This Sunday is Easter Sunday! It is the most victorious day on the Christian calendar. We feel a sense of excitement as we gather and sing songs of faith and confess together: Jesus is alive! On this day, we join hundreds of millions around the world in the celebration of Christ’s resurrection!

In a way, it is on this day as it was on the first resurrection day. When the good news of the empty tomb and Risen Christ was heralded in the streets of Jerusalem, it spread like wildfire throughout the countryside of Judea and Galilee. Then it went quickly to the market places of Corinth and Antioch and beyond to major cities throughout the Roman Empire. It was amazing news and it awakened devoutly religious people around the world to the truth that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of the world.

Within fifty days of the apparent collapse of Christ’s cause at Calvary, the city of Jerusalem rang out with bold declarations that God had raised Jesus from the dead and we are all witnesses of it. Several hundred had seen Him after His resurrection! They had a story to tell and they told it! You talk about social media…

Those who heard their message were moved by it and forced to admit that this resurrection event had transformed the lives of believers. When questioned by religious and civil authorities, the early witnesses were not shy with their reply. Their excitement in sharing this good news was due to the fact of the Risen Savior.

On the Day of Pentecost, the resurrection was the theme of Peter’s sermon as he preached, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32) and this bold declaration inspired three thousand people to confess Christ as Lord. The game-changing fact of the resurrection and its heart-moving proclamation drove the early church’s witness to all corners of the world. Millions were converted! When faced with opposition and even persecution, they did not let up, give up, or shut up! They continued to proclaim boldly the message! Truly, that demonstrates and illustrates how important is the message of the Risen Lord!

The truth of the Risen Lord is just as vital and life changing today as it was on Resurrection Day. That is why we will gather on Sunday and declare He is Risen!

Devotedly yours,
 Pastor Ron

In recent days, we have seen some troublesome things around the world that may tempt us to be a little nervous. For you, it may be some things closer to home, that feel out of your control, which are causing you anxious moments. If so, then I understand. Frankly, this could happen to any of us, and does happen to most of us. However, I have good news for all of us: God does indeed hear the prayers of His nervous children!

In fact, many of the great prayers of scripture come from the hearts of nervous, anxious saints. Psalm 27 is an example. David reveals a troubled heart and a stout faith all at the same time. He begins, “The LORD is my light and salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1-2). Then he ends by encouraging his own troubled heart to have confidence in God with these words: “Wait on the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).

Sometimes we find ourselves in threatening circumstances for which we too must remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. As the people of Israel were about to set foot in the Promised Land where they would face new adversaries and frightening experiences, Joshua urged the people of God: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). No doubt, these words gave them comfort and helped them persevere as they faced the greatest challenge of their lives.

We must exercise this faith as well—which may not always come naturally. Indeed, it may be easier to trust the Lord when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging. Yet we will never really know the depth of our faith until it is tested by a powerful storm. Only then will we be fully certain how awesome is our God and worthy of our trust. But then we will join with the psalmist and say— “I am still confident of this (despite everything): I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

So whatever challenging circumstance you find yourself in today, remind yourself: Do not fear; instead, trust the Lord and draw near.

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

I have a question for you: Do you worry? The reason I ask is because worry is a real problem for many people—maybe you. If so, then don’t worry about it! Jesus has a solution for it. He said, “Do not worry” (Matthew 6:25). Simple, but direct! Here, Jesus gives this command but then the message actually expands. It becomes the following commands:

> Do not worry about your life (Matthew 6:25)
> Do not worry about your needs (Matthew 6: 31)
> Do not worry about your future (Matthew 6:34).

That pretty well covers it all! But the bottom line is “Do not worry!” The word for worry in the Greek is “merimnao” and it means, “to divide” or “to tear apart” (like to come apart at the seams of a garment). So it literally reads “Do not be divided (torn) in your mind.” This thought is present in James 1:8 where we are warned that a person who is (divided in mind) is unstable in all he does. It’s true! One moment you are putting your faith in God and the next you are doubting Him. You have faith and then fear, fear and then faith—a divided mind. That’s not healthy. The scripture here is clear:“Worry about nothing.”

So what do we do instead of worry? You trust God to take care of you today! In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus gives examples: He refers to the birds of the air (v. 26). They don’t sow or reap or store away in barns. God takes care of them and you are more valuable than are they to the Creator. Also, the lilies of the field (v. 28). They do not worry over what they wear. God takes care of them and He will do the same for you… to you who are so much more valuable to the Creator. He who cares most for you will take care of you. You can trust your concerns to the One who cares for you. “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

The idea is that on any given day, you choose to trust rather than worry. You say to yourself: I will put off worry to another day, and choose to trust the Lord today.

