James 1:16-18 Change, you can’t handle it!

James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

Change, people hate, fear and gripe about it. Any change in your routine can start the alarm bells. I believe this is why, when we come to Christ, Jesus slowly molds us into the person He wants us to be. If He just said the word “change” and POOF, it happened in an instant, we would melt down. Our feeble brains couldn’t handle the change!

But look at God! “with whom there is no change or shifting shadow”!

We can rely on His word to be true.

Don’t be deceived, allow Jesus to change you from the inside out and be a “kind of firstfruits of His creation”!

Blessings, David 

Hebrews 13:7-8 Jesus Christ doesn’t change!

Hebrews 13: 7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Yesterday a friend and I went to the Northern Michigan Flywheelers Association annual show. It’s old steam tractors, tractors with flywheel PTO’s on the side that they connect large rubber belts and power tools with. One such device is an old saw mill that takes 6 people to operate. The loader and main operator would roll a log onto the mill, a tractor operator provides power, one person rolled the cut limber and two others ran a smaller mill cutting scraps for the steam engines.

Things have really changed since then!

But notice in the verse that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

He doesn’t change with the times like earthly tools, equipment or production. 

Gods word stands through the ages and “Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith”.

Jesus Christ doesn’t change but you do if you truly accept Him!

Blessings, David 

WE are the Church. 1 Timothy 3:14-15 NLT

I have often heard Pastors preach, as an example, of people attending Church Sunday morning and then reverting to the "world" in the parking lot. Lately, Ive seen people revert as soon as they walk out of the sanctuary and into the lobby. 

Seriously. 

We are the Church. We are the household of God. If we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us. We are His vessel to use as He desires. Shouldn't we then desire to please God in all we do, in all we say, in our conduct and our interactions? 

Shouldn't the Holy Spirit be ever present in our lives? No only in the sanctuary, not only in the lobby, not only in the parking lot but on the road, in our town, in our state, in our country and in our world. 

If we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior shouldn't we act like Him all the time? If the Holy Spirit is in us, shouldn't we let His light shine from us? If we are the Church, shouldn't we conduct ourselves as the household of God? If we are the household of God shouldn't we be pillars and foundations of truth? 

1 Timothy 3:14-15 NLT

14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon,  15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Psalm 59 Deliver me from my enemies!

Psalm 59

Deliver Me From My Enemies

(1 Samuel 20:1-10)

1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam Of David, When Saul sent men to watch his house to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;

protect me from those who rise against me.

2Deliver me from workers of iniquity,

and save me from men of bloodshed.

3See how they lie in wait for me.

Fierce men conspire against me

for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

4For no fault of my own,

they move swiftly to attack me.

Arise to help me, and take notice.

5O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel,

rise up to punish all the nations;

show no mercy to the wicked traitors.

Selah

6They return in the evening,

snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

7See what they spew from their mouths—

sharp words from their lips:

“For who can hear us?”

8But You, O LORD, laugh at them;

You scoff at all the nations.

9I will keep watch for You, O my strength;

for You, O God, are my fortress.

10My God of loving devotion will come to meet me;

God will let me stare down my foes.

11Do not kill them,

or my people will forget.

Scatter them by Your power,

and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield.

12By the sins of their mouths

and the words of their lips,

let them be trapped in their pride,

in the curses and lies they utter.

13Consume them in wrath;

consume them till they are no more,

so it may be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.

Selah

14They return in the evening,

snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.

15They scavenge for food,

and growl if they are not satisfied.

16But I will sing of Your strength

and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning.

For You are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

17To You, O my strength, I sing praises,

for You, O God, are my fortress,

my God of loving devotion.

Our pastor is teaching on “well intentioned dragons”. It’s a series about a critical spirit, a person who scars a ministry from within.

We have such a person in our ministry. Habitual complaining, gossiping and causing derision.

Psalm 59 reminds us where we should take our concerns. David lifted up his enemies before God.

I pray that God shines His light on these dragons and His will be done. I pray the He protects His ministry and puts an end to this situation!

