Memorial Weekend- a chance to remember and reflect. I think we don't remember and reflect enough because its too painful. So we keep ourselves busy and fill each waking moment with something to keep us from remembering. I think about the times when I am alone at the house or driving in my truck by myself. All of a sudden I find myself thinking, remembering and reflecting on different aspects of my life. When it gets overwhelming I turn the radio on because I don't want to think anymore.
But its good to remember. The Bible talks about God remembering His people and that is a good thing. To be remembered by God is a grace thing. The thief on the cross said, "Lord remember me in your kingdom." And here's the grace part- Jesus answered, "today you will be with Me in paradise." In other words, Yes I will remember you!
The Book of Zechariah means, "God Remembers" Zechariah helped Israel to rebuild their lives after their time in captivity. His message was this- God is remembering you even in your time of exile and now He is bringing you out to rebuild! Could the same words be spoken to you?
If you believe that everything works out for the good to those who love God (Romans 8) then the same words are being spoken to you. Maybe it hurts to remember too much because it is a reminder that you are still in exile or a period of waiting. Maybe you are ready to build again and move on. Or maybe you are moving on but every once in awhile you remember something from the past and it makes you sad. Either way you have a Father who loves you and knows your pain. And He longs to see you smile again and you will! He remembers you!
This weekend let us take time to remember those who have given their lives for us. Let us also remember Jesus who gave His life on the cross so that we could know that our time of exile will turn to a time of everlasting joy. We will then experience what it means to be remembered by God for all eternity.
In Christ,
Pastor John
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Vision and Hope
So, on to the great Wayne Gretzky- of the many things that made him one of the best hockey players ever was this one- he went to where the puck was going to be! Its called vision and hope.
If you are just constantly going to where the puck is, it might be gone before you get there. You find yourself chasing rather than waiting for it to be where you are so you can get the shot off and hopefully score!
I wonder what our lives would be like if we actually anticipated the dream, went where others were not going, and were there when it arrived rather than aimlessly chasing after our dreams. How many times do we hear of people, "nothing ever came of his dreams"
Proverbs 29:18 says ,Where there is no vision, the people perish: Without vision there is no hope. Gretzky could see where the puck was going to be and he waited its arrival. God has a plan for you! Do you trust that? You really have two choices. Either lie down and die or get up each day knowing that you are part of God's great plan and that eventually all things work out for the good!!!
At Project 52 we love this verse and again share it with you from Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Eventually the main goal (eternal life) is achieved through the Great One- Jesus Christ- if I were Lord Stanley I'd give Him the Cup!
In Christ,
Pastor John
If you are just constantly going to where the puck is, it might be gone before you get there. You find yourself chasing rather than waiting for it to be where you are so you can get the shot off and hopefully score!
I wonder what our lives would be like if we actually anticipated the dream, went where others were not going, and were there when it arrived rather than aimlessly chasing after our dreams. How many times do we hear of people, "nothing ever came of his dreams"
Proverbs 29:18 says ,Where there is no vision, the people perish: Without vision there is no hope. Gretzky could see where the puck was going to be and he waited its arrival. God has a plan for you! Do you trust that? You really have two choices. Either lie down and die or get up each day knowing that you are part of God's great plan and that eventually all things work out for the good!!!
At Project 52 we love this verse and again share it with you from Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Eventually the main goal (eternal life) is achieved through the Great One- Jesus Christ- if I were Lord Stanley I'd give Him the Cup!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Lesson from a Peacock Feather
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...
Wow! I can sure learn a lot from you guys. I like what you said BJK...keep your eyes on Jesus. Reminds me of an exercise we had to do during a pastoral leadership conference.
We were all given a peacock feather. We were told to place the feather on our fingertip and to balance it so it would stand straight up and not fall. The vivid bright colors are amazing. But to look at the feather would mean it would probably fall over. If you looked up at the sky however you could balance it and even walk around without it tipping. I was amazed! I even tried this in vacation Bible school once. And it worked with a little kid and she was amazed as well. The point- keep your eyes on Jesus. Look up to the hills it says in Psalm 121, that's where your help comes from!
It's easy for us to look at all the razzle dazzle of the world. The bright colors of fame and fortune will leave us imbalanced and we will eventually fall over. Keeping our eyes on Jesus through the Spirit's power will keep us focused on the eternal rather than on that which is passing away.
Thanks for sharing with me, and yes hockey is an awesome sport. It totally fits my personality and in fact I would like to share another lesson from the great Wayne Gretzky. That will be my blog next week.
Until then, keep on skating- God has chosen you to be on His winning team!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Wow! I can sure learn a lot from you guys. I like what you said BJK...keep your eyes on Jesus. Reminds me of an exercise we had to do during a pastoral leadership conference.
We were all given a peacock feather. We were told to place the feather on our fingertip and to balance it so it would stand straight up and not fall. The vivid bright colors are amazing. But to look at the feather would mean it would probably fall over. If you looked up at the sky however you could balance it and even walk around without it tipping. I was amazed! I even tried this in vacation Bible school once. And it worked with a little kid and she was amazed as well. The point- keep your eyes on Jesus. Look up to the hills it says in Psalm 121, that's where your help comes from!
It's easy for us to look at all the razzle dazzle of the world. The bright colors of fame and fortune will leave us imbalanced and we will eventually fall over. Keeping our eyes on Jesus through the Spirit's power will keep us focused on the eternal rather than on that which is passing away.
Thanks for sharing with me, and yes hockey is an awesome sport. It totally fits my personality and in fact I would like to share another lesson from the great Wayne Gretzky. That will be my blog next week.
Until then, keep on skating- God has chosen you to be on His winning team!
In Christ,
Pastor John
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