Go to the Ant You Sluggard

Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. I pray all is well with you and if you have not heard it yet this week, you are loved with the genuine affection of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. I wanted to share with you a word from the Lord that has been brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit. But, first, some context: I have been working through my internship with MNSOM and one of the subjects a pastor is required to work through is finances. (A topic that not many people are comfortable talking about.) The people at MNSOM have worked hard to give as many resources as possible to help people be successful in their calling for the Lord. One of the many resources they have provided access to Is financial peace university which, if you haven't heard of before, was created by a gentleman known as Dave Ramsey who is dedicated to teaching people to get out of debt and build wealth using biblical principles. While I was taking one of these classes with my beautiful wife, Proverbs 6:6-11 was brought to the forefront of my mind:

[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, [7] Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, [8] Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. [9] How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— [11] So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. 

https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.6.6-11.NKJV

Or, in other words, work diligently while you are able to and make sure you have more than enough to sustain you when you are no longer able to, lest you have nothing. 

There is another story that applies to this about an ant and a grasshopper. The ant spends all spring, summer and fall gathering food for the winter while the grasshopper spends his time having fun, despite several warnings from the ant that winter would be coming. The grasshopper brushed it off thinking he had more time. Until winter came. The grasshopper knocked on the ant's door asking for food to which the ant replied, “You spent all spring, summer and fall having fun instead of working, laughing at me when I warned you about winter. The food I have is for my family and I. Good day.” With that, the ant closed the door, and the grasshopper was left to fend for himself.

Now, some people would look at the ant as being cruel and that he should have helped his neighbor in need. But I would argue that there is a difference between helping those who cannot help themselves and enabling lazy and destructive behavior.  You see, brothers and sisters, we have entered a season of laziness in our nation. We have told entire generations of people that they do not need to work, that the government will take care of them or rather they can be grasshoppers who can live off the work of the ants. Paul actually addresses this issue in 2 Thessalonians 3:

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be the example of what the kingdom's future culture looks like. Let us imitate the apostles as the Word commands that we may truly disciple our children in the truth, that they would not conform to the laziness of this world but work with the intensity and integrity of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us make every effort to disciple our children and our children's children in the character and way of Christ Jesus that they may be a blessing unto this broken world, glorifying Christ with the way they conduct themselves. 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always, 

Pastor Dakota Swinton

Draw Near to God

Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. I pray all is well with you and your walk.  

Earlier this year, by the grace of God, I was able to attend Men's advance, which, if you don't know, is a men's retreat at the Lake Geneva Christian Center held every year where men are invited to gather together in fellowship and worship with the Lord. Men, if you have not yet been able to attend, I highly recommend it. There is something about 1300 men gathering together to worship the Almighty God! That's truly special! Do you want to know what makes it so special? It is HIS presence that is what made this gathering of 1300 God-fearing men so amazing! He was there. The Holy Spirit was among us, within us and around us. His word proven true in Matthew 18:20 NLT:

[20] For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” 

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.18.20.NLT

And He truly was. However, I am not writing this to you on the importance of gathering together, as important as it is, for it is written in Hebrews 10:25 NLT:

[25] And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.10.25.NLT

No, I am writing this to you to share a conviction I have on my heart regarding my walk with the Lord and the gentle correction I received in the hopes it may be encouraging to you.

My brothers and sisters, while I was in the presence of the Lord He comforted me. I felt as if I was a small babe being cradled against my Father’s chest. I felt a supernatural peace come over me. As well, I felt absolutely and completely safe.The safest I have felt in such a long time. In my heart I heard Our Heavenly Father say, you do not need something like men's advance to be in my presence. All you must do is draw near to me and I will draw near to you.

Let me tell you, the weight of that sentence hit me hard, brothers and sisters, I am guilty of not seeking first the kingdom of God. I am guilty of not following the words written in Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT:

[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.5-6.NLT

I, like so many, have taken my relationship with the Lord for granted and taken advantage of who He is. I have allowed the Idol of Me and my needs to take the place of where Christ Jesus should be: His rightful place on the throne of my heart as Lord of my life. 

Brothers and sisters, this is not how it should be. We are to emulate Christ Jesus and long for the Father's presence, instruction and command, drawing near to Him in a position of reverence in the early hours of the morning, sneaking away from the distractions of our blessings and responsibilities in the middle of the day and again before we slumber, giving thanks to the one who sustains us.

I don't know about you, but I want to seek after the Lord with my whole heart. I want to live for God and with God in such a way that if my life were a story in the Bible it would say he talked with God face to face as a friend. As it is written in Exodus 33:11 NLT:

[11] Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.33.11.NLT

I want to be in the presence of the most high God, so much that my face, too, like Moses, would have to be covered with a veil. Can you imagine that if all believers walked around with veils to not overwhelm non-believers? That would be a sight! But, most of all, I want to seek the presence of God so that I may operate completely out of the profound love that He has for me. That complete sense of security, knowing I am in His hands and the enemy cannot touch me. 