Rhonda and I travelled to New York City years ago. On 5th Ave., there were two interesting statues to see and compare. One was at the RCA building with the statue of Atlas, the strong man, straining to hold the world upon his back. The other statue was down the street at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, with its representation of Jesus holding the world in His hand effortlessly. It reminded me that we all have a choice: We can carry the world on our shoulders or we can place our world into the hands of our Lord. Jesus says here that we can trust our worries, problems and lives into the hands of Him who loves us so. Jesus assure us: God will take care of us today…Think about it!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

It is my joy and privilege to share with you occasionally some thoughts from devotional writers I have enjoyed over the years. Today, I bring you the words of George Matheson, an insightful writer from a previous generation, on the subject of worship:

“Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD…May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion” (Psalm 134:1, 3).

You may see this as a strange time to worship—“ministering by night in the house of the LORD.” Indeed, worshiping at night, during the depths of sorrows, is a difficult thing. Yet therein lies the blessing, for it is the test of perfect faith…

It is easy for me to worship in the summer sunshine, when the beautiful melodies of life seem to fill the air, and the lush fruit of life is still on the trees. But when the songbirds cease and the fruit falls from the trees, will my heart continue to sing? Will I remain in God’s House in (this) night? Will I love Him simply for who He is? Am I able to “keep watch for one hour” (Mark 14:37) with Him in His Gethsemane? Will I help Him carry His cross up the road of suffering to Calvary? Will I stand beside Him in His dying moments, with Mary, His mother, and John the beloved disciple? Would I be able, with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, to take the dead Christ from His cross?

If I can do these things, then my worship is complete and my blessings glorious. Then I have indeed shown Him love during the time of His humiliation. My faith has seen Him in His lowest state, and yet my heart has recognized His majesty through His humble disguise. And at last I truly know that I desire not the gift but the Giver. Yes, when I can remain in His house through the darkness of night and worship Him, I have accepted Him for Himself alone.

Well said! Let us make it our aim to worship God Himself—who He is and not for how He can bless us. He is worthy of our Highest worship! Amen and Amen!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

In our Bible passage this past Sunday, you will recall, that the Apostle Paul urged the Colossians believers to be “strengthened in the faith” and “overflowing with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). Paul used the metaphor of an overflowing fountain to describe a grateful heart in the life of a growing Christian.

When I go to a park, I have always found an overflowing fountain to be pleasing to the eyes and the sound of the running water to be pleasing to the ears. There is something about it that is relaxing. Even so, a Christian who is filled with Jesus and overflowing in thanksgiving and positive living is refreshing and inviting to others. Indeed, when you are full of Jesus, you find He gives more than you can ever contain, and you cannot help but overflow to others. This is grace flowing with joyful thanksgiving and pouring blessing into the lives of those around you.

Paul is saying that a healthy and growing Christian should be overflowing with thanksgiving. So we have to ask ourselves, at this point, how are we doing with our outpouring of thanksgiving? Do we have a thankful spirit and contagious disposition? Are we humbly grateful, or grumbly and hateful? Paul said in another passage that we should “Give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

I would like to think that this simple devotional thought today would serve to remind each of us to do a checkup from the neck up! Let us take the opportunity today to do an inventory of ourselves to see if we indeed live with an attitude of gratitude. Are we overflowing in our praise and thanksgiving to our gracious Lord? The psalmist declared, “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). So let’s begin to—

Count our blessings
Collect memories of His mercies
Catalog His kindnesses to us

Let’s do this—and start today!

Gratefully yours,
Pastor Ron

I love worship! I admit it—not ashamed of it! I look forward every week to begin my week with it! For me, the worship of the Lord is a top priority! God has been good to me, so with the psalmist, I agree: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 48:1). We should all respond positively to the psalmist’s invitation: “Come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker for He is our God” (Psalm 95:6).

It is a source of great joy to me, and a humbling thing, to know (according to Scripture) that I bring pleasure to the heart of God by my pure praise of Him. He “inhabits the praises of His people” (Psalm 22:3). I, even as a lowly creature, can touch the heart of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, by my true adoration and worship of Him. Think about it: As the recipients of God’s grace, we can in turn, by His grace, bless the One who bestowed upon us His grace. We can lavish upon Him our love and know that He takes pleasure in this. Why would I ever desire to miss an opportunity to gather with the Lord’s family and bless my Lord and Savior?

Besides this, worship truly makes a difference in my life. I am a different person having been in the presence of the King! Worship changes me—and for the better! William Temple wrote in his book The Hope of a New World the following:

Worship is—
to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God,
to feed the mind the truth of God,
to purge the imagination with the beauty of God,
to open the heart to the love of God,
and to devote the will to the purpose of God.

Indeed, I am a changed person having experienced a true encounter with the living God in worship! Just the thought makes me look forward to Sunday as we gather as a Family before our Lord…Amen!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

I read about a pastor walking outside a hospital when a man came near him and said, “Her temperature is gone!” The pastor wrote that he had no idea who the man meant by “her” but he thought it must have been someone the man loved dearly. The pastor said he had never met the man before and would probably never see him again. However, he said, “I will never forget the sight of this man so overcome with emotion that he had to share the good news with the first person he saw.”

In recent months, I have been sharing with you a couple of series, MEET JESUS and Christ Is Lord. This is my way of grabbing hold of you and sharing with you the Good News: Your Savior is Awesome! It’s true: Jesus is Bigger than you Think and Greater than you can Imagine. I want you to know that and never forget that!

