Good evening family. We began to look into John 15 yesterday, and see reasons why life can be so difficult. The reason God does prune areas of our life is explained in verses 3-6. Jesus tells us that we have been cleansed by the words He has spoken to us, and that branches can't bear fruit on their own. Point 1 is that if we are trying to stand alone, we can't grow in our relationship with Him. The branches that are connected to the vine the strongest bear the most fruit. Verse 6 lays it out even better... "Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away and withers; they are gathered and tossed into the fire and burned". You don't see gardeners removing the healthy branches to burn them, do you? God's pruning isn't easy, but maybe... just maybe... if you look at it you will see He is building your connection with Jesus stronger! Be a blessing!
In Christ,
Pastor J and Victor
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
When Life is Hard....
Good evening family! We are going to spend this week looking at why life can be hard. You know what I'm talking about.... those times when it just isn't fair. Why do we suffer and have to endure hard times? The answer is found all through John 15. Verses 1 and 2 begin our study. Jesus says He is the true vine and that God is the vine tender. In order to make the vine grow more fruit, dead branches are cut off and godd branches are pruned. Enter your difficult times. When you endure these moments, ask yourself to look into what God is trying to enhance in your life! Allow Him to work! He's "pruning" you for something better! Be a blessing!
In Christ,
Pastor J and Victor
In Christ,
Pastor J and Victor
Monday, April 30, 2012
Faith and healing
Good evening family! The focus this week is on healing, and the faith that accompanies it. Matthew 20:29-35 is where we begin. Jesus heals two blind men in this passage. The key phrase is where they say, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." Faith, without any prior interaction with Jesus, led them to seek Him out. Faith, without any knowledge of what would happen when they sought him out as He passed by, led them to call to Him. Faith allowed them to scream louder when the crowd tried to silence them. Moved by compassion due to their cries, Jesus stopped and focused on them. Their faith allowed a mountain to be moved. They believed without any "qualifiers"... Do you have that kind of faith? Do you believe without having to have it justified?
Be a blessing!
In Christ,
Pastor Jason & Victor
Be a blessing!
In Christ,
Pastor Jason & Victor
Sunday, April 15, 2012
We are one with God
Hey family! 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 reminds us that God lives in us. The celebration of the ultimate sacrifice that we experienced last Sunday at Easter opened the door for God's spirit to live in us. We are now the temple of God! Remember that God's temple is holy, and YOU are that temple. As He lives in you, let the world see Him!
In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, we see Paul discuss acceptance. Jesus accepts us as we are, why don't we accept ourselves? When we accept Jesus, what else are we REALLY lacking? Sure, we can say that we don't have enough............. or............ or............... (you fill in the blanks), but do those things really have the impact on your life that Jesus does? By faith in Christ alone, our lives are made complete. The pure fulfilling joy you gain when you accept Jesus can't be found anywhere else!
In looking at how we are one with God, it is imperative that we examine our lifestyles. 1 Corinthians 10:31 and 11:1 are key passages for this inspection. We are instructed by Paul in 10:31 to do everything we do for the glory of God! 11:1 says to be imitators of him, as he is an imitator of Christ. Pretty lofty goals,l aren't they? If we are truly sold out for Christ, our goals should be to honor Him in all we do! If you have to ask if it honors God, don't do it!
How often do we pass judgement on people? Isn't it easy to do so? We like to do it because they don't dress, act, think, talk or look like us. Would your fingers on your right hand do that to the ones on your left? 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us we are all part of the body of Christ - we may each have different roles, but we stand united in Him! Verse 13 explains that in the one Spirit, we are baptized into one body! We have to remember to bless the fingers on the other hand!
In Christ,
J and Victor
In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, we see Paul discuss acceptance. Jesus accepts us as we are, why don't we accept ourselves? When we accept Jesus, what else are we REALLY lacking? Sure, we can say that we don't have enough............. or............ or............... (you fill in the blanks), but do those things really have the impact on your life that Jesus does? By faith in Christ alone, our lives are made complete. The pure fulfilling joy you gain when you accept Jesus can't be found anywhere else!
