sin

THE SURPRISE OF CHRISTMAS: MARY!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

“For THE WORD OF GOD will never fail!” ~ Luke 1:37 NLT

THE SURPRISE OF CHRISTMAS ~ MARY: THE MOTHER OF JESUS! Decisions: Life is full of them every day. Mary had a decision to make when the angel Gabriel appeared to tell her that she would be the mother of Jesus. She could embrace this decision or refuse to agree fighting and fussing all along the way. It was her decision.

Imagine for a moment that you were given the opportunity to take a pill which would ensure that you find love, peace, joy, and hope. You decide to accept this pill, and your life just gets better. It is not your circumstances that change, but your outlook and attitude are brand new. Every day brings fresh wonderful news, and problems no longer seem overwhelm you.

Now, imagine that you choose not to accept this pill. You refuse because you fear the side effects, or what your friends might think. You do not believe that the pill is real. Maybe it is just a hoax that people have fooled themselves into believing. This whole pill thing is just a conspiracy theory. You finally decide, “It’s just a placebo that people have bought into to make themselves happy.” So, you sit cynical, miserable, and frustrated.

What will you do? You must choose: to quote Charles Schulz as Linus, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” When Gabriel appeared to Mary, it was “Good News!” “Hark the herald angels sing.” Listen to the message of Jesus arriving though Zecheriah. John the Baptist would herald His coming!

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, 77 to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:76-79 NLT

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.


Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

THE GOD OF HEAVEN!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

I replied, “THE GOD OF HEAVEN will help us succeed. We, His servants, will start rebuilding this wall.” ~ Nehemiah 2:20a NLT

THE GOD OF HEAVEN! ~ Imagine The God of Heaven is a book. It is also a video which you can watch on YouTube. It contains a series of people’s testimonies of near-death experiences. It culminates with a description of those whom John Burke has interviewed. Each of those interviewed describe what happened when their heart stopped, and they were clinically pronounced dead. Each describes that there is most definitely life after death.  If any of these stories are true, then we shouldn’t we prepare for this encounter? Isn’t it worth considering the idea that there is more than this temporary life since we only live for less than a century. Of course, many explain this with science, but what if you’re wrong? What if there is more?

Nehemiah accepts the truth that GOD is THE GOD OF HEAVEN. In fact, so does everyone who has been recorded by history in the Bible (the best-selling book of all time). There must be a reason! The simple truth of the Bible is redemption. In the Old Testament, the Bible repeatedly illustrates our nature which naturally rebels against GOD.  In his message, Burke states that 23% of people who have near-death experiences see hell. The GOD OF HEAVEN made a way that assures each of us that we can go heaven without worry. However, it is not what we’ve done! It’s all about what JESUS has done. The cross, death, burial, and resurrection was all for you! GOD loves you! 😊 

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

“13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith.

Be courageous. Be strong.

14 And do everything with love.”

~ I Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT

FINAL INSRUCTIONS! ~ If you weren’t sure you’d ever see someone again what would your final words be to the one whom you love? Paul leaves the Corinthian church with five incredible statements of faith. As you examine them, I am sure you find that each of them applies to you as well. 😊

First, “Be on guard.” The Bible is full of warnings about our hearts. Jesus often warned His disciples to “Be on guard.” John writes, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” (I John 5:21) In another passage, the Bible also tells us that, “The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.” (Philippians 4:7) We are told to always keep watch as we walk through this life. Trials and temptation will come our way; we must choose to remain ready!

Second, “Stand firm in the faith.” Regarding the Armor of God, we must we are challenged to “Stand Firm.” (Ephesians 6:11 & 13) Attacks and trouble will come throughout our lives. How we deal with them proves our faith.

Third, “Be courageous” and fourth, “Be strong.” This is what Moses told Joshua as he prepared for death. Moses wanted to be sure Joshua was ready to lead. Later, Joshua repeated it often. Here’s what he said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Fifth and finally, “Do everything with love.” This is Christianity 101. Whatever we do, we do it all with the love of God in our hearts.  In this letter to the church at Corinth, God has told us to love above all else. If we have tongues of angels, knowledge of future events, faith to move mountains, give all our money to the poor, and allow our bodies to be broken, without love we are nothing. People don’t care how much you know: they simply need to know how much you care!

So, let’s love like there may be no tomorrow. 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS.

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

PS ~ Be safe, and we hope to see you soon. 🙂

I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!                                ~ I Corinthians 6:1 NLT

SEE YOU IN COURT! ~ Some people say that the BIBLE is full of “gray areas” which have no clear directions for life. Truthfully, the BIBLE gives us complete instructions for life. Some may not like what GOD has to say because we like to do things our own way. However, true Christians must decide to let GOD have total control. Often, we take over because we don’t like what HE has to say. When we do this, we make our selves our own GOD. The BIBLE calls this idolatry. In other words, we become our own idols. OUCH!! Listen to this…

Then HE told them what they could expect for themselves: Anyone who intends to come with ME has to let ME lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat — I am.”                                                                 ~ Luke 9:23 ~ MSG

If this translation seems too modern, then listen to this:

Then HE said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow ME.”