Admit it: Life can be hard at times and unforgiving. Troubles can come in waves and be unrelenting. In those inevitably challenging experiences of life, when you need courage and resolve, and your situation calls for strength of character and determination, it helps to remember that God is stronger than your adversity and mightier than your adversary. Therefore, we must learn to place our focus not on our problems but on Jesus who is Lord over them.

No matter what you face in life, I want you to know (and we will talk about it Sunday) that Christ in you (is) your hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). This means, putting it simply, He is our victory! Jesus is our hope, so in Him let’s place our trust!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“Praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

One of the things I have noticed, and I like, about Paul’s teachings on prayer is that he puts the focus not so much on our problems but on God’s purposes. This occurs not just in Colossians, as we have been studying recently, but also in other letters of encouragement written by Paul. For example—

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Notice the words hope and riches. These words point to His purposes. Life can seem hopeless, but it is quite to the contrary. Life is full of hope for the believer. Even further, you have a great inheritance that will not be taken away, but is instead here to stay. Paul is encouraging us to pray according to God’s purpose so that we might see what all God has for us, how He is at work in us, and how we can be certain of the victory that awaits us.

I read somewhere that when British rule ended in India in the 1940’s, a group of social scientists studied its impact on the life of the nation. They discovered after six months of study that many villages were not aware that the British had ever been there. The British had been present since the 1600’s, but the average Indian villager lived & died without any knowledge that the British had ever been present.

As believers, God is active in our lives, but many of us are not aware of His presence directing our lives. We face stresses, disappointments, and all sorts of hard times thinking that life is out of control or falling apart when nothing could be further from the truth. God is at work in these things bringing about better things. God is at work in our lives, using experiences to mold our character and enrich our spiritual lives. We just don’t see it. So we must learn to pray about it that we might understand better God’s higher purposes and see how He is guiding us through it.

Let’s learn not to get so bent out of shape over our problems, but instead focus on God’s purposes. Ask God for wisdom that we might discern what He is up to in our lives and how He is working to bring blessings to our lives—even in the hard times. Trust me on this—God has a way of answering this kind of praying. Try it and you will see!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“Do everything without complaining…” (Philippians 2:14).

In case you had not noticed, the temperature has been a bit cooler in recent days. Yeah, I noticed! In fact, on Sunday, I met a couple of winter visitors in the Garden Room between services and I apologized for the cool weather while they were here. In all honesty, I think I was really just complaining over it being chilly. They laughed and said, “This is nothing…” and went on to say they were from Idaho where the winter weather dips below zero almost daily this time of the year. That’s cold! I guess I really have nothing to complain about…

I am reminded that the Jewish nation for nearly forty years received manna from heaven every morning. However, they began to complain about it. What was once a daily miracle became for them a routine occurrence. They grew accustomed to daily blessings and began to complain. (Paul commented on it in 1 Cor. 10:10).

Do you think that sometimes we too may take for granted the blessings of life and slip into a complaining mode? Do we at times need an attitude adjustment?

A few years ago, a tropical storm caused a power outage here in S. Florida for several days to weeks and we were forced to realize how we take for granted the physical necessities dependent on electricity. I wonder if we need occasionally a drastic measure in our personal experience to bring about an appreciation of life, family, and our relationship to God. I am not sure any of us would want that, but one thing for sure is that we certainly would not need that if we would learn to count our blessings daily, enjoy the regular occurrences gratefully and give thanks in life always.

I am going to try to do better regarding my attitude towards cooler weather. After all, we live in S. Florida! So Lord, I confess—I’ve got no complaints! How about you?

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Pastor D.T. Niles once wrote about a member of his congregation whom he met on the street one day. She had been active for many years but had recently drifted away. She was suffering several personal and family problems. Evidently, it was a challenging time in her life. She told Niles that God had become distant to her, that she had lost any sense of closeness to Him, and that her faith did not seem to mean much anymore to her.

Here is how Niles answered her: “Not only now, but even in the future, there will always be times when God seems distant; when it looks as if God has forgotten you and does not care; when prayers go unanswered and life is unbearable. At such times, you must learn to hold onto your brothers and sister in the church. Your difficulty is that you tried to hold on to God alone, and we were never intended to hold on to God alone.”

Pastor Niles is right! We were never intended to walk the life of faith on our own! We do this together as a Family! Holy scripture says, “Let us not give up gathering together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).  

There will come a day when you are going to need someone to encourage you, but you can be sure, that on any given day there will always be someone present who needs encouragement from you. We need each other—God has so ordained it! So let us be sure to be here for the giving and receiving of encouragement.

This Sunday, I am told, will be a cold day in South Florida, so dress warm—pull out and wear your favorite warm clothes and coat—but be here with brothers and sisters and look for someone you can encourage. Who knows—you may be the one who is blessed and encouraged best this Sunday in church.

