KEEPING THE PACE

wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a built in cruise control in our lives. there are so many things that keep our walk with God flexing back and forth. it's like when i used to go to the car inspection place to emissions testing and they would ask me to keep the gas pedal pressed so the dial on the wall stayed between two lines. the more i tried to keep it going the same speed the more i'd over press and then let up to under press the pedal and back and forth. the guy would look at me and smile and then i'd get it right. i'm sure they had many people who couldn't just keep it between the lines. i find trying to keep my life between the lines is like the emissions test. just when i think i've got it going good, i press just a bit too far and then back the other way. i feel like i've got a worn trail to the throne of God from going back and forth in repentance. i'm just so glad that Jesus Christ is so full of mercy and grace and i'm glad that the Word of God gives me comfort to know that Paul spoke of the very same things when he said "The things I want to do I don't do and the things I don't want to do, I end up doing. what a wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?" Lord i love you..... thanks for your ever continuing love for me and the grace that is unmeasurable!

Pastor Dave

WHY WORRY?

Luke 12:25 And whick of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?
How long will I live? Will I make enough money this month to pay all the bills? Will my spouse leave me or be unfaithful? Is this sickness unto death? How am I going to get this loan payed off? And this is only the beginning. Always something to worry about, something to keep me up at night trying to work it out in my mind. Jesus clearly lets us know.... "Don't worry!" .... What is, is and what will be, will be. I know, it just sounds so simple that it MAKES ME WORRY! :) But faith will always be that way. It's all about TRUST! Is God big enough or have I made Him so small that my problems out weigh even Him? Being that He is the God of the universe that created the heaven and the earth, I suppose He can handle a problem so small that it will probably work itself out in 2 or 3 days. It reminds me of a song my mother in law used to sing in church..... "how big is God, how big and great His vast domain. To try to tell, these lips can only start. He's big enough to rule this mighty universe. Yet He's small enough to live inside my heart."

Lord I choose this day to Trust.
Pastor Dave

REASON TO REJOICE

Luke 10:20
Never the less do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.
There are so many things to rejoice over in my life. Nice house, great car, wonderful family, tremendous wife, awesome church, kids love Jesus and blessed where ever i put my feet.... BUT..... with all this and more, my joy cannot rest on what i have here but what awaits me after i'm done with my earthly journey. Jesus gives them and us power over the evil spirits and He even talks about how He saw satan fall from heaven. But the main thing that brings real joy is not our power and authority, but because of the price He paid for us to have our names written in heaven. Always remember the price that was paid for your freedome and rejoice over it!

Pastor Dave

JUDAS HEALED PEOPLE

So today's journal was interesting. Even though I just watched a video about how Judas had performed miracles and cast out devils and yet still denied and betrayed Jesus.
Luke 9:1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
Then later Jesus says that it would have been better for the man who betrayed Him to not have been born. Is Judas in hell? I don't know but it does say that satan entered into him and he went to betray Jesus. The word speaks for itself. It is amazing how one can at one time be following Jesus and doing his will and even casting out demons and healing the sick to go to such a part that you can be demon possessed and betray the son of God. That is why I work out my own salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING..... I always play it safe with eternity in mind. I don't go there, eat that, drink that, smoke that, listen to that, or look at that because I'm not willing to risk forever over some temporary pleasure here on earth.

Pastor Dave