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, if anyone, like me, has a bad habit of writing our Heavenly Father a rain check, I encourage you to join me in repentance to strive to seek first the kingdom of God. To go out of your way to be with Him alone in prayer. To be excited about it like when you first fell in love, you couldn't get enough of your partner's attention and you hung on every word. Give the Lord your God an even greater love than that. Do the work that the Holy Spirit wouldn't just be at men's advance or church, but in your home and in your heart. Draw near to God that he may draw near to you so the whole world may see the glory of God shining from your face and repent and know Christ as Lord and be saved.

2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT

[14]  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.13.14.NLT

Pastor Dakota Swinton

Are You a Duck??

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 NKJV

            There is this saying, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it just may be a duck.”  It’s kind of a silly little statement, but I think of it often when I read this passage.  Paul was talking to the Christians in Rome and saying, you’ve been saved by God’s mercy, stop living like the lost world!  God wants to renew the way you think and transform you into a new person, because His will for you is good, pleasing, and perfect.  Second Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says, “This means anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” 

What does this all mean?  It means our old, worldly self that looks, walks, and talks like the world is gone.  Our new life looks, walks, and talks like Jesus as He enables us to do so. As we surrender our old life and our old ways to God, He replaces it with a life of love, and gratitude, and a heart that wants to honor and worship God in all that we do, think, and say.  On the inside, it is a renewing of our mind and heart, it is a change in the way we think and the desires we have.  It is a mind and heart that long for the things of God and wants the best for those around us.  Our thought process is no longer focused on what we will gain and benefit, but now focuses on the concerns and benefits of others. And, in the midst of all of that, is a joy and peace that words cannot describe.

On the outside, we start bearing the fruit of a life surrendered to God.  For example, perhaps one used to lie to or lose their temper with his/her boss, spouse, friends etc., or maybe they took the credit for other people’s work, perhaps the person in front of them would lose $100 bill and they’d pick it up and keep it instead of returning it.  Now, this person surrendered to God has been transformed, and they don’t do those things anymore.  They are now honest in the things they do.  They own up to their shortcomings and tell the truth, they are patient and don’t lash out in anger and frustration, they work hard and their work is genuine and honest, the person in front of them drops $100 and they quickly catch up to them to return it to.  They are no longer deceitful, short-tempered, and dishonest, but they are now a person of honesty, patience, and integrity. 

The biggest transformation, however, is our ultimate goals and future are no longer that of this world.  Before Christ, we might hope for popularity, recognition for our accomplishments, money, or maybe a luxurious retirement.  However, after Christ comes into our life, that all seems so unimportant.  We care more about eternity and building God’s kingdom.  Our hearts ache for the people in the world who are lost, and we desire for them to hear the gospel and come to know Jesus. 

I just encourage you today, if you have not truly surrendered to God and accepted the gift of salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross, I urge you to do so right now.  You can pray right now, on your couch, in the car, in your office at work, wherever you are.   Just let God know you are sorry for the way you have been living and ask God to forgive you for the sins you have committed. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and ask that God will begin renewing your mind right now.  You don’t have to know everything about God to do this either.  If your heart is sincere, and you really want to change, He will help you!  Then, get connected with a church!  There are several Bible-believing churches in our community.  Obviously, we would love for you to connect with us and we would love to walk with you in this new journey of living for God.  However, this is not about Northwood Church, it’s about your relationship with Jesus Christ!  It is so important when you give your life to God, to get connected with a church that will come around you, help you learn more, and support you in your walk with God.

I pray you have a blessed week!

~Ann Canaday, Women’s Pastor at Northwood Church

Not Making Plans is Unspiritual

Do you not think that God made plans?

This time of the year, we remember what happened on that day: Jesus Christ dying on the cross. This was planned, every part of it, by our Father in Heaven, so that we could share eternity with them in Heaven. Jesus even asked, “Is there any other way?” In Matthew 26:39, he went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Continuing in Matthew 26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. These things that happened were all planned by the Father, and had to be done. Jesus was obedient to the Father, and followed through with His Plan for Jesus’s Life.

So, what about if you only had one foot? What about one foot and one hand attached to your legs? What about one foot and one hand attached to your arms? What about one knee jointed opposite of the other? What about eyes on the very top of your head, and not where they are?

Do you think that God just randomly put you together?  Not A Chance!  Each one of us is a little different because the plan he has for our lives is just a little different.

 John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Even when we go to Heaven, He has plans for us!

So, I am letting you know that when you feel God moving you in a direction, to some other state, town, ministry, church, job, house, and whatever else he calls you, to start making plans and constantly talking with God. Do not just have a thought without trying to plan it out. When you start planning things out, you will find that most of the time, things will start going in the direction you thought you should go, or the opposite will happen and God shuts every door in front of you. So, let us start with the obvious of what we need to do first.

1. Read the Word of God.

2.  Praying is the essential thing for every Christian to do. It will lead your thoughts and your actions, according to God’s will on your life.   If you are like me, you have a very overloaded schedule, and a very hard thing to do is find time to pray. May I suggest this: The first thing you do every morning, you will always have time for no matter what. So do that. Put God first in the morning. Do you want blessings and perfect direction in your life?

Does where or what you think God is calling you to do line up with the word of God? Read the word of God in the morning, then Pray. We should be like Jesus and spend that quiet time with the Father. In order to move those mountains in your life, sometimes we need more than reading and praying.