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

A story tells of a man who came to visit his old friend, a music teacher. As the man came in, he asked, "What's the good news today?" The old teacher was silent for a moment, but then he stood up and walked across the room. He picked up a small hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded throughout the room, he said, "That is the sound of an A. It is an A today; it was an A five thousand years ago, and it will be an A ten thousand years from now.” Then he added, “The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall falls flat on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune." He struck the note again and said, "That is an A, my friend, and that's the good news for today!"

You could say that the whole world is out of tune. However, it is good to know that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). That is the good news today! The world will surely let you down, but Jesus will always be the One you can count on!

In recent months, I have tried to turn your mind’s attention and heart’s affection to Jesus through the sermon series MEET JESUS. This journey through the Gospel of John with Jesus has been a joy! This coming Sunday I will share a Stand Alone Sermon and then on February 1 we will begin a new series—Christ Is Lord. We will look at Jesus through the writings of the Apostle Paul in Colossians. This is a sequel to our fall series as we continue our focus on Jesus. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

If you live long enough you will find out that life has a way of creating doubt. It’s true! You walk through some dark valleys and you will know uncertainty. You get hit hard enough in your life situation and you will have questions. Some of God’s greatest people of faith had the strongest doubts. Moses, Elijah, David, and even Peter who said, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).

This past Sunday we looked at the disciple Thomas who had serious doubts regarding the resurrection of Christ. We commonly call him, “Doubting Thomas,” which may not actually be fair. We forget that earlier Thomas was the apostle known for his audacious, outrageous, and courageous faith. For example, while the other disciples were warning Jesus not to go to Jerusalem lest He be stoned (and them right along with Him), Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16). However, later after the disappointment of Calvary, he slipped into serious doubt.

All of this to say: Doubts will come to the life of even the most devoted Christian. If you have thoughts, you will eventually have doubts. Hey, but that is okay—as long as you face them, confront them, and even question them. We will all have a bout with doubt; even so, we must be willing to work it out. Doubt is not the worst place to visit, but you do not want to stay there.

So we learn from the experience of Thomas. When Thomas doubted—

He remembered the words of Jesus regarding His crucifixion and His promised resurrection. Secondly, he chose to stand with the body of believers. In fact, had he been there in the first place on that first resurrection Sunday, he would have overcome doubts earlier. Thirdly, and most importantly, he experienced the Risen Lord. That is what prompted him to exclaim with joy, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
 
Thomas’ doubts were proven wrong! The answer to his doubts came to him in the presence of the living Lord. Faith thrives and grows in the presence of the Living Lord. Thomas moved beyond his doubts. History tells us that he became a great missionary evangelist to the Persians, and to the people of India where years later he was martyred for his faith. Nevertheless, he never renounced his faith. No, he worked thru his doubts well-enough that he was willing to die for his faith. That is true faith! If you will work through your doubts, you will emerge with a stronger faith. I promise!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Since we have entered a new year, you will recall from last week’s eHomily, that I thought it would be a good time to remind us, How to Talk to Our Father. This is Part 2 of this devotional thought. We begin with The Lord’s Prayer—

Our Father in heaven,
Holy is Your name,
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with God’s exaltation. Our first concern in our prayers should be for God to be glorified through our prayers. Even so for our lives. This is where a vital prayer life begins. But notice, how it extends. The Lord’s Prayer naturally divides into two parts: from “Your” to “our” – from God’s exaltation to our supplication (requests). So this next section is about our needs. This will be our focus today.

So what should be our requests? Pray for—

Material needs (v.11)

> “Give us this day our daily bread”

Bread represents material needs. God is the primary source of those blessings. The words this day show the way He meets those needs. The Greek word used here means sufficient for today. We pray to receive what is needful today.

Spiritual needs (v.12-13)

> “Forgive us our debts…”
 
The word forgive means to cancel or send away. Jesus thought of sin as debts owed to God. Sins were failures to give to God what is due Him (honor and glory). We ask forgiveness for this failure of honor and glory. Then He adds, “as we forgive our debtors.” One who is himself ready to forgive can only experience forgiveness.
 
> “And lead us not into temptation”

This is the permissive imperative in the Greek and is translated best, “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” This prayer is a prayer of surrender to the Lordship and leadership of God. It is a plea for God’s help to avoid sin.

> “but deliver us from the evil one”

To be delivered means to be rescued. The word evil (tou poneyrou) with a definite article before evil literally means “the evil one” – Satan. It is a petition to be delivered from all evil, including the source of evil.  

Finally, we pray this so that our lives may glorify our God. It ends with an acknowledgement “For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The entire prayer points us to a life that gives God glory. This is a worthy prayer for us all! Pray about it…

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Since we have entered a new year and we want to be faithful in our Quiet Time experience, I thought it would be a good time to remind us, in our daily devotions, How to Talk to Our Father.

We find Jesus’ teaching on this subject in Matthew 6:9-13. He begins by saying to the disciples, “This then is how you should pray” (v.9). What Jesus is talking about here is not the words we would say but the way we should pray.

