Pastor Mark's Blog

"What Profit A Man If He Gains The Whole World And Loses His Soul?"

Lent:  A Season of Sacrifice, a journey into the thoughts and heart of Christ. A time to contemplate, to reflect and to recommit your life to Christ. It seems this time always starts even with non-believers asking, "Hey, what are you going to give up?"  The list for many is much the same: Desert, Pizza, Cussing, TV or even that Starbucks. We can quickly pick just something, some little thing to let go of for a few weeks. Please don't get me wrong. All of the above would not be easy for me and I am sure not easy for you but come on, when compared to what Christ went through is not eating candy that big of a deal? I know, you are wondering what I gave up. Well, I gave up FACEBOOK. I know, whatever, but I also chose something a little more mental. When reflecting on Christ in the desert and knowing what Satan attempted to do to him there I decided he had to really give-up himself. His thoughts, his feelings, his spirit. He put every thought on what would my father do. So, I have decided to give up negative statements said or directed in order to cause me to stumble. Comments made or things done that I would normally go to a close friend and say, "can you beleive what so-in-so said?" I have decided to not give them any power. To make sure that the energy stops right there and that negative statement dies with me.  I won't repeat, restate or remind anyone of something someone else meant for bad. I will take away it's power and STOP Satan in his tracks. And for FaceBook, well maybe that is no sacrifice but that is where many things are said and can be said that causes others to stumble so for Lent I won't read, repeat or remember. So, what are you willing to lose this lent?  What you decide to lose might just be your greatest gain in the long run. Let's hear from you.

 

"My Grace Is All You Need.  My Power works best in weakness",  2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is enough for me has been one of my favorite songs. Sadly while it is one of my favorite it is one I do not live by in everyday life. I think His grace is enough until I want someone to show me a little kindness or to support one of my ideas. His grace is sufficent until someone is not nice to me or disagrees with me. I say his grace is all I need but is it really? As I seek to live each day completely with passion and humility I need to let his grace be all I need. I have to come to the place where it is enough for me. As Paul would remind us, rather we be in want or in plenty, it has to be all we need. His Grace! All we need is His grace and when we come to letting that be all we need we become more content with life, with our lives. We seem to rest in knowing that God so loves us and therefore loving one another is not that difficult. We quickly find more reasons to give thanks than to complain. We look at others as we see Christ looking at us:  Eyes Of Love. Ask yourself today, "Is His Grace Enough For Me?" I woke up today on my birthday with a beautiful family standing over me with a candle lit in the darkness of our bedroom. A plate with breakfast, a wonderful present picked by one of my girls and the words of Happy Birthday to You echoing through the room and I realzied, "His Grace Is Enough." God loves you, you know? He really does, just let Him love you. 

 

 

“I came so that you might have life and have it abundantly”  John 10:10

     What does it mean to have an abundant life? Does it mean to have everything and anything you ever wanted? To have all those things around you so that you can feel blessed? Things, stuff, you know what I mean, all that! I am not sure that is what is meant in John. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy stuff. I like the latest high tech thing. The big screen, nice car, fun trip. I enjoy them all but do they offer me an abundant life or is that abundant life achieved from the inside out. From the feelings and desires I have to give of myself. To serve others and to find joy in being all He has created me to be. I found abundance the other day when our Children and Youth Ministries went down to the City Rescue Mission and spent the afternoon handing out blankets, coats, baby supplies and 100 plus meals. We looked into the eyes of those that had nothing and abundant life was achieved. They received graciously all we had to offer and our youth and children knew abundance. It was amazing that Christmas gifts and things were not that important to our youth once they experienced that moment. Nor was it that important to me. When was the last time you had abundant life? When was that last time you did something totally for the sake of others and were blessed? Tell me about it, let me hear from you.

“When you have done it unto the least of these you have done it for me.”

In His Grip,

Mark
 

 “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 33: 14

 

     Our family has started the 30 Days to Live. It is a wonderful work that I will be doing a sermon series on in January and February. As we have read two days already the discussions around the Advent Wreath each evening has been truly great. The question, “If you knew you had a month to live how would your life be different?” Great question and one I ask you and will be asking in my blogs, my memo’s and my sermons.  In our home most fell back on not letting the silly things get to us and rob us of our joy and peace.  Not allowing people to upset us, to frustrate us or to keep us from the Kingdom work.  Yes a trip to Africa and Austria was mentioned but all four in our house, Dood was asleep, agreed to stop letting the little stuff, and as the wonderful book, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff says, it’s all small stuff compared to living out loud for Christ. Ask yourself:  “Am I letting small things become big in my life?  Am I allowing the little problems to become major?  And if I knew I only had a few days to live would most of what I am concerned about today even matter?”  Love to hear your answers.  Remember the promise to Israel and Judah was that He would be back and He would reign forever and ever.