3. We need to fast!!! Like Jesus says in Matthew 17: 14-21.

Just remember these steps before we make plans: Read the word, Pray, Fast. Invite the Holy Spirit in, and start to dream and ask God for a vision of where he is leading you. You just might be able to see things more clearly. Plan things out and God will give you direction. Do not plan things out and you will never be led to God’s perfect plan through his Holy Spirit. You have to take the first steps to let God work.

I Hope I made y’all think a little today. God bless and have a great week!          

Your Associate, Pastor Kent Furch        

Invisible Faith

It is easy to put our faith in things we can see and touch, but not so much in things we cannot.

One of the definitions of faith is "Complete Trust." When we place our trust in God, it needs to be complete trust; all, or nothing. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.  We have enough trouble trusting people and things that we can see. How much harder is it when it is something we cannot see.

Billy Graham once used wind as an example. He said that while he could not see the wind, he could see the effects of the wind. He could see the leaves blowing in the branches. He could feel the wind on his face. While he could not see it, he trusted that it was there because he could see the effect it had on things.

That is how we know we can trust God. While we might not be able to see Him, we can see what He has done, what He is doing in our lives and what He is doing in the lives of others. Even if we cannot give Him our complete trust, we can have faith that God is there and working in our lives and in the world today, no matter what happens. It may be tough, and there will be times that we take actions into our own hands instead of trusting in God, but with His help, we can trust Him always.

Pastor Ryan Canaday

Making Disciples

The Gospels “The Great Commission”

In all four gospels, we see in the last chapter of each book what they call: The Great Commission. That is when Jesus had risen from the dead, and was coming to the disciples before he went to be in heaven with the Father. In Matthew, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” One of the last things he tells them to do, is to go and tell the world about who He is, and make more people who love the Lord God. To go and make disciples. So, that means we are to tell people about Jesus; to share our testimonies so other people can be saved. It does not say only pastors or teachers can do this, no, it just says go.

So, whoever believes in the name of Jesus, that Jesus is Lord and gives their life to Him, they are to go and make disciples. What does that mean exactly? It also says to teach and baptize in the name of the Lord. When you talk with someone about Jesus and they accept Him as their savior, then the teaching from you will come. To be invested in their lives; to walk beside them so they have someone to help them when trials come. Someone to say: “I know the way to get through this. Let us do this together.” We as humans were not meant to be alone, and do this thing called life alone. We are all connected because we are made in the image of God. If He says He desires to be with us, to know us, to love us, and He gave His life for us to have eternity, then we also are NOT meant to be alone.

We need each other in our lives to strengthen our faith. Iron sharpens iron, and so do disciples make more disciples. That is what the early churches did. They did not start building a church, then preach and teach. No, they preached, taught, and baptized wherever there was a need. They went and made disciples who made disciples who made disciples. See the pattern. We are supposed to be duplicating ourselves as Christians.

He said, “Go into all the world.” So that means we are to go where Jesus sends us, and then to make disciples. That is our mission for following Jesus. We cannot be a body of Christ that sits in church on Sundays or Wednesdays and then that is it. We go about our week doing what we want to, without giving thought to what we are called to do. And please do not say that God has not called you, because the scripture says we are all called. Jesus does not give a certain set of people these commands; no, it says to go into all the nations and spread the word of God, making disciples.

So, what can you do in your life that will help make disciples? How about starting with just one person, then help that person make one disciple. Start with sharing your testimony, your story, and what God has done for you. If you pray and ask God to help you, then He will place people before you that you can move on. Just take that step, and pray for guidance. Pray for clarity on who He has in your path. Then, take a leap of faith and go make disciples.

God bless.

 Pastor Rae Lynn Stands

God's Faithfulness

Sometimes as humans, we might ask: “does God really care about me?” or “is God really going to take care of me?” or even, “what do I need to do so God’s will for my life is done?” I know I have asked questions like that. It can be hard to trust God when things do not go the way we expected them to. It is hard when we try to make plans and expect God to make them happen. We see this throughout the Bible, as God’s chosen people struggle to understand God’s way of doing things.

In the story of Abraham, in Genesis chapter 12, God promises Abram (at that point) in verse 2, that He will make him a great nation, and that He will bless him and make his name great, and through his family, all families of the earth will be blessed.

Now, Abram believed God, but did not understand how this would happen, and neither did Abram’s wife. In chapter 16, she has her husband sleep with her servant Hagar, because she believed she was too old to have a child. She was trying to make God’s promise come to fruition by her own understanding. And in chapter 18, verse 12, she straight up laughed at God when He again said she would have a child. She found it hard to trust in God’s way of doing things because of her preconceived notions of how things work. But God was faithful. Sara did have a child: Isaac. And from this, we were given the whole nation of Israel, from whom Jesus the Savior of the world came. God did not miss or fall short on any part of that promise. There are so many instances of God’s faithfulness in the Bible: Job, Joseph, Moses, David, Jonah; all who went through what seemed to be impossible circumstances, in which God made seemingly impossible promises. Yet, God stayed faithful to those promises every single time.