The disciples had already asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Part of Jesus’ teaching is corrective – “Do not use vain repetition as the Gentiles do” (Mt. 6:7). And part of Jesus’ teaching is instructive (Mt. 6:9-13). Keep in mind: the disciples, as devout Jews, already practiced prayer—18 Benedictions (Tefillahs) 3 times daily. However, the disciples saw first-hand the prayer life of Jesus. His prayer experience was beyond theirs. Prayer was the atmosphere of Jesus’ life. For example—Twenty-one passages in the N.T. speak of an experience of prayer by Jesus. Twenty-one other passages in the Gospels record His teaching on prayer. Eight of Jesus’ prayers are written in the Gospels.

Jesus practiced what He preached or you could say He preached what He practiced. Not just in public but even more so in private—which are not recorded, but frequently referenced. No wonder the disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray.” So once again, Jesus did not say, “This is what you are to say” but rather “This is how you should pray.”

Our Father in heaven,
Holy is Your name,
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

So what can we learn here?

The Lord’s Prayer begins and ends with God’s exaltation. Three petitions in parallel form begin the prayer:

> Your name
> Your kingdom
> Your will
 
And it ends “For Yours is the Kingdom…” This prayer is bookended with a petition for God’s exaltation—God’s glory.

What can we learn from this? Pray that—

His Name is exalted
“Holy is Your name”

His Kingdom is expanded
“Your kingdom come”

His Will is extended
“Your will be done”

Our first and foremost concern in our prayers should be for God to be glorified through our prayers and our lives. This is where a vital prayer life begins.

The Lord’s Prayer naturally divides into two parts: from “Your” to “our” – from God’s exaltation to our supplication (requests). So this next section is about our needs. We will take a look at that next week in part 2 of this eHomily. In the meantime, work on God’s exaltation in your daily prayer time.

Have a great day!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

There is a story I want to share for this season—

It is said that long ago, in Persia, there ruled a wise and good king. He loved his people greatly. He wanted to know about their lives and hardships more fully. So often times, he dressed in the clothes of an ordinary worker or even as a beggar, and went to the homes of common folks—even some of the poorer. No one, whom he visited, initially thought that he was the ruler. However, the king would usually return and reveal to them his identity and then grant some personal request.

On one occasion, he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. However, later he visited the poor man again and this time chose to disclose his identity. He said to him, "I am your king!" The king was prepared to grant the man some favor or give him some gift. However, the man asked the king for nothing. Instead, he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the coarse food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself, and this is far more valuable!”

The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave Himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Jesus is the best gift of Christmas! Indeed, the Christmas season will pass but the Christ of Christmas stays! He is the greatest gift of all!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

The church drama group was practicing for a presentation of the nativity scene on Sunday, but the baby could not come for the rehearsal. Somehow, everything seemed a little off without him, so said the actors in the Christmas Play.

Sadly, this is a parallel to what happens in our culture anyway. Christ becomes a symbol for the season, but festivities go on without Him. At least that is so for many. In reality, can we actually have Christmas without Christ?

For us, what can we do to keep Christ central in Christmas? Let me make some suggestions: Recognize that—

Christmas is a time of worship. The angels’ song to the shepherds Glory to God in the highest… (Luke 2:14) became the first response to the birth of the Christ child. The Wise Men bowed before Him (Matthew 2:11). It was a time for worship and celebration. Those who understand Christmas will worship Christ. After all, it is Christmas (Christ Mass = Christ Worship). So do not allow the busyness of the season to push away the real business of the season. He is the Reason for the Season!

Christmas is a time of giving. Most people think of gifts when they think of Christmas. Some spend time thinking of what they want to give, perhaps there are some who think more of what they want to get. People often speak of what they want for Christmas. I think maybe all of this misses the point…

In the Christmas story, we see evidence of the finest gifts for Him. We cannot help but think of the Wise Men and their precious gifts for the Christ child. However, Christmas giving went much deeper. For example, Jesus’ human family gave their best to provide for and protect the Christ child. Perhaps, both Mary and Joseph suffered reputation in their community to provide for this baby born out of wedlock. Certainly, Mary sacrificed her own body as the instrument through whom the Christ child would come. Then they both relocated away from their family, friends and job to escape King Herod’s jealous wrath.

Christmas giving begins here. It means even more than gifts; it involves life. For that reason, the Christmas season should be filled with giving. Every Christian at Christmas should look for opportunities to give to Christ in meaningful ways.

Christmas is a time to tell the story of Christ. In the biblical account, upon hearing the story about the birth of the Christ child, people told the news. The shepherds went everywhere sharing the story. The Wise Men told what they knew even before they saw it for themselves. God Himself told it through the Gospels in His own book. This story deserves our witness, too!

Keeping Christ central in Christmas means several things. He must be in our thoughts—He deserves our worship. He must be in our values—He deserves our gifts. He must be in our actions—He deserves our witness. Let’s put Christ where He belongs: in the center of our Christmas!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This past Sunday, in my series, MEET JESUS, I spoke about Jesus calling Lazarus from the grave. Though I did not have time to talk about it in my sermon, still there is something else in the story that I think you would want to know. It is really The Rest of the Story. Following the raising of Lazarus, they gathered for a dinner celebration and expression of appreciation in Christ’s honor (John 12:2). So Lazarus, who was once lying in a grave, is now reclining with Jesus—at the dinner table, enjoying a meal and sweet fellowship with the Lord.