Deliver Me From My Enemies!

“Do not kill them,

or my people will forget.

Scatter them by Your power,

and bring them down,

O Lord, our shield.”

“By the sins of their mouths

and the words of their lips,

let them be trapped in their pride,

in the curses and lies they utter.”

“For You are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble”.

Blessings, David 

"That is Illogical".Timothy 3:8-13 NLT

Remember Spock from Star Trek? He worked by logic, not emotions. Wouldn't it be great if our emotions never got in the way? 

It is no small thing to represent Christ to the world. Always on a stage, always being watched. We can do our best, try our hardest, we will still mess up. We are human, we have emotions and sometimes they get in the way. 

So when we do, we learn from it and move on, move forward, try harder, do better. Those who do well...will be rewarded...and will have increased confidence in their faith... 

How do we "do well"? Read the Bible, learn scripture, apply it to your life. Don't be just hearers of the Word but doers. (James 1:22) And then you will be rewarded with greater faith. 

“For it is no light matter to represent God’s Son in such a great task as erecting and extending God’s kingdom, in caring for the salvation of souls whom the Lord Himself has deigned to purchase with His own blood, and ruling the Church which is God’s inheritance.” (Calvin) 

1Timothy 3:8-13 NLT 

8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.  9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 
10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. 

11 In the same way, their wives  must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. 

Blessings, Cecilia

James 5:13-18 You should pray!

James 5

The Prayer of Faith

13Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

Prayer, do we pray enough and do we pray rightly?

Life is busy and we can’t always go to our closet to pray. 

Are you suffering, are you cheerful or are you sick?

Meditate on this verse, 

“The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail”.

Pray earnestly like Elijah!

“He (YOU) should pray”.

Blessings, David 

Luke 6:20-23 Great is your reward!

Luke 6:20 Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

We who have accepted Jesus Christ, who in Jesus’s words are “born again” are rich!

“Yours is the kingdom of God”! You have a place in the kingdom!

“You will be satisfied”! No more hunger!

“You will laugh”! No more tears!

“Blessed are you”! No more hate!

Rejoice and leap for joy! No more pain, walkers, canes, wheelchairs or artificial joints! Yippee!

The Son of Man loves you!

Great is your reward in heaven!

I can’t wait, can you?

Blessings, David 

Bad Apples. 1 Corinthians 11:1 & 1 Timothy 3:1-7

A few bad apples can spoil the whole bushel. Or, you can remove the bad apples and stop the rot. 

There are dishonorable people in every profession. The church is no exception. Every person on this earth is susceptible to sin. There are quack  doctor's,  but if you're sick you find one you are comfortable with. There are corrupt cops but if you need help, you still call 911. There are teacher's in the schools with ill intentions but we don't neglect becoming educated because of it.

Instead of focusing on what behavior we DON'T want to see in the church, maybe we need to focus on the behavior we DO want to see in the church and emulate Christ. 

1 Corinthians 11:1 "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."

1 Timothy 3:1-7 NLT 

1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. 2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.  3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.  4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.  5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 

6 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.   7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. 

Blessings, Cecilia

Deuteronomy 28:1-6 You will be blessed!

Deuteronomy 28:1Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:

3You will be blessed in the city

and blessed in the country.

4The fruit of your womb will be blessed,

and the produce of your land,

the offspring of your livestock,

the calves of your herds,

and the lambs of your flocks.

5Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed.

6You will be blessed when you come in

and blessed when you go out.

The Lord blesses us in so many ways we just don’t realize the full extent of all His blessings! When we meet Him we will become aware of all the blessings we were oblivious to.

A couple weeks ago while driving to church we hit a deer, we weren’t hurt and the appraiser said we were very lucky as it was the least amount of damage from a deer collision he has ever seen. The insurance company was great. The car was repaired and it looked great. I’ve been trying to convince my spouse that she needed an all wheel drive car because we live in the snow belt. We went car shopping when her car was in the collision shop. 