My wife and I have just recently seen God’s faithfulness firsthand. Eight years ago, we moved into a small house that we rented in the hopes of saving up money so we could buy our own home. We both worked hard and tried to save, but it always felt like something would happen and we would be right back to square one. Then, my mom got sick, and I stopped working to take care of her. We were down to Merissa being our only income provider. She started her own cleaning business and kept working at the local McDonalds, but we felt paralyzed with fear that we would not have enough to pay our bills, let alone save for a bigger house. But her business really took off in such a way that after my mom went into remission, I was able to return to school to pursue God’s call on my life for ministry. However, our family had grown, and we were still in need of a bigger house but had no means to get a loan yet. Then, we were told our landlords were wanting to sell this house, and we did not have much time to get out. We were upset to say the least. We tried working with a finance company, but we were denied. It felt very hopeless. But through leaning not on our terms, but trusting in God, we did not give up. We could not. We petitioned to him daily, especially when it was hardest to pray; we prayed the hardest we could in those times. I called my brothers in Christ, not looking for answers, but for a brother to pour my heart out to. And, like a miracle, a brother in Christ who is a loan officer, was willing to help us. Now, we are getting ready to close and buy the house of our dreams to raise our boys in. There is still a lot of work to be done, but God has already shown us he has a plan in place. We felt bitter towards the situation at first, but without it, we would have missed out on the blessing God had for us. Now there were many ups and downs throughout this whole process - too many for me to cover in one devotional - but the main point is: not only is God very capable of taking care of us, but He has better plans for us than we do. Sometimes it feels like he has left us high and dry, but we do not see time and situations like he does. Our view is so limited. So, in conclusion, if you find yourself waiting on God’s promises first, do not try to make it happen yourself. That never leads us in the right direction. Second, know that whatever your plan is, God’s is better. And third, it is ok to get upset. We are humans. Meditate on the fact that God has never not followed through on his promises. It might not be in our time, but God will always stay FAITHFUL. God bless.

Brenan Hindermann

Make a Difference

            Make a difference in the time God gives you in this life. You may ask, "How?"

For one thing, you can pray for people you know who are going through things; pray for the salvation of your unsaved family members and friends. Talk with them about Jesus, and how He has changed your life. The difference He has made in your life. Prayer is so powerful and makes such a difference in people's lives. Prayer, prior to talking with people, can also pave the way to form meaningful relationships before they begin. Seeing the results of God's answers to your prayers is faith building. They may not be immediate; they are in God's time. It may not be what we asked for, but God knows what is best for all of us.

            You can serve in your local church. Volunteer to do something in your church. There are many places in church where you can serve. Ask someone who is already serving; ask the pastors in the church where you would be most helpful. If God gives you something to do that is not already being done, talk with the Pastor and see about getting it started.

            In Matthew 28, Jesus gives what is called the Great Commission. We are to "Go," and share the Gospel.

Matthew 28:18-20: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

            It is our duty as Christians to go and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! He sacrificed Himself in our place so that we could be forgiven of our sins, by the shedding of His blood. The Bible says without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22: In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (NIV)

            We are to go and share the Gospel. That is the command Jesus gave us before He ascended to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father and He makes intercession for us.

Acts 2:34: For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand..." (NIV)

Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (NIV)

            We all have neighborhoods and neighbors. A lot of us go for walks in our neighborhoods. There are many neighbors we do not even know yet! We might know those on our block, but maybe we have not gone beyond that. As we go for walks, if someone is out, we can begin a conversation with them and start to get to know them. We can ask them if they have a church home, and if they do not, we can ask them to visit our Northwood Church. We can build relationships with our neighbors.

            God is good. He loves us. He has done so much for us; why wouldn't we serve Him? Out of our love for Him, and our gratitude for what He has done for us, is a good reason to start serving Him. I encourage you, as part of the Body of Christ - also known as the Church Body, to seek God in prayer; to look for where He is working, and join Him in that work. If we all do our part, it will not be an overwhelming task for anyone. We will all be working together for His glory, as the Body of Christ.

            God bless you! Thanks for taking time to read this devotion!

Vicky Conklin-Johnson

Prayer Ministries Director

Wax On, Wax Off

Greetings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus! I pray all is well. As I am sure you are aware right now, our church is doing a teaching series on the Armor of God. And I am positive with Pastor Tony and Pastor Ryan, you have heard these verses: Ephesians 6:13-17 NLT

[13] Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.13.NLT

But how do we do that? How do we put on the full armor of God? Well, before we explore that answer, I have a story to share with you. A few weeks ago, at a prayer service we were having at Northwoods - by the way, all of you are more than welcome to join us at these - Pastor Tony was limping and I thought that was weird. I'm the only one who should be walking like that! Anyway, I go to pray over Pastor Tony and, being his friend, I am well aware that Pastor Tony is a huge fan of movies. So, with that in mind, I smashed my hands together like so, and began to recreate the scene where Mr. Miyagi relieved Daniel's injury before his final match. Pastor Tony and I both had a good laugh before I prayed over his knee. 