~ Luke 9:23 ~ NKJV

The WORD of GOD says, “Do not take your brothers or sisters to court.” This is not a suggestion or guideline. True believers will judge the world and angels. We’re asked what’s so important in light of eternity that is worth suing our fellow Christian. First, to you believe the BIBLE? Second, follow GOD’S plan regardless of your expectations. Isn’t it worth losing something and letting it go for heaven’s sake?

At the end of the day, here’s our checklist: “Did I follow and obey what GOD said in HIS WORD?” The BIBLE calls this obedience. It’s what disciples do! When we are baptized, we proclaim that we no longer live for ourselves: Now, we live for JESUS! ~ SEE YOU IN HEAVEN! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

“ALLOWED” or “ALL-OWED?”

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.                                     ~ I Corinthians 6:12 NLT

I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT! ~ Some of us invest too much time thinking about what is fair. That is “stinking thinking” as Zig Ziglar said so often. We focus on a word that demands its own way. “I am ALLOWED to do whatever I want!”  Look at the word ~ ALLOWED!

Now, let’s think about what GOD says,

“19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO lives in you and was given to you by GOD? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for GOD bought you with a high price. So, you must honor GOD with your body.”                   ~ I Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

Think about that word ~ “ALLOWED!” Look at it again … ALL– OWED! Do you see it now? Everything you have is a gift from GOD. It is ALL – OWED to HIM. You were bought with a price. The blood of JESUS cleaned you up and made you acceptable in GOD’S sight.

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, GOD’S very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of GOD, for HE called you out of the darkness into HIS wonderful light.

Once you had no identity as a people; now you are GOD’S people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received GOD’S mercy.

Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to GOD when HE judges the world.”                           ~ I Peter 2:9-12 NLT

Hope you will take time to make allowance for this post! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

How to Get Kicked Out of Church!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. ~ I Corinthians 5:2b NLT

CHURCH DISCIPLINE! ~ What does it take to embarrass you? Some people say that they never get embarrassed or ashamed. I find that hard to believe. Often, Christians are seen as stuffy and narrow-minded because we discipline ourselves to avoid many of the popular cultural tendencies of the day. However, shouldn’t we be conscientious of what we do and say around our children?

There was a time when we treated others with respect, especially women and children. Yes, I am older and maybe a bit wiser too. Some things ought to cause us to blush. If you question that concept, check this out:

Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! ~ Jeremiah 6:15a NLT

Now that we agree blushing can be a good thing, how do we correct someone in the church who seems to have forgotten this truth? How do we approach someone who is living a life of sin while actively leading the church: pastor, minister, board-member, trustee, deacon, teacher, and more? Which sin does the church act upon in the lives of these non-blushers? What are the qualifications to be an admonisher? Finally, how do we work all of this out in our current culture with so many churches re-writing or at least re-interpreting the BIBLE?

This leaves us in a challenging place. Do we do nothing pretending GOD says anything goes? Do we begin with a witch hunt as we have done so many times in the church? Perhaps, it begins with each of us alone with GOD praying and spending time with HIM. Seek HIS wisdom and direction. Barney would say this is how we “Nip it” in each of our lives, first! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

THE GOOD WOUNDS OF A FRIEND

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.                                                               I Corinthians 4:14 NLT

GOOD WOUNDS! ~ How do you handle being corrected by someone who cares? According to Pew Research, 65% of American adults believe that “people are too easily offended.” What if a caring friend exposes sin in your life and calls you out in love? They are right, but it hurts. What would you do?  It seems many just want to go to church to be reminded what good people we are. This is anti-biblical. The Bible confronts every human being declaring each of us as a terrible sinner not fit for heaven. “There is none righteous.” (read Romans 3:1-23)

Some people are ok with a pastor saying, “Well, we’re all just sinners, right?” However, the Bible declares this TRUTH, JESUS’ death is the only way we can be saved from hell. Every person on Earth needs JESUS!  Feathers ruffled yet? More biblical honesty ahead…

Guess what? You are a no good filthy, dirty, lying, cheating, selfish sinner. Yes, I am too! Without that painful truth as our starting point, we cannot understand why we so desperately need JESUS. If we believe the lie that we are pretty good, then we think we almost make it to heaven on our own. We are almost good enough! That is a lie from the pit of hell! The devil wants us to believe that because he does not want us to realize how urgently and desperately, we need THE LORD JESUS to forgive us and cleanse us from all our sin. We need A NEW LIFE!

Yes, we need encouragement sometimes. However, we are in desperate need of correction as well. If all you hear at church is positivity and encouragement… RUN!!! The Bible is a book of rebuke and correction as well as encouragement! We need to hear it when we are wrong. Yes, it hurts, but genuine repentance brings healing! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

A SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTMAS

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTMAS WORSHIP
(40 Christ-centered songs you may not know)

If you’re struggling to find your CHRISTMAS spirit, I pray this might help you. Here are 40 songs that may move you closer to the CHILD born on CHRISTMAS morning WHO lived a perfect life, and then died on a cross for you and me. You may not like them all, but if you are still, quiet, and listening GOD will speak to you in the these moments. May you and your family find the hope, peace, joy, and love of this blessed season of the first ADVENT or coming of our SAVIOR and MESSIAH. HE is coming again! Be still and know that HE is GOD!

EMMANUEL
Amy Grant (1983)

ALL IS WELL
Michael W. Smith (1997)

NOW THAT I’VE HELD HIM IN MY ARMS
Michael Card (1983)

JOSEPH’S SONG
Michael Card (1987)

BREATHE OF HEAVEN
Amy Grant (1992)

YOU’RE HERE
Francesca Battistelli (2012)

SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY
Rebecca St. James (1997)

MOVE ME CLOSER
Evie (1987)

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR
Third Day (2006)

THIS CHRISTMAS
Toby Mac (2010)

MANGER THRONE
Third Day (2002)

GROWN UP CHRISTMAS LIST
Amy Grant (2008)

EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US
Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith (1992)

HALLELUJAH, LIGHT HAS COME
Barlow Girl (2008)

OFFERING ~ CHRISTMAS VERSION
Paul Baloche (2005)

THIS BABY
Steven Curtis Chapman (1995)

CHRISTMAS IS ALL IN THE HEART
Steven Curtis Chapman (1995)

ONE SMALL CHILD
David Meece (1990)

HOPE WAS BORN THAT NIGHT
Sidewalk Prophets (2012)

CHRISTMAS HALLELUH
Cloverton (2012)

STRANGE WAY YO SAVE THE WORLD
4 Him (1993)

MARY DID YOU KNOW
Mark Lowery (2001)

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
For King & Country (2017)

SING MARY SING
Jennifer Knapp (2002)

I HEARD THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS DAY
Casting Crowns (2008)

GOD IS WITH US
Casting Crowns (2008)

WHILE YOU SLEEPING
Casting Crowns (2008)

HOW MANY KINGS
Downhere (2008)

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
For King & Country (2017)

BE BORN IN ME (MARY’S SONG)
Francesca Battistelli (2012)

BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Third Day (2006)

EMMANUEL GOD WITH US
Chris Tomlin (2021)

HERE WITH US
Joy Williams (2005)

LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Lauren Daigle (2016)

NOEL
Lauren Daigle (2015)

THIS IS CHRISTMAS
Kutlass (2011)

WE ARE THE REASON
David Meece (1980)

WHEN LOVE WAS BORN
Mark Shultz (2016)

Way to go! If you tried each one, then I hope you are closer to JESUS than when you began. These songs have moved me closer to JESUS’ birth. His life, and His death. May the presence of the Savior make this the best Christmas ever. Oh yeah! I come back here throughout the year to be encouraged and to draw near to Christ. He is listening and saving souls today.

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD.

I Corinthians 1:18 NLT

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS!  If you have attended church at any point in your life this statement might be offensive to you; however, for those who have avoided church: the statement may make perfect sense. Recently, someone told me that THE BIBLE is a book of fairy tales. Therefore, to some, the cross must seem like foolishness. For others, the Cross (and its Overcomer) is the very purpose for living.

Ironically, for both groups GOD has used the term “FOOLISHNESS” to help you understand a deeper meaning of the true foolishness involved. In the passage above, THE BIBLE says, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD.”  THE BIBLE goes on to say, “For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than human strength.” (I Cor 1:25).

Consider for a moment, SIR ISAAC NEWTON who is known as “perhaps the greatest physicist who has ever lived.” He said of GOD,

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. And if the fixed stars are the centers of other like systems, these, being formed by the like wise counsel, must be all subject to the dominion of One; especially since the light of the fixed stars is of the same nature with the light of the sun.

Why is JESUS remembered by so many as the SAVIOR, and if there is a shred of TRUTH to the Cross shouldn’t you at least consider its TRUTH? After all, JESUS did not say the truth is merely a concept to consider. HE said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through ME.” (John 14:6) EASTER is the living proof of this TRUTH. Happy EASTER! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

PASSION WEEK!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

8 Many in the crowd spread their garments

on the road ahead of HIM,

and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields.

9 JESUS was in the center of the procession,

and the people all around HIM were shouting,

“PRAISE GOD! BLESSINGS ON THE ONE

WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

10 BLESSINGS ON THE COMING KINGDOM

OF OUR ANCESTOR DAVID!

PRAISE GOD IN HIGHEST HEAVEN!” (Matt 21:8-10)

PASSION WEEK BEGINS! ~ Why would anyone call the week of JESUS’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection “PASSION?” What does the word PASSION really mean? Webster’s dictionary first describes it as “the week between JESUS Last Supper and HIS death;” however, it’s also defined as “an object of deep desire or interest.” I believe both definitions work. JESUS had one purpose during HIS Incarnation; HE came to earth to rescue mankind.  Look what JESUS says in THE BIBLE,

“For THE SON OF MAN

came to seek and save

those who are lost.”

Luke 19:10

That is what this “PASSION WEEK” is all about. PALM SUNDAY marks the pinnacle of people’s expectations for JESUS to be Who they wanted HIM to be. Many are still doing the same thing today. GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER are the proof that HE came for you and me. Without HIM, there is no way to please GOD; otherwise, why did HE come and die? GOD really loves you!

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15