Had all your hopes and dreams dashed by a recent change in politics? Consider this invitation:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

Thinking you’ve found hope and all your dreams are coming true because of a recent change in politics? Save this invitation, you’re gonna need it soon enough:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. – Psalm 8:1

Sometimes the world’s problems seem so big because our view of God is so small.

Father in heaven, let your name be lifted HIGH in our life today. Help us to live like you are big, powerful, and full of goodness because you are! Thank you for the cross, Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Hey friends!!! Some of us are already feeling worried, anxious, and uncertain about the week ahead. Don’t do it!!!

Here’s 6 R’s for finding certainty in “uncertain times”

1. Read the Bible 📖 🔥

Let the Word of God speak to your soul and emotions.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. – Isaiah 40:8

2. Recite the gospel 😌 📰

The God of the universe loves you so much that he sent his son to die for your sins. By grace through faith we’re forgiven and He calls us son or daughter for all eternity. Let the good news give you God’s perspective!

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

3. Reach out to God prayer 🙏🏼

Psalm 61:1 starts out, Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.

He will hear you! He will listen! It has been said if you’re praying don’t worry, and if you’re worrying don’t pray! Be a prayer warrior not a weary worrier.

4. Relationships 🤝

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says encourage one another and build one another up…

Let a friend in Christ know that you’re struggling. We’ve all been there. Don’t struggle alone! The people in your care more than you realize.

5. Remember God’s faithfulness 💡

Psalm 33:4 says, all his work is done in faithfulness.

God is faithful. He has never failed, and He won’t start now.

6. Rid yourself of sources of anxiety. 👎🏼 😟

It may be time to turn off social media and the news. 2 Timothy 2:16 says, avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.

Be wise with your time and eliminate what’s causing you to get your blood pressure up!

That’s it friends! I hope these 6 R’s can help you go from feeling frantic and uncertain to feeling peaceful and assured!

💪🏼 ✝️ #LookUp

Pastoring With Certainty In Uncertain Times, 30 Days of Prayer
Like you all, I’ve been taken aback by many things that have occurred in 2020 and now into 2021. At times I’ve felt especially inadequate to be your pastor. But the Lord has been faithful to give me continual reminders of the importance and sufficiency of the Bible, and how we simply need to stay rooted in His Word and we’ll be who He’s called us to be for His Glory (Psalm 1). This isn’t something new for me, about 10 years ago the Lord made it clear that He had 3 objectives for me as a pastor: 
1. Preach the Word 2. Love people 3. Pray for the Spirit to move 
That hasn’t changed, and His Word hasn’t changed. I want you to know that I am resolved in sharing the Truth of God’s Word with you with every opportunity I am given. I want GOD for us, church! And we can’t encounter Him apart from His Word. 
This morning part of my Bible reading was from Mark 9, whereJesus corrected someone who was doubting his power and said “All things are possible for one who believes.” Captain obvious here, but JESUS IS RIGHT! There are no limits to His power! It made start thinking about the many powerful attributes of God. I did a quick search and came across an online post that outlined attributes of God as prayer prompts. What a great idea! Consider taking a news cycle break and spending 30 days reflecting on a different attribute of God each day. 
Here’s a link to the post: https://www.navigators.org/resource/praying-names-attributes-god

Grace Equip, our church’s 18 week training program, was back last Wednesday night! We looked at 6 different aspects of the atoning work of Jesus Christ. 

This current group of students is halfway through this training program, 9 weeks left. Hopefully we’ll get to restart with a new group in Fall 2021. 

C’mon somebody! 

🙏🏼✝️ 📖 🛠 💪🏼

THE BIBLE: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT

Church family I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the Bible in your life as a follower of Christ. We need to not only have a high regard for it, but also a consistent use of it. That includes reading it every day. This past Sunday, at the end of the service, I shared a simple but effective strategy to reading the Bible. It is as follows:

Find a readable translation. Then, find a starting spot.  The gospel of John can be a great place to begin. With you’re Bible and pen in hand, pray and then read at least one paragraph. Read it slowly and attentively. Then answer these simple questions about what you just read. 

1. What does this say about God?
2. What’s it say about me/us?
3. What does it say about the relationship between God and us?
4. How do I apply it to life? 