In looking at how we are one with God, it is imperative that we examine our lifestyles. 1 Corinthians 10:31 and 11:1 are key passages for this inspection. We are instructed by Paul in 10:31 to do everything we do for the glory of God! 11:1 says to be imitators of him, as he is an imitator of Christ. Pretty lofty goals,l aren't they? If we are truly sold out for Christ, our goals should be to honor Him in all we do! If you have to ask if it honors God, don't do it!
How often do we pass judgement on people? Isn't it easy to do so? We like to do it because they don't dress, act, think, talk or look like us. Would your fingers on your right hand do that to the ones on your left? 1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us we are all part of the body of Christ - we may each have different roles, but we stand united in Him! Verse 13 explains that in the one Spirit, we are baptized into one body! We have to remember to bless the fingers on the other hand!
In Christ,
J and Victor
Friday, April 6, 2012
Easter week part 3
OH......... MY ............. GOODNESS!!!! Did you hear about everything that happened last night? Caiaphas had Jesus arrested, Peter denied Him three times - and weren't they best friends? Somebody got their ear cut off in a garden... It's all over town. There's even word that one of His gang traded His freedom for silver! Do you think He will be put on trial now? All the chief priests are meeting about it....
More Easter week insight
Man, that Jesus guy sure can teach! He has been teaching all week - on slaves, talents, people working... It's really something to hear. At one point, He even said that the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days!!! Can you believe that? It took hundreds of years to build it! This week keeps getting weirder and weirder each day... I hope that Caiaphas can figure this guy out.
Easter Week is here!
Did you hear all the shouting and praising this past Sunday? The Savior rode into town! Everyone was waving their palm branches and shouting and singing praise! Were you there? There were so many people, I didn't see you. I hope you were there... If not, you missed it. The teacher rode in on a donkey! Everyone lined the road and some even put their cloaks down on the dirt for Him to ride across! We all shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" The whole town was stirred up - it was crazy, but the teacher, Jesus, is here! Were you there?
How about what He did Monday! Did you see it? Were you there? He went straight to the temple and started flippin tables! He turned over those big tables like they were nothing and sent all the money flying! He told those people to quit and get out... and ya know what? They left! Then, before I knew what was happening, He was healing people like crazy! There were sooooo many people there, all seeking healing and comfort, yet He treated them each with the same amount of love. The chief priests got upset - I thought it was funny - when the kids cried "Hosanna". Yesterday it was us, today it's the kids yelling it.
Then, the next day, guess what I heard happened! Wanna know? Ok... Yesterday, remember, He turned over the tables, healed people, and left town. I heard that this morning, He went by a fig tree, and because it didn't have any fruit on it, He told it that it would never again have fruit, and it died on the spot! Then, He said something to those guys with Him about having enough faith to move a mountain... What kind of man is this guy? Is He crazy? Move a mountain? Sheesh.... I heard the chief priests and elders are going to question Him. Maybe they can find out what's really going on...
How about what He did Monday! Did you see it? Were you there? He went straight to the temple and started flippin tables! He turned over those big tables like they were nothing and sent all the money flying! He told those people to quit and get out... and ya know what? They left! Then, before I knew what was happening, He was healing people like crazy! There were sooooo many people there, all seeking healing and comfort, yet He treated them each with the same amount of love. The chief priests got upset - I thought it was funny - when the kids cried "Hosanna". Yesterday it was us, today it's the kids yelling it.
Then, the next day, guess what I heard happened! Wanna know? Ok... Yesterday, remember, He turned over the tables, healed people, and left town. I heard that this morning, He went by a fig tree, and because it didn't have any fruit on it, He told it that it would never again have fruit, and it died on the spot! Then, He said something to those guys with Him about having enough faith to move a mountain... What kind of man is this guy? Is He crazy? Move a mountain? Sheesh.... I heard the chief priests and elders are going to question Him. Maybe they can find out what's really going on...
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