Thought for the day...

Great words.

 

Shine Like Stars
I’m not exactly what you would call a stargazer, but I’ve spent my fair share of clear nights gazing up into the heavens. I’ve learned enough about the star field to point out constellations such as the Big Dipper or Orion’s Belt or Aquarius. And I’ll never forget the time that locating the North Star was the only thing that saved me from spending the night lost in a cold, wet swamp. I used it to find my way out of the inky darkness.

Every now and then I find myself awestruck by the enormity of the star-filled sky. Even though the naked eye can see only a small fraction of the universe God has created, the myriad of twinkling lights in our field of vision can be stunning.

The vastness of this piece of God’s handiwork makes me feel small—as it should. It’s a striking reminder that there is a Creator-God and we are His creation (Nehemiah 9:6). But when I consider the night sky through the lens of Scripture, I find myself invited by our Maker to be a part of something as big and bright as the stars themselves.

The apostle Paul used the stars to describe our mission as believers in Jesus. He wrote that God calls us to “shine among [unbelievers] like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-16 NIV). Stars stand out like bright lights and draw people’s attention. In the same way, God calls us to shine brightly for Christ so that the world living in darkness will see it and be drawn to the “word of life”—Jesus Himself.

The next time you find yourself gazing up at a brilliantly lit night sky, remember that the One who hung those bright lights calls you to shine as beacons of hope and life for the sake of a dark and dying world. —Jeff Olson

MORE: Read Matthew 5:15-16 and consider what it means to “let your light shine before others.”

NEXT: What can prevent you from shining for Jesus? How will you help others see His light today?

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:14‭-‬18 NKJV

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15‭-‬16 NKJV

 

February 5, 2020
Verse of the Day
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV

 

February 6, 2020
Verse of the Day
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV

The spirit of FHC family, so glad to be a part of this group

 

Do something!
By Pastor Mark Jeske
Psychologists, substance abuse counselors, and social workers have a last-ditch strategy when helping someone out of destructive behaviors seems to have hit a brick wall. It’s called an intervention. Friends and family members of the abuser all show up at the same time, surround him or her, and pile their testimonies and observations one upon the other to overwhelm the person’s lies, dodges, and excuses. Interventions often work, because people who have made wrongdoing habitual can’t break out on their own. They need an external energy source to blast them out of their ruts.

That’s true of habitual spiritual sinfulness too. Jeremiah realized with shame and sadness that his nation was so far gone it couldn’t change course on its own. Nothing less than a divine intervention would do, and he prayed for God’s mercy: “Although our sins testify against us, do something, LORD, for the sake of your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you” (Jeremiah 14:7).

Maybe your efforts to get through to an alcoholic or drug abuser in your own circle of friends or family has stalled. Maybe you feel helpless to change your own destructive choices. Call on the Lord, not because of your own worthiness but for the sake of the Lord’s own name and reputation. Be honest with him; accept responsibility; cry out not for a reward you think you deserve but for mercy that you have not deserved.

Lord, do something!

 

Serving God or Money?
By Rick Warren — February 4, 2020


“No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13 NIV).

If God told you to give something away right now and you said, “God, I could give anything else away, but not that,” then you don’t own that thing—it owns you. God will test what’s really first in your life by asking you to give away the very thing you’re holding most tightly.

Luke 16:13 says, “No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve both God and money” (NIV).

You’ve got to decide whom or what you’re going to serve, and your giving will reflect your decision. If God is Lord of your life, then he should be Lord of your wallet, too.

There once was a wealthy man who gave to Christian causes far above his tithe. He said he met with a financial planner years ago. After they had talked for a while, the financial planner took a sheet of paper and drew a box, and outside of it he put a dollar sign representing money and a cross representing Christ. He said, “I hear two things vying for your attention. I can’t help you plan your life until you tell me which of these things you want in the center of that box, which represents your life.” The wealthy man thought about it a moment and then said, “I want Christ at the center of my life.” That was a turning point—that was when he started investing in eternity.

If somebody drew a box and asked what’s in the center of your life, what would you say? Would you place a cross or dollar sign inside the box? Would your bank statement support your answer? You can say something holds first place in your life, but the way you spend your time and money reveals the truth.

