Jesus is knocking…

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   Technology is amazing today.  We can see who is at our door, whether we are at home or miles and miles away.  But there is one who stands at our door and knocks that we do not want to disregard.  Jesus in Revelation 3 said “I stand at the door and knock, whoever hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with him and him with me.”

In the chaos of our world it can sometimes be easy for Christians to forget that Jesus is there at our door, seeking entrance into our lives on a daily basis.  His knocking and his voice can be drowned out by the sounds the world around us if we are not careful. 

  • We can hear Jesus knocking when we spend quiet moments in prayer, listening not simply talking to God. 
  • We can hear Jesus knocking when our spiritual ears are opened as we read His Word.
  • We can hear Jesus knocking when have times of worship around His throne.  

Jesus stands at our door knocking, will we let him each day?  He desires a relationship and rich fellowship with us.  But He does not barge in or come in unannounced.  He knocks and we open the door.  Today Christians, will you take some quiet moments and listen for the voice of Christ?  Will you let him into every part of your life?

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Faith and Rollercoasters

Let’s face it- sometimes the Christian journey can feel like a rollercoaster ride.   It is exhilarating, exciting, and yes sometimes downright scary. 

I think about Abraham…life took a turn when he left his homeland, another turn when he was promised a son, another turn when was asked to sacrifice his son.

David was anointed as king but wouldn’t take the throne for years. David would experience great victory over Goliath, then great defeat as he gave into temptation with Bathsheba. He lost his son, then was restored to God.

Even Jesus in his ministry had what must of seemed like a rollercoaster ride…

He was baptized and surrounded by God’s presence and then spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting, praying, and resisting the temptations of the devil. He performed miracles, then he found out John the Baptist has been beheaded. He taught and then was rejected by his own family.  He had the last supper, then died, then rose!

For us it can be like that.  We dig into God’s word, we pray, we serve him in different ways, we worship and have fellowship with other Christians. We get so close to God we look around and scenery is breathtaking.  We get on a spiritual high, we feel at peace, yet excited and nervous about what is to come.

And then the life drops us, and leads us through a series of twists and turns.  There is stress in a relationship that may change it forever. We feel spiritually drained as we have used every ounce of energy fighting a battle with the enemy.

Here is what I want to encourage you with today. 

  • The journey with Christ is filled with highs and lows.
  • It doesn’t always go like we think it should.
  • While it may be completely frightening at times, we can know that we are always safe in the hands of him who loves us completely.
  • The loops life gives us, really do make us appreciate the calm serene times.
  • We can take joy in knowing, that one day the ride will be over and we know how it will end, in the presence of Christ, spending all eternity with him.

So whether life has you at the top of hill, or going through a series of corkscrews, know that God has you in his hands, stay close to Jesus, and hang on, its going to be a wild ride!

 

 

 

The Price is Right

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Growing up, I heard that theme music almost daily at 11 AM  when there was no school.

I always wanted to be on the Price is Right.  I had dreams of getting into the Showcase showdown.

There’s just something about that phrase…The Price is Right.

It got me thinking about our wonderful God and the price he was willing to pay so that you and I could have life. 

He didn’t have to pay anything- he could have let us get what we deserved:

His wrath, judgment, and an eternity in hell.

But because of his great love, God was willing to pay the ultimate price- His Son.

Jesus came for that price- To give his life as a ransom for many. 

———-

How about the price for you and I? Is the price right? What would you be willing to give for an eternity with Jesus. 

Don’t misunderstand me- salvation is a free gift of God.  It costs us nothing.  It’s called grace. 

But taking that grace and following Jesus will cost us.  Jesus said clearly- if you want to be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Is the price right?

Are you and I willing to give up ourselves to let God reign in our lives?

For most people- the price is wrong.  Either they don’t understand what it cost Jesus for us, they don’t understand what it will cost you and I to live for him, or they are simply unwilling to pay the price.

Jesus encountered many people who were like that…

            Jesus let me go say goodbye to my family, I will join you soon

            Jesus let me go bury my father, I will follow you later

Jesus let me take care of some things in my life, I will follow you after.

Excuse after excuse for not having to pay the price.

The rich young ruler was told to go sell everything and follow Jesus- the scripture simply says…he went away….sad.

But you know what? When the price is right we gain more than we could ever imagine. When we are willing to pay the price to follow Jesus, we will be overwhelmingly blessed. 

Much more than a set of steak knives, a lazy boy recliner, a new car, or even an entire showcase.

We get the holy spirit in our lives, we get peace from God.  We get a new family of believers to help us in our life.  Our name is written in the book of life. 

So remember you are valuable to God, you were bought with a price and you are amazingly loved.

May you and I one day hear those words…..Come on up, the price is right and it has been paid in full. 

Building on the Sand

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As Jesus was finishing his sermon on the mount, he shared the illustration of the wise and foolish builders. Matthew 7:24-27 reads:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Each of us is building something by the way we live our lives.  The question is “What foundation are we going to build on?” Jesus says the wise man will build his life on the principle of hearing the Word and living it out.  So how do we build on the rock?