These combined scenes remind me of the 23rd Psalm. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me…” Then the psalmist says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows…” (Psalm 23:4-5).

Interestingly, according to the Apostle John, while Lazarus is celebrating this victory with Jesus, there were enemies nearby who were plotting to kill both Jesus and Lazarus (John 12:9-10). The reason they wanted to kill Lazarus too is because “on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him.”

However, personally I don’t think Lazarus was afraid of them or bothered by their threats aimed at him. I mean—why would he be afraid of death when he had already experienced it and the power of Jesus that delivered him from death? I think he realized that the threat of death is not all it is cracked up to be when you have Jesus on your side (and by your side).

Instead, the focus of Lazarus was on the victory party and his sweet fellowship with Jesus! He had experienced the amazing power of Jesus in his life—nothing bothered him now and nothing mattered more! Even so, Lazarus was living proof of the life of Jesus.  

We need to remind ourselves that we too are part of Christ’s victory party. This is our celebration too! We can put aside our fears for Christ has already conquered our biggest fear—death. His resurrection shouts victory for us all who believe in Him! Even more, if we have indeed experienced the touch of Jesus, then we are not only living witnesses, we are part of the evidence. His story becomes a part of our story! We now have a story to tell to the nations…so let’s share it! Can I get an Amen?!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

This past Sunday I preached on the subject of The Good Shepherd. You will recall the words of Jesus, “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice…” (John 10:2-4).

This is a picture of the shepherd leading his sheep from the community sheep pen to the grassy pastureland up in the hills. It is not in the best interest of the sheep for the shepherd to leave them in the sheep pen. Therefore, the shepherd moves them forward.

He does the same for us! I like the words of the old devotional writer J. Danson Smith, “Take heart! It could never be better to stay once He determines otherwise; if the loving hand of our Lord moves us forward, it must be best. Forward in His name, to green pastures, quiet waters, and mountain heights! He goes ahead of us (Psalm 23:2). So whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him, and the eye of faith can always discern His majestic presence out in front. When His presence cannot be seen, it is dangerous to move ahead. Comfort your heart with the fact that the Savior has Himself experienced all the trials He asks you to endure; He would not ask you to pass through them unless He was sure that the paths were not too difficult or strenuous for you.

This is the blessed life—not anxious to see far down the road nor overly concerned about the next step, not eager to choose the path nor weighted down with the heavy responsibilities of the future, but quietly following the Shepherd, one step at a time.”

Jesus is the Good Shepherd! So follow Him, stay close to Him, and trust always in Him wherever He leads. Move forward with Him!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Today is Saturday, of course, two days after Thanksgiving Day. I hope that by now you have enjoyed time with family and/or friends during this Thanksgiving Holiday. Personally, I have always loved Thanksgiving. I think of it as the purest American religious holiday. Here is why: The stated proclamation of this national holiday, from the outset, has been to remind us of the blessings and providence of God Almighty! Can I get an AMEN?!

We all have reasons for thanksgiving and they do not end after Thanksgiving Day. Indeed, scripture teaches that Thanksgiving is not simply something to fill a special day; it is something that should fill our hearts every day. Think about these words: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). These are the words of Paul, and not just here. Paul wrote about thanksgiving often, and so often from the confines of a prison. This expression of thanks was not based on his outer circumstances but the inner condition of his heart. Paul possessed within him an attitude of gratitude, which conditioned his response to everything that happened to him. As a result, he could say again & again, “I am so thankful to God.” For example—

To the Romans: “I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all…” (Romans 1:8).
 To the Corinthians: “I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way…and He will keep you strong to the end….” (1 Corinthians 1:4-8).
To the Ephesians: “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…” (Ephesians 5:20).
To the Philippians: “I thank my God every time I think of you…” (Philippians 1:3).
 To Timothy: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength…” (1 Timothy 1:12).
  To the Thessalonians: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Paul taught the believers to do what was firmly established in his heart: namely, thanksgiving. Which means for us as believers today: Thanksgiving is not for a day—but every day. It is for a life, and it grows from the heart. The heart of Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving Living!

So today is Saturday, but it is still a Thanksgiving Day! My advice: Give Thanks—and Have a Good Day!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you” (Psalm 116:7).

This verse reminds us that if the Lord has been good to us then it is time to express our love and gratitude to Him. This sentiment is reflected in this psalm from the beginning. The first four words of the psalm are “I love the Lord…” Then he tells why: He heard my voice…He heard my cry… (v.1). The psalmist is saying: The Lord heard me, then he helped me. He goes on in the next few verses to explain how He did so in specific ways. But here in the opening he says: Because of this I can’t help but love him more… That is why he begins the psalm by declaring, “I love the Lord…” Listen: I believe that every believer should be able to offer a similar declaration without hesitation!