The reason why I'm telling you this is because our God is the God of foreshadowing, and as I was preparing this sermon, he brought me back to that moment. Also, in Karate kid, the premise of the movie is: a kid moves to a new town where he gets himself in trouble with the leader of the local karate gang, and the leader of said gang wants to put Danny in his place. When they go to do so, Danny is saved by an old martial arts master who, at first, doesn't want to train Danny. But eventually, takes compassion on the boy and begins to train him in Miyagi Do, by way of painting and sanding. After the boy becomes frustrated, feeling cheated as though his time had been wasted as he had been deceived into doing free labor for the old man, Miyagi responds by saying sternly, “Daniel son, show me wax on.” Then, precedes to throw a punch, which Danny blocks by doing the motion for wax on, which he now has ingrained in him by the chores he had deemed pointless. Now equipped with the revelation of how much he has learned, Danny is able to take his training to the next level and go on to win the battle against his enemies.

Putting on the armor of God is the same; it starts with the practice of reading the Word and praying daily. Unfortunately, so many Christians - myself included - have neglected these two daily disciplines and viewed them as burdensome chores, not realizing that these two practices combined with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are the foundation of our walk with Christ - or our wax on wax off.

You see, it is through reading and meditation of the Word that you learn Christ: with how He talks, walks, prays, teaches, engages and loves. It is through prayer that we learn to submit ourselves unto Him, and give Him control. You see, the armor is not separate pieces, but rather it is the Spirit enveloping you as a whole that you are no longer seen but Christ. 

May you be fully equipped in the full armor of God, not lacking in anything.

Blessings,

PDS

Checking Our Priorities

                We live in this world, but we are not supposed to conform to it and its ways.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. You will then learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Do not think you are better than you really are. Be honest in the evaluation of yourselves; measuring inwardly by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12:3

                Like it says in Luke 9:23: we must daily follow the Lord!

So, where do I think we should have our Priorities?

Let us look at this way of life we lead. First, it says in the word Matthew 22:37-40, that we are to make time for God first and foremost in our lives. Second, we must take care of ourselves so we can do the second command Jesus is talking about.

1.   God first.

   -Praying/talking with God. Sharing our thoughts, as he wants to hear from you.

   - Reading the inspired word of God. Knowing and doing what it says.

- Singing songs/Hymns and praise to our Lord and Savior.

(Now, notice how I put these three before this next one.)

   -Gathering together with like-minded believers. (Church)

God wants the Church body to be strong; to get this we must spend time with each other as often as we can.

2.   Yourself.

    - Spiritually, which involves the above.

   - Emotionally, which involves what we do and who we are around.

   - Physically treat your body good.

  - Eat good, solid food.

   - Exercise your body.

    - Rest— yes, we must get enough sleep.

   - Fasting, which makes our prayers more effective, and God speaks to us much more. Plus, it gives our bodies time to clean out, making us healthier.

3.  Our spouse and children.

   - Making sure we encourage the above for our spouse and children.

    -  Loving, nurturing, and guiding them in this.

  -  Giving them our time and presence by just being there.

      - Church (Gathering of like-minded believers) and not forsaking the assembly like it says in Hebrews 10.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to perform acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

How can we build a church if we are not there first, in front of our other activities? We have to be present at the church to build it into what God desires for us.

4. Hobbies, Sports, Activities other than the church.

  - Hunting, Sewing, etc.

  - Basketball, Football, etc.

    - Playing board games, video games, cards, etc.

   There is so much of the world that wants us to fall because it is aligned with the evil that comes from Satan. He seeks to seek kill and destroy us, but if we are constantly looking to God’s ways, his word, his people, it will not happen. We will stand if we build our foundation on the rock and have other believers constantly around us.

Keep in mind when we are absent, we are creating a missing part of the body that is important. Whether it’s a foot, leg, arm, an eye, or ear, we are all needed to complete the body so we can flourish as THE CHURCH!

        Just want all of you reading this to know: God Loves you and so does your Associate and Worship Arts Pastor Kent Furch. Until next time, Blessings to you all!!!

I will leave y'all in all with this: Romans 12:9-13, 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Trusting God's Plan

God has a plan.  We might not always see it, but He does.  I've been thinking about that a lot lately, considering everything that has been going on in the world.

We don't always know what that plan is, but He has one.  Sometimes we find it out right away, sometimes it is a month or two later, and sometimes we never find it out this side of heaven.  But He does have one.

The issue is we often have trouble trusting in God and that He knows what He is doing.  We have no issue trusting people, ideologies, and things.  Stuff we can see.  Stuff that can let us down and fail us.  God will never fail us.  He will never let us down.  But we still have trouble trusting Him. 

Next time you are praying, ask God to help you trust in Him.  While it won't necessarily help make the situation easier, it will give you peace to help you get through it.

Lord, help me to put my faith and trust in You and not in things of this world. Amen

Pastor Ryan Canaday

Kingdom Exchange Rate

Greetings my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Lately, I have been reflecting on how God works. I have also been asking him to help me deliver a teaching on tithing and the will to, not only bring revelation to his people on the subject, but also to glorify Him in the process. While working with the Holy Spirit on this message for tithing, the Lord brought to my attention the story of when Jesus fed the 5,000 and how he used the lunch of a single boy to do it. In that moment, an inner monologue went off in my mind as if I was preaching to myself. Of course it was the Holy Spirit delivering the sermon in my mind, but it was in my preacher voice. And just to let you know, for some reason my inner preacher voice is that of a southern gospel preacher. I don't know why. Anyway, back to the revelation. 