  • We spend time in God’s Word.
  • We allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Word.
  • We pray and seek ways to all His Word to change our lives.
  • We become obedient to the Word and change how we think and how we live.

It is absolutely essential for us to build on the rock.  Jesus makes it clear that storms will come into our lives. The waters will rise, the wind will beat against what we have built. All of experience those storms.  Perhaps it’s the diagnosis we have been fearing.  Maybe it’s a time of financial crisis.  It could be stress in family or relationships.  Whatever the storm, if our life is built on the rock our house will stand.  In other words, if we are living out God’s Word in our lives it will sustain us even through most challenging times. 

What does it look like when we are building on the sand?

  • We rely on our own wisdom and experience.
  • We seek God as a last option, not a first priority.
  • We make decisions based on the standards of the world.
  • We do what is easy and convenient rather than what is right.

When we build our lives in this way, Jesus says they are sure to collapse in times of storms and testing.  This kind of life might be attractive and have the appearance of being something magnificent.  But when the water rises and the wind beats against our lives, everything will come crashing down around us. 

I pray that you and I will seek God in all we do, building strong lives on His Word.

Fitting In

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You can fit in at most churches if you live like most Christians.  Quietly attend worship once a week because it’s just something you do.  Don’t be overly expressive or emotional if you want to fit in.  Listen to the sermon attentively but be careful or it will sink in.  But if you want to truly fit into Christ’s church there are several things you need to focus on:

Accepting one another: Everyone is a unique creation of an almighty God.  Everyone is loved by God. Everyone. Believer and unbeliever, rich and poor, red, yellow, black and white, old and young, extroverted and introverted.  We all have been unique;y created by God.  We each may have different personalities, different strengths, different experiences, different burdens, different blessings, but everyone has the fingerprint of God on their souls.

God has created each person, He knows them inside out, He has created each person and has dreams for them.  God has created each person and so they have incredible value. When we realize this, it changes how we see and treat each other.  Accept one another. See them for who God has made them to be.

There is a place for everyone in our church. God does not turn anyone away. He accepts all who come to him. How can we ever turn anyone away?

Giving Up and Committing: GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, “In everything give thanks.” Constructive criticism is OK, but “moaning, groaning, and complaining” are not Christian disciplines.

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion. 

GIVE UP looking at other people’s worst points. Instead concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It is a lot

easier to have people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.

GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting. Why not check that sharp tongue at the door?

GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! Instead, learn the discipline of love. “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about: like tomorrow! Live today and let God’s grace be sufficient.

GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead, visit some lonely or sick person. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front of the “tube?” Give someone a precious gift: your time!

GIVE UP judging by appearances and by the standard of the world! Instead, learn to give up yourself to God. There is only one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.

Commit to spending some time each day with God in prayer.

Commit to being the Word every day.

Commit to discovering what spiritual gifts you have given.

Commit to using your gifts to build up the body of Christ. 

Commit to letting your life be more of Jesus and less of you. 

Being okay with not fitting in with the world. 

If you fit in with the Lord, you will not fit in with the World. If you fit in with the world, you will not fit in with the Lord.  Too many Christians think they can fit in with both groups.  There is a difference between being in the world, and being of the world.  Imperfect people felt more comfortable around Jesus than righteous people.  Blind, crippled, prostitutes, religious curious, political leaders, demon possessed.  Why do imperfect, sinful people feel so uncomfortable in the church today?  Jesus accepted them and let them be real. He didn’t condone, but he didn’t condemn.  We need to let people be real. 

“Fitting in”…in your relationships.  Our relationships should be characterized by the qualities we see in Jesus. Unconditional Love.  Complete forgiveness.  No strings service.  Courageous Honesty.  Committed Fellowship.

Relationships are at the heart of our church.  We want to create a place where everyone can fit in.  God has created each of us for his glory, for his purposes.  He leads us to the church and to others to impact lives for him.  He has put us in the world because that is exactly where he needs us to be.  He promises us a place of eternal celebration, a place where everyone who seeks Him is accepted and fits in.

God is Amazing!

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 I love being at the beach. Not so that I can tan.  Not to swim.  Not even to collect beautiful shells.  I love to walk along the beach staring off into the horizon and being reminded of God’s incredible creation.  Every day without fail, the sun rises and then sets in a beautiful view.  Every day the tide comes in and goes out.  God paints beautiful pictures in His creation for us to enjoy.  The wonderful thing is that the more I appreciate God’s creation, the more in awe of God I am.  I am overwhelmed by the greatness of God because He didn’t stop at creating a beautiful world.  He in love created me.   Psalm 139 tells us:

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.                                                                                                                 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

To think that such an amazing God would also love me.  Love me on worst day.  In the midst of storms and chaos in our lives, a true peace and joy come from taking some moments to being still and knowing who God truly is. 

Christ’s Blessings,

Jim Chandler