Several things I love about this picture, including my daughter on the free throw line. But after I took this picture I noticed something else I love, the flag 🇺🇸 up in the right corner. I love who and what that flag represents—Americans and our freedom. I love my country. I know we’re far from perfect. But just as none of us as individuals want to be assessed solely on our worst days, it’s not fair to judge our country as whole by our worst days. I’d like all of us to look ahead with optimism for our country—with faith, hope and love, knowing a gracious, good and loving God is in control.
When I look at the flag I think of our men and women who serve in the military, and other brave, sacrificial, hard working people of faith. People who love God, enjoy freedom and want to help others. I feel like I get to see the spirit of America in people every day, and I love it! Again, not perfect people, but people I’m blessed to share life with.
So even amid everything that’s transpired, I’m sorry to go all Lee Greenwood on y’all, but I’ll STILL 🎶proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today. Cos’ there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA🎶🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

SIGNS YOUR GROWING IN GRACE
Followers of Christ are people of grace. This morning we talked about GRACE for our past, grace today, and grace to come. We can get a good indication of our grasp of grace in the way that we relate to others. I first shared the following back in 2013 and it seems like they are even more relevant today. Here’s 14 signs you’re growing in grace from Pastor Scotty Smith

1. A sign you are growing in grace is that you are more disgusted with your critical spirit than offended by others’ sins.
2. A sign you’re growing in grace: When you hear the word “sanctification,” you think about Jesus & his work, not yours.
3. A sign you’re growing in grace: When speak about “the victorious Christian life” you’re referring to Jesus, not you.
4. A sign you’re growing in grace: Your spouse marvels at how much better you are at listening than early in your marriage.
5. A sign you’re growing in grace: Your neighbors are glad they are.
6. A sign you’re growing in grace: You’re increasingly less quarrelsome, sarcastic and easily offended.
7. A sign you’re growing in grace: It’s getting easier not to retaliate, get even, or even crave God’s vengeance.
8. A sign you’re growing in grace: Less cynicism about other people’s sins and more tears over your own.
9. A sign you’re growing in grace: You feel like you’re just beginning to appreciate all the riches and depth of John 3:16.
10. A sign you’re growing in grace: You can enjoy God’s gifts without reservation & share God’s gifts without hesitation.
11. A sign you’re growing in grace: Compliments don’t intoxicate you and criticism doesn’t decimate you.
12. A sign you’re growing in grace: Your theology always leads to doxology, not merely to you being more right than others.
13. A sign you’re growing in grace is that everybody notices it but you.

Chuck Swindoll said “Let’s make one resolution this year: to anchor ourselves to God’s grace.”

That sounds like a plan!

#GRACE2021

As you open your Bible in 2021, pray:

I: “Incline my heart to your Word, not to selfish gain” (Ps 119:37)

O: “Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your law” (119:18)

U: “Unite my heart to fear your name” (86:11)

S: “Satisfy me with your unfailing love” (90:14)

—@JohnPiper H/T Matt Smethurst

This morning as I was thinking about 2020 and looking forward to 2021, of all the things that could occupy my mind a less than spiritual but catchy song from 1989, Better Man by Clint Black. Check out these lyrics:

🎶 I know I’m leavin’ here a better man

For knowin’ you this way

Things I couldn’t do before now I think I can

And I’m leavin’ here a better man 🎶

#KidsDontKnow right? 😂

Like y’all, this year has been a challenge for our fam. I know it’s been MUCH harder for many of y’all. And the depth of hurt can’t be expressed on social media, even if you tried. But while the hurt’s been deep His grace has been deeper! We’re coming out of 2020 with our faith intact and with a deeper dependence on God by faith in Jesus. Better.

Clint Black’s song was about a relationship that’d gone bad, I was thinking of it in reference to a year that, by many measures, had gone bad. But has it gone bad? Of course when I look at the circumstances comparatively I’d have to say “oh that’s bad.” But since I believe in a sovereign, providential God, I also believe that it’s gone just as planned. And even when I don’t see how, everything happens for a purpose. And I believe that for those who love God all things work together for GOOD (Rom 8:28). I do love God, so much. I know He’s good. I hope and pray you do too. Because if so, we can look back and say we are leaving 2020 “a better man” and know that ultimately it’s been for good.

I like Clint Black, but God in His word says it so much better:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4

Bring it on, 2021. Whatever it holds, we know who holds the future!

#2020 #GodIsGood #BetterMan #KidsDontKnow