Follow Pastor on Twitter
December 15, 2011
Pastor’s past blog posts are below. Follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/prjim
Our #1 Priority
April 12, 2011
What is your number one priority? The scriptures tell us that it should be
to love God. It’s so simple, and yet somehow we find our selves often,
so far off track. We let so many things in our lives crowd God out of
our hearts and lives. Still, even with our wayward hearts going their on
way, God passionately pursues us, and sweeps us off our feet, to
convince us of his incredible love. We are God’s number one priority.
Pastor Jim
Be still and listen to what God is saying to you!
Daily Grace
April 11, 2011
I have a rock in my office that is etched with two words; FIRST STONE. It is a reminder that only the one without sin can cast the first stone. It comes from John 8:7 ; When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” This rock reminds me each time I see it of God’s abundant grace for all of his children.
Have you felt the grace of God lately? On your worst days, does God’s grace seem real? How would you complete this sentence: Jesus, I want to experience your grace much more because…
Pastor Jim
John 8:3-5
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, [4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. [5] Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
What did Jesus say? He could have said, “Yes, that’s what the law demands. Come on, everyone. Pick up a rock, and let’s get this over with.” But he didn’t. This women deserved death. Jesus gave her grace. After all the accusers had left, Jesus stood alone with the woman and asked her, “Woman, where are they Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you, Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Grace is the very nature of God. God’s grace doesn’t excuse sin, or minimize it. The grace of God looks sin in the face in all its ugliness-and forgives. No matter what you’ve done, God’s grace is greater. No matter how big or how bad your sin may be, God’s grace provides forgiveness, hope and restoration. God’s grace is unlimited. God’s grace is at work in our lives from beginning to end.
We tend to make two mistakes regarding the grace of God. When things are going well, we don’t even think about it; but when things are falling apart, we think it’s so bad that even God can’t fix it.
“You best days are not so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace, however, on your worst days, you’re not so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.” –Jerry Bridges.
Grace is not some ointment that we dab on when we feel bad. It is the air we breathe in our relationship with Christ.
Are you eager to pick up that first stone, to throw at other law breakers? Have felt the stones in the hands of others, ready to be thrown at you? Be still and listen to what God is saying to you!
BE A DOER
April 7, 2011
Our churches are full of armchair Christians. We watch people who are actively serving God and give a play-by-play analysis: “He should have done it this way.” “She shouldn’t have done it that way.” Armchair Christians are faithful to go to Bible studies and worship services. We enjoy singing and we know a good sermon when we hear it. We read our Bible occasionally and even pray when the need arises. But when it comes to taking action, that is when we find excuses. We are hearers, not doers. What moves your feet and hands, not just your mind?
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!
James 1:25
But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God-the free life!-even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
The New Testament writes, James, calls us to open our eyes and see the need around us. The people who need God’s love are everywhere. People who are struggling with divorce, people who are depressed, people who have been hurt emotionally, people who have been abandoned, people who are new to the community, single parents wrestling with parenting. Being a doer of the word means we notice these people and reach out to help them.
Max Lucado reminds us that, “God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.” God takes everyday normal people and uses them to do normal everyday things that mixed with love, become life giving events.
What is your passion? What makes your heart race when you see it? Is it hunger? Is it injustice? It is homelessness? Is it violence against women? Is it getting clean water to a village? Healthcare for all? What ministry, mission get’s your heart racing and you are moved into action? This is what it means to be a doer. Sometimes we haven’t taken the time or energy to see what rattles our hearts.
I know what rattles God’s heart. It’s when we have lukewarm lives that has us sitting in the armchairs of life, rather than putting God’s word in practice, allowing God to work in us and through us. Be a doer, not just a hearer.
Be still and listen to what God is saying to you!
TRUE WORSHIP
April 6, 2011
What is authentic, true worship? When we are walking with Christ, our lives are acts of worship all day every day. Every single thing we do to honor God is worship. God is looking for a generation of “walking worshipers,” not just people who sing songs to him. Today, the words of praise we sing are to often disconnected from our hearts and our actions. “Walking Worshipers” connect the dots; their words match their actions. Is your life an act of worship?
Pastor Jim
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Michael Duduit, Editor of Preaching now. Wrote this week on What is worship?
In a recent issue of his One Minute Uplift newsletter, pastor Rick Ezell writes: “George Barna surveyed thousands of churchgoing Christians. The question was asked: ‘Have you ever experienced God in a worship service?’ Only one-third said they regularly experience God in church worship. “It is safe to say that true, life-changing encounters with the living God are missing from many of our churches. We desperately need a life-changing glimpse of the greatness, the awesomeness, the wonder, the power, the mercy, the goodness and the lovingkindness of the God we serve.
“The word worship conjures up all kinds of images in people’s minds. Simply said: Worship is declaring the worth of God. The word worship comes from the Old English word that means “worthship.”
So with that definition in mind, we don’t worship God for what we get out of it, but to give God the honor that is due Him, recognizing His worth, His value, His place in our church and His claim on our lives.
“Worship, therefore, is not a weekly pep talk to rally the troops and win the contest. Worship is not a motivational seminar to make us feel good about ourselves. Worship is not the Christian alternative to a Saturday night rock concert or a Beethoven symphony. Worship occurs when people encounter the God who loves them and desires a relationship with them. Worship is a meeting between God and His people. Worship does not lead to an encounter with God. It is an encounter with God.” May you have the opportunity for authentic worship in the days ahead.
Be still and listen to what God is saying to you!