Jesus is not only our provider, but he takes what we give him and multiplies it just like he did with the boy’s lunch. Here are a few examples from my walk with him: 

I surrendered my lust and he gave me an intimate marriage. 

I gave him my anxiety, he gave me peace. 

I brought him my burdens and weariness, he gave me rest. 

I gave him my anger and bitterness, he gave me joy. 

I gave him my foolishness, he gave me wisdom. 

I gave my 10%, he provided for his children. 

I gave him my works, which are rags in his sight, and he grows his kingdom. 

I gave him my life, which is a vapor passing in the wind, and he gives me eternity with him. 

There is so much more I could say on this, but my point is this: Trust in the Lord your God, Jesus Christ, your living Savior for you are deeply loved and do not listen to the whispers of the enemy saying that you have nothing to offer. For our God created the universe from nothing as we currently understand and even though the kingdom exchange rate does not make sense, he takes what seems like nothing and not only redeems it but multiplies it for his glory. 

As it is written:

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Pastor Dakota Swinton

What is Prayer?

            Prayer is talking with Almighty God, The Creator. Can you imagine? We get to, GET to, talk with HIM, THE GOD who created EVERYTHING, who created US. It is amazing to be able to do that! Not only that, but when a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into their life, literally into their being.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV)

            There are many, many scriptures in the Bible that have to do with prayer. So many, it would take a long time for you to read this devotion. So, I've just brought a few in for you.

            So, what kinds of conversations can a believer have with God? When you have a problem, you can talk with God about it. You can pray for others - interceding for them. Asking God to heal them, get them through a tough time.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6 NIV)

            What about a non-believer? Their conversation may be one-sided, meaning they do all the talking.

            Sometimes, God speaks to one of His believers to bring a message to someone. To the prophet Jeremiah:

"1Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done..." (Jeremiah 26:1-3, NIV)

            You can praise and worship God, as a form of prayer. He deserves all of our praise and worship, and glory!

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6, NIV)

King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped. (2 Chronicles 29:30, NIV)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4, NIV)

            Below are the public domain lyrics to a hymn written by Joseph Medlicott Scriven titled,

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

1 What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer! Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!

3 Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer! Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

            The most important prayer you could ever pray is the prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I hope you sincerely pray this prayer.

            Sinners' Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I receive you  as my Lord and Savior. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. Thank You Jesus! In Your Name I pray! Amen!

            Now that you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, contact us or someone in a Bible believing, Bible preaching church near you and let them know you have done this wonderful thing. Ask them what the next steps are for your walk with Jesus. If you don't have a Bible, ask them for one. Begin reading it, and God will reveal Himself to you more and more. Pray to Him every day and learn to hear His voice.

Thanks for reading this devotion. I hope God has blessed you with it!

Vicky Conklin-Johnson

Prayer Ministries Director

Glory in Tribulation

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” ~Romans 5:3-5 NKJV 

“Glory in tribulations....”, this can sound like an impossible feat! What does that even mean? How are we supposed to be happy and joyful when we go through hard times?  Why would God want us to “glory in tribulation”? 

When we are saved, that doesn’t mean that our life is suddenly perfect, and everything is going to be happily ever after on earth.  We will still have those troubles come up in relationships, our finances, our workplace, etc.  The difference is, when those problems come up, it is not a surprise to God and He is with us through it.  Not only is He with us, but He knows exactly what we need to get us through, and He provides that!  It may not always be a quick fix, but He is always faithful and will never leave us or give up on us! We can “glory”, or be thankful, that He will be with us and give us the strength we need for those hard times. 

Another area that we can “glory” in when going through those tough times, is how we can grow and what we can learn from going through them. When faced with difficulties, we pray and ask for the strength to get through it and not give up but can also pray that God would show us what He wants us to learn from this situation. Some situations may help us develop patience, we might learn to trust God more fully, we could even learn practical things such as improved communication and forgiveness when going through relationship troubles, or better ways to manage our finances when facing financial difficulties.   

Every trial allows us to learn and grow, and the more we can learn and grow, the better we can help others do the same!  

Pastor Ann Canaday

Pray Continually

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually”

Easier said than done sometimes.  While we usually have no problem praying during designated prayer times, such as during church, before a meal, or while tucking the kids into bed, it is other times that tend to be more difficult.  Times like when someone you love is being rushed to the hospital.  Times like when things aren't going quite how you want them to.  Times like when you are mowing the lawn.

Sometimes it is for good reason.  You are worried or concerned or panicking.  Prayer is the last thing on your mind.  Often in situations like that it isn't uncommon to turn to prayer later, after calming down a bit or learning more about the situation. 

Other times we turn to prayer in desperation, not knowing what else to do.  We need God's help and guidance after exhausting all other options.  We realize there is nothing else we can do so we turn to God, almost like a last resort.

Then there are the times when everything is fine.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all is right in the world.  With no need to ask for God's help, we don't think to pray.