Then we heard about the Costco Car Buying Program, $1000 below dealer invoice. The manufacturer was offering a rebate with 0% financing.

I advertised her car for sale and it sold in hours to a Christian lady that had been looking for seven months! 

We prayed about the new car and asked God to close the door if it wasn’t what he wanted.

He blessed us! 

On the way home (3 hour drive) with the new car we stopped and ate lunch with my older sister in her office and later we stopped at a cider mill. While we shared a cider slushy, Cecilia ate a fresh donut and I looked up and saw bible quotes on the wooden beam that spanned the room!

All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Blessings to you! David 

Luke 18:15-17 Act like a two year old!

Luke 18:15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

16But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I tell you, if anyone does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will never enter it.”

Yesterday during the Kidz ministry the volunteer in the two year old room needed to leave the room for a few minutes so I was asked to stand at the door and watch because rules state two volunteers need to be present at all times. A two year old came up to the door and threw a beach ball over the door to me and wanted me to throw it. The doors are two piece and the bottom stays closed and the top is open latched against the wall. When I tossed the beach ball it inadvertently bounced off the childs head and he laughed and chased the ball and ran back to repeat the ball toss!

Then there were three......balls bouncing off heads, children screaming and running chasing balls!

 “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

I’m sure God was chuckling and enjoying watching His children play and scream as their parents were enjoying the Sunday service.

Do you receive the kingdom of God like a little child? 

Two year olds are inquisitive, adapting and learning! 

This is how you should receive the kingdom of God! 

Don’t act your age.....

Act like a two year old!

Blessings, David 

Just My Opinion. 1 Timothy 2:8-15 NLT

Do you ever get to a passage and think "I just want to skip over this part." That's what I've been thinking here. I could get in so much trouble with the next 8 verses. Read on and you'll see why.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NLT

8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.  10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

11 Women should learn quietly and submissively.  12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.  13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.  15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.

Here's my summary.

Verse 8. "Men" refers to humankind. Paul is saying he wants all people to worship God. Isn't that all any Christian wants?

Verse 9. Women (girls, young ladies) should dress modestly. Call me old fashioned but I agree. Most people don’t really want to see all that bare flesh and cleavage, trust me on this.

Verse 10. Beauty should come from within. She could be the most beautiful woman on earth but if her heart is ugly, who wants to be around that?

I heard a pastor say once "If the barn needs painting, by all means, paint it". I wear makeup, sometimes. I like to look nice and I like to style my hair. I have a few pieces of nice jewelry. But don't overdo it. Don't, by the way you dress be a distraction at church and, I believe, in public for that matter. My opinion, you don't have to agree.

Now the fun part. Verses 11-13. I'm going to be a chicken here and save my opinion and a lot of argument. This is one of those areas I prefer to keep my belief to myself, kind of like politics. In general let's just say our current culture no longer respects authority. Just look around. The police are a great example. It use to be when the lights and siren went on, the driver pulled over. I follow a news page on Facebook called "Blue Lives Matter". It amazes me how many times someone will put out a report of police abusing power, acting racist, pulling people over for "nothing" etc. Then the police body cam footage is released and the story was all a lie. Yet riots start over those false reports.

Verse 14. As I always say, Eve was tricked into sinning, Adam chose to sin.

Verse 15. "women will be saved through childbearing," does not mean if you do not give birth to children you cannot be saved. God is not that narrow minded. I believe it refers to the Messiah being born human.

We can all be saved through the birth and death of our Savior Jesus Christ who was born fully human of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, was crucified for all mankind's sins, died, was buried and rose to life again 3 days later. But it's not enough just to believe, you have to receive Christ to be saved. You have to receive the forgiveness only He can give. You have to believe He did it for you. You have to receive His mercy and grace.

Blessings, Cecilia

Acts 1:7-8 God only knows!

Acts 1:7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Predictions, we’ve all heard them! The world is going to end on such and such date.

Jesus is returning on this date.

The dates come and go....

God only knows. 

Continue being His witnesses until you breathe your last or when He returns.

Blessings, David 

Luke 2:25-35 A light for revelation!

