hazardous to assert that you know what Jesus would do in all situations. In the three years of their ministerial training, Jesus’ disciples were astounded over and over at the things the Master said and did. They could not predict his behaviors and in fact repeatedly and wrongly tried to talk him out of the unpleasant but absolutely necessary parts of the Father’s plan of salvation. And herein lies the danger—with only WWJD as your moral compass, you might be tempted to call on your Jesus-guesswork to justify what you’ve already decided you really want to do.

You need surer ground than your own imagination. Go to the Book. The Bible is an absolutely reliable guide to your decision-making and not subject to Satan’s whisperings. But take it straight up—do not adulterate with your own notions, philosophies, feelings, and secret wants: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar” (Proverbs 30:5,6).

A better bracelet behavior reminder? How about WDJS (i.e., “What Did Jesus Say?”

 

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All your needs
By Sarah Habben
Would you believe it if someone told you, “I can meet your every need”? What if that someone was your future spouse? your doctor? your boss?

Most of us have been around long enough to realize that such a claim has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. Nevertheless, someone has made that promise to us. That Someone doesn’t say he can meet all our needs. He says he will.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

The apostle Paul wrote these words in prison. He lacked privacy. He lacked privileges. His death sentence loomed. How could he claim that God had met all his needs? Three simple words show the root of his conviction: In. Christ. Jesus.

Perhaps Paul’s situation resonates with you. Perhaps you feel imprisoned by your own body, or barred by circumstances you can’t control. To you, too, God makes his daring promise. He will meet all your needs. Not by rooting around in his pocket lint, but according to the “riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” That’s no back pocket—that’s a bottomless barrel. Out of that barrel God draws a brimming ladle of forgiveness. Of salvation. Of resurrection comfort. Of ascension power. Out of that barrel, who is Christ, God scoops a rich helping of patience, trust, hope, and contentment . . . and then says, “Dear one, there’s more where that came from!”

Enough for all your needs.

 

October 27, 2019
Verse of the Day
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16 NIV

 

The best treat of all!
By Linda Buxa
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).

In just a few days, little Cinderellas, Darth Vaders, ninjas, and ballerinas—children whom Jesus loves very much—will ring your doorbell. They seem to love all the pretend scary elements that come with trick-or-treating. In reality, though, each one of these children may have life circumstances that are truly dark and scary. What they may not know is they have a Father who loves them deeply and watches over them—and he will always be there when they are afraid.

That’s why you are in the neighborhood! Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity. When you open the door, smile and show God’s love to every one of his little children who come to your door. Add a Bible passage to your candy or include a card inviting them to church with you.

Then come up with a plan for the rest of the year. Walk around your neighborhood and pray for the homes and people in it. Then get to know the neighbors God has put around you. Be the one in the community who always has a smile. Talk to them about Jesus, the one who changes darkness into light. Let them know about the one whose perfect love casts out fear

 

October 28, 2019
Verse of the Day
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1 NIV

 

October 29, 2019
Verse of the Day
Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8 NIV