The Bible says to pray without ceasing.  Ideally that means that you would pray at all times, never stopping, but obviously that isn't possible.  What is possible however is praying whether we need to or not.  Praying when we are in danger and when we are at work.  We can pray at any time, for any reason.  It doesn't matter if we are asking God for help or if we are thanking Him, we can pray.

With God's help, our instinct in good times and bad will be to pray, no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Ask God to help you pray without ceasing.

Pastor Ryan Canaday

Leading Life with a Purpose

I believe I have been called to be a light to those around me. All those around me. Sharing God’s Word, His Love, and letting people know about His son Jesus Christ and what was done for us on Calvary is what I feel called to do.

Living my life with this purpose has been hard and at times very challenging. But knowing God is right beside me and He has gone before me is what comforts me and strengthens me. Having the Holy Spirit as a guide has gotten me to the place I think will continue the rest of my days!

What is your purpose in life? Has God shown you your purpose in life?

Go to Jeremiah 29:11. For God has a plan for you in your life and what you need to do is ask Him what that plan is. Is it something that brings life to you? Is it something that makes you feel good? Is it something that brings you joy? Is it something that helps others? Is it something that you have skills to do? I want to be the person that in all I do and say brings “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Against these things there is no such law.” Galatians 5:22-23.

God wants to bring life in all you do and to those around you. Ask Him what your purpose is. God wants to share His Joy with you. Ask Him for His joy in what you are doing. God always wants us to help those around us. Ask Him for boldness and a giving heart. Has God called you to do something with your skills? Do you feel lacking? Ask Him to help bring you an abundance of what you need.

You see once you understand that God wants to help you and those around you, it is then that you can live life with a purpose to show everyone around you what God has done for you and what God wants to do in those around you. God gives freely to those who ask and living life with a purpose is what He intends for us. We are not here by coincidence. Nor are we here to just survive, but He has so much more for you and so many blessings for you and those around you. Be that light God has called you to be and be effective only the way you can be. Let the Holy Spirit cover you and fill you and wash you clean and let us be so full of joy that it is contagious to everyone we meet! That is “Leading Life with a Purpose”. God bless you all who have read this and may he fill you with His Love and His ways in Jesus Name Amen.

Your Associate and Worship Arts

Pastor Kent Furch                                                                            

The Joy of the Lord

One of my favorite verses is “The Joy of the Lord is my strength” in Nehemiah 8:10. This verse has gotten so much use as I’ve gone through the different storms of my life. It's definitely not been easy but repeating that verse and reminding myself that it's not by my might or strength, but by His our King, King Jesus. That's what has given me strength. Life is always going to be a struggle of some kind. We will have periods of rest, of peace, and calmness. However, it will not stay that way.

So, one of the things I’ve been working on with God over the years is getting good at going through the storm with Joy. So many people think joy is an emotion, and it's not. Being happy is an emotion. That’s a feeling that can get confused with joy. But joy is a state of being, it's a choice we make when we go through the ups and downs of life. You choose to have joy and to say joyful things even when things aren't going your way. When life is hard, choose to find the good and the blessings in that day or event. It's about what I can be thankful for. What can I look for that is from God? And I believe that James 1: 1-4 really hits home on how it is teaching us to get better at going through the trials. Knowing that we can do it better because this verse teaches us how to persevere and become mature and complete.  It says, “lacking nothing”.

 I really believe you should allow God to teach you about joy and to have self control in the areas of life that get hard. Stop looking through your lens of self pity or negativity. Allow God to show you how to become someone who looks for the good, the positive and don’t be self-seeking. That in itself teaches us how to have joy. Because you are no longer focusing on yourself, but on the brighter side. You start seeing others and not just yourself.

 So, I encourage you when going through the trials of life to start finding those joy verses. Change your habits from self seeking to looking for blessings. What is good right now? That will change you into someone that learns how to have joy among the sorrow.

Blessings

Pastor Rae Lynn Stands

Are You Glorifying God?

Does all that you say glorify God? The Bible says, with the same tongue we use to speak praise to God, is the same tongue we use to curse man. It also says we should say things in a way that will build people up, encourage them.

James 3:9-10: 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (NIV)

Ephesians 4:29:  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)

We need to be practicing self-control one of the fruits of the Spirit, and others.

Galatians 5:22-23: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)

What about what you do, does all that you do glorify God? There is a saying, "actions speak louder than words." I wonder if that came with the "don't do what I do, but do what I say."

Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (NIV)

So we need to be very careful with our words and our actions.  We represent God Himself and His Word says we need to be holy, as He is.

1 Peter 1:15-16: 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (NIV)

Leviticus 19:2: “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. (NIV)

What about what you watch? Is that glorifying God? How about what you listen to for music, talk shows, does that glorify God?

Ask yourselves those questions, and really think about it, be truthful with yourself.