There are two key choices in your life when it comes to your finances: who will be your master and where you will put your money—eternity or here and now.

“Store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are” (Matthew 6:20-21 GNT).

God doesn’t need your money. He wants what it represents: your heart. You can show God that he has your whole heart by surrendering control of your money to him and committing to give what he tells you to give in service to him and others.

 

February 7, 2020
Verse of the Day
Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
1 Kings 18:37 NIV

 

Hallowed be
By Pastor Mike Novotny
Hallowed be thy name. Recognize those words? They are the second line (and the first request) in the most famous prayer of all time, the Lord’s Prayer. But do you know what they mean? (Would you bet your cell phone on your answer?) Hallowed? Not exactly a word we use, well, ever! Is it like . . . Hallow-een? Is it . . . the way British gentlemen greet one another? Hallow! Isn’t it . . . the name of the last Harry Potter book?

Let me help. Hallowed is a verb that technically means “to honor as sacred.” But I prefer this definition—“to think of someone as wonderfully different.” In this case, God’s name (what we think about God). That helps me understand Jesus’ famous prayer. The very first thing to pray for, even before daily bread and forgiveness of sins, is for help to think of our Father as wonderfully different. Because if I think of God as different from everything I love in this life, as infinitely better than the best parts of my days, then my soul gets stirred up to worship.

Like this—“Father, open my eyes to see that you are more beautiful than the sun coming up. You are more faithful than my golden retriever. You are more exciting than a last-second touchdown pass. You are more captivating than the little toes of my newborn granddaughter. You are more enjoyable than perfectly cooked pasta. You are more forgiving than my best friend. In a million ways, Father, you are more. You are different. Wonderfully different.”

That’s what Jesus meant when he taught, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9

 

If you dislike a thread stay out of it, do not pizz and moan and get it shut down.
Tolerance is a good thing.

 

February 8, 2020
Verse of the Day
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV

 

Spiritual Struggles
Albert Einstein may have suffered from Impostor Syndrome—the tendency for accomplished people to suspect they’re frauds. He said, “The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease.” Few among us would question Einstein’s colossal contributions to physics. If he doubted his work, where do the rest of us stand?

The flip side of Impostor Syndrome is the Dunning-Kruger effect, in which incompetent people see themselves as gifted. In other words, the clueless are clueless about their own ineptitude, while those who doubt their abilities are often among the high achievers.

A connection to our spiritual life becomes apparent here. If we’re aware of our spiritual struggles, or if we have doubts, that’s a healthy sign that we’re in the fight. It’s when we think we’re fine that we’re spiritually dead. The author of Hebrews pointed to our struggle as something positive. “Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?” he asked (12:5). Then he noted how God disciplines and corrects those who are truly His children. “If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all” (v.8). Strong words that help us understand our need for divine correction!

Thankfully, our spiritual well-being isn’t tied to our competence. We’re completely reliant upon God’s love and Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf. “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us,” Paul wrote, “not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4-5).

God is with you in your spiritual struggles. You’re no impostor! —Tim Gustafson

MORE: Read Ephesians 2:8-10 and see what Paul wrote about the saving work of Jesus and our responsibility to serve Him.

Discover more about doubt.

NEXT: When you struggle spiritually, how do you react? Do you turn to Christ and other believers? Rely on your own strength? How can you tap into God’s wisdom and guidance?

Scripture
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord , Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Hebrews 12:5‭-‬12 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 NKJV

 

February 9, 2020
Verse of the Day
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 NIV

 

Woodwhore I would like to invite you to this thread also...

 

Thank you Jeff, i see alot of good reading in here. I appreciate it. I am only still here because god has protected me from many bad decisions in life. Im not ashamed to admit that i am a recovering heroin addict of 22 years and coming up on 5 years off of alcohol. My wife and i met at a young age when i was at a very difficult time in my life, i truly believe she is my angel sent from heaven to protect me. Thanks for making me think how lucky i am today. I hope everyone has a great day.

 

I was asked several months back if I’d preach this week, as our pastor was away at a friends wedding. I thought I’d share the link in case anyone wanted to see more about me. This isn’t my idea of fun, but God is good and I humbly submit to my church. When asked to serve, I serve.
This is the whole service. My oldest daughter read scripture and then I share, beginning at 36:20.




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