The reason for this is because the Lord has been good to us. Not just in good times but even in hard times. You sense it here…Note the depth of the psalmist’s hurt when he opens by saying, “He heard my voice” (v.1). He does not even call it prayer; he just says voice (this Hebrew word speaks of groaning or moaning). Have you ever come before the Lord and moaned or groaned? Then you are not alone! He testifies, “He heard my cry” (v.1b) which is a word for prayer and it is in the plural (cries). His prayers—his cries to God were offered repeatedly. That reveals the depth of his hurt. The result of his prayers? God did not hide from him but heard him and then helped him. That is why he cannot help but say, “I love the Lord!”

Do you have reasons to love the Lord? Then tell Him! If the Lord has been good to you, then it is time to—Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

Do you ever get discouraged? Most of us do! Sometimes things do not turn out the way we planned and it seems like God does not show up the way we prayed. This can set us back emotionally—and sometimes spiritually. Some people get away from God not because they wake up one morning and decide to rebel, but because their faith seems to have failed. That's discouragement—and it can be destructive!
 
This can happen to the best of us, and to the worst of us, which is to say it can happen to any of us. If you do not believe it, read scripture. Think about Elijah, Moses, David, and the early disciples. Some great people of faith in history became overwhelmed with discouragement—even to the point of depression. Such as Reformation leader Martin Luther and the mighty preacher Charles Spurgeon.
 
So discouragement, regardless of the reason, calls for resolution! The biblical remedy, when you are discouraged, is to find courage. The word of the Lord says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go?
(Joshua 1:9).
 
Joshua and the Hebrew people stood on the bank of the Jordan River and the challenge of conquering the Promised Land must have been frightening and threatening. They had already lost time in entering the land almost forty years earlier due to their lack of confidence in the Lord. This had been a major setback in all of their lives. Now they must muster courage to face a positive future. They did not want to fail again this must have felt overwhelming to them. So three times God commanded them to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9). The people were being called to choose courage and put their trust in the Lord for their future.
 
Here is why: God said, "I will be with you wherever you go." Hey, that is good for us to know! We will all have challenges in our future that will remind us of the failures of our past. When we face these experiences, it is good to know for sure that the Lord is by our side.
 
Remind yourself in those challenging times that:
 
God is my help.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help
in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

 
God gives me strength.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me
strength Philippians 4:13).

 
God will take away my fear.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7).
 
The Jewish spies in the Old Testament were afraid when they investigated the Promised Land earlier in their wanderings because the enemy soldiers were big and the walls were high. However, what they failed to see is that God was above them all. Had the spies put their focus on the Lord on High, they would not have been afraid. Joshua, years later, did just that and led the Hebrews to courageously march against the enemy, tear down the walls, and conquer the Promised Land. God took away their fear and He will do the same for you. Then you will be able to say: When I am discouraged, I will find courage, because I am encouraged by my Lord!
 
Stand strong in the Lord, my dear friends!
 
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

When I am at home, I enjoy watching a game on TV. It almost does not matter which sport, usually whatever is in season, though with some exceptions—no bowling or corn hole. Sorry, don’t like it! Anyway, there is something inside me that needs to crunch on something while I am watching a game on TV. You can probably relate… For example, I like potato chips. However, that is not good for you. So now I sometimes eat light baked chips. Almost tasteless, but it gives me something to do. Occasionally, I will eat light popcorn. Yeah, it has to be light (at this stage for me). So light that when it pops, it hovers up there in mid-air. That is how light it is… But here is what I’ve noticed about me: Once I start, it is hard to stop. Like the old Lays Potato Chip commercial: “I bet you can’t eat just one!”

The writer of Psalm 34 says something similar. According to David, God is so wonderful that, no matter what happens in life, you can’t stop praising Him. There are things the psalmist just had to say to God. These words weigh heavy on his heart. You sense their importance by the first words of the utterance—

“I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together” (v. 1-3).

You can feel his firm resolve to offer these words of praise. Nothing can stop him! They are that important! He wants to say it “at all times…always on my lips.”

You know what, the psalmist is right! His mercies call for our praises! It is that simple, yet that essential. Scrubbed into the fiber of our humanity is the need to offer praises to God. Even as we are made to breathe air physically, we are created to speak praise spiritually. As naturally as the eye responds to light, the ear responds to sound, and the lungs respond to air, even so the heart responds to God.

Although it is true that our fallen sinful nature hinders such expression, yet our redeemed nature, through Christ, unleashes the power of praise. The Spirit of God in our hearts ignites our praise. Even so, the Word of God in our minds directs our praise. It is as we open our lives to God daily that we are free to enjoy these happy, holy, hallelujah moments!

If you know much about the life of David, you are aware that he faced his share of problems—some of which he brought on himself. He tasted fear (v. 4), shame (v. 5), troubles (v. 6), and enemies (v. 7). Yet despite these challenging experiences, he had learned of God’s deliverances. Listen to his words that serve as a refrain in this psalm—

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4).