Luke 2:The Prophecy of Simeon

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, 28Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to Your people Israel.”

33The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause

the rise and fall of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—

and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to Your people Israel.

Let this verse sink in, meditate on it!

He came for you because He loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him!

Blessings, David 

It's a Question of Authority 1 Timothy 2:8-15 NLT

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NLT 

8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. 

9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.  10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. 

11 Women should learn quietly and submissively.  12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.  Let them listen quietly.  13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.  15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty. 

"But the cultural challenge must be seen in its true context – not just a struggle between men and women, but as a struggle with the issue of authority in general. Since the 1960’s, there has been a massive change in the way we see and accept authority. 

· Citizens do not have the same respect for government’s authority. 

· Students do not have the same respect for teacher’s authority. 

· Women do not have the same respect for men’s authority. 

· Children do not have the same respect for parental authority. 

· Employees do not have the same respect for their employer’s authority. 

· People do not have the same respect for the police’s authority. 

· Christians no longer have the same respect for church authority. 

There are not many who would say that these changes have been  good. Generally, people do not feel safer and there is less confidence in the culture. "
David Guzick 

Blessings, Cecilia

2 Samuel 6:16, 20-23 Leave Judgement to the Lord!

2 Samuel 6:16As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

20As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

21But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, 22and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

23And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Brethren, we need to guard our hearts concerning others on how they worship or serve the Lord. When the Spirit inside them leaps and dances before the Lord who are we to judge the Spirit? God looks upon the heart!

Be careful how you judge because God will use your own words to judge you!

 Michal judged, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” And “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

Notice verse 23, “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

While serving the Lord in a ministry someone judged me by my posture. I was accused of crossing my arms and their implication was, who does he think he is!

What they don’t know is I have terrible shoulder pain and I was supporting my left elbow with my right hand to reduce the pain. 

I am a faithful servant, that serves even with terrible pain.

Don’t be a Michal, leave judgement to the Lord!

Blessings, David 

2 Samuel 5:1-5 Be Faithful!

2 Samuel 5:

David Anointed King over Israel

(1 Chronicles 11:1-3)

1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel.

4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

Gods timing is not our timing. David was anointed as a young boy to be the future king of Israel. But God waited until he was 30 years old to fulfill that promise.

David went through hardships, wars and persecution from king Saul before he became king. 

But David was faithful to God and his king.

God blessed him for his faithfulness.

Are you going through hardships, war and persecution? Be faithful like David and in time, in Gods time you will be blessed for your faithfulness.

God has a plan for your life, inquire about it and allow God to lead you just as David allowed God to lead him.

Be faithful!

Blessings, David 

3 John 9-11 Don’t be a Diotrephes!

3 John 9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. 10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

“malicious slander against us.” Gossiping 

The Greek verb which is here translated ‘gossiping’ comes from a root which was used of the action of water in boiling up and throwing off bubbles.

“The word signifieth . . . to talk big bubbles of words . . . it is a metaphor taken from over-seething pots, that send forth a foam; or . . . from overcharged stomachs, that must needs belch.” (Trapp)

Gossiping, slanderous talk, are you guilty of this? 

Sunday at church while volunteering in a ministry a father was rude and refused to follow or accept our instruction for a program. Every time this family is there it’s always something. It’s affecting the staff and the volunteers and the ministry. They judge us by our looks, posture, words and are rude.

I am reluctant to say it, but something needs to be done. 

Meetings, emails, texts and phone calls won’t cure this problem. 

“Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.”

Maybe it’s time to deal with the Diotrephes that uses this ministry?

Please pray for this ministry and this family!

Don’t be a Diotrephes!

Blessings, David 

Romans 13:11-14 Wake Up!

Romans 13:11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

I cannot wake up from my slumber this morning! But these verses are referring to putting on Christ. 

How many of us know someone that needs to wake up, a resistor of the faith?

The hour has come, the night is nearly over, the day has drawn near!

We must lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

And instead clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ!

The hour has come!

Wake up!

Blessings, David