What does it mean to glorify God? My thought - to honor Him as God. We need to let others know that it is Him working in us in regarding our glorifying actions, as we submit to walking in the Spirit - His Holy Spirit. He is God and deserves our praise, worship, devotion, service. If we are not speaking in a way that is pleasing to God, in a way that raises Him up to others He is the only God, the true God, the God who created everything. He is the God who loves us, the God who does not want to see anyone go to hell. Yes, hell is a real place. Then, we are not glorifying Him. If we are sinning in any way, we are not glorifying Him. If we are watching something on TV or listening to something that we shouldn't be, we are not glorifying Him. Be careful what your eyes see. What you see goes into your brain and into your heart. If we are not walking in the Spirit, we are not glorifying Him. There is the old adage "garbage in, garbage out."

Galatians 5:16-17: 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  (NIV)

How do you walk by the Spirit? Submitting to God, resisting the devil, again - practicing the fruit of the Spirit, getting closer to God through prayer and reading the Holy Bible. Get some of your family and friends to help keep you in the Spirit through fellowship with them, hold you accountable. Stay sober minded.

James 4:7:  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray continually. (NIV)

Galatians 5: 24-25: 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV)

Galatians 5:22-23: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)

Ephesians 5:18-20: 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Colossians 3:16: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (NIV)

Thank you for reading this devotion. I hope it is helpful in your walk with God!

Numbers 6:24-26: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (NIV)

Vicky Conklin-Johnson

Prayer Director

Shelter and Rest

I’m sure most of you would agree, life is not always easy! Pain, rejection, fear, loss, uncertainty, stress…all these things come up in our lives and try to wear us down. Often, we will look for something that will temporarily take our minds off of things or numb the pain. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, sex, or any other misuse/overuse; it might help us feel good or have fun for a little while, but it doesn’t truly take away that pain or loss. 

The great news is there is One that can!  Not only does Jesus know your pain and struggles, but He loves you so much that He wants to take it away and replace it with peace, comfort, joy, and love.  When we come to Jesus Christ, not only does He take us in and shelter us from the storms of life and the strength to endure them, but He offers forgiveness, a promise of eternity with Him, and unconditional love that heals any broken heart.

The following scripture is a beautiful reminder of this. I know that regardless of what is happening in my life, I am safe, protected and loved.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” ~Psalms 91:1-2

Pastor Ann Canaday

Heart Condition

Greetings my dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I wanted to share a testimony with you of an experience that I had with a fellow brother in Christ. As we were traveling to our MNSOM class, we were discussing grumbling and the consequences it has on our walk and others, especially the effect grumbling has on leadership. We were led by the Holy Spirit to the exodus of the Israelites and the effects that the grumbling of the Israelites had on Moses. 

1. Firstly, having a grumbling heart can prolong us from receiving what God has for us.

The grumbling of the Israelites caused the journey to the promise land to be extended to 40 years when it was only meant to be around 11 days. 

2.  Secondly, a grumbling heart can blind us from what is right in front of us.

The grumbling of the Israelites led to a portion of them dying from eating the quail when the Lord had provided them manna. A grumbling heart can blind us from what is right in front of us.

3.  Thirdly, a grumbling heart can lead to dissension and cause divisions.

The grumbling of the Israelites led to Aaron and Miriam doubting Moses and his ability to lead which caused Moses much grief and led to Aaron and Miriam being disciplined. 

4.  Finally, a grumbling heart saps the strength of those around us and can discourage our loved ones, leading them to operate in the flesh, the sinful nature and ultimately spiritual death.

The grumbling of the Israelites led to Moses striking the rock in frustration and taking credit for the water for which God provided this action. Moses could not enter the promise land due to this action and lack of credit to God.

Brothers and sisters, I would encourage you, if you are struggling with grumbling, examine yourselves with the guidance of the Holy Spirit that you may address your heart and repent. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18 (NIV) addresses how we are to conduct ourselves from day to day in regards to grumbling:

“[12] Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. [13] Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. [14] And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. [15] Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray continually, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Thanksgiving needs to be practiced as it is a stance of worship to our Lord.

Brothers and sisters, James wrote, through the power of the Holy Spirit, about taming the tongue: 

“[3] When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. [4] Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. [5] Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. [6] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. [7] All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. [10] Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. [11] Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? [12] My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

James 3:3-12 (NIV)

It is also written in James 4:11-12 (NIV):

“[11] Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Before I conclude, brothers and sisters, I want to go back to the story of Moses not being allowed to enter the promise land. Many of us view that as a punishment, right? However, thanks to the Holy Spirit, I gained a deeper understanding of our Lord. God knows the motivation of our hearts. HE knows our heart condition, where we are and what we are facing. Moses was old; he was tired, frustrated and spent. There was so much more work that needed to be done. What was revealed to me is that as much as not entering the promise land was a punishment, it was more of an act of love and mercy to Moses. He would enter the Lord's rest and be delivered from a grumbling, disobedient and stiffnecked people.

Brothers and sisters, words cannot express the joy I experienced in the revelation I received from the Holy Spirit. How thankful am I that we have a loving Heavenly Father. My words cannot fully express this love. I am grateful that He has placed me in a position in which I am able to share my joy in Him with you and the insight HE has blessed me with. Our God is so good! GLORY BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY!

I pray this word finds you well and may the grace and joyous favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unambiguous love of God, and the precious communion that we share in the Holy Spirit be yours continually! 

Pastor Dakota Swinton