This verse and other verses like it in this psalm repeatedly speak of deliverance and salvation. This, my friends, is the language of the redeemed. What was true for the psalmist is true for us. This doesn’t mean we will no longer face fear, shame, troubles or opposition. It means that when we do, we have the assurance that He will deliver us in His way and His time. For that, we give praise! Can I get an Amen?!

Now, I am going to make some popcorn and enjoy a little baseball…

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God.”

These words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning are a reference to the burning bush experience of Moses. You will recall that Moses was tending sheep in the desert of Midian when he noticed a burning bush and approached it curiously. The ordinary suddenly became extraordinary! Here, God spoke to him and called him to return to Egypt and declare God’s message to the Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” But, of course, Moses was unsure of himself, as to whether he was up to the challenge. He said, “Who am I?” Implying that he was not worthy of such a challenge. (I suppose we all can relate to that). Moses was also uncertain as to who God is. He said, “I wouldn’t even know who to say is the Name of the One sending this message…” God answered, “I Am – this is what you are to say…I Am has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:11-14).

It is interesting to me that God introduced Himself to Moses (and the world) by using the Hebrew “I am” verb. In the Hebrew language, you do not have tenses as we do in English. What God is saying, “I Am the God who has always been here, am here to stay, and always will be here.” He is saying, “I Am the true God who always exists—the eternal God.” Of course, Moses discovered that God, known as I Am, is greater than any challenges that Moses faced.

In our series MEET JESUS, from the Gospel of John, I have pointed out that Jesus used “I Am” frequently to describe Himself. He used the Greek equivalent (ego eime) of the Old Testament word meaning “I Am.” For example, when Jesus came walking up to the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were frightened, He said, “It is I, don’t be afraid” (John 6:20). As I mentioned Sunday, the words are literally, “I Am, don’t be afraid.”  Jesus came to them and calmed the storm (and their fears). He proved to be more than adequate for their storm!

Here is a sampling of “I Am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John—

“I Am the bread of life” (John 6:35).
“I Am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
“I Am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7, 9).
“I Am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14).
“I Am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
“I Am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).

What can we learn from all this? Jesus is greater than your problems. More than adequate—He is! Jesus can satisfy every longing of your heart & meet every need in your life. That is Jesus – Savior and Lord! He is the Great “I Am” – Trust Him!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

The highly treasured devotional book STREAMS IN THE DESERT shares a story that I would like to pass along to you. I hope you enjoy it!

Many years ago there was a monk who needed olive oil, so he planted an olive tree sapling. After he finished planting it, he prayed, “Lord, my tree needs rain so its tender roots can drink and grow. Send gentle showers.” And the Lord sent gentle showers. Then the monk prayed, “Lord, my tree needs sun. Please send it sun.” And the sun shone, gilding the once dripping clouds. “Now send frost, dear Lord, to strengthen its branches,” cried the monk. And soon the little tree was covered in sparkling frost, but by evening it had died.

Then the monk sought out a brother monk in his cell and told him of his strange experience. After hearing the story, the other monk said, “I also have planted a little tree. See how it is thriving! But I entrust my tree to its God. He who made it knows better than a man like me what it needs. I gave God no constraints or conditions, except to pray, “Lord, send what it needs—whether that be a storm or sunshine, wind, rain, or frost. You made it, and you know best what it needs.”

I like that story and it brings to mind a scripture passage. Jesus said, “See the lilies of the field…if God so (cares) for them, will He not much more (care) for you” (Matthew 6:28, 30).

Remember this: God’s love and insight are enough to warrant our trust. Moreover, it is not just that God cares; it is that He knows how to care! So we trust Him to give us what is best and in His care we rest!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron

There is a story I like—I’ll bet it will make you smile…
 
An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a sarcophagus containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious history museum. The excited archaeologist exclaimed, “I have just discovered a three thousand year old mummy of a man who died of a heart attack!” The curator replied, “Bring him in and we will check him out.” A few days later the amazed curator called the archaeologist and said, “You were right about the mummy’s age and cause of death. The question is: How did you know?” The archaeologist answered, “Easy, there was a piece of paper in his hand that read, ‘Ten thousand shekels on Goliath.’”
 
Okay, admit it. You could not help but smile at that one! Moreover, it does serve to remind us that not everything is a sure bet in life. Think about it. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the unexpected comes along. Just when you think you have it all planned out, your world goes upside down. Just when you think you have it all worked out, the unforeseen blindsides you. Life works that way at times. I have learned: It’s not always up to me; sometimes it’s just what will be.
 
However, don’t be disillusioned! For there is one thing you can count on, no matter what comes your way, and it is the proven dependability of God’s love. You can roll the dice if you want, but as for me, I would rather cast my cares upon the Lord for He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). I would rather place my life in the hands of God and trust Him for what may come (Psalm 55:22). I would rather take my Shepherd by the hand and trust Him to show me the way I should go and what I should do. For I have learned that if I trust in the Lord with all my heart…He will direct my path (Proverbs 3:5-6). This is the path of blessing and the one that will eventually take me home and into His loving arms. You can bet on it…
 
Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron