Memorial Day - More than Special sales and a Day Off Work

Proverbs 10:7 "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot."

Today is Memorial Day.  Originally known as Decoration Day, its observance began shortly after the Civil Way to remember the soldiers who gave their lives during the war.  Over time Memorial Day became a time to remember all American Soldiers who had given their lives for our country.  It is truly a special day for us to be grateful for the freedoms that have been extended to us as Americans.

Today, it seems to have become more about special deals at stores, days off, and cook outs at family reunions.  While there is nothing wrong with those things being done.  May we not forget the people who have given their lives for us to still be able to live in one of the greatest and freest countries in the world - the American Soldier.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of visiting Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.  What an overwhelming emotional experience.  As I walked through gates, I quickly became humbled at the thought that every body buried there had given their life for their country.  Hundreds of matching tomb stones, perfectly placed through out the rolling hills of the cemetery, was truly magnificent.  Today as I observe Memorial Day, I observe it with a different point of view than I have the previous 34.

God Bless America! 

Give me thine heart by Pastor Tim Cruse

Here are some great thoughts from Pastor Tim Cruse that I thought you may enjoy.
 

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”
Proverbs 23:26

God wants His people to guard (Proverbs 4:23), guide (Proverbs 23:19), and give (Proverbs 23:26) their hearts. When children give their hearts to their parents, they trust them to protect, provide, and prepare them to follow God’s will for their lives.
Here are ten truths about your child’s heart to keep in mind as you prepare them for God’s will:

• By nature my heart is sinful and therefore imperfect.
• I need you to hold me accountable and teach me good character by helping me to think biblically.
• My view of God and how to trust Him is being shaped by your influence and example. Please teach me how to properly respond to His authority.
• I feel most secure when there is harmony and structure in the home, and I am allowed to become who God wants me to be.
• I lack discernment, and need you to keep me from the appearance of evil so I will not be weakened to the evil itself.
• Your acceptance and understanding means the world to me even though we do not always see eye to eye on some things.
• Your unconditional love when I have stumbled teaches me forgiveness and grace.
• Know that I have problems, and do not believe me if I act like I do not need to talk with you about them.
• Your time is more important to me than your gifts.
• Never give up on me or stop praying for me.

By Pastor Tim Cruse

The Power of Influence

Galatians 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" 

I love a good question.  You know, thought provoking questions, the ones that really make you consider something that you would otherwise think if the question hadn't been asked.  That is the type of question Paul is asking here in our passage this morning. 

There are two aspects to this verse. The first one deals with your own influence. Have you considered your own power of influence on those people around you? What kind of difference do you make in the peoples lives that you effect?  Do you cause them to want to be closer to the Lord? Do you encourage them be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving?  Or do you bring them down to a level that they don't even obey the truth anymore?

The second aspect of this verse deals with others influence on you.  First you must ask yourself, "am I obeying the word of God."  When we answer that question we must be honest and if we answer no, we must examine the cause.  Who in our lives may have influenced us to be this way?  We must consider everyone that we allow to influence us in any way.  What changes have taken place?  Who am I spending more time with?  Who am I giving my time too?  Who is influencing me?

In order to correct this in our lives there may have to be some changes in who we allow to influence our ways. Consider this today: "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" 

At the Crossroads of the Natural Way or the Bible Way

Proverbs 15:1-2 "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the moth of fools poureth out foolishness."

Many times in life we do what comes natural to us.  We typically have this attitude of, "If someone yells at me, I'm going to yell back."  It is very natural to yell back when someone is yelling at us.  It is instinctive, and we view it as necessary.  But is it really necessary to only do what comes natural to us?   

In Proverbs 15, the Bible is telling us to do something that goes against our nature.  It goes against mine at least.  "A soft answer turneth away wrath"??? When you consider that statement at first glance, it doesn't make sense.  What makes more sense to me is whoever yells the loudest and longest wins.  Look at what he says in the second part, "but grievous words stir up anger."  Grievous words??? What is that? Grievous words are those words we choose to say to hurt someone on purpose, usually in an argument.  Rather than choosing to use a soft answer, we choose to get back at them. As we get back at them, intending to hurt them, it only stirs up more sorrow for us. 

I have always considered this verse of scripture in the backwards.  I have always thought of the soft answer being for the other person.  And in a way it kind of is, but it is really for the person giving the soft answer.  If you want the wrath and anger to continue, yell & fight back.  If you want the wrath and anger to stop - consider using a soft answer next time.  Verse 2 actually gives us more insight into this line of thinking.  "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."  When we use the knowledge of a soft answer, it will work.  To not use a soft answer is foolish. 

Are we so foolish to think that we know more than God?  I have talked with folks before about these very verses, and the response is usually the same, "that won't work"  or "I've tried that, it doesn't work".  Listen, the Bible doesn't say, "A soft answer turneth away wrath, and it you try it for five minutes and it doesn't seem to be working feel free to let them have it with both barrels." I'm telling you right now, if we only try it for a little while it will not work.  You are going to have to not just try it, but let it become who you are and what you do - because you are no fool I know.

It's simple, "a soft answer turneth away wrath."  You're at a crossroads - which way will you choose?  The natural way? or the Bible way?  Don't be foolish, choose the Bible way.

At the Crossroads of Refined & Wasted: How to respond to the Heat of a Trial

I Peter 1:6-9 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."

I'm pretty sure no one woke up this morning and said, "I think I'm gonna go find me a trial today and take it head on."  A trial is not something that we seek out and desire to go through.  It is though a stretch on the highway of life that we all must face from time to time.  Consider it a type of road construction.  Yes, road construction!  No one likes it, but it is necessary.

A trial is described here in our scripture passage this morning in such beautiful light.  Peter tells us first off that trials are temporary, they will not last forever.  The phrase, "if need be" is very important to take note of.  While none of us ever desire to go through trials, they are sometimes necessary for us to travel through in order to grow our faith in Christ.  The trial of faith is an amazing process.  Peter likens it to how gold is refined.  Gold is one of the most precious metals on earth, it's value is compared to very few things and here Peter tells that our trials are more precious than the gold we covet.  He goes on to tell us that it is precious because when we go through the heat & fire of the trial, the outcome is expected to bring glory back to Christ. 

There is another very important aspect of going through this construction zone of life.  This one, may very well be the difference between being refined or being wasted.  Our response to the heat of the trial is more important than the trial itself.  Peter uses a phrase that we don't like to consider when going through a trial, and he even uses it more than one time.  "Greatly rejoice," he said.  Finding the joy in the trial will be difference between being refined or being wasted.  He went on to say that we should rejoice with "Joy unspeakable and full of glory."  When we learn to rejoice in our lives, even in the midst of the trial that we may be in, we can know for certain, that we will be refined like fine gold and not wasted and discarded. Our rejoicing through the trial will bring us to praise the name of our wonder God.

As you come to the crossroads of refined or wasted, don't let the heat scare you into turning the wrong way.  Face the trial head on and rejoice. Don't be tempted to turn down Satan's detour that he will place along the way.  Just keep on going through, rejoicing as you go until you reach the end of that particular journey of increasing your faith in Christ. 

At the Crossroads of Action or Reaction

 

Proverbs 14:17 "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated." 

Proverbs 25:11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." 

Proverbs 29:20 "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him."

I was at a crossroads this morning and I'd like to take a minute or two and share with you my personal experience in choosing which direction to go.    As I faced this crossroads in my life I was forced to make a decision between action and reaction.  In my flesh, I wanted to react.  As a matter of fact I wanted to react in such a way that what I was reacting to, would have had no doubt that I was reacting.  But something in my spirit, ok maybe not my spirit...something in my wife's spirit, which then spoke to my spirit, caused me to consider my reaction to this particular situation. 

The scripture references above came to me as I rapidly searched through my Bible trying to find somewhere that would justify my reaction.  While part of me wishes I could have found something to justify what I was feeling at the time, I realized after pondering on them for a little while that I was wrong.  Reacting hastily, and quickly to situations that frustrate us, usually ends up making us look far worse than what we think it will.

As I continued to study on this topic I found that action means "an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity." While on the other hand, I laughed out loud when I looked up reaction.  Now keep in mind, there were several different definitions for this word, but only one seemed to sum up what I was feeling at the crossroads this morning - reaction: "A pattern of behavior constituting a mental disorder or personality type."  :)  And since I do not have any "mental disorders" (or at least any I admit too) I decided against reacting and decided to take action on the high road instead this time. 

Would you like to know something?  While the high road was not as easy to turn down, I am happy that I did.  Take action today over reaction, you'll be glad that you did.

The Blessed Life

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him"

It is such a struggle to do right sometimes. Doing right takes a lot of thinking and planning on our parts.  The Bible says that we are all tempted when we enticed by our own lust. And when we have given ourselves to that lust we have gone into sin, and sin always brings death.  Why would we want to choose to be around death?

Notice what our verse says though, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation..." We can have a blessed life, we just have to discipline ourselves to not give into the temptations that we are faced with each day.  That is to say we must learn to tell ourselves - NO.  That's right tell yourself, NO! 

We will always be tempted of something. And once you get victory over something that tempts you often, something else will come along to tempt you as well.  Just say NO, and live the blessed life.  The choice is your.

 

How To Have a Life With No Regrets

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

I have travelled down the Regret Hwy, more times than I care to admit.  It sometimes starts out as a pleasent trip, but every time the trip ends the same - in misery and regret. 

In studying the word regret, I found that in its origin it means to "remember with distress or longing."  Oh, I have many memories of regrets.  I could go all the back to early childhood and find many regrets in choices that I have made, things that I have said to people, things that I have done, things I haven't done...they all can leave us stranded on this long painful highway of regret.

While I have many things in my life that I regret, I want to share with you about another highway that I have travelled too.  It is similar in name, but yet so different to travel on.  It is the road named No Regrets.  It is on this road that brings much peace, joy, and happiness.  But I must tell you something, this road is not heavily travelled on.  It is even a little out of the way, and there are not any short cuts in order to get to it either.  No Regret Rd. is a single lane road that only goes to one direction and always leads to the same place as long as your stay on its path.  Now you will find that while you travel down No Regret Rd. there are plenty of other roads that you will be tempted to turn down, and you may even give into the temptation.  But there is not another road that leads to where No Regret Rd. will take you to.  You have to learn to be patient on this road, but is worth minute it takes to get.

Where is this No Regret Rd, you ask?  Well, it is the road that we travel as we walk with God, the path that He wants us to take.  While I may have many regrets in this life, I have never, not one single time, ever regretted serving God and walking His path.  His way has never, and never will lead to regret.  What I have regretted in my Christian life are the times that I gave into the temptation to do my own thing and go my own way.  I have found that as long as I keep myself on the path that God places in front of me - it always leads to a life of no regret.

You want to really know how to have a life with no regrets?  Live your life for God, walk in His ways, love him, keep his commandment, and you will have a life of no regrets.  Occasionally you may come across someone that says, "I have regrets from serving God."  And all I can say to that is this, "you obviously were not walking with God when you thought you were, because God's path always leads to no regrets."

Today at the Crossroads, you have a choice to make.  You will find your self at these Crossroads everyday of your life.  NO Regret Rd or Regret Highway.  Which way will you choose?  I hope you choose the No Regret Rd.  - walk with God and have a lifetime of no regrets.

My Lips are Sealed

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."


I am always amazed by the things people say to each other.  The fact of the matter is, people can be down right cruel.  As a child I was taught, as many of you were, the saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  I know the intention behind that phrase is good, but it is an absolute false statement.  Words do hurt, and they hurt deeply and badly.

The Bible instructs us here in our scripture verse today, that we are to let no "corrupt communication" leave our mouths.  There is another phrase which says, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  That phrase too, while it sounds good, doesn't go with what the scripture says.  It is important to note that Ephesians 4:29 doesn't stop at "no corrupt communication", it continues on to say, "but that which is good."  We are not supposed to just say nothing, we are speak good and encouraging words that build up those around us rather than tear them down. 

Now, let me say something here while you are working on training yourself on speaking encouraging words.  There are going to be times in the beginning that your lips must remain sealed.  What I mean by that is - think about what you are wanting to say first - and if it isn't kind, don't say it.  You're gonna have to train your self to speak kind encouraging words, but once you're trained it will be extremely easy to speak kindly rather than corruptly.

Maybe we need to adapt some new phrases today.  How about this one: "If you can't say something nice, say something nice instead."  Or this one: "Sticks and stones may break the bones, but words will wound the heart." 

If we will learn to speak kindly to others, I promise you others will learn to speak kindly to us as well.

Hard or Soft?

Psalm 95:8a "Harden not your heart..."  Ephesians 4:32 "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

I am going to try and keep it really simple today.  Are our hearts hard or soft? And what difference does it make?  And, no I'm not talking about tacos either. :)

I have heard many people say many times that they have hardened their heart because they had gotten hurt and they were not going to get hurt any more.  While on the surface a statement like that makes a lot of sense, when you dig a little deeper into the matter it never does what the person is attempting to do.

Anyone that I have ever seen harden their heart with the purpose of never getting hurt again always seems to get the same results from their hard heart - they get hurt even worse, and their heart grows even harder.  Each time their heart gets harder it actually becomes easier for them to get hurt.  They begin expecting to be hurt and they find hurt almost everywhere they look.  After a while people with hard hearts become as easy to spot as who is 7 feet tall.

Ephesians 4:32 exhorts us to keep our hearts tender and soft, always kind and forgiving.  I know from personal experience that forgiving someone is not the simplest of tasks. But we must understand that the forgiveness that is being offered is not really for the person being forgiven as much as it is for ourselves not to become hard hearted.

I know I said I was going to keep it simple today and believe it or not it is a very simple concept, but not as simple to carry out.  I will promise you this though - the more you forgive others, the simpler it becomes to forgive more.  As you consider forgiving someone or not, take just a moment and ponder on what God through Christ has forgiven you for.  If can truly take a close look at what God has freely forgiven you of - in comparison you too can and should forgive.

 

Greatness is in the preparation

Proverbs 24:30-34 "I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."

It was about 20 year ago when I first heard the statement, "Greatness is in the preparation."  As a 15 year boy, it really didn't mean that much to me at the time, but I never forgot it. Over the years I have pondered on it from time to time and I have come to understand it better now more than ever.

If something is going to be great, not so great, or lousy, it is going to be the preparation that often makes the difference.  Take a sports team for example.  They spend more time on preparing for game time than they do the actual game.  A great movie will take months in preparation for a great 2 hour long movie.  A great garden requires much preparation.  A great event must be prepared for in order to ensure its greatness. 

You may be asking yourself, how does this apply to my life, most importantly my Christian life?  Well, if greatness is in the preparation, then how we prepare for our daily lives is important if we want to have and experience a great Christian life.  How much preparation are you putting into your daily life?  Is one church service a week enough?  Is 2 or 3?  Not if you are expecting to have great victories in your life it isn't.  It is going to require daily preparation in studying God's word, in spending time with God in prayer, in making an effort to do what God is prompting you to do.  If you are prepared for the devils attacks they will be easier to avoid.  Get yourself prepared and begin experiencing the great benefits of being a Christian. For greatness is in the preparation.

Is Christ Being Magnified?

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

The phrase, "so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body" leaped out of the scripture at me this morning.   To magnify something is to draw attention to, to enlarge, or intensify. Oh that Christ would be magnified in our lives.  Who is drawing more attention, us or Christ?

I want to point out that it was Paul's choice for Christ to be magnified.  He made the choice to not be ashamed to be known as a Christian everywhere he went.  As a matter of fact, he was bold about it, he didn't wait to be asked by people, he just told them. His choices were on purpose and his purpose was that Christ would be magnified in his life.  He even lived in a time that making those choices and taking such bold stands meant that he could face death just for doing them.  Ultimately that is what happened to him, he was put to death for his bold, unashamed stand that magnified Christ. And, yet he still made those choices while knowing what the consequences were.

Why are so many of us afraid to make the choice for Christ to magnified in our lives?  Are we afraid that we will be put to death? I don't think so. Are we afraid of rejection? It will happen.  Are we afraid that someone will make fun of us? So what, people will always find something to make fun of us for. Is Christ being magnified not worth that? Are we afraid that we will miss out on something that we want to do or be? Whatever our reasons, they probably aren't good enough to justify our choices. 

I made the statement the other day that I was becoming disenchanted with the status quo of life.  I truly want to see God do something in and through my life.  But I must ask myself a question. Am I willing to put aside the status quo and be bold?  Am I willing to be unashamed?  Do I want Christ to be magnified in my life whatever the cost may be?  I want Christ to be bigger in my life.  I want Him to magnified.  To God be the glory.

Do you Believe God?

Romans 5:19-25 "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Someone once said, "A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes, whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them."  That was certainly the case in the life of Abraham.  In Genesis 15 God told Abraham that his descendents would be greater than the number of stars in the sky.  This was at a time when Abraham was up in years, his wife was getting older and passed the child bearing years, and they didn't have any children whatsoever.  Yet Abraham believed what God said.  Just as Abraham believed, God came through on His promise.

What do you believe today?  Have you been let down by so many people, that you have let that affect your faith in God?  It is against our sinful human nature to trust or believe.  Think about it, Eve trusted the seperent, Adam trusted Eve, and what did that get them?  That's right, sin.  And it's been passed on to everyone ever since.  Who was the first one that Adam and Eve stopped trusting?  It was God.  Satan knew that if he could stop man from believing God that he would have an advantage.

The lie of Satan has not changed since the garden of Eden.  The thought of "trust no one" is continuing to perperptrate our thinking today.  It is amazing to me that while we are supposed to be trusting no one we are actually still trusting someone - ourselves and the system that says "trust no one. "Trust no one but youself, you'll be fine." "You are the only one who truly knows what you need and want."  "Watch out for number one, and number one is yourself."  These are all lies that we buy into and believe.  The main problem with trusting yourself is that you are a liar.  Sorry, if that insults you, but hey, I'm a liar too. (Does that help any?)  Yes, we lie to ourselves all the time - we cannot be trusted, even when it come to our own best interests.

So what are we to do?  If we can't believe ourselves who can we believe?  We can believe God. We can believe His Word.  Abraham believed God, and look how that turned out for him - God did what He promised.  And once he believed Him, he didn't stagger, he didnt waiver, he kept on believing that God would do what he said.  We not only need to believe God, but we need to continue to believe God.

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that He IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Stop believing the lie of the world and Satan, and start believing God. There are greater rewards for believing God, and none for believe a lie. Trust Him, it's well worth it.  Don't stagger through life in unbelief.  Keep your faith strong. Give God the glory that He deserves.  Do you believe God? 

Why God derserves the Glory and not you

Galatians 1:3-5 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

In the New Testament alone there is over 120 verses that draw us to the fact that God is to be given glory.  The more I study the Bible, the more I see this theme of God being given glory.  It is there over and over again.  Not only is it there multiple times, when it is there, the context of the scriptures surrounding the verses on glory point to the glory also.

Now in order to bring glory to God, we must first have an understanding of what "glory" is.  Glory is something that brings or is worthy of exaltation, praise, adoration, worship, thanksgiving, or honour.  As you consider what glory is, as given above.  We must come to the conclusion that when you take that list as a whole, God is the only one who is worthy of glory.  One may be able to take one aspect of glory and attribute it to someone or something else, but again when taken in its completion - God is the only one that deserves all glory.

How is your life bringing glory to God?  If we are going give God the glory that He deserves for our lives we must be able to say along with the Apostle Paul, "And they glorified God in me."  That means that the evidence of what is happening in our lives must always point to God moving and working in and throughout our lives.  When things don't go the way I expect them to go, I have a habit of immediately trying to figure out how I'm going fix them. The problem with that is, when we begin "fixing" the situations that need fixing, we more times than not, try to take the glory for ourselves. The fact is though, we can't fix anything all on our own.  The wisdom that we may have, the knowledge that we may have, the skills that we may have - all come from God.  So if we use any of those things or any other things - it is God who deserves the glory and not ourselves. If we will learn to change our perception about ourselves,  we can start allowing our lives to bring the glory back to God where it belongs. 

Do you want more out of life?

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon bears open the agony of his heart.  In the 17th verse of chapter 2, he says, "Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit."  Early on in chapter 2 he tells the reader that he has had basically anything that he has ever wanted in life, and has found himself always coming up empty.

Are you tired of coming up empty in your life?  Are you tired of trying new things, only to find a temporary happiness before you are empty once again?  Are you tired of putting all your strength and energy into your life only to find out that you have fallen short once again? If your tired of these things and more - you are not alone. I am glad to tell you that there is hope!  The hope rests in the same place that Solomon found his hope.

Listen, your life doesn't have to be empty and barren. God wants you to have a fruitful life that is full of His joy.  What is the answer?  According to Solomon's conclusion, the answer is to fear God and keep His commandments.  Yes, it's that simple! And yet we struggle with that every day. I am convinced that the reason we struggle is not because we can't fear God. It's not even because we can't keep His commandments.  The reason we struggle with Solomon's conclusion is because we love ourselves more than God. We fear being unhappy in our lives more than we fear Him. Then we choose our own desires rather than keeping His commandments. All of which leads us to the same empty place that Solomon was in - hating our lives.

Do you want a better life? Solomon sure did.  He tried everything under the sun to find fulfillment in his life.  He found it the same place you will find it - by fearing God and keeping His word.  Do you hate your life? Do you want more out of it?  You can find it with God! Get in His word everyday and find out what great things He has in store for your life.