Archive for June, 2010

Good Friday Morning! Wish I could report all is well in the gulf, the stock market is soaring, there is peace in Israel, and a check in the mail to you today for a million! Sorry —-But what I can tell you, is that maybe it’s time for you to get your feet wet ! Joshua 3- God asked His people to follow His leading. They did what they knew to do at that time and followed His direction through the voice and leadership of Joshua. They were on the move. God told His leaders to put their feet in the Jordon River and watch what He would do. He dried up a path in the river and the whole nation crossed on dry ground. Read the story! It’s better than CNN or Fox news. I just can’t help but believe that if we are obedient to God as a church family simply doing His Kingdom commission, growing disciples, and willing to get our feet wet, He will do some miraculous things right before our eyes at GraceView and in each of our own personal lives. Finding the peace and joy of God is not about what makes you happy or comfortable. It is about taking that first step in obedience-getting your feet wet, and watching God do some incredible awesome things in your life. It may be getting back to a personal quiet time each day. It may be trusting Him with your finances by actually giving rather than always expecting to receive. It may be taking a first step in “JUST GOING”, doing something, saying something to someone at work, or at the grocery store, or wherever. It may be that first step of reconciliation. It may be that first step of repentance. Whatever the Jordan is for you, just put your feet in the water and let God do the rest!

It’s NOT ABOUT ME! While going over the words of James this morning for the message tomorrow, I was reminded that IT IS NOT ABOUT ME –and IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! That’s right. Our lives—our purpose in this world, and our involvement at our own local church, is not about us. It is not about what we want or what we like or what we don’t want or like. I don’t know about you, but I can be so self-serving that I get tunnel vision and as a result will make decisions for what I want and what I think will make me the most happiest. And when this happens we argue, we get opinionated, we get sideways when we can’t have our way. Our degree of faithfulness and service often as well is tied to this degree of selfish pride. We will serve if we like what we see. We will be faithful and stay the course if we are comfortable with our surroundings and the course prescribed for us. But when we get uncomfortable and unhappy with the plate before us and get bored and restless, we often miss the next step and chapter of growth God has planned for our lives. James talks about this kind of self seeking stuff in chapter 4. We studied it last week. Remember the quote I gave you last Sunday –“Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give because He would give the best, and man will not take it.” – George MacDonald . Think about how many abandoned plows there are in the harvest fields where Christ Followers have started plowing and working for Jesus, and have left to find their own comfort and as James put it, have “committed adultery”, and lost their loyalty to the vision and purpose of their lives. They missed the best because they were too concerned about their own agenda and comfort for life. And thus, an abandoned plow. I think back on my life, and know I have done this from time to time and only wish I could go back and keep my mind and heart on that particular plow I abandoned. The truth is, God has various plows for us to work. Various fields to harvest. But if we wrap ourselves up in our warm blankets of “spiritual self-indulgence and pride”, we become guilty as charged by James of “Spiritual Adultery” with self, which is in fact, adultery with the world ever how we package it. I challenge you today; as we end this particular study in James, don’t think his words are for someone else, when they may be speaking to you. Let’s don’t be distracted from the goal—the job—the mission, God has called you and me to do through the local body of GraceView. We are privileged to be a part of a chosen community of believers who have been called out to do a specific work in the Anderson Community. It will not always be easy and will not always be in our comfort zone, but “Faithful is He Who calls you, who also will do it.” God is blessing all over our church. 4 new people seeking help at Celebrate Recovery Last Night! New people attending our church who are seeking God. People are growing and we have a loving church family. So-“To whom much is given much is required.” J Let’s keep going and just remember that “greater things are yet to come!” Don’t be distracted, and don’t sit down. We are advancing God’s kingdom, and what a royal honor to be part of His Team! Greater Things Are Yet To Come! Pastor robbie

This morning my heart was dis-heartened to find out that a family friend who I have not seen in years, who to the best of my knowledge and discernment was a professing follower of Christ, has now been added to the list of disciples who have deserted Christ. He was a Man who had all evidences of loving God and was actively serving the Lord in many ways. I cannot understand his choice of sin and degradation. It saddens my heart to no end. Then as I look over the list of more people I have personally known and see thier departure from Truth, I am not only more deeply saddened, but am reminded of the Scriptures that warn that in the last days many Men’s (and Women’s) hearts will turn from Truth and follow deceiving spirits. There are several I have personally known as friends that are on this list. I want to believe they do know Christ and will turn back as the prodigal son did to the love and grace of our Abba Father. But as well, I cannot get out of my mind the parable of the soils. Only God knows whether or not they are truly His. I pray and want to believe they are. We must pray harder than ever, and stand on what is true firmer than ever. But we must do so with the character of God’s heart. The deceiver is roaming about in a fury faster than ever because he knows the times are short. Before our eyes -everyday, more and more is happening to raise the curtains on the final scene of History. Just yesterday our President took our country one more step closer into sin’s final grip. We must be “watchful”. We must be awake, which means we must be in the Scriptures drinking from the truth growing and strengthening ourselves in His divine absolutes so that we will be able to stand even if all those around us fall. God give us HIS passion-and compassion for loving people and loving and standing for Truth at the same